The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Ease of GPU upgrade AMD or Nvidia

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by AlphaMike7, Dec 28, 2011.

  1. AlphaMike7

    AlphaMike7 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I know that you can swap out gpu's in the M17x, but what I wan to know is if they are interchangeable meaning if I bought one with a AMD could I put a Nvidia in it or not? Also if not which one is easier to swap out for an upgrade. I do know that gpu's are a pain to find and when you do they seem to be very pricey. Thats not really my concern though.
     
    AlphaMike7, Dec 28, 2011
    #1
  2. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

    Reputations:
    7,383
    Messages:
    8,222
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Use you can. Just uninstall old drivers first. Install new card. Install new drivers
     
    DR650SE, Dec 28, 2011
    #2
  3. AlphaMike7

    AlphaMike7 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    So if I got a AMD 7xxx, I would install the 7xxx drivers before removing my 6990m. then update any drivers as needed after the install of the new card, Correct?
     
    AlphaMike7, Dec 28, 2011
    #3
  4. wingman_214

    wingman_214 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    No, uninstall the the drivers with the old card in place. Reboot and do a driver sweep to remove all old remnants of driver. Then power down and swap cards. Boot into windows and install new drivers.
     
    wingman_214, Dec 28, 2011
    #4
  5. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    143
    Messages:
    883
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just a note, you also have to have a non 3D model for you to swap between nvidia and amd cards. So far noone's had luck using an Amd card in the 3D systems.
     
    zoolian982, Dec 28, 2011
    #5
  6. AlphaMike7

    AlphaMike7 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    OK. To easy. Thanks for the responses. Would you guys say that both AMD and Nvidia are pretty even as far as the power of their current cards go?
     
    AlphaMike7, Dec 28, 2011
    #6
  7. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    143
    Messages:
    883
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    With a little tinkering, the 580m wins due to overclocking.

    Without tinkering due to fear of potentially breaking the cards, the 6990m would be an easier choice.
     
    zoolian982, Dec 28, 2011
    #7
  8. AlphaMike7

    AlphaMike7 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Im not sure if I want to start with the whole "tweaking" process yet. I am Fairly knowledgeable of how a computer works for the hardware side of things, but I lack when it comes to software. I am learning, it's just going to take me a little bit of time. With that said, as long as the gpu will work with out too much third party software I could be happy with a 580m. I'll be playing the normal games (BF3, SWTOR, COD, Skyrim) If these titles and other like it will play (maybe not on ultra setting, but close to) with the ability to tweak the card to play on ultra I might go with a 580m
     
    AlphaMike7, Dec 28, 2011
    #8
  9. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    143
    Messages:
    883
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    zoolian982, Dec 28, 2011
    #9
  10. aarpcard

    aarpcard Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    606
    Messages:
    1,129
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Assuming you're talking about the M17x R3 here, if so then what everyone else said is correct.

    With the R2 though, Nvidia SLI won't work unless it was a gpu solution originally offered by Dell - so if that's the case, Nvidia would not be a good option.
     
    aarpcard, Dec 28, 2011
    #10
  11. AlphaMike7

    AlphaMike7 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Holy cow that's confusing.

    Yep, I am indeed referring to an R3
     
    AlphaMike7, Dec 28, 2011
    #11
  12. makwu

    makwu Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    94
    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    If you somehow got your hands on a mobile 7000m series card, you should definitely not install it on your notebook. Just give it to me so that you're not tempted.
     
    makwu, Dec 30, 2011
    #12
  13. long2905

    long2905 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,443
    Messages:
    2,314
    Likes Received:
    114
    Trophy Points:
    81
    whether the M17x R3 can upgrade to a 79xxM is still up in the air, nothing concrete yet.
     
    long2905, Dec 30, 2011
    #13