Upgrading m17x R4 GPU

Hi,

I have currently a m17x R4 with Nvidia 660m GPU and Intel 3740qm cpu. Did a total repaste and overclocked both the processor and gpu. When I finally got Witcher 3 even with a max overlocked 660m gpu it was unplayable (20-30 fps). I thought therefore maybe it was time to finally upgrade my GPU.

My questions are the following:

• Is now a good time to Upgrade my GPU or will there be new cards coming out soon?
• Should I invest heavily in 980m or is 970m future proof enough? Or are some older cards better?
• What extra components do I need? Screws/Brackets/PSU etc?
• Are there any good sellers in Europe (Germany) from whom I might order?

Thank you all in advance.

 

Hi, personally I look hard at the 680m. It's way faster than your 660m and has a bunch of advantages over anything else.

Fully plug and play. Optimus works and no unlocked bios needed. For a 970m you'd need to be running win 8.1 in UEFI mode but if you're getting the free win10 then it may well be OK in that as well. You also need a modified driver file to install the driver with a non-standard GPU. A 7xx model card will need optimus disabling with an unlocked bios as well as the modded driver.

The 680m runs very cool and has a ton of overhead for overclocking. I have 4 different vbios files to unlock full OC'ing and apply levels of overvolt. I run the max overvolt and +220mhz all day long.

You will need the 100w heatsink but this was a standard part for the R4 so I got mine from dell, complete with pads and paste applied for around £50 delivered. Easy job with no research needed.

Check your PSU wattage. You want a 240w model, often the R4 was supplied with this even when a lower card was ordered. Output AxV=W.

All your existing screws are reused. No advice for a reseller, I just got my used card off ebay from a seller in my own country.

Good luck.

 

I already have windows 8.1 in uefi mode. I got the oem key as a student from our university. So is it correct ot assume that if I get oen of the 7xx or 9xx cards optimus will no longer work with them?

I can however see how 680m might be really cheap and yet perform superbly. Will look at eaby to buy one.

 

Cool, you should find a 9xx card just works with a modded driver. No optimus with 7xx cards as the bios has to be set to PEG, but optimus has to be used for the 9xx cards to POST.

Forgot to add, the 680m comes in 2 variants. 2gb and 4gb. 2gb is dell and 4 is Clevo. The only operational difference is that the clevo vbios does not need to be unlocked to go over +135mhz.

 

You can mod the R4s BIOS to run in PEG mode and you can run a 970M or a 980M in PEG mode as a result. @woodzstack was able to get 980M working in PEG mode.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

That's interesting. All the attempts I have seen failed to POST, even with the unlocked bios? Way preferable to turn the intel off altogether .

 

Message woodzstack or even j95 for instructions. It has something to disable the legacy boot mode.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

@OP
i support mickyd1234's suggestion
680m would be the easiest and fuss free upgrade. just check for 100w 3pipe heatsink and a 240watt adaptor.
660m to 680m will be big jump in performace, feel free to flash a unlocked vbios, and enjoy its potential

cheers and good luck

 

i don't know how long the 680m will last so you might get a 970m.