The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    m 17x-R1 GPU

    Discussion in 'Alienware Area-51/Aurora and Legacy Systems' started by bueller, May 5, 2013.

  1. bueller

    bueller Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I found a few ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 GPU MXM 3.0 type B on ebay for a good price. Are these compatible with the m17x-R1 laptop? I would like to get my sons m17x running again.
     
    bueller, May 5, 2013
    #1
  2. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    88
    Messages:
    613
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Does it have the 8800 in it now from your sig? If so no, you will need the older MXM socket. Best you can fit in is a GTX 280 or 4870/4850. Of course because it fits doesn't mean you won't have heat or compatibility problems.
     
    protivakid, May 5, 2013
    #2
  3. bueller

    bueller Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    bueller, May 6, 2013
    #3
  4. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    88
    Messages:
    613
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Yes that is another newer socket card that will not work. One of the easiest ones to find is the 3870. They last a long time and are all over ebay. People get them to work in their M15x so they may work in your larger notebook as well. Unless you can find someone who has tried certain combinations it's kind of trial and error to test new cards. If you look at the 4850 link in my sig you will see pics of the kind of socket that you have.
     
    protivakid, May 7, 2013
    #4
  5. bueller

    bueller Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I have been looking on ebay and havnt seen any that seem they would work. Ztronics.com doesn't have any ether. There dosnt seem yo be many around.
     
    bueller, May 13, 2013
    #5
  6. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    88
    Messages:
    613
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I just searched "3870 mxm" on ebay and found many cards as low as $100.
     
    protivakid, May 14, 2013
    #6
  7. bueller

    bueller Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    All the cards I saw seem to have a different socket.

    I found the cards you found but I thought the 3870's were 1 gig. What 1 gig cards will work in the m17x-R1?
     
    bueller, May 14, 2013
    #7
  8. Rotary Heart

    Rotary Heart Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    253
    Messages:
    621
    Likes Received:
    216
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I think 4850, but they are hard to find.
     
    Rotary Heart, May 14, 2013
    #8
  9. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    88
    Messages:
    613
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    41
    If you want a 1GB card yes the 4850 & 4870 are your options but they are hard to find. If I remember right there are also 4850's that are 512MB out there so if you do find one make sure it's 1GB. Also there is no guarantee that the VBIOS on the card will work with your laptop, all trial & error bud. There is also a 1GB GTX280 (and a 260 but not sure if those were 1GB) that may work but your temps will probably be high.

    There is a lot of good info @ this site if you are new to the whole MXM thing.

    MXM notebooks before 3.0
     
    protivakid, May 15, 2013
    #9