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    M17X R4 with GTX 680M - any upgrade options for video card?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by funkybudda, Apr 1, 2014.

  1. funkybudda

    funkybudda Notebook Consultant

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    hello,

    Can anyone tell me if it's possible to upgrade my GTX 680M, and what are my options? Can I get a video card through Dell? If not, a 3rd party vendor but will that void my warranty?
     
    funkybudda, Apr 1, 2014
    #1
  2. destinationsky

    destinationsky Notebook Evangelist

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    You can get a 880m or 780m off Ebay. Your warranty just wont cover the new card, but will still cover the rest of the laptop.
     
    destinationsky, Apr 1, 2014
    #2
  3. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    880M is ~20-25% faster than a 680M, while a 780M is only ~10-15% faster, IMO 780M is not worth the upgrade, maybe an 880M but that is going to be $$$.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Apr 1, 2014
    #3
  4. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I don't think either are worth it, to be honest. An unlocked and overclocked 680M can outperform both, up to a certain point, and then we're talking negligible difference in performance beyond that. The 780M & 880M may provide more stability, though. Either way, it really isn't worth dropping $1k on a GPU for a 20% increase in overall performance, especially when we're so close to Maxwell.
     
    J.Dre, Apr 1, 2014
    #4
  5. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Yes an unlocked 680m is an upgrade. 40-50% faster is a generational improvement
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 1, 2014
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  6. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    This statement is correct. I also agree with the rest of the comments, as of now... It's not needed to upgrade that card.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Apr 2, 2014
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  7. funkybudda

    funkybudda Notebook Consultant

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    Is it hard to unlock the 680m? Does it void my warranty?
     
    funkybudda, Apr 10, 2014
    #7
  8. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No, it won't void anything. But if anything is damaged due to your overclocking, the damages aren't covered. You're basically turning your 680M into an "aftermarket upgrade" which is no longer covered if you flash a modded vBIOS. The same goes for any GPU.
     
    J.Dre, Apr 10, 2014
    #8
  9. Hackintoshihope

    Hackintoshihope AlienMeetsApple

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    But what this means is you don't say you modded the bios. There is no representative who will take the time to find out if you have when exchanging a gpu replacement.
     
    Hackintoshihope, Apr 10, 2014
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  10. DJStarscream

    DJStarscream Notebook Consultant

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    I will add to this thread instead of create my own.

    I have been doing a lot of research regarding the modified vBIOS.. Since the card is quite old, though, recent info seems quite scarce.

    Is there a in depth guide as to literally every one has to do in order to flash the card around on NBR?

    Also, what is the best advice you would give to me (or anyone else) looking to get the absolute, safely, best out of their 680M card? Do the modified BIOSes eliminate the absolutely AWFUL throttling that has plagued my machine since I received it?

    Thanks, people. Hope you are all well. :)
     
    DJStarscream, Apr 15, 2014
    #10
  11. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

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    Techinferno has the modded vBIOS and BIOS if you want them. Throttling has been non exisitent for my 680 stock (no repaste all factory pasting jobs). You should be relatively safe since the laptop will thermally shut down at too high temps anyways.I would check your fans/heatsink maybe repaste or at least a clean since the 680m shouldn't throttle the m17x has decent cooling.
    (maybe your using adaptive performance option in nvidia control panel? it will lower clocks on the card when it doesn't need the maximum clock.
     
    DDDenniZZZ, Apr 15, 2014
    #11