m17x-R1 right GFX Heatsink and fan?

Hello NBR. i am thinking about upgrading my m17x-R1 from a GTX260m non SLI to GTX260m SLI. i found a lot of cards on ebay with heatsinks, but with no fans.. luckily i found a fan for the right side. my question is, are the heatsinks different like the fans are, or is it the same? i know the cards are the same but i would be irritating to buy a card with the wrong heatsink

thanks in advance

 

The heatsinks will ony fit into the SLI slot in ONE way. Ie if you buy a 260GTX for the LEFT side it will only fit into the LEFT side. That is the way with my 5870m anyway. So buy a card for the RIGHT side of the gpu slot (I assume that is the secondary card slot like on my R2?)

 

thanks for the clearifying answer

but will these cards fit into the right side of my M17x?
Alienware m17x 1GB NVidia 260M Video MXM Card 4WGVV | eBay

Dell Alienware M17x 1GB nVidia260M SLi Video Card 4WGVV | eBay

Dell Alienware 4WGVV M17x 1GB nVidia 260M Video Card ! | eBay

Dell Alienware 4WGVV M17x 1GB nVidia 260M Video Card | eBay

and finally:
can i use this fan
Dell Alienware M17X Right Side Video Card Fan - F605N | eBay

and is this bracket necessary
Alienware M17x Bottom Right Heatsink Mounting Bracket | eBay

im sorry for all the questions but i just don't want to waste my money

 

Hi Nicolai,

yes I checked all the GPUs - you may buy any one of them, they should all fit no probs. The fan says its for the right side - so it should fit as well (unless the seller lied and tricked you!)

The bracket is not 100% necessary BUT may already be installed in your M17x. It certainly is included on the left and is basically used to hold the GPU in place in addition to the other screws that screw directly into the GPU (I know cause I've changed GPUs twice myself in my M17x)
sooo....I think you may get away with not buying it until you've opened your laptop up.

My advice: don't buy the bracket yet. You only really need to remove the keyboard and the multimedia strip (which is the thingy just above the keyboard with the touch sensitive buttons) to get to the GPUs. You'll be able to see on the left what that bracket does and if its present on the right. If my memory serves me right you don't really need it. But please check it. Takes 2 minutes to unscrew the keyboard and MM strip. Screws are underneath the big cover on the underside of the laptop, there are two there for MM strip (long screws). once unscrewed remove MM strip by prying it up with a screwdriver. Then unscrew the keyboard (4 screws). Easy peasy. DO IT NOW!!!!! LOL!

 

i really hope it's included, but i don't have time to open my laptop right now. now i just need to order the different things! are there anything i should know before i upgrade? something i need to do, drivers etc.?

 

Nothing really. Remember to connect the SLI cable!!!!! So get one of the GPUs from ebay WITH the cable!!!!! And update bios etc to newest one. Thats all really. The only other thing is SCREWS. I do not know if your single GPU M17x has the extra screws in place to build in the new GPU. You may have to buy 5-6 screws....

 

you are the man! You gave me all the info that i needed, so now i'm up for the "challenge".

Again thanks for all the answers, it makes me more confident with the upgrades when i get advices from smart people

 

No probs! Reps to me ;-)

 

you are damn right! reps to you