Upgrade request from 5870m CF to 7970m

Hello,
6 months after I buyed a second 5870m for my Alienware M17X R2, I think that the graphics are struggling a little bit... So wich is the best performance/price card can I have? CrossFire or not? I saw a thread on NB that is showing a 7970m CrossFire setup. Currently I have a 720 QM processor with 16 gb of RAM and a 250 gb SSD. The laptop is gowing really well and I want to upgrade it but I'm a student who do not want to put a lot of money in a old laptop like this one.

Am I going with Nvidia GPU? Or I take a 6990m/7970m/crossfire?

And I would like to have clear step to mod my computer because I am someone who do not speech english natively.

Thanks

 

Best you can do is a 920/940 cpu plus cf 7970m or maybe 8970m. I was hoping someone would manage to get a 980 running in one but does not appear like it's going to happen. There is a really good tread about setting up the cf. It's in here somewhere. A few years back it was a really active tread but that's faded as this beast had aged and it will soon be a relic.

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Crossfire is in even worse conditon than SLI nowadays. Many of new games don't even support SLI and Crossfire was always second multi-gpu solution.

 

So with my understanding of what you said, this computer isn't worth to upgrade? I am reading that there is a lot of trouble by putting a 7970m card in there...

I already made my search to install a 7970m but I don't clearly understanding the idea of the X-bracket and all and all... I had build a lot of gaming PC but I know nothing in the laptop customisation. Anyway thanks

 

I don't know what these guys are talking about. 7970M/8970M CF is perfectly capable in the M17x R2. Dell 7970M is 2GB and will work with native fan control, you may need to undervolt if your PSU isn't large enough. 8970M is 4GB and will need HWinFO for fan control, and perhaps undervolt to work properly if you intend to crossfire them. You can always start with one card, which will not need any vBIOS mods or undervolting. x-bracket needs to be included in your new card if you purchase one, as tracking down a new one would be difficult, and the old one from your 5870M doesn't fit. I have Dell 8970Ms for sale if you're interested. Even ONE 7970M/8970M would be a huge improvement from a 5870M crossfire setup

 

I'm running the 7870m cf (clevo) and have been for a few years now. Runs great. I would definitely undervolt and even then I would recommend the 330w psu mod expecially if one puts it a 920xm cpu. I'd definitely go that route again. Such beautiful computers. They just don't make them like this anymore

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I just saw that I never replied even if I saw these answers... So sorry guys! I'm planning right now of swapping the screen, so maybe I could play with these gpu and cpu! The only thing is: Is the 920/940 are really able to keep up with the new game (CPU bottleneck)? Thanks

 

I am building a m17x R2 from near scratch. Only think used is the motherboard and heatsinks/fans. I have new bottom chassis, new LCD cover, new RGBLED WUXGA display, new 940XM, and new clevo radeon 8970Ms 4GB to install. Will also be dropping a 512GB SSD in here, and it has a blu ray reader. 16GB RAM on the way too, I will be making the ultimate M17x R2.

 

Do you have any spare parts? If so what are these? (I can't pm you)