Alienware M9750 Graphics Cards

I'd like to make a list of cards compatible with the Alienware M9750. Obviously all stock cards work, but there are certain cards I'd like to try, but I'm not sure if they will. For refererence, the Alienware M9750 is MXM2.1.

Cards Known To Work:
Nvidia 7950 GTX (SLI)
Nvidia 8700M GT (SLI)
ATI Mobility Radeon 3870 (CrossfireX)

Cards Thought To Work:
ATI Mobility Radeon 4580

Does Anyone Know If These Work:
Nvidia Quadro 3700m
Nvidia 280M

Those are technically the same card with defferent BIOS's. If anyone has tried these, please post. I will be trying them soon, possibly. They put out alot of heat, but I've cranked up the fans and got Arctic Sliver 5.

 

The nivida GTX 280m is a MXM 3.0 Type-B so no it wont work. You can check nvidia's website for this information you know?

 

I know, I just thought some people might not be able find it or the BIOS didn't recognize certain cards. Also, there is an MXM2.1 280M, along with a 3700M. I just ordered one.

 

The GTX280m is available in MXM 2.1, I shold know, I currently have two that Im working on installing in my Area 51 M17x MXM 2.1 lappy.

Yes the m9750 uses the same MXM format and a GTX280m will physically fit. BUT, I dont think the BIOS will recognize and massive amounts of cooling is necessary.

The 8700m in SLI is a good set up, Id still run that.

Im only trying the dual GTX280m becasue I was bored

 

The GTX280M is MXM-HE so no it wont work, neither will the 8800GTX or any other card that is MXM-HE, the connector simply isnt compatible. If you did manage to butcher one in it would overheat horrendously, the m9750 does not have the best cooling system in the world. The cooling system can just handle the HD3870's which run much cooler than the 280M.

 

I did a copper mod on the card heatsinks long ago. It is compatible with the slot though, and I talked to a guy that tried it. He said it worked, as a 3700M or a 280M, but there is no external display. I've rarely use the external on my M9750, so I'm giving it a shot.

 

The guy who tried it had a heavily underclocked card because the slot is not properly compatible, it doesnt have a full length connector and therefore doesnt receive the power it requires. It also overheated, the drivers were hard to install and the BIOS didnt like it.
If you want a headache try it if you dont stick with a good card like the 3870

 

I realized it may not be possible without a headache. Im modestly experienced, but by no means an expert, so it's a toss on weather I may be able to get it to work. I was planning to got with 3870's in Crossfire, since I just found a Crossfire cable, but I wanted to try this first since it is much faster.

 

When you consider that the 280M is barely cool enough in the M15x which has a much better cooling system I personally wouldnt bother trying to get the 9750 to cool it properly. Copper mod or not the cooling system still isnt going to be good enough I dont think.

 

It probobly wont be. I will undervolt and downclock it if I have to.

 

Kevman please listen to all of the advice, you are going to waste alot of money to down clock and down volt a card. In the end you wont have a card that can out perform a 8800gtx/9800gt, will cost more, and be a pain to keep going.

Yes "they" said two GTX280m's wouldnt work in mine, but someone made one work in the M15x so the proof was there that it was a possibility. There is proof that the HE cards dont work. In spirit of moding go with a 3870. Im just trying to not be a hipercrit. Good Luck.

 

I have a recommendation:

8800m GTS.

-low 50w TDP like the 3870

-will run with 9800m GT vbios

-has SLI connector

-will run at 9800m GTS clocks and stock 1v

Not true.

What are you pretending to be so knowledgeable about, mechanics or electronics?
Sure, if there is something physically blocking where the HE tab would be, then you have problems. But a GPU will work HE tab or not, really the HE tab is totally useless. The manufacturers randomly decided to do it, they probably just liked their rectangles to be more perfect.

The actual power supplied to the card is not through the HE tab and the notebook supplying it just depends on the voltage ICs.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/507923-msi-gt627-1651-works-fx-3700m-full-clocks.html

 

I'm really not blowing any money. I talked to the guy who I bought it from who said if it dosen't work, I can just get a full refund. Its more of an experiment than a long term thing, unless I get it to run with no hiccups. I am planning to do 3870 CF if this dosen't work, which will be great too.

 

If it does work, what are you going to do?

Tell him it works but you want to return it anyway because its burning your notebook up?

This is why I recommend the 8800m GTS instead.
Also, the performance of 1 3700m will not be better than the CF 3850.

