Replacing GTX 460M with.. something better

Hi everyone,

Im kinda new around here and Im honestly not very tech saavy at all. I like to play games like BF3 and Skyrim though, and I want to replace my GPU. I bought my M17X r3 in July, and I want to replace the GPU so I can run some of these newer games at high-max settings.

I want to get the best performance for a reasonable(ish) price. I looked at the GTX 580M and theyre really expensive IMO, so maybe the 6990m would be a better choice?

1. What would be better?
2. Can I transfer from a 460m to at 6990m?
3. What extra parts are needed to do so (do I need a new heatsink, etc.)
4. Looking to buy a 6990m if all of this is possible, where is the best place to buy?
5. If i were to sell it, how much is a 460m worth

Please can you go through this quite slowly because as I said, I probably wont understand you if you start using terms that I don't understand.

Thanks for your help

 

GTX 580M and 6990m are the same price, as per what ive seen.

i saw an earlier thread regarding the same, and people said that they whom changed from 460M to 580M used the same heat sink.

 

Can you direct me somewhere that the 580m is the same price?

 

So long as you don't have 3D, either the 580M or the 6990M will work. With 3D, you're limited to the 580M (or the 560M, but why bother). Without 3D, the 6990M would probably be best. Although both are the same price when purchased from Dell as part of a system, the 580M is generally more expensive in the after-market. The 580M also requires a bit more knowledge and attention to capture its full potential, although at stock clocks, either will serve you well.

 

aftermarket 580m is about 300 more expensive

 

i do have 3D unfortunately, i got it in one of the packages on the alienware site but I never use it. Obviously there could be other inhibitors but will the 6990m not work just because it doesn't allow 3D? Or is there something else that prohibits it

 

The 120Hz screen requires the Nvidia GPU to power it

 

I've forgotten the details, but I think it has to do with the way the graphics ports are wired on the 3D setups (which also results in the loss of Optimus/IGP on those computers). Widezu69 is our Nvidia 3D/580M expert; I'll ask him to drop in and address the issue.

 

I am sure a lot of folks here are interested in this specific topic and would LOVE to see a video of upgrading a 460m to 580m.

 

Simply put:

The way the M17x R3 system is wired, if an AMD card is put in, the graphics signals are routed through the iGPU then to the LVDS port in which a 60Hz screen is attached.

If you stick in a 120Hz display, that needs to be plugged into a eDP port which the iGPU cannot drive.

Sure the iGPU can be switched off via a modded bios however, the AMD signals are still passed through the iGPU interface and therefore AMD cards will never be able to drive a 3D screen internally.

Because the iGPU cannot drive a 120Hz screen, that is why 3D users will not get Optimus.

It is a paradox. Its not like the GPUs cannot drive the 3D screens, it is the way Dell implements. So if you want 3D you will lose AMD card compatibility and also lose any iGPU function. If you want AMD, you lose 3D because the iGPU is like the annoying little floor manager that just won't take any $%^&

 

I recommend waiting another month or so because the 600m series of video cards are coming out and more than likely will drive the 580m prices down.

 

Thanks everybody for your help!