Upgrade to 5870cf

Hi,

I was looking at a new gaming notebook and was interested in the m17x.

The one i was looking at had a single 5870. I was wondering how hard it would be to add the second and crossfire connection at a later date?

Is there a guide somewhere? I had a look but coudn't find much on this. I don't want to get it and find out it's beyond my capabilities.

Also are there any video's of how loud the m17x is under load and idle?

Thanks for any help

 

If you want to add a 2nd GPU later, you also have to order the GPU fan and the Crossfire Bridge.
The way how to change it can be found in the service manuals.

replacing the GPU is not that complicated but should not be done by noobs.

Check out: Inside of the M17x

 

LOL being new to the forums don't mean he's a noob to computers!

 

It'd be relatively easy to upgrade it later. But it'd be very expensive.

Dell charge a hell of a lot for the second GPU if you buy it aftermarket. It'd be easier to save up and buy the Crossfire configuration with the laptop itself.

 

you can't even buy the cards for the moment, the people that have tried have been on back order for months, and I can't see them becoming available for upgrade in mass for a long time, if ever. If you want CF 5870s, you need to buy them when configuring the laptop.

the second card with HSF and cable is actually fairly cheap, it believe it's only $300 ish or so, maybe a bit more. Nothing outrageous, it's actually getting them is the problem.

 

after 2 months of waiting I gave up and cancelled my order, extended my warranty instead. The price was around $350 ish and it's suppose to include the heat sink and fan. If you don't already have the 240 watt power brick you will need to purchase that as well

 

Sweet thanks for the info, definately looks like it would be best to save up and get it in the first place.

 

yeah dude, thats your best bet its what im doing

 

I have an M17x R2 with single HD5870 and was still nagotiating about this upgrade! In the first place they told me it would be €600-1000 but I potested against that because that is a rediculous amout of money.

So... after 2 or 3 months, I finally got an offer of Dell-AW. They are willing to upgrade my system from single HD5870 to CF HD5870 for the sum of €230. That is even less as it would be when buying it initially! (upgrade would be €390) And that is including the mechanic and all.

So is this a good deal or what?!?

 

if you actually get it its a ok deal its not earth shattering. problem will be if you send your rig into dell you might now see it for a month, and if you just order tha card 7 the acc., you need to complete the job they will never send you the card. i waited for a good 35-45 days for my cards and never got them. i decided against getting them at all, and i don't think that anyone that has ordered them separate, has gotten them. if yo cant get the cf setup to begin with and you think you want it, the save the extra $300 or so you need to get it initially, cause that's the only way your going to get it.

 

Yeh thats a pretty good deal as an upgrade. The upgrade here on the Aussie sites is pretty cheap atm. Only $250 to add the 2nd 5870. Not to bad.

 

There is another place you could try getting them from. Might be a bit more pricey though.

MXM Upgrade Home Page

 

yeah.... 350BSP is $550.