M17 GPU upgrade ordered -- Email included

Hey Guys,

Ok i am hoping to place this to rest.

I have ordered the M17 upgrade, the 4870's ARE NOT coming to m17 due to heat issues and MXM compatibility.

we have 4850's available now! as per my order below These are the same cards as the asus machine and are DDR3 4870's really


From: [email protected]
> To:
> CC:
> Subject: ALIENWARE ORDER NOTIFICATION.

> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 04:39:56 -0400
>
> Dear PETER COLLINS
>
> Your Order#:1133992 was received.
>
> Item(s) Ordered:
> [Item:M17 ATI RADEON M98 1GB HD4850 SLAVE, Qty:1]
>
> [Item:M17 ATI RADEON M98 1GB HD4850 MASTER, Qty:1]
>
>
>
>
> If you have any questions regarding your order, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department by replying to this e-mail.

>


i removed the email address for my privacy

Here is the RMA confirmation as well

From: [email protected]
> To:
> CC:
> Subject: ALIENWARE ORDER NOTIFICATION.
> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 04:32:54 -0400
>
> Dear PETER COLLINS
>
> We have received a Repair Request Order. We have assigned a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number to your case, which we will use to track and identify the request. Please make a note of this number and bear in mind that this RMA number will be valid for the next 30 days. Your RMA number is:
>
> Please package the computer in the original packaging it shipped with or in other adequate packaging. Once the computer has arrived, it will be diagnosed, repaired, integrated and sent back to you in working condition.
>
> Take note of the following:
>
> Back up any important or personal information on your hard drive before shipping the computer. Depending on the operating system stability, your computer may or may not be formatted during the integration process, and your
> stored information may be lost.
>
> In order to assist us in properly repairing and testing your system, do not password-protect the operating system or the computer's BIOS as it may affect the repairs of the computer. If the computer's operating system is already password-protected, remove the passwords before sending it in for repair.
>
> Make sure to use proper packaging when shipping the computer back to Alienware. We recommend that you use the original box and packing material the computer shipped with when you first received it. If other packaging material must be used, please be sure it is rated for the computer's shipment weight. Alienware is not responsible for damage caused by packages that are not properly packed.
>
> Do not include any peripherals with the computer unless they are directly related to the issue at hand. This includes, but is not limited to, batteries, AC power adaptors, keyboards and other external peripherals as they are not required for the repair process. Extra shipping costs may be incurred for included accessories.
>
> Once the system is boxed please mark this reference clearly on the outside Ref: Please make a note of this number and bear in mind that this RMA (return order number) number will be valid for the next 30 days only.
>
> Alienware will not accept delivery of any shipment where there is no reference number.
>
> You will need to leave the box open for the DHL courier to carry out a security check. Once this check is complete you can seal the box and give it to the DHL courier.
>
> Contact DHL in the UK on 08701 100 300 and quote our DHL Account number 962 963 883. Arrange with a DHL representative for the system to be collected and returned to us.
>
> Desktops - 20kgs, Area 51 m7700 Notebook - 10kgs, Area 51 m5700 Notebook - 9 kgs, All other Notebooks - 8kgs
>
> Please ship your unit to the following Alienware repair facility as shown below:
>
> Ref: RO1133990D
> Alienware Ltd
> Building 2
> Blyry Industrial Estate
> Athlone, Co. Westmeath
> IE
>
> If you have any questions concerning your repair, simply reply to this e-mail.
>
> Thank you for choosing Alienware.

Hopefully this places the whole arguement to rest so people can now upgrade the GPUS

GO GO GO

 

So, and how much are these 2, may I ask?
Will these 4850's have GDDR5?
How much will these be faster than the 3870's?

 

including postage for the pair was £343

gimme upgrade ^^

 

Can you not keep hold of your old slave 3870 and cable, i'd buy. Sorry if this is not allowed....

 

i dont think they will send the old cards back to me, im guessing they keep them in part ex

 

You should have taken those 3870's out before you sent it in, you own those cards as you've already paid for em, if i were you i'd talk to them and make sure you get them to send em back to you, then you can sell "your 3870's".

