AMD 6990 coming middle/end July:

Going through the forums on Nvidia, seems like Optimus can be a pain in the at times. Sometimes it does not switch properly. What bothers me is lack of Nvidia responses to posts about problems on their forums. Also, seems you cannot disable or force Optimus to use either IGP or discrete GPU with certain applications. For me, I would rather use the Nvidia cards. My current laptop with an 8800m has never given me any problems at all, and they use less power which is a something I want too. So for now, leaning towards the CF cards. Still researching.

 

My case:

I already need to RMA my notebook, but I'm waiting for the 6990M to come out, so I can have the swap done while it's at the factory. If it priced at or around the same as the 6970M, it's like getting a free upgrade.

 

The whole purpose of my post was to highlight the typical GPU fanboyism arguments that is used. Of course it is objective

I have been an Nvidia fan all my life and I can with 100% honesty say that I have been a part of this biased war. I have read a lot about 6970M and it seems that people are indeed pleased with it although it have been discontinued by Sager.

Yes people should buy the GPU that is cheapest when they perform the same. But like I said, people with money tend to follow their history. Personal references pay a big role in the decision making. A result from a reviewer stating 580M is 5% faster than 6990M could be all it takes to push them toward buying the Nvidia GPU and defending their choice of product. And by all means let them buy it. After all it is their money and their life.

 

That is the worst possible way of thinking. It's people like you that make companies like nvidia get away with shameless pricing like that of the 580M. No customer should ever ACCEPT, if you keep accepting you keep throwing away hard earned money on nothing really other than marketing policies implemented to make you think you're getting something extra.
Don't be fooled and think for a second that you're paying extra for something tangible, what you're actually paying for is a company's marketing and financial strategy.

 

Ok, that makes good sense.

 

anybody have any idea when the 580ms will be available on aafes?

Right now that's the only thing not being offered, and a dell rep was willing to match the $700 discount then add the cards on top of it, but if anything can be saved off those as well I'll take it.

Someone had said it's usually a few hours after the main site updates, and I was wondering if that was an accurate assessment or if a brand new part like this might take a few weeks.

 

I was actually wondering the same thing...though im curious at how much the 580m sli upgrade will cost on aafes. Surely not $1200.

...but more importantly im waiting for the 6990m to be official and for the 6990m xfire to be available on aafes.

 

All I know is that between the AMD VBIOS/AMD CCC, OSD & crappy BIOS the M17x R2, R3 & M18x suffer from the sleep bug. I was told that the aero bug is a problem between the BIOS, VBIOS & CCC. If they can't fix the annoying Aero bug some body is upgrading me to Nvidia...and it's not going to be me.

 

for the past 3 weeks I had the aero bug happen only once after a driver rollback. After going back to Dell stock drivers, everything seems to be working as it should.

 

I'm on stock dell drivers. I see it about 3 times a day.
I have even tried: Uninstalling CCC>Reboot>ccleaner>driver sweeper>reinstall CCC. It happends when I go from battery to shutdown to power on with AC.

 

Interesting, will test your scenario on my machine.

 

Thanks for backing me up...but as the saying goes....if it ain't broke don't try to fix it.

If your system has been good PLEASE don't induce the problem by replicating my scenario. I'd hate for your to go through this bug 3x a day.....lol.

 

Just to return to the topic, both gpu options now available to order in the UK.

580m sli running at about £1075.00
6990m x/f running massively cheaper at £480

Not on line, got the info via my very good rep...he can order with either as of now.

 

As i confirmed weeks ago 6990m is now available.

We just need some benchmarks now.

 

Could your rep tell you the specs of the card (shaders, clocks, etc)?

 

Im asking the question right now fella.....he may have to get that info off someone else in tech (he has a friend who does AW tech so may be able to get some news....)

Will post it up as and when!

 

Haha GG Nvidia.

 

Optimus works by redirecting the graphics rendered by the dGPU through the IGP's display controller. As frames are rendered by the dGPU they're copied from the dGPU's memory (VRAM) to the notebook's system memory (RAM) and then pushed out to the notebook's display screen/monitor by the IGP. Since the display controller on the IGP is needed by the dGPU it can't be bypassed or turned off. The Copy Engine that moves the frames between VRAM and RAM is software in the drivers that's run on hardware (which includes CUDA cores) on the dGPU.


Optimus can't be added to a notebook that was built with a pre-existing direct connection between the dGPU's display controller and the notebook's screen since it bypasses the IGP. Also Optimus doesn't work with 3D because to process 3D graphics the dGPU's display controller has to have a direct connection to the notebook's screen.

 

Sweet news! 6990 will be the easy choice for me unless there are heat issues.

 

There is no hard info on the 6990M or any info, other than speculation from these boards.

 

I confirmed with my rep today while getting a status update on my order(s) that both the 580m and the 6990m are now available for order. So while there is no public info, they can be ordered. They are also confirmed as per my initial post, barts xt based. Steviejones133 has already posted the prices for both options in another thread.

 

I have read them.

I still haven't seen a quote or anything that would lend any credence to the 6990 existence, other than 'my rep said'....

I will be pleasantly surprised when there is something concrete.

 

Just tried to order over the phone nothing available (Gtx580-Amd6990)in Canada yet

 

580m sli IS available in Canada, this is really weird. But if you talk to the right rep, they will get it for you.

