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.
← Previous page

    HD6970's in M17x R2?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by IntenseIGFX, Mar 11, 2011.

  1. aarpcard

    aarpcard Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    606
    Messages:
    1,129
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    101
    A 240 watt psu isn't going to be enough for SLI GTX 485m's. Not a chance. . . unless the cpu is gonna be a UL derivative lol. I don't think that link can be trusted.
     
  2. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    600
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think the 240w PSU will just be for certain configurations. Didn't the M17xR2 ship with a 150w PSU if purchased with a single GPU and non-extreme CPU?
     
  3. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    294
    Messages:
    919
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    56
    the problems when you over clock a 920/940xm and set its tdp to 90w+
    150w (gfx) + 90w (CPU) +rest of computer is more then 240w

    correct
     
  4. ahmadmud

    ahmadmud Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    392
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    41
    that is true, but in real life application, you rarely encounter a program that have 100% load on both gpu and cpu, unless you are running furmark and prime95 simultaneously which is really crazy..
    many users with 920xm/940xm never encountered any issues, and I myself never had any power problems whether in games, rendering or benches...
     
  5. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,392
    Messages:
    3,147
    Likes Received:
    158
    Trophy Points:
    131
    My PSU draws ~240 watts with 800/1100 on my cards and 90/80 on my CPU while playing very demanding games. It would tax the PSU, but I think there's enough headroom for a pair of 6970s or 485s. It's been mentioned already, but two PSUs can be put into parallel, which would eliminate the power problem entirely. Let's talk about where we are going to get a pair of GPUs and a CF cable and a compatible BIOS instead, which are far bigger issues.
     
  6. aarpcard

    aarpcard Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    606
    Messages:
    1,129
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    101
    The PSU won't be able to handle dual GTX 485m's, but probably will be fine for Dual 6970 mobilities. Putting PSU's in parallel would solve the power draw problem, but it still doesn't raise the MAX TDP of the MXM slot itself which is strictly 75 watts. There is probably enough headroom for the 6970's (which draw 85 watts), but not for the GTX 485m's - as they draw 100 watts.

    In the 1st revision of the Clevo X7200, there were some issues in which the cards were drawing so much power through the MXM slot, that the slot itself actually melted. Now all laptops shipped with the GTX 485m, use customized MXM slots which are beefy enough to withstand the power draw. No doubt the power regulators on the MB for those computers are able to withstand the higher wattage as well. No one knows if the regulators in the M17x can handle up to 100 watts per gpu.

    You can get a pair of 6970 mobilities from mxmupgrade.com for ~$500 a card. Prices will most likely decrease.

    The CF cable included with your 4870X2 or CF 5870 M17x will work fine for CF 6970's

    And the compatible bios is being worked on - and because the cards will boot, it might not even be needed if another workaround can be found.
     
  7. ahmadmud

    ahmadmud Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    392
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    41
    is there a fan controlling application that automatically adjust the fan speed depending on the gpu/cpu temps?
     
  8. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    294
    Messages:
    919
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Ok so 240W is ok for 6970s even with 920/940xm over clock?
    I wouldnt even think about the 485m not sure about you guys but I have no desire to replace a motherboard

    Eurocom will probably sell a pair of 6970s cheaper then mxmupgrade, Eurocom is $575 a card but mxm is $600-$665 (430-475 euro)

    As for fan controlling app in the 6970 vbios thread they were modifying hwinfo to controll the fans or something to some degree of effectiveness
     
  9. Len1304

    Len1304 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I saw it mentioned once about people having the problem of the 240w not being able to power the 920 and cf 5870. I frequently have the problem when using ts and playing games such as bad company or wow, when I have both games running, ts turned on and cf on my ps shuts itself down requiring me to unplug it for about 10 minutes then it'll work again. I don't know if its a lack of power tripping a safty or if it's simply getting too hot. If someone can get the 6970 or nvidia cards to run I'd buy a set.

    Edit: Forgot to mention the cards are not overclocked.
     
  10. IntenseIGFX

    IntenseIGFX Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    86
    Messages:
    908
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Re-bumpping this thread! Is there any new info about getting CF6970's in the M17xR2 working? Now that the m18x is out, what's the deal with the power supply? Would changing the power supply to accommodate CF 6970's be necessary? Would it be advantageous? Hell, would a larger power supply even fit in the M17xR2 without needing to break the insides of the case? What's the status with the bios updates? Any other info available? I'd really love to put CF6970's on this bad boy. I'd also put in some OCZ Vertex 2's but when I bought my machine back in August 2010 people were complaining about SSD speed issues. Maybe those have been resolved?

    Would Alienware ever make an official bios re-release for customers wanting to upgrade their video cards? A major selling point with Alienware is the potential for modularization. Why not actually support it? In a desktop you could swap out your underpowered power supply for a new one if you wanted to put in bigger video cards. Obviously there are space restrictions in our laptops, but if they've made a more powerful power supply that's the same size as its junior, why not promote it?