 

It'll be about the same. The maon reason is it'll be cheaper. It was $190, compared to $425 for CF 3870's. If I get it working, in acceptable temps, I'll keep it, but I'll prolly return em.

 

Well, this may just work. Got it in the mail today. Installed it, and it gave me an error saying it didn't have to correct MXM structure. (HE tab) It booted after the 30 second countdown, and got right into windows. IT installed a driver, and it works. Its sitting at a comfortable 65C at idle, and the max temp is 105C, so it should be able to game without changes. It'll go lower when I install new thermal paste monday. So heres my problem. When in booted, it installed the Generic VGA adapter driver. I need the Nvidia driver for it. So, I downloaded it, but when I tried to install, it said I didn't have the correct hardware. HWiNFO32 recognizes it as a 3700M, so what gives? Any suggestions? If I get the driver in, it'll work great.

 

Well, I got the driver on using a modded INF. It maxed at 85C on 3DMark06, so im happy. Can anyone provide me with the 280M MXM 2.1 BIOS? I want to flash it and see performance and compatibility differences.

 

Wait a minute so your saying that your lap top recognized the 3700, and the fans came on, AND you can use HWINFO32 to control your fans?????

What is wrong with mine? Why the heck wont a newer platform turn the fans on????

Ill post up BIOS this evening when I get home from work.

HOwd you force in the driver using the INI, what driver did you use?

 

85 is too hot for 3dMark06 it doesnt stress the card for a sufficient period of time for it to get to the max temp. I'd be very concerned if its running that hot just with 3DMark. 105C is far too hot and will seriously reduce the cards lifespan running at that temp for any period of time. Just try a reasonably modern game to see what the actual gaming temp reaches.
Just remember that without the HE part providing extra power your limited to 4A output from the slot. 19v*4 = 76w so your really pushing the power limits with the card rated at 75w. I cant remember the battery rating off hand but I think it's about 14 (14v*4 = 56w) so I hope it downclocks on the battery sufficiently to meet with the power requirements.

 

It has dropped further, the thermal paste needed to set in. I played Crysis 2 at 1400x900 at Gamer, about 30 FPS for an hour. 75C. Pretty good. The battery is 14.8, but dosent work, so I run it on AC. I didn't have to mod the fans, it just kicks em in. I used 270.28 with the modded INI. The temps should drop lower when I put on new thermal paste tonight, or in an hour when it gets here. FYI, my single 7950 played MW2 at 1024x768 at 45FPS. I max every setting at 1400x900 and this is above 60. I'd love to see what it can do with a 280M BIOS, but I want to get this very stable first.

Edit: Driver. http://laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/win7x64/270.28

 

The error that is about MXM structure, it has nothing to do with the HE tab.

It's saying that your bios and vbios are not happy with each other. If you try a vbios from another GPU, that error could go away.

Paralel had upgraded his clevo with an fx 3700m, now the 3700m was supported by his notebook, so no mxm structure problem.
But then he flashed the 280m vbios onto the card, the 280m was not supported by his bios, so he got the mxm structure error. His notebook has a full MXM 2.1 type HE slot.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/513308-advice-upgrading-clevo-m570ru-3.html

So if you find a compatible vbios, you could save yourself 30 secs after POST.

 

I want to flash it to a 280M, but it decided it wasn't an nvidea card and didnt want to work. I'm going to find the newest possible version of nvflash.

 

Downloaded the newest NVFLASH. Backed up the 3700M BIOS, and flashed on the 280M. Booted up, put on drivers, no problems, whatsoever. Temps are a bit higher, but the new thermal paste needs a few days to procure. I'm going to check some things and get back with some benchmarks. This has me wondering if you could run these dual in SLI. It has an SLI chipset.

 

No more structure error?

You're lucky, got a nice 3700m that plays well as a 280m. My 3700m will give me artifacts when flashed to a 280m and the driver has been installed.

 

The only issue with SLI is your only leaving 1a of power for the rest of the system which might brick your PSU.

 

No, the structure error is still there. I wouldn't want to try SLI. I'd probobly set my table/lap on fire.

 

I've discovered somthing. At least in Crysis 2, this card is very CPU limited. At all resolutions the FPS' are all within 5 of each other constantly. This isn't true of MW2, however.

 

What clocks and voltage are you using on the 280m vBIOS?
I've found a solution to make it run cooler. 520/1300, 1v is pretty cool, you may be able to get high 70s max temp.

 

I haven't modded them. I will check them next time I go on a game, but its at 0.85 now, idle.