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    Installing Second Card?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by zombiegoat, Dec 25, 2010.

  1. zombiegoat

    zombiegoat Notebook Consultant

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    Hey folks, I have a M17x R1 that I really like, but am wondering if it is possible to install a second GTX 260M card. If so, what's involved in doing so? If not... um, thanks anyway. Pretty simple question, eh?

    Oh, and happy holidays.
     
    zombiegoat, Dec 25, 2010
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  2. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    yes you can definitely add a second GPU

    You will need the second GPU card, and the SLI cable, and a Fan for the second GPU position as well.

    There is a Kit available from Dell, and you may find it on some online on places like eBay etc.
     
    dave-p, Dec 25, 2010
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  3. zombiegoat

    zombiegoat Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, man! Awesome turnaround time. I'll look into it and be a very happy camper. Love the current setup and it makes mincemeat out of what I currently play, but hey, RAGE is on the horizon. I want to be prepared. :)
     
    zombiegoat, Dec 25, 2010
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  4. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    NP,

    you can also upgrade to the 280 GPU cards, or the ATI 4870 cards with the R1
     
    dave-p, Dec 25, 2010
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  5. sadromeo

    sadromeo Newbie

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    Hi Zombiegoat,

    I would like to know this too. I have a single 4870 in my m17x-R2 and would like to have dual 4870's or dual 5870's and want to know if you got any further with this and if so, possibly where you were to get the upgrade?

    Thanks!
     
    sadromeo, Dec 26, 2010
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  6. jiggymf

    jiggymf Notebook Evangelist

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    I just upgraded from a single 4870 to 4870x2.

    I found it very hard to find information on the 2nd card. Is it exactly the same card as the first one, or does it have another (slave) bios.
    Also, i was not able to find a crossfire cable, dell would not sell me one and I found it impossible to source one from another location, even ebay.

    So i bought a complete set from someone who upgraded from 4870x2 to 5870x2, which included both cards and the xfire cable, just to be safe.
    There are shops who sell cards, but mostly i only found the 'left' card, and as i was unsure if this is exactly the same i did not go for that (it also means you will have to find the heatsink that fits the right side). Ebay was my best bet, it's not cheap though.

    You will also need a fan for the right side, which is situated under the 2nd videocard and will be missing if you currently don't have a 2nd card.
    Installing it all is a piece of cake though, it's not very hard. You take apart a small part of the M17x and then you shove it right in.

    If you need any help give a shout, since i just did the same you did (only on an R2, but it's not that much of a difference).
     
    jiggymf, Dec 26, 2010
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