Upgrading GPU's

Hi all,
I've been working a bit recently on my M17x-R1, it's about 8 months old now, got Core2 eXtreme X9000 @2,8ghz 4gb ddr2 and 8700m GT Sli. I was thinking next month of upgrading my graphics to maybe 8800m GTX Sli or a 9800m GTX Sli. I usually work with desktops, but have taken tons of dell laptops to pieces, replaced motherboards etc, but never an alienware. I was wondering if these GPU's are standard, will any 9800m GTX sli fit in my laptop, or the new 260/280's for instance.

Appreciate any help

Zach.

 

good question ....i was wondering that my self ...a good person to ask is quad......he will atleast lead you in the right direction...good luck

 

New 260/280 won't fit

9800m gtx sli will fit but no body has tested it ... Word is they were gonna release it but didn't like the m17 was gonna get a single 9800mgtx

 

my appologies...moo....is a great guy to ask questions also

 

The mxminyour laptop is 2.1 the new ones are 3.0 you can fit a single 260/280

 

Thanks for the info Moo.

I know these laptops were shipped with the upgrade option to 8800m GTX sliwhich is believe is the same as 9800m GT sli, is the 9800M GTX much different in terms of architechture and size? Or is it the possible heat problems.

Cheers for your input benthedogtrainer.

Zach.

 

Removed last post nice i thougt we were talking about the M17 .

 

I think the 4850's look awesome too, I'd love to find out. My M17x seems to be different to everyone elses, mines the M17x-R1, a little bit older than the what everyone else seems to play with. Would it be worth me taking the bottom off to find out the motherboard version?
Sorry I didn't give u any props Quad, but I was replying while you was posting hehe.

Zach.

 

it is different the card physically is different ...i tried that one and failed ..crash and burn...

 

Yeah i had a case of mistaken identity with your machine since i thought your were talking about the M17 not the m17x . Thats how you can tell between the new and the old actually is the M is capitalized .


M17x

m17x-Area 51.


The 4850s wont fit into yours atleast not both i dont believe since your chipset does not support Crossfire.

I think you might be able to get 9800GTXs in there possibly SLI since there MXM 2.1 from say a Clevo but man there so expensive your better off with a whole new machine.

 

Cool, I don't really get the MXM thing, so to put it plain and simple, my upgrade options are either, 8800m GTX Sli, 9800m GT sli, 9800m GTX sli.

I'll have to keep checking for these cards then, see if any1 has any for sale, I saw some 8800GTX's go recently, was gutted I missed out on them.

Thanks for everyone's input.
Zach.

 

I would spend as little as possible upgrading that machine . Its a great machine but the 9800GTX even if they worked would cost you upwards of $1000.00 or more and the other thing you may have an issue with is the heatsinks they need. I dont think the 8700s used the same heatsinks as the 8800s i could be wrong but its been that way on other models since the 8700s didnt need that much cooling like the others do. So you could end up with set of cards you could not use and that could get ugly unless you just have money to burn .

 

yep and trust me its a lot of money for very little satisfaction....

take the advice ..new machine ...

 

Yeah I don't fancy that aggro, is there a way of finding out?

 

Im not positive there would be all that much info on the web about it quite frankly . Why not just call AW and see if they have the 9800s for sale for it ?

 

Yeah I'll give that a go, don't always find their customer support too good

See what happens


Thanks for your time and help.
Zach.

 

Yeah no problem and good luck.

 

9800m gtx will cost slot !

 

I talked to Randall in the AW tech support about video card upgrades for my wife's m15x (going from an 8600). He was very helpful. Just to give an idea of pricing, they want $211 for a 3870 and around $540 for a 9800 GT.

 

Cool, My dream would be a couple of 9800 GTX's but 8800GTX's or 9800GT's would do. Gonna have to save for a few months though

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

Well go on eBay n get one cuz aw = overpriced

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Dell-XPS-...ards?hash=item4cea9479bc&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Would this work ok?

 

nope your system should be 2 separate cards and that ones a combo deal.

 

Cool, thanks for the info, I'll keep a lookout then

Cheers mate.

