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.

    Price of upgrading M17xR3 460m to 580m

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by jackfsc2, Jun 28, 2011.

  1. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Anyone who currently has a m17xr3 3d bundle that is planning on having dell upgrade the 460m to 580m please let me know the price! Not sure if it is available in Canada yet.

    Looks like a $525 upgrade when you originally customize ur computer with maybe a 20% discount, but price will probably different when ur upgrading from a pre-manufactured computer.
     
  2. webjeff

    webjeff Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    301
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I want to know this as well.
     
  3. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I found the answer, you can delete this thread or keep it up for everyone's information.

    THE 580M IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE 120Hz 3D SCREEN. Its listed as an option but there are compatibility issues. The 2 sales reps I talked to both confirmed this information that my current m17xr3 cannot get a gpu upgrade due to the 3d screen.

    I will be returning my m17xr3 in hopes that it will become compatible in the future or just buy one without the 3d screen.
     
  4. zergslayer69

    zergslayer69 Liquid Hz

    Reputations:
    62
    Messages:
    1,551
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Did you find out how much the upgrade would be if it were compatible?
     
  5. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    109
    Messages:
    439
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Epic fail if this is true. I figured it was a bug on the order page or maybe a lack of new drivers. It seems like they are abandoning their 3D offering.
     
  6. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

    Reputations:
    3,079
    Messages:
    4,207
    Likes Received:
    168
    Trophy Points:
    131
    No I'm guessing that the 3D option will be available. The Dell site updates sloooow. But I guess time will tell.
     
  7. jackfsc2

    jackfsc2 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Available soon
     
  8. james_2k

    james_2k Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    424
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    now even.

    in the uk, finally we get something first :p
     
  9. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Must haz Dell P/N PLZ ;)
     
  10. inap

    inap .........................

    Reputations:
    4,417
    Messages:
    7,827
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    206
    3MF8R Nvidia GTX580m N12E-GTX2
     
  11. Smooth_J

    Smooth_J Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    500
    Messages:
    806
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Keep in mind you may need to new BIOS - A05 - in order to run this card. I currently have A05 on my new M17x from the factory.
     
  12. Smooth_J

    Smooth_J Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    500
    Messages:
    806
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    OK, i was just quoted a price for the card - and well - its not good.

    Not including tax and shipping, it appears to be around $1200 - just the card itself :(

    This isn't good....
     
  13. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I just talked to them and they said they aren't even selling it by itself so I am surprised you were even able to do that.
     
  14. Smooth_J

    Smooth_J Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    500
    Messages:
    806
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I asked last week as well - and I had the same answer as you, but now I get this answer.

    Not good considering :/

    This puts a nice dent into my plans - I just may just say screw it and just keep the 460 then.
     
  15. inap

    inap .........................

    Reputations:
    4,417
    Messages:
    7,827
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    206
    there is still a good chance a clevo card would work with 3d, with the right bios and vbios.
     
  16. Smooth_J

    Smooth_J Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    500
    Messages:
    806
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Your right - it should.

    Hopefully we just need the Dell vbios (since the m17x A05 BIOS should take care of the rest) so we can reflash, and we should be all set.
     
  17. BruteLeo

    BruteLeo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    you can get the m17xr3 with 3d and gtx580m, you need to configure the base laptop and it will work, the reps on dell idea storm confirmed it and said the ability not be able to select on the 3d preselect option is a bug. Now we just need the find a good place to get the chip and use the drivers they use. i hate my 460m just not powerful enough for 3d


    IdeaStorm | GTX 580m for Alienware M17x 3D!!!
     
  18. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    62
    Messages:
    284
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'd like to know where I can get the A05 BIOS from seeing that it's not on Dell's downloads page? You'd figure that if the R3's are now being shipped with A05, it would be an update for those still running A04.
     
  19. DeeX

    DeeX THz

    Reputations:
    254
    Messages:
    1,710
    Likes Received:
    907
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Just get a clevo one for $800 bux, flash the Dell vbios to it... Sell ur old 6970m for $400 something and there u go, 580m for which only costs $300-$400 out of pocket. :p


    @livid You have to find someone that has a 580m laptop from Dell and get them to read the vbios off their laptop with either GPUZ or some other prog. To be honest I am not sure of the popular program to use for that so I would make a post, but you get the idea.