updating from gtx 765m to amd 8970m possible ?

hi....I'm newbie so please excuse if i ask any stupid questions. I have an 2013 Alienware 17 with basic specs. I need to know something:
1) is it possible to update from nvida to amd (from gtx 765m to amd 8970m) ?
2) i'hv already checked the Bus of both graphic cards and heres the problem: my gtx 765m has PCI-E 3.0x16 (using GPU Z of TechPowerUp) but when i check the gpu list, it shows MXM-B (3.0) - ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M | techPowerUp GPU Database). I believe that it needs to game the same bus interface to be compatible. so whats wrong with it ?
3) i did some research about amd 8970m and it's slightly above the gtx 680m (performance wise). I was thinking about updating to a 780m but its too expensive for me (on ebay gtx 680m and 780m roughly 800$ and amd 8970m is about $600). Should i just save money for the 780m ? is it up-gradable?
4) i chat with an Alienware expert from Dell and she said my laptop gpu cant be upgraded. is it true? is there any way i can check it for myself ?

Thanks!

P/s: English is not my first language so bear with me

 

Hi there, welcome to NBR

I can help a little.

If you want to retain the iGPU and optimus then you can only use cards that dell sell with the model. If dell release a bios version later that has AMD cards then you can go down that route with little or no messing around. The 680m may work easily but as it is not 'standard' you run the risk that you need to disable the on-board in the BIOS (if that is possible on a stock BIOS for yours?). Best way to avoid any problems is to save up for the 780m IMO. On a value-per-FPS the 680m would be the better card I think.

You will also need modified drivers for an NV card that is not listed by dell so that they will install. I don't know anything these days about AMD drivers.

I don't believe the interface is going to be a problem. I've not seen anyone with that problem on older AW's than yours. It may be showing you the actual connection in-use, the 675m is quite an old card and was originally the 580m. Edit: oops, didn't read the question very well . Ignore references to 675m!

The AW 'expert' was far from that! Dingbat is more of a nice description. Even if they had bothered to look your machine up the 780m upgrade would have been there (at some ridiculous cost probably). Call again and try for a better rep!

HTH,

 

1. Buy GTX 680M for $550
2. Enjoy Optimus
3. It just works and overclock much better than 8970M
3. Profit!?!


PS: 8970M is basically a 7970M with slightly higher clocks. You can gain the lead 8970M have by doing the same: Flash to a new vbios with a little higher clocks than 680M stock.

 

So the 680m is fine in a new aw 17 for optimus compatibility? Never sure as I don't believe dell offer it?

 

I thought any Nvidia card that support Optimus worked. I dont think the hardware ID on the original hardware (780M) is coded within BIOS to only work with Optimus.
You made me unsure here now but why would it not work?

 

Just because anyone else that had tried an NV card that is not listed has to turn off the iGPU in the BIOS. I know this is the case for the R3 and a 680m and the R4 with a 780m. Something about card switching needs specific BIOS support.

Nice feature of the 120hz model is that the iGPU is already disabled so any NV card will work (but not in 3D if unlisted) with a just modified driver.

 

Good choice of GPU (the 680M), but you've already made a mistake if you're buying the base alienware model with a 765M, you may as well have bought the 770M (overclocked it) and save yourself the extra cost of the 680M. I wouldn't buy any laptop right now anyway, Maxwell is too near! I would think about cards being upgraded in about a year and a half - when Maxwell AND the die shrink have come about, combined with a slight drop of price after initial launch.

Optimus is very unlikely to work with the 680M to boot (that's an expression, I'm not talking about what happens after you press the power button!).

 

I wouldn't upgrade anything now. The 800M series cards are coming out in about six months and the 780M is going to be priced at what the 680M is now, and the 680M will be even cheaper.

 

Oh I see. Well you live, you learn
Pretty lame though, to code that in the BIOS.

I say still go with the 680M over the 8970M due to reliability and pretty good overclocking performance

Thats why I bought the GTX 770M SLI. Got my 770M SLI up to 680M SLI with a new vbios
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-18-m18x/730723-official-alienware-m18xr1-r2-18-benchmark-thread-part-3-a-52.html#post9469926

I`d say still go with 680M though. 680M can go like 30% higher than the 770M.

 

Do you think they'll be Maxwell? The die shrink won't happen till right late on in the year from what I've heard, but Maxwell's coming out a little earlier. If I was thinking of buying a laptop now, I'd try & hold off until the die shrink at the end of next year.

 

To be honest, I have no idea anymore. I was expecting them to be Maxwell, and I'm hoping they are, but I don't know. I've heard rumors, read articles, and they all seem to contradict one another.

I don't see why NVIDIA would release their mobile GPU's, and then release Maxwell a few months later. That doesn't make sense to me. So, I'm going to assume the 800M series will be Maxwell.

 

@Robbo: You`re the guy from Techinferno arent you? I reckognize your signature.

 

I think you're right about that. I think NVidia have gone as far as they can with Kepler in notebook form factor - or desktops for that matter! So, I think their only sane course is for the 800 series to be Maxwell. Thinking about it right now, I'd bet that the 800 series will be Maxwell in the current 28nm, and the 900 series will be Maxwell in 20nm (or is it 22nm). Haha, and then Volta will be 1000 series!

Following that logic I'd be looking to upgrade to the 900 series.

 

Haha, yep, that's right. I recognised you in TechInferno too if you remember!

 

hmm...thanks for all your suggestions and explanations...i guess id just stay put. Also, on eBay, sometimes i see both gtx 680m 2gb and 4gb....????

 

The 2gb are dell ones and the 4gb all others. No idea why, but I am told it makes no difference unless you are running multiple monitors.