 

havent sent the laptop yet, waiting for dhl to come prob monday to collect it

 

£343 for a pair!?! Probably going to wait to see the temps on those cards then send mine as well

 

You should pull at least one of those 3870's out right now, maybe leave one in so they can boot the laptop to flash the BIOS to support the new cards if they have to, and then talk to a tech and tell him to package your other 3870 you sent it in there with to send back to you after the swap is complete as you do own these cards and there is no reason why you should let dell keep one or both of them for free when you can sell them. There are a lot of people here on NBR who would gladly buy them off you for a good price.

 

so we now know what the score with AW is regarding the upgrades, the tech rep i spoke to specifically said the machine must be as the order, if i take the cards out i expect they will reject the machine

£343 is cheap for the xfire really, so i suspect would be more expensive if i just ordered the cards and wasnt sending the machine back

 

Should be cheaper if they are just sending you the cards as there is no labor involved.

 

Yeap thats what i think as well, the price is that low since they are planning to keep those cards. I guess if someone with 1 gpu decides to upgrade will find out

 

thats nice.

 

From what I've heard the reason 4870s can't be used is because of the two different slots in the M17. One of the slots doesn't support them. (Someone correct me if this is incorrect) However, it CAN take a single 4870.

Keeping this in mind, and keeping in mind that according to ATi the 4850 and 4870 are compatible in crossfire...couldn't you have a 4870 and 4850 in Xfire in the M17?

 

When i ordered and paid for mine just now they only offered the 4850

that was the only upgrade path possible for the forseeable according to them this morning

 

Might as well call and ask about that to be honest, although id still go for the 4850x2, crossfire is bad enough i dont wanna to have 3 issues instead of 2

Crossfire, drivers, notebook hybrid crossfire

 

Oh wow two 4850s is a huge upgrade. You guys should be really happy!

 

this is correct one slot if different from the other.

 

Not only that, check the price to upgrade both cards

 

Okay, so who's going to order an extra card, then sell it to me?

I want a 4850 in my next M860ETU.

 

Cant you just... order one ?

 

I heard Alienware won't sell to consumers who don't own Alienware notebooks. True?

 

Yeah, 4850s come very close to 4870s which is what we wanted. According to what I'm reading the only difference is the memory-4870s have GDDDR5 at 888MHz compared to the 4850s which have GDDDR3 at 850MHz. Looking at that, the difference will be minimal, especially seeming as games don't even really utilize GDDDR5 well yet.

And the price is incredible! Only just above 300 pounds for this upgrade is a really, really good price. I don't know about other people but I'm very satisfied with this. Thanks, Alienware! Looks like they decided to keep the M17 alive just a little longer, which is great.

Anyone know how long it'd take them to upgrade it from the day you ship it to the day it gets back to you? I'm probably going to upgrade this Christmas but I'll only be in England for about 2 weeks. In most cases I'd say I'm not worried at all, it shouldn't take them a week even. However, my laptop's now been in their warehouse for 9 days waiting to be shipped to me, and they say it won't ship until Monday. Two weeks nearly...And this worries me if I send it in for an upgrade. I'd have to be sure they'd finish and it'd get back to me in less than 2 weeks.

 

no they wont, they wanted all my info before they would even speak to me about the upgrade

 

That's what I figured.

Would the mind finding out the price for a single 4850, assuming the person isn't trading in their 3870?

 

id love one also.. we can split a pair kev if someone would order the set..edit i forgot about the different slots.. i need a master card as well if anyone is interested in helping out..

 

they said to me that they will have the laptop for about a week

 

I have just call alienware EU 1 mins ago. they told me that it is not possible to upgrade to HD 4850 yet -.- what!? is that??
btw how do you get this upgrade?!?! Pmanuk .

 

well i got my order confirmed and an RMA number, im good to go

 

Make sure you keep us informed when they arrive If the temps are good (well atleast as high as 3870's temps then ill probably gonna place my order a few mins after that

Thats the only thing that actually worries me

 

I don't want to not believe you but with all the back and forth on the subject, my gut wouldn't be shocked if AW ended up mistakenly sending you desktop cards.

 

i may order these tomorrow, im gonna see if they will send them to me since my warranty is voided anyway and im in Iraq, lol.

