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    Difference in description?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by WhapAChow, Sep 4, 2011.

  1. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    I'm contacting Dell about upgrading my m17x-R2 and I want to be sure that I have the correct part number for them for what I want (an ATI 6990M). I've checked quite a few sites but just can't find the difference, so maybe some of you can shed some light on this.

    What's the difference between:

    RDRGR AMD HD6990m Blackcomb XTX

    and

    HWKHR 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M

    Thanks all.
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 4, 2011
    #1
  2. CptXabaras

    CptXabaras Overclocked, Overvolted, Liquid Cooled

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    Can't help you with the dell part number but i seriously doubt they will sell you a 6990 as an upgrade for an R2.

    R2 has been discontinued, there is no official support for 6970, 6990 etc.. on the R2.

    Your best bet is searching for aftermarket. Dell 6970/6990 have issues about fan control inside an R2, while clevo cards work almost as a they were stock upgrades.

    Do you have CF4870's or CF5870's already installed? Keep in mind that at least you will need the 240W PSU that is available for CF / XM cpu system on the R2
     
    CptXabaras, Sep 4, 2011
    #2
  3. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    I do have the the CF4870s and the 240W PSU, and I do understand that there is no *offical* support for the later cards. But there are success stories of people putting in the CF6970s on the NBR forums as well as mxm-upgrade.com (even in your own sig). But if I can get the CF6990s, I figure I can give my R2 a few more years of life.
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 4, 2011
    #3
  4. Dellienware

    Dellienware Workstations & Ultrabooks

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    I guess you already know that you will just need to upgrade yourself with the aftermarket card.

    Be mindful though that althugh 6970s are decently workin alright without much ocing, cf6990s are experiencing more problems with power.. so maybe u might want to wait until bios update to be able to use 330w psu or what not.

    I would personally recommend 6970s. I dont think that the R2 can stand the power requirements of 6990s without some radical change, assuming you also want to oc and also oced i7 920xm down the road.
     
    Dellienware, Sep 4, 2011
    #4
  5. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    Not wanting to OC at all. Just want to play my games on max settings and give my R2 an extended lease on life for all the other stuff that's coming out in a few months (BF3, MW3). Plus it's a cheaper alternative than buying a new laptop every few years of which the wife is getting irritated about...
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 4, 2011
    #5
  6. Dellienware

    Dellienware Workstations & Ultrabooks

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    so adding the i7 920xm with no oc should be fine for a very long time.

    the max power by just these components are 200w + 55W to begin with. Although in realistic settings you wont be drawing this much power, but keep in mind that if you are going to use the laptop until it is not performing good at all, the odds are that gpu and cpu probably both kick to near 100%. in which case, you will experience very frequent throttling. -> This is the case for 6990s.

    yeah well i think using a cooler, you can probably moderately oc just the cpu, and use 6970s without much problems with the games you mentioned and should be good down the road. Good luck!
     
    Dellienware, Sep 4, 2011
    #6
  7. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    There are these part numbers:

    V9XKH - AMD Blackcomb XT HD6970

    RDRGR - AMD HD6990m Blackcomb XTX

    Use your current heatsinks and CF ribbon.

    Cheers
     
    katalin_2003, Sep 4, 2011
    #7
  8. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    Thanks katalin, but where does HWKHR 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M come to play in the Dell Parts world? I saw this description is this listing here

    HTML: 
    HWKHR 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M
    Just wondering what the differences were between that one listed in the OP and the RDRGR part #?
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 4, 2011
    #8
  9. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    The difference might be the vBIOS (not being the same for the M18x and the M17x R3), so they have to have a way to distinguish one from the other.
     
    katalin_2003, Sep 4, 2011
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  10. Ryuuzaki16

    Ryuuzaki16 Notebook Guru

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    Nothing much I presume.
     
    Ryuuzaki16, Sep 5, 2011
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  11. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    They're basically the same card i bet, only different vBIOS which can be flashed later on.
     
    katalin_2003, Sep 5, 2011
    #11
  12. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    The part number shown on the Packing Slip for my R3's 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M is HWKHR (Item 320-2795). FWIW.
     
    The Revelator, Sep 6, 2011
    #12
  13. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    Would like to now how much a 6990 costs so maybe if i ever get my hands on enough money I can upgrade :D
     
    bigtonyman, Sep 6, 2011
    #13
  14. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    I'm going to contact dell again today and see if there's a difference in price and description for the two part numbers. Try to keep you informed.
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 6, 2011
    #14
  15. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    Per Dell chat, RDRGR - AMD HD6990m Blackcomb XTX = $615 and HWKHR 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M = $253.51

    The difference is that the RDRGR is no longer available...
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 7, 2011
    #15
  16. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Good intel, WhapAChow. +Rep.
     
    The Revelator, Sep 8, 2011
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  17. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    Thanks for the rep - I should get my cards on the 15th and give you an update.
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 8, 2011
    #17