M17xR3 GPU upgrade, please help/ idiot proof/ advise please

Hi. I have been doing some reading over the last couple of weeks, especially scouring over these forums, and have decided on upgrading to the 680m GPU (I currently have the 560m). It appears to be about the limit of what can be easily installed without requiring higher levels of mucking around with the laptop. I have come away with some conflicting ideas on what I do and don't need to purchase to be able to install the card however, and I was hoping somebody could help clarify this before I start splashing my money around?

Obviously I need to purchase the card itself (the 2gb version, which should be the Dell version if I am not mistaken). However, is the card itself plug-and-play? Do I need to order any additional equipment with the card? Will the heatsink whatsit that is currently in my laptop continue to be adequate? If it is, do I need to buy new thermal pads or something to adjust it for the new card? The places on eBay where I found the card listed don;t sell any additional gear, nor list it as necessary, but I am suspecting that it may still require some? If such things are required, where might I go about easily procuring them, if you know?

Thanking you all in advance, very much appreciated.

 

Hi there. I can offer some info for the r3/560m.

First the 680m is a great card (IMO) and overclocks like a deamon as well as running cool. The 780m is also an option for you as it requires the same work to get it running. The only downside I have seen is it runs hotter so aftermarket paste is a must and on some machines the on-board sound canks out and needs some messing to get it working. On the performance front I have seen many people say (when the 780m was released) that it was not a 'generational' step up?

You'll need to source an unlocked bios to switch off the intel GPU and force PEG boot (unless you have a 120hz display which is unlikely with a 560m). Research this for the exact bios settings.

You need a 100w heatsink, I got mine directly from dell - an R4 680m heatsink will fit an R3 without issue. The advantage of this is that dell supply it with new pads and paste pre-applied so it's a simple assemble job and you don't need to figure out pad placement.

The x-bracket that holds the card to the heatsink is also something you want to get with the card. You can reuse your existing one but it might not apply the correct pressure for best temps.

Finally you have to use a modified driver every time you install a driver. They are posted often (check out user j95) or you can get them from here: LaptopVideo2Go: Drivers

Think that covers it . Good luck.

 

Hey mickyd1234. Do you know if you order a heatsink assembly directly from dell for your specific card if it comes with xbracket for back of card also.

 

No it doesn't. I'm guessing it comes with the card from dell since nobody has been able to identify a part number for it. I got mine (new) from my seller even though the card was used .

 

Hey, mickyd1234,
firstly, thank you ever so much, your answer was concise and easy to understand, I am very much indebted to you.
I wondered if I could dare impose upon you once more. Could you tell me if Dell Alienware M17x Cooling Fan C61N1 is the right part? It lists itself as the heatsink for the 680m, so is this the right part?

Thank you for your help thus far, I am very, very grateful.

 

No problem, you're very welcome .

That is not the correct part. The 100w heatsink has 3 heat pipes, the 75w only two. That looks like a CPU heatsink to me (maybe they used the wrong image?). Also it does not come padded AND it's more than twice the price Dell charge!


Getting one from dell can be tricky and a lot depends on getting a helpful rep. You want to talk to the dedicated AW support staff. Tell them you are interested in purchasing an upgrade. They will probably only offer you parts listed for your R3 but if you can get them to change the model to R4 then the 680m heatsink IS a part they can supply. Explain that you know the part is not approved and therefore not warranted for use in the R3 and you should be good. My invoice stated 'no warranty' even though the 680m is a part for the R4 as they require you to buy the card as well as the heatsink for full warranty.

Good luck.

 

Once again, eternally indebted to you.
I have still been stuck on the heatsink issue. I am getting rather despondent in regards to the whole issue I don't mind saying. It is only that in Australia tech products are so ridiculously expensive (Alienware laptops over here are more than double what people in the US pay.), and I wish to eek a few more years out of this one. Especially as I am about to move overseas to Asia for work for a while, so I would like this beat to get me through for just wee while longer.

I have done some research (if it could be truly termed that) to try and determine what model heatsink is the appropriate one, as Dell has (as your predicted) been less than useful in this whole affair. I have found this

Dell Alienware M17x R3 R4 GeForce NV13E GS1 GTX675M GPU Heatsink MT1DN | eBay

,which does seem to fit model number, as well as some pictures I found of the correct part. For one last time do you mind taking a look for me? I think that I am close to giving up this battle soon, but it would irk me greatly.

Either way, once more allow me to epress my gratitude, you have once more been very gracious.

Thank you.

 

Yup, that's going to work fine. Shame you can't get the dell one directly, no messing with transferring the pads and buying some paste (IMO don't spend too much on this).

Here is a pad layout as supplied from dell for the 680m:

Have you tracked down the unlocked bios (and instructions on how to apply it?