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    Add second GPU to m9750?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by sfarias, Jun 4, 2008.

  1. sfarias

    sfarias Newbie

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    I just got the m9750 with the single Geforce 8700M GT graphics card and the base Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz CPU. In fact it's the base model all the way except I had them add wireless N and I am adding RAM myself for a total of 4 GB.

    Now I am having buyer's remorse on the single graphics card and wondering:

    • Whether I can install a second GPU myself (though I don't know whether I would get a second 8700M other than a scrap notebook later on)
    • Whether it is worth the trouble - is the improvement noticeable playing games like Bioshock or Second Life.

    Any comments, help would be appreciated.
     
    sfarias, Jun 4, 2008
    #1
  2. frozenarcticguy

    frozenarcticguy Notebook Deity

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    I would upgrade the cpu first then the 2nd card. Upgrading is easy but you might void your warrenty if you upgraded the cpu yourself. Adding a 2nd gpu would def' help with the games
     
    frozenarcticguy, Jun 4, 2008
    #2
  3. brainer

    brainer Notebook Virtuoso

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    yes, the improvement is very noticable in Bioshock, like up to 85% but the second game i dont know, but i think you should get the t7200 (2ghz) to be in the safe side with SLI
     
    brainer, Jun 4, 2008
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  4. HaloGod2007

    HaloGod2007 Notebook Virtuoso

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    HaloGod2007, Jun 4, 2008
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  5. brainer

    brainer Notebook Virtuoso

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    yup, i totally forgot about that, but the max he can go is 2ghz which is very sufficient even for Crysis
     
    brainer, Jun 4, 2008
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  6. HaloGod2007

    HaloGod2007 Notebook Virtuoso

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    yea, the ram is what kills the overclocking in notebooks...his ram should be able to run at 800mhz cl5, so he should be able to go 400-500mhz higher on the overclock...so like 2.1 or 2.2ghz
     
    HaloGod2007, Jun 4, 2008
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  7. brainer

    brainer Notebook Virtuoso

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    not quite, my CPU can only go to 2.2 ghz max, he Needs to get a 800mhz ram if he wants to consider high OCing
     
    brainer, Jun 4, 2008
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  8. HaloGod2007

    HaloGod2007 Notebook Virtuoso

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    well every 667 set of notebook ram ive dealt with could do 800mhz cl5 easy....its because you have your ram timings at 5-4-4-5 that you cant overclock higher right? loosen them up to 5-5-5-15 and you will see a higher oc and faster ram
     
    HaloGod2007, Jun 4, 2008
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  9. sfarias

    sfarias Newbie

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    Hey, thanks for your replies to my first post, guys. This is a friendly forum. I will look into OC'ing my CPU first, then later consider either replacing the CPU and/or finding a matching GPU.
     
    sfarias, Jun 4, 2008
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  10. brainer

    brainer Notebook Virtuoso

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    @ Halogod no, i've set the timing on that because my CPU couldnt overclock any higher than 2.25 ghz. maybe because its merom but i doubt it, so after i saw i cant overclock any further, i tightened the ram timings
     
    brainer, Jun 5, 2008
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  11. Levenly

    Levenly Grappling Deity

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    what do you mean you're limited to 2.25 ghz? what are you using to OC?
     
    Levenly, Jun 5, 2008
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  12. brainer

    brainer Notebook Virtuoso

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    i'm using Clockgen, since setfsb crashes on me
     
    brainer, Jun 5, 2008
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  13. Levenly

    Levenly Grappling Deity

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    you can adjust the slider past 2.25ghz? or is there some actual physical limitation because of the RAM speed that even if you clock past 2.25 it won't actually work. i can technically drag the slider to clock it at 5 Ghz or something.
     
    Levenly, Jun 5, 2008
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  14. brainer

    brainer Notebook Virtuoso

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    yup, a tech issue, if it even clocks higher than 2.25 it will revert to 2.25 no matter what is the FSb. i dont know what RAM i should be getting to be able to overclock a bit more maybe 2.4
     
    brainer, Jun 6, 2008
    #14