    Anyway, if there's any other info - please let us wanting to know - know. Thanks!
     
  11. WaR

    WaR Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    2,391
    Messages:
    2,128
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think at this point in the M17x-R2's life, it is safe to assume that waiting on BIOS support for anything higher than 5870's is an unrealistic expectation.

    The R2's GPU updates are finished. Furthermore, a couple of members here, particularly 5150Joker, have already tried a single 6970 on an R2. The results were not encouraging, to say the least.
     
  12. juliant

    juliant Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,015
    Messages:
    1,409
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Yes, it is sad to notice we could not upgrade our gpu's any further 5870 because of the heating issue + power required for the new gpu's. That is one of the reason I bought the R3 with the 6970m. I can say it performs much much much better than the 5870m CF. For the 6970m (single GPU) and screen resolution at 1080P I can run any game at full settings without any problems, very smooth. I can even overclock the card to 800/1100 with no big issues of heating and anything you can imagine works perfect.

    With the 5870m CF at even a lower resolution of 900P there are games which cannot be smooth even at this resolution. I wish the new version of Alienware motherboard could have been possible to be fixed in the R2. But this would still have cost a lot of money and probably would be better to go for the new system. Unfortunately I am not happy with the m18x as it is a very bulky system and really heavy... Anyway this is only my opinion and hope nobody will get upset.
     
  13. darkloki

    darkloki Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    412
    Messages:
    1,829
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Meh.... the reality for me is that I'll end up getting the m18x system at one point if I want to admit it or not. everything I dislike about the m18x can be attributed to the M1730 XPS system a few years back and I still ended up getting that system later down the road so I'll more then likely end up getting the m18x system as well as it's just a matter of time at this point.
     
  14. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    294
    Messages:
    919
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    56
    well from my angle I still think it can work and I'll only try it (when i get the funds) because the R2 has every thing I want (RGB screen mainly) the only thing that excites me with the m18x is xfire 6970s
     
  15. IntenseIGFX

    IntenseIGFX Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    86
    Messages:
    908
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I was told (in games that support Xfire) that the dual 5870's were stronger than a single 6970. Is that not true?
     
  16. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

    Reputations:
    1,370
    Messages:
    3,110
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    116
    No, that is true. Just some R3 owners feel that this is not the case. The whole single GPU vs dual GPU argument has flared here recently, and I for one think it is ridiculous.
     
  17. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,395
    Messages:
    4,571
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    The 6970m is working fine in the M15x without any BIOS modification. Don't see why it wouldn't also work in the R2.
     
  18. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

    Reputations:
    1,370
    Messages:
    3,110
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Why can't we have it as easy as you guys! :p
     
  19. davewm24

    davewm24 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Man it'd be sick if we R2 owners could swap out our 5870s for 6970s.
     
  20. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

    Reputations:
    1,370
    Messages:
    3,110
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    116
    IKR especially if it was as easy as the M15x! :mad: :mad: :mad:
     
  21. davewm24

    davewm24 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I dont understand why it would work for us if it does for the m15x
     
  22. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

    Reputations:
    1,370
    Messages:
    3,110
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Same, but there is some promising news in the Modded bios thread.
     
  23. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    294
    Messages:
    919
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    56
    So far from what I have heard the 6970 works fine in the M17x R2 (apart from overclocking) its just that the fans are always at full noise but with HWinfo that can be fixed crossfire 6970s still need to be tested but it should work
     
  24. davewm24

    davewm24 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Well unless Xfire works swapping out my 5870s would be pointless.
     
  25. CptXabaras

    CptXabaras Overclocked, Overvolted, Liquid Cooled

    Reputations:
    1,024
    Messages:
    1,335
    Likes Received:
    236
    Trophy Points:
    81
    i've read somewhere that another problem that could arise for CF 6970 on R2 is the location of the CF cable and connectors. They are not compatible with the internal layout of the R2. And who did try to use (jocker5150) a single 6970 has found also the 5870's heatsink not enough to cool properly the 6970.

    Guys 6970 in CF and even a single one ain't gonna happend in a R2

    M18x is the proper machine for this config.
     
  26. @tomX

    @tomX Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    152
    Messages:
    608
    Likes Received:
    77
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Single 6970m does work. we just need to figure out a heatsink mod for the 6970m.

    Fan management is done with HWinfo32.

    6970m CF is another story...
     
  27. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    294
    Messages:
    919
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    56
    yes the crossfire plugs in different slots, but if you really wanted to make it work you could (possible chassis mod) will just take some ingenuity

    In what way is the heat sink not good enough is there physical interference causing bad contact? The impression I got was that it ran warmer but still within a usable range
     
  28. KillerBunny

    KillerBunny Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    207
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    From what I read, apparently the heat sink was not big enough (not enough fins or something?) to adequately cool it. The heatsinks were designed for cards with lower power draw, so it worked, but quite a bit warmer as it couldn't mvoe heat fast enough
     
← Previous page