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.

    M17X R1 - 7970m confirmed not working

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Akimitsui, Jun 6, 2016.

  1. Akimitsui

    Akimitsui Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    256
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    100
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Just thought that I would post this as future reference in case anyone is ever planning on going beyond the working 5870M crossfire setup in the M17X R1. As far as I know, the latest card tested and documented in the M17X R1 was the 6970M, which was confirmed not working.

    I found the Dell branded 7970M for dirt cheap and decided to give it a go in the R1, and that did not work regardless of what I did. And from what I know the newer AMD cards are just rebranded 7970M's. So, at least from the AMD side, the max the R1 will take as of now is the 5870M in crossfire.
     
    Akimitsui, Jun 6, 2016
    #1
    katalin_2003 likes this.
  2. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    2,162
    Likes Received:
    466
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Good heads up :)

    Seems like the M15X is the least finicky when it comes to graphics cards from that generation of Alienwares. AFAIK even the M17X R2 is limited to the 7970m for whatever reason. The M15X meanwhile accepts the 980m but it appears to run too hot due to a limited heatsink design. However the 970m seems to be a great fit for the M15X from what I've read.
     
    kosti, Jun 6, 2016
    #2
  3. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

    Reputations:
    237
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    245
    Trophy Points:
    56
    M17x R2 can run M290X, but yeah, basically same card, with higher clocks and double the VRAM :p...

    As far as M17x R1 goes, the 5870M CF is max possible GPU config :/
     
    maxslo, Jun 7, 2016
    #3
  4. Heatshiver

    Heatshiver Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    What do you plan on doing with that 7970M?
     
    Heatshiver, Jun 8, 2016
    #4
  5. Akimitsui

    Akimitsui Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    256
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    100
    Trophy Points:
    56
    @maxslo Yeah, since no one has ever tried it before in the R1 I figured I would give it a shot. Found the card for a mere $60 Canadian locally so why not haha

    @Heatshiver Well, I found an M15X for cheap locally a few days after as well, already put the 7970M in there. After the 1080p screen comes in the mail that I ordered, this will be replacing my M17X. I'd hate to see it go, it has served me well for almost 7 years... but CF 5870M's in 2016 with modern titles at full res... even for just my treadmill gaming rig... it is really starting to show it's age. Currently pushing it with Mass Effect 3 fully modded with 4K textures, at 30fps average. The game takes 17 minutes just to start up LOL.
     
    Akimitsui, Jun 8, 2016
    #5
    katalin_2003 likes this.
  6. Heatshiver

    Heatshiver Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Woah! Well, the 5870M is definitely getting long in the tooth.
     
    Heatshiver, Jun 8, 2016
    #6
  7. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

    Reputations:
    237
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    245
    Trophy Points:
    56
    @Akimitsui Wow lol, that's diry cheap xD was it untested or how did you score one so cheap xD?
     
    maxslo, Jun 8, 2016
    #7
  8. Akimitsui

    Akimitsui Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    256
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    100
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Was curious one day to see the price of Alienwares, so I searched Alienware on the local online classifieds and found the card. Was being sold by a guy who upgraded their M17X R4 to the 780M, and he got that 780M from his friend who upgraded to a 980M. The card was tested, just pulled from the system due to the upgrade. I was so surprised that he wasn't asking for more :eek:
     
    Akimitsui, Jun 8, 2016
    #8
    maxslo likes this.
  9. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Ill give you 100 for it :p
     
    Raidriar, Jun 9, 2016
    #9
  10. maxslo

    maxslo undefined

    Reputations:
    237
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    245
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hahaha im sure he's very tempted xD
     
    maxslo, Jun 10, 2016
    #10