Buying a GPU in the UK - Newbie Poster!

Hi,

I was hoping someone here would be able to help me. I have been looking to upgrade a few components in my M15x.
I have already upgraded my RAM, have got myself a new CPU to install (an i7-920XM to replace my old i3-330m)

Next I'm looking to get a GPU to replace the NVIDIA GT240m currently installed.

My question is... where is there best place to get hold of a GPU in the UK? I have found loads for sale on eBay but are there any other places to buy them, I have seen here on the forums that it is a good idea to buy from Dell but I've not been able to find any info on their website??!!

Can anybody help?!

Cheers,

Keith.

 

Not sure on other places other than Dell, eBay and these forums.

I brought an Nvidia 770m off eBay, private seller, so got a good price. As always with these things it was fingers crossed that it was working, but had no problems. You've got plenty of GPU choices from a 240m!

 

I would suggest keeping an eye out on the marketplace here on the forum. I bought my 7970M from a NBR forum member and I couldn't be happier.
Obviously don't expect things like warranties but you can always pay through paypal for added security.

 

What GPU are you looking for? I am thinking of upgrading my 560m so might be selling it soon

 

Hi,

Thanks for your responses, I've seen a couple that I like the look of on eBay.
One is a GTX 675m 2GB & the other one is a GTX 770m 3GB card.

I'd like to lean towards the GTX 770m, hoping there's not too much to get it going!

dsmclark, thank you for the offer/suggestion but I'm hoping to get a higher card! But cheers though!

Keith

 

You could try calling DELL directly or ebay.com

 

You're welcome. I am hoping to get a similar card too. Although it think with the M15x we are better sticking with the 6XX series cards as the 7XX are a bit too power hungry and can throttle. I have no experience in this tho but its what I have read on here.

Sam

 

Definitely under no circumstances get a GTX 675m. It is based on the old fermi architecture, and therefore lacks performance, uses more power and runs very hot. GTX 670mx or GTX 675mx are both kepler architecture and a few M15x owners are happily running this cards for some time now. If you insist on going Nvidia then the GTX 680m is your best option in terms of performance, overclocking and running nice and cool.
GTX 770m will probably be overpriced.

Not too sure on the current selling price but AMD 7970Ms will probably offer better value for money and are plug and play. I can score P6850 in 3d mark 11 with plenty more headroom for further overclocking.

Try to get a DELL card rather than a Clevo card, particularly if you do go AMD. You can run into issues with auto fan control and displayport sound not working.

 

I'll avoid the GTX 675m then! Thanks for letting me know!

Been looking around eBay (the only place I can seem to find any GPUs for sale?!) & it looks like the 770m is the most resonable for the price I've been looking to pay, £230 rather than over £350 + for a 680m. Also my budget for the card is £250 (give or take!)
As far as I can see, I've not been able to find any Dell cards, just Clevo. I would give Dell a call but unfortunately I am deaf & can't use the phone! Does anyone have a direct link to a page at Dell that sells GPU cards?

I must say thank you to you all for the great info & help provided so far!

Keith

 

Keep checking here http://forum.notebookreview.com/computer-components/

Someone will upgrade sooner or later and look to sell their 680m, 770m, 7970M etc. Any of these would be a great purchase.
If you get a GTX 680m you'll need to become savvy with tweaking driver inf files and flashing custom vBIOS from Tech Inferno forum, otherwise you can't get full 3d clocks.

7970M is just plug and play but its still advisable to flash an undervolted vBIOS.

 

So if I got a 770m, would I have to tweak the drivers as with the 680m or is the tweaking just limited to the 680m?

Also I have seen an AMD HD 7970M 2GB GDDR5 for sale near(ish) my price range, am I correct in thinking it requires modification?

To be absolutely honest, I'd feel happier with going for a GTX 770m!

 

If you get a 770m then yes, its the same type of tweak for the drivers as the 680m. The on board sound may not work initially, that just needs a bit of twiddling with as well (I haven't yet got mine working, as I don't use it anyway, but others have got it working).

My card is a Dell version, straight out of a new Alienware 17. I brought it off eBay, from a private seller (got lucky as they are not that common), so got it for a much cheaper price (just over £150).

 

Right! I've taken the plunge & have gotten myself a GTX 770m!

Sorry to keep bothering you guys, but could someone point me to the location/links of the tweaks I need to carry out after installing the 770m? I have tried searching the forums for 770m tweaks but can't find any info!?? Am I being stupid?!!

Thanks Again!!

Keith.

 

Take a look here Possible fix for sound issues with Nvidia 7XXm GPUs
The OC bios for the gtx 770m can be found in this thread, bottom of second post but you'll need to become a member NVIDIA Kepler VBIOS mods - Overclocking Editions, modified clocks, voltage tweaks

You'll need to google inf file tweaking of ask one of the nvidia card owners to help you out.

If you don't mind, how much did you end up getting the 770m for?

 

Hi fatboyslimerr,

Found what I was looking for just before I saw your post! Typical! http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/739460-m15x-680m-confused.html

I managed to get a 770m for £229.99 from ebay (they had more than 10 available) After looking around for a long while I thought that was a reasonable price?! The only thing is that it isn't a proper Dell card but I'll give it a try!

I'll let you all know how I get on once I get the 770m & i7-920XM installed!

Cheers,

Keith.

 

Hi All,

Well, I've managed to install the new CPU (i7-920mx) & the GTX 770m today.

The i7 went in like a dream with a 3DMark Vantage score of 14004 (CPU only - originally 6174 with the older i3-330m CPU)

The GTX-770m also went in relatively easily, but the laptop did not recognize the GPU (I can use the laptop as normal), nor did the NVIDIA 332.21 drivers when I tried installing them,
My next course of action was to modify the INF file. After a bloody lot of head scratching I believe I got the INF file modified.
I then tried installing the modified driver, it goes through the process until a Driver Signiture Enforcement message appears, it asks me if I wanted to continue or quit, I press continue, the installer then decides it doesn't like my decision & ends the install process! Bugger!!

I have looked around for info on how to disable the Driver Signiture Enforcement
(see the following thread: Permanently disable driver signature enforcement on Win 7 x64)

But it seems that since microsoft released SP1 for Windows 7, they have disabled the capability to disable the Driver Signiture Enforcement feature!

Has anybody here managed to bypass it?

I have joined the Tech|Inferno forums but seem unable to post or download any relevant files I may need?! Huh??!!

Hope someone here can help!

Kind Regards,

Keith.

 

Space Hippy, I too had the same problem, took a lot of head scratching as you said with the initial INF file. I too got stuck for ages with it just not working.

I have the 331.82 drivers, and managed to get past the driver signature issue. I googled and tried a few, though I cant remember which one worked for me!

Hope you get yours working, if I can get 5 minutes will have a look and see if I can remember what I did.

 

Best value for money the 680M and 7970M. Looks like the new set of cards to be released will refreshes again! Basically 2 generations on. So just get one of those OC it a bit and it will perform the same!

edit: ouch just read you already bought the GPU. I would usually advise gving the midrange Nvidia cards a miss as you have to modify a bunch of stuff and it is hit and miss whether or not the directport/hdmi sound works or not. AMD on the other hand usually are better value for money and work plug and play and fatboyslimeer said above. The 7970M can be had for similar money to what you paid and is the better card too...

For all the tomfoolery required the only card currently worthy from NVidia is the 680M. It does work well and is worth getting to work.