HP FX 3700M card for Area-51 M15x

I bought a couple Area-51 M15x laptops recently. Both have 8800M GTX cards that may have issues so I'm looking into my options (I know, there's tons of threads already on this very topic).

I went ahead and already ordered 1 card on ebay because it seemed like a great deal. I just wanted to know if I ordered a compatible MXM 2.1 card for this laptop? Looks like an MXM 2.1 Type III. Here's the ebay link: Hp nVidia Quadro FX 3700M 1 GB Video Card NB9E-GLM3 - eBay (item 300540821257 end time Apr-03-11 23:03:58 PDT)

It's an FX 3700M for $115, so I thought it was a hell of a deal, and didn't want to pass it up. If this doesn't work, then I'll go the ATI 3870 route for about $160.

The 2nd question I had was what copper shim size should I get for the gpu?

 

I have a chance at buying 3 or more 3870s for $135 each (I have to buy at least 3 though). Very tempting offer.

 

bump, anyone?

 

Well, thatis a good deal. I got the one in my M9750 for $195. I flashed it to a 280M. Seeing as the card worked in my older M9750, I think it should. I'm very surious about seeeing whether I can get 280M SLI In the M9750.

 

did your card look identical to this 1 (or same model #)? If so, it will work in mine, Thanks! I should receive it tomorrow or Monday, and I'll probably do the same (flashing to GTX280M), but I might modify the bios to lower the voltage & clocks (don't need to overheat this right away).

 

Exactly the same. What CPU does that have? I may want one if you have multiples.

 

I have an X9000 =)

I bought 2 of these m15x's and supposedly both had bad gpu's. I got the 1st laptop on Wednesday and it had a faulty Windows 7 install. I re-installed Windows 7 and the 8800m GTX worked fine. I get the 2nd laptop next week I think (it also has an X9000).

 

Are you interestedin selling the second one?

 

Does anyone have a definitive answer as to whether these HP FX3700 cards will work in the Area-51 m15x and, if so, can they then be flashed to GTX280 and is a bios upgrade is necessary?

I read on another forum that a Lenovo FX3700 will work but needs a heatsink mod and I'm assuming it's the same case with the HP ones. I don't mind modding the heatsink but need to know if the HP card will work first before I part with any cash!

 

Yes it will work as prooved in numerous threads. Yes you can flash GTX280m MXM 2.1 BIOS to it. No the HDMI wont work. No drivers past 186.xx wont work due to a BIOS conflict.

 

Thanks for the info - I tried searching threads but the search just kept taking me back to the home page for some reason

 

Search is broken, use google and click more results from NBR.

You can only flash HP cards that have a ...10 BIOS sticker to the 280m or 260m
There are Lenovo cards which can be flashed to 9800m GTX and probably run in SLI.