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    GPU Upgrading - anyone done it?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Mystik, Jul 8, 2008.

  1. Mystik

    Mystik Notebook Deity

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    Anyone ever upgraded their AW notebook's GPU after ~a year or more of owning their computer?

    anyone? just curious what I can expect to see for upgrading availability in the future... Kinda wanna put an 8800M-GTX into the system before too long... maybe for summer next year (~April 2009?)... I just hope AW will still carry the GPUs for the m15x at that time.
     
    Mystik, Jul 8, 2008
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  2. kefka888

    kefka888 Notebook Geek

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    Since they are using MXM modules now it isn't as hard to find an upgrade. While I haven't upgraded an Alienware I have upgraded the video card in my old Dell Inspiron 9300 (bought in 2005) from a 6800 to a 7800 gtx (upgraded in 2006). I got the 7800 gtx on ebay but I could have ordered it from Dell. This is also a proprietary design so the only maker is Dell. You can still buy them on Ebay and probably even Dell (I haven't checked)

    http://cgi.ebay.com/NVIDIA-GeForce-...ryZ74957QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    As you can see you can still buy one 2-3 years later.

    I'm sure they will still be selling this laptop in 1-2 years and will have no issue upgrading your video card to whatever is the best at the time.
     
    kefka888, Jul 8, 2008
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  3. kobe

    kobe Notebook Virtuoso

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    It's possible to upgrade later on. But, maybe by then you can upgrade to something more powerful like the 9800M GTX :D
     
    kobe, Jul 8, 2008
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  4. exiled

    exiled -_-

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    the chance of the m15x getting a 9800M GTX is pretty close to 0. The M860TU cant handle the heat from the 9800M GTX so i doubt the m15x can. It would be a miracle if the m15x can handle the heat from the 9800M GTX :rolleyes:
     
    exiled, Jul 8, 2008
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  5. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    Upgraded my Area-51 m7700 from the 7800GTX 256MB video module to the 7950GTX 512MB module about 8 months ago. No problem at all, even though AW said that it couldn't be done. The 7950 runs just as hot as the 7800, but I notice a lot more performance and it's just as stable as when the 7800 was in there.
     
    WhapAChow, Jul 9, 2008
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  6. Mystik

    Mystik Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for everyone's input. I feel a lot better about my computer now.

    I want to do the upgrade maybe April of next year, and my biggest concern is availability of parts. I don't want to get a used card for fear of ordering one that's defective... I'd rather order from AW itself.

    So, as long as I have a reasonable confidence that AW will stock the 8800M GTXs for the m15x well into 2009, I'm happy. :)
     
    Mystik, Jul 9, 2008
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