gpu heatink question

if i want to upgrade my video carde from a 6870 to something else will i need a whole new heatsink or could i just buy the right x bracket from ebay. looking at maybe a radeon 6970m. which one of these would be my best option?

6970m

6970m

6970m

x bracket

 

You shouldn't need a new heatsink but you will need a new x-plate. The one sold by ramshocker looks like the best bet with the dark PCB it is highly likely that it is a Dell card.

As for the backplate, they are pretty hard to come by. You can get away with using yours at the moment without much stress but keep your eyes peeled for one. The one you posted is the right dimensions however, the screws used for those are slightly smaller than the Dell ones on the Alienware heatsinks and therefore won't fit. If you can get that backplate and let them know you need some screws, they may supply you with some. It is pretty easy to remove screws from the M17x R3 GPU heatsink.

 

so when you say backbackplate is that the same thing as x bracket or is it something else?

 

Yeah sorry backplate = x-plate = x-bracket

 

ok thanks.

so am i better off to just use the screws from my heatsink instead of the ones that come with the bracket or do i need to request some from that seller?

 

No what I am saying is if you get that backplate in the 4th link in your OP, then the chances are they won't fit, which is why you need to ask the seller for a set of screws that will.

 

thanks for the help. i have contacted the seller of the backplate to see if they could include some screws. i also contacted the seller of the video card to see what they say about the card on an alienware system. if they can't send some screws do you know where i might could get some?

 

Well you need screws from a Clevo/Sager system. Plenty of users in that particular section on this forum site. You can ask over there. Aikimox or any of the resellers can point you in the right direction. I would like to think you'd be ok though, upgradeyourlaptop usually come through with requests.

 

i notice that one card from upgradeyourlaptop has soldered posts and the other does not. whats the difference?

will i be able to use the thermal pads from my 6870 on my 6970 when it comes in or do i need to order some new ones?

 

You want the one without soldered posts for your R3.

Yes, the stock thermal pads are very good. Re-use them.

Also, you could ask for 4 screws with the card because your current ones may not fit the 6970M/6990M backplate/x-plate you are getting from upgradeyourlaptop.

If you are re-using your current backplate then no need. The backplate that comes with the card peels off easily.

I bought my 6990M off them.

 

i put my order in yesterday. bought both from upgradeyourlaptop so they would ship together and the other guy didn't act like he knew very much about video cards so i didn't buy from him. i currently have some new .5mm pad i can use but thats the only pad i got. i have some arctic silver i will be using as paste. i asked for screws and they said to leave a note on checkout and they will send free of charge. now for hopefully my last question. do i pretty much just place the thermal pad where it is already located on my 6870 or will it need different placement?