 

Can I have your rep please lol

 

06/29/2011 11:53:37AM URL Shown: "https://chatadengine.dell.com/chatadsengine/adengine/Default.aspx?queue=b3e893a2-6bce-45a7-bdce-87cc0eef4ee2"
06/29/2011 11:55:32AM Session Started with Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939)
06/29/2011 11:55:35AM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Welcome to Dell's Sales Chat! I hope you are doing well and thank you for waiting. My name is Manasa(Rep Extn:4163120) I will be your online Product advisor. Please allow me a moment while I respond to your query."
06/29/2011 11:55:40AM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939) sends page: "http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topics/reftopic.aspx/gen/en/setrepcode?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&rep_id=4163120&rep_type=CHAT&redirect_url=http%3A//www.dell.ca"
06/29/2011 11:55:50AM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Hello Jason "
06/29/2011 11:55:56AM Jason: "Hello Vimala"
06/29/2011 11:56:01AM Jason: "just looking for some information"
06/29/2011 11:56:19AM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Great! I would be happy to help you with that"
06/29/2011 11:57:08AM Jason: "I have placed an order already for an m18x ... however yesterday the Nvidia gtx 580m was announced by Dell and Nvidia. I am wondering how much the gtx 580m SLI is going costs in the m18x ... I am considering replacing my order with this new equipment."
06/29/2011 11:58:03AM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Please give me a minute while I check that."
06/29/2011 11:58:24AM Jason: "thank you I appreciate it"
06/29/2011 12:01:21PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Jason the maximum for a M18x is 460."
06/29/2011 12:01:39PM Jason: "you mean raddeon 6970 ?"
06/29/2011 12:01:40PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Could you please give me the link you are looking at."
06/29/2011 12:02:04PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "nvidia gtx 460 is the maximum for the alien ware laptops."
06/29/2011 12:02:37PM Jason: "Its not a link, it was a conversation I had with a sales rep yesterday. She said that the m18x was available with the gtx 580m in SLI but had to be built 'manually'"
06/29/2011 12:03:25PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Let me check that for you."
06/29/2011 12:06:25PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "PLease stay connected for 2 minutes iam working on it."
06/29/2011 12:07:00PM Jason: "no problem"
06/29/2011 12:10:06PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Jason we can add it manually, its a dual 2 GB card and it is costing you an extra $800."
06/29/2011 12:11:16PM Jason: "oooooh ... well then ... hrm. I -just- ordered my system last week ... I am not sure if the order -can- be cancelled at this point or not ... and I am not SURE if I want to drop the extra 400$ on that ..."
06/29/2011 12:11:27PM Jason: "can I get a quote on a system from you by chance"
06/29/2011 12:12:00PM Jason: "a Stock m18x with only the video card upgraded to the gtx 580m SLI with 2 years advanced warranty ?"
06/29/2011 12:12:04PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "Yes i will do that, please give me your email adress."
06/29/2011 12:12:45PM Jason: "[email protected]"
06/29/2011 12:13:03PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "yes it can be upgraded to 2 years advanced warranty as well."
06/29/2011 12:13:25PM Jason: "can you also tell me if my order -can- be cancelled, without actually cancelling it ... I was given a 14.5% discount on my system when I ordered it, so I don't want to loose that discount ..."
06/29/2011 12:13:49PM Jason: "but I would like ot know if its an option if I want to go with the 580m gtx sli"
06/29/2011 12:14:42PM Agent (Vimala Manasa 356939): "could you give me the order number."

 

there you go ... Vimala Manasa 356939 ... if you can contact that agent, should be able to hook you up.

 

Oh here is another rep, this one was very helpful and also gave me a quote on dual 580m in SLI

Agent (Francisca A): "Jason you call me directly so that i can place the order for you"
06/28/2011 10:19:38AM Jason: "i have to think about it ... but I am not happy (not with you, you were wonderful)"
06/28/2011 10:19:51AM Agent (Francisca A): "You can call me at 1-800-847-4096 ext. 4162160"

 

They'll appear on the website soon enough. Calling has always been the quickest way to get access to new hardware, get the best price and choose options not on the site.

Give them a buzz if you want conformation yourself.

 

That seems the best way if your after a 6990 at the moment, contact a rep via e-mail or phone as they are not on the websites yet. Just a matter of time before they are though. Its just frastrating cos we all want to see the performance/specs of the 6990m.

 

Well they are out there and available. I posted my quote for them in Stevie's thread. No one knows what they are though, but Im sure will find out soon.

 

Hmm, I'm not sure but I read this as ONE card for $800?

 

Dual...well CF right.

 

The desk top version has 2 processors on 1 card, doesn't it? Would they be trying something like that here? Sounds a bit zany to me.

 

Two hours ago, I confirmed 580m with techinical team. Tomorrow we may see the new option of graphic cards avaliable online. However, I believe that many fans had found 580m and 6990m appeared on the techinical specification page for a few hours. I assume that dell may give us a surprise tomorrow that 6990m and 580m will come out at the same time. We may not wait so long.
In terms of 560m, I do not pay attention on it.

 

Im thinking that Dell will only offer maybe three options on the M18x when the new cards are released. One will be a single gpu option. Probably a single 580 or 6990. The other two options will be for either sli 580's or x/f 6990's.

The 6970's are already EOL so wont be in the equation at all.....and there also wont be any point in offering 560m or 460m as they arent flagship gpu's

It will be interesting to see when Dell actually do (if they ever do) offer a 120hz screen for the M18x for those who want the best and to do 3d too.....

 

stevie I have heard the same thing 6970 is going EOL ... will be completely replaced by 6990s....