 

well i have a guy calling me back as to why you were not able to order them as well

i will let you know what he says

 

im sending my machine back to AW they gave me the dell shipping numbers

so i would like to see em fit them in my m17

 

ok just had a call from the technical manager, stating that the upgrade they WILL offer is the 4850's he confirmed the price. He also confirmed they take the old cards as PX and ordering them serperatly is not an option at the moment due to the modications needed to the m17 to accept the cards.

HOWEVER he couldnt give me a shipping date as they only have the prototypes in and he confirmed they have ordered the retail ones and i have effectivly pre-ordered them and he promised to give me a call when they arrive so i can send my machine in.

He esitmated that would be up to 4 weeks before the cards are received by AW and once they receive my laptop the turn around will be about 7 days

Pete

 

please someone call aw and ask them about SINGLE 4870, i cant because i dont live in the us .

 

think i answered your question there

 

Hello

I have just got off the phone with tech support and the guy I spoke to gave me information that completely contradicts what others have said.

He told me that the £333 price for the pair is not dependant on returning the old cards. He said for the price I would be shipped 2 4850's when they come in stock as they use the original heat sink with no other issues and I can keep my old 3870's.

So as per usual completely different information from different tech support agents.

 

i just called my source at dell who is a regional manager sales guy and he called the main offices and then called me back (lol) he said the cards can be shipped and the price should NOT include taking your old cards. BUT if you send the system in chances are it will most likely not be sent back with the old cards as alienware division normally does not send back old parts with the system when its sent back (at least usually is the case from what he see's). BUT to add if you remove the cards yourself prior to sending it in and they recieve it without cards they can at their option opt NOT to do the upgrade due to warranty.

so he suggests best overall way is to have the cards sent to you if you feel comfortable changing them (its really SO easy on the m17). he also said they are in DELL'S system and should in the very near future be able to be ordered from dell parts as replacement parts. so for those that have other systems such as whitebooks or the msi i want the card for you will at that point be able to order them.

the last thing he stated was that the single 4870 option may or may not happen at all. he does not believe they will offer both 4850 and 4870. so if you go single you most likely will want the 4850 anyway and the "scheduled" 4870 they did have is not saying it is NOT REPEAT NOT gddr5 it is listed in the tech sheets they have as gddr3 so i will assume its mearly the 4850 card clocked higher which can be done anyway if you want with the 4850.

this is not info from me personally called alienware. this came from a regional sales manager who is with dell not aw. so take it for what you will he still could end up being proved wrong but this is the direct info he was given this morning on the phone.

 

well that doesnt completley contradict what has been said, just that you may or may not a new heatsink

 

i forgot to ask about the heatsink, ill call him again after lunch and see if he think its supposed to include a new one with the set

 

zfactor

Any chance you can ask your source to look into what the REAL lead times are with the M17x??

My source isn't emailing me back (probably too busy )

 

see if you can confirm if the price is higher if you just order the cards, as £343 seems cheap if you get to keep the 3870's

 

Well it contradicts the original tech support guy saying that the laptop had to be returned when it looks more and more like it wont have to be.

 

ill ask him on the m17x also after lunch he was pretty busy so i dont want to bother him again this morning. but when i asked a couple days ago he said from the notes he was given at that time they prob would not start till end of june beg of july


i will ask but im sure the price may be different from the usa to the uk

 

pm sent

EDIT: DOH! didn't realize that you saw my post

 

my whole dilemma lies in the fact that i know of one single whitebook left that i can get for under 1000$ with blu ray and dual 3870's brand new from a distributor i know then add this upgrade ... or get the m17x with the dual 280's..... the whitebook will be a lot less but i REALLY like the new m17x

 

Those 4870s are for the M17 or could they be the ones slated for the M17x?

 

no the one single option that *may* come for the m17 NOT the m17x.. he has no info as to which ddr type will be used yet on the m17x..but as he said he highly doubts after adding the 4850 they will also add another gddr3 4870 option for the m17 he said it will just not sell

 

4850s eh? That's great! Only difference between a 4870 is the extra 50mhz in core speed (which I assume can be easily attainable) and GDDR5. And 1gb per card I'm sure would help a lot!