Wrong X-Brackets.

Some people I have met, or spoke with, have come to notice, the videocards they bought from vendors in china, have shipped them with wrong X-Brackets.

The brackets for Alienware/DELL laptops have been used on cards meant for Clevo's or MSI even !

If you have ever noticed, some X-Brackets have a small square, or the square is larger, some cards have an entire backplate meant to help move heat. There is a difference. Even if small.

So, just a heads up, when buying from Monkeys in china or something, they do not ask you what laptop you will use the videocards for, because they simply just send you whatever they want, making it your problem to figure out. Or in this case, sometimes mine, when people come to me after failing with other resellers, or vendors.

For the record, everyone makes mistakes, but you over time come to see patterns from certain vendors.
Just be careful and do full inspection of anything you buy aftermarket/grey market.

 

I don't think blaming vendors for user error is valid. Usually most of the times when you purchase a video card , the default xbracket comes from what ever system it came out of. That's why , the buyer should be aware in the first place. And from vendors itself , they don't cater just to a specific brand of laptop. As for buyers , its their responsibility to know what they are buying, and what needed to make it work.

 

I totally agree that user error is user error and idiots have only themselves to blame. However, unless I am misunderstanding the OP @woodzstack is not referring to people that sell used parts from system pulls. I believe he is speaking of vendors that are selling new parts and actually care if the part they are selling is what the end user needs versus those that are just selling new stuff and do not care if the application is correct for the needs of the customer. There is a big difference between the two, and having a vendor that asks the right questions and delivers a solution that works correctly brings added value. It may or may not cost more to buy from that kind of vendor, but they actually offer greater value because they care about the outcome and want repeat sales.

The people selling used parts are just looking to make money. Nothing wrong with this by any means as long as the parts work as intended, but it's a different scenario than a vendor selling new parts. Where things tend to go south is when the buyer wants to save a few bucks and doesn't really know what they are doing. Saving a few bucks and not knowing what you're doing... that's a dangerous combination right there. But, that's how some people learn how to solve problems rather than just swapping parts and hoping it turns out OK.

In terms of the support plate, aka "x bracket", using the wrong one can short out the card or cause physical damage by coming into contact with things on the GPU or motherboard. If there is not enough space under the GPU for the bracket or other interference you might end bust the PCIe port on the motherboard. One should always study the design of what they are installing and compare it to what they already have rather than haphazardly slapping in whatever parts the courier drops at your door.

 

Just wanting to make sure I am using the right x-brackets / support plates since I recently encountered LCD/motherboard failure

This is a photo of the back of the 780m I installed:
http://m.imgur.com/lud5BYU
http://m.imgur.com/OyqtwZ0

Would this lead to any shorting when installed on an m18x R1, and is there any guide for specific gpus like the one posted for the 580m?

 

That's what you're supposed to have. You're all set.

 

Cool, it really makes you doubt everything when you suddenly have a system failure with no idea why

On a separate note, Do I need to add thermal pads in on the 780m if I am using 5G1VJ & Y48TK (R2's nv100w heatsinks in my R1) that have their own pads:

http://m.imgur.com/qqfYaYZ
http://m.imgur.com/XeLs9Pk

 

No, stock thermal pads are fine. No reason to replace them until they get dried out or start crumbling. I typically recommend placing them on the GPU components before assembling because it is difficult to get them in 100% perfect alignment having them stuck to the heat sink and by placing the pads on the GPU you know the pads are exactly where you want them to be.

 

That answers my questions, Thank you

 

Yeah, as FOX stated, its about being careful to not give the buyer a wrong X bracket.