 

Keep on the lookout in the market place as well

 

Funny how they call it the greatest laptop card ever made

*cough* GTX 280M *cough*

 

nice..lol

 

Yeah, I was lmao reading their description. A few generations old, but still the best ever, rofl.
"This card is the best labtop gaming card EVER made"
Typical sales pitch.



Zach

 

the 8800m GTX was considered the most revolutionary card made. seeing that the performance from the 8700m to the 8800m was more than double in performance. 8800m GTX was where it all really started for the hardcore laptop gamers. and that was a few years ago. today the 280m is not a big revolutionary card. the next released card better double the performance of the 280m or it Nvidia will lose to ATI. AMD has just jumped on the 2000 3000 and 4000 ATI laptop drivers. won't be long when AMD releases a driver that supports true CrossfireX for the w90. those mobile 4870 are gona eat the 280ms.

 

You mean 4850's

 

quadzilla is correct, the heatsink is different and IT WILL GET HOT, ive been there and tested it out. The heat is the main problem right now. you need the heatsink that fit definately.

 

Ah man, so to get 8800GTX I'd need to buy cards and heatsinks?

Pain in the bside.

Might have to make do with the 8700m's

 

you need the heatsink i cant stress that enough, it burned out my new 8800m gtx fast with longer useage at the temperature it was going. i was actually using 8700m heatsink on the 8800m gtx and well it got so hot the card went poof. my poor poor brand new 8800m gtx card, i miss it. What a waste of money it went down the toliet.

 

Im still not 100% sure that the 8700s didnt use the same one as the 8800s in the m17x-area 51 and for all we know they did and did not have multiple heatsink variations for that model. The m15x used different ones though based on the card you had in it but that does not mean they all do.

 

hey quad the old one uses the same heatsink as m15x. i lost an 8800m gtx on it after 2 months of useage by using the 8700 heatsink. And my m15x as well. they both get extremely hot and heatsink is really really needed. I wasted so much money on those brand new 8800m gtx. I used to own m15x and m17x- r1 model.

 

Doh. Spent a fair bit on my R1 recently, new LCD (one of the ccfl's went on mine) Blu-ray player, and an alien fx kit. Just wanted to upgrade the GFX to finish it off, set me up for a couple of years

Would love to have a couple of 9800m gtx's!

Zach.

 

I did not know you owned a m17x-A51 so thats good to know then it wont work without the proper heatsinks and you saved Spyder some money on that end then.

 

yea dont end up like me? it was the worst money sinker for me, ever. I seriosuly got pissed off on that incident.

 

Yeah I bet, thanks for helping me to avoid that. Cheers dude.

SO ltb 9800m gtx x2 + heat sinks!!!! hehe.

Zach.

 

By them time you find all that stuff you can just sell your machine and use that money to buy a brand new M17x and be much more secure for the future including quadcore support etc.

 

How much do you think I could sell my rig for?

X9000
8700m GT Sli
250& 150 gb hd's
Blu-ray player
1200p 1920x1080 screen.
8 Months old.
Great condition.

 

Thats a tough question to answer honestly . How much did you pay ? and then im sure others can chime in on the current value.

 

I'm interested for some one else ...

 

It was £2700 new which with current xchange is 4466.27

Zach.

 

Yea but you would be extremely lucky to get 1000

 

is that a $1000 or £1000?

 

$


The m17x with those specs is like 15000 new the machine was super super overpriced

 

If i sold it, I'd probably whack it on ebay, one went last week with the basic processor the 2.4ghz for £1050 not $ so mine should fetch at least £1100 on there.

 

O yea on eBay they will because of noobs

My whitebook sold for 1400 so.....

You would have a very very hard time selling it here

 

selling it on ebay will vary from time to time. When i first posted up my M1730, highest bid was $1100. i set reserve at $1300. second time i posted it, i took really nice pictures and posted several pictures of the M1730 and everything that is included in the auction. It sold for $1400. i had the 8800m GTX sli 4gb rams and a slow 2.4 duo t7700 CPU and 200x2 raid 0 hd.