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    M17x R1 - is there any chance for fermi?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by tathlyn, Jun 4, 2010.

  1. tathlyn

    tathlyn Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi All,
    What do you think?
    I wondered whats the point to put mxm in to laptop if you cannot upgrade?
    If i remember correctly alienware advertised this machine as with upgradeable graphic.
    Thanks
     
    tathlyn, Jun 4, 2010
    #1
  2. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    There's always a chance, but... way too slim. If Dell provides a BIOS update with a 480M listed - there's a hope, but you still need a new heat sink along with the card. Plus, nobody knows how it will behave with Nvidia chipset. After the devastating experience with 280M's, I'm pessimistic about it.
    If any, 5870 is the closest you can dream about.
     
    Aikimox, Jun 4, 2010
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  3. ttnuagmada

    ttnuagmada Notebook Evangelist

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    I wouldn't count on it.
     
    ttnuagmada, Jun 4, 2010
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  4. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    If I remember correctly, the answer for the R1 or current R2 would be a firm no. The reason why is the 480m has an enormous power need, I know the psu in even 5870 cf units probably wouldn't handle a single card let alone sli, and I believe I also saw that the tdw on them is 100w and even with a correct psu the MXM slot in the M17x's also isn't capable of 100w per card. They would have to release either a refresh or at the least a system with an updated psu and MXM 3.0b slot. :mad: Another speculation me and a few other members were making is wether the 480m will make it to the M17x due to the major issue with so many R1's failing. Most of them looked like they may have been Nvidia related, and all Nvidia cards have been pulled from new systems. So Nvidia may have burned AW and we may never see it. :mad: Just my 2 cents... :cool:
     
    DaneGRClose, Jun 4, 2010
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  5. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    I believe Dell has already said no to the R1 supporting it, or the 58xx series ATI cards.
     
    dave-p, Jun 4, 2010
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  6. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    The 480m isn't really an option as it's limited by hardware attached to the mobo i.e. MXM power slot. The 5870 would be possible, but still unlikely. I think if enough R1 owners hounded Dellienware enough they may update the bios for em. But yeah again doubtful on the 58xx and impossible on the 480m.
     
    DaneGRClose, Jun 4, 2010
    #6