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    Ok, I'm confused..........plz help !!

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by eldub0844, May 30, 2011.

  1. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    I purchased a 17x outfitted with the currents specs:

    Core 2 Quad Extreme 2.53GHz
    8GB Memory
    GTX 260m in SLI
    250GB in Raid 0
    etc....


    My question IS, can I run crossfire in this notebook? I have an opportunity to snag (2) 4870 (NEW, never been used) video cards. I always thought, desktop-wise, that you couldn't run any more than (1) ATI card on an nVidia chipset? The SAME applies to the 17x right? OR, am I mistaken? Can I swap the (2) 260m's in favor of the (2) ATI 4870's? :eek:
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
    #1
  2. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Yes, you can :D
     
    katalin_2003, May 30, 2011
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  3. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

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    Should be an R1 and yes, you can run X-fire in it. Laptops/notebooks have supported SLI and Crossfire for several yaers now.
     
    pmassey31545, May 30, 2011
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  4. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    I had an R1 with a QX9300 and 4870 CrossFireX just like yours. You could probably make a few bones back selling the 260SLI too.
     
    TurbodTalon, May 30, 2011
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  5. Azureal

    Azureal Notebook Consultant

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    This may be true, but I have never seen Dell use anything except Intel chip sets in their higher end laptops. As others have conformed from experience, it works without issue.

    I have seen a few low end models with nVidia/AMD processors/chip sets. But not anything like the M17 line of Alienware.
     
    Azureal, May 30, 2011
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  6. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    for his generation, the first Dell release of the M17x was not at all a low end system and it uses nVidia chipset.
    To clear things out further, it was also released with the 4870 which run great (based on what I've seen around here).
     
    katalin_2003, May 30, 2011
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  7. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Wow, what a great forum! Thanks for all the replies guys! Now, I know nVidia's software does the 'hybrid graphic' setting in the BIOS, will it still switch between the ATI's and the 9400m G chip when power is unplugged? :confused:
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  8. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Oh, and I'm buggin' out because I want to bring this lappy to a LAN party mid-June and the 260m's are overheating! I ordered some Fujipoly (couldn't get the EK Thermal out of stock) and some Shin-Etsu paste. I'm gonna re-do the paste and thermals on the 260m's anyways, but then I got to thinking whether it was worth it to even stick the 260m's back in! I would LOVE me some 280m's, but that's where I top out on this mobo right?

    280m SLI or ATI 4870's Crossfire :confused:
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  9. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Yes, nothing else was confirmed to fully work yet or ever :rolleyes:
     
    katalin_2003, May 30, 2011
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  10. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    dual 4870's outperform the dual 280's. The 4870's are the best cards you can get for the R1.
     
    Mechanized Menace, May 30, 2011
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  11. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks man for the reply! :D
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  12. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Where did you get the laptop? It probably needs to be opened up and cleaned out. My CPU and GPU heatsinks get rather filthy after about a month or so, sometimes it only takes weeks. Your 260SLI and that Quad will more than suffice for your LAN party man. Its easy to find a tear-down video on Youtube. Clean the heatsinks out and use a Q-tip to clean the individual blades of all three fans. With that and a repaste, you should be kicking butt.
     
    TurbodTalon, May 30, 2011
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  13. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry to bother with all the silly questions, I'm just *NEW* to an Alienware Lappy that's all! :)
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  14. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Ah, a Craigslist trade literally! I was gonna crack it open anyways, just trying to gather as much info as possible, and I really appreciate all your guys' input! ;)
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  15. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    haha I think he was rolling his eyes @ the fact that Dell refused to allow GPU's higher than the 4870's.

    Ask Away man This is why we all joined this forum. :D

    Rock out with them 4870's they OC well and they perform just 10-15% worse than dual 5870's.
     
    Mechanized Menace, May 30, 2011
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  16. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    You're more than welcomed to post, that's why forums are for ;)
    Follow Turbod's advice and i bet you'll be fine.
    Cheers
    Exactly :D
     
    katalin_2003, May 30, 2011
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  17. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yeah, I'm sure it is filthy in there. People don't know that the sinks need to be cleaned regularly. Dell and Alienware sure don't advocate it. An overheating laptop probably means more $$$ for them anyhow.
     
    TurbodTalon, May 30, 2011
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  18. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Iz cool, iz cool, thanks man for all the replies! :D
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  19. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    It does man, I have another 17x with a broken screen and called them for prices, my jaw hit the floor when they quoted me $1350 for repair :eek:
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  20. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    What exactly is broken? You could buy a new inverter, LCD, back cover, etc., for a quarter of that man. M17x Screen Stuff
     
    TurbodTalon, May 30, 2011
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  21. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    The plastic covering the LCD AND the LCD :(
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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  22. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    It's a simple fix. Depends if you want to do it.
    You'll have to buy a screen assembly (without the back aluminium cover, alien head etc) disassemble it and fit the new assembly in.
    Reset CMOS and you should be good to go.
     
    katalin_2003, May 30, 2011
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  23. eldub0844

    eldub0844 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks again :)
     
    eldub0844, May 30, 2011
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