mALX 7900gtx card in an m7700

I have an Alienware m7700 that I was just going to part out because the video card (GeForce 6800) is dead ad I feel that replacement is pricey and problematic. Now, I think I want to get it working again instead. The motherboard is the AMD 939 version, so I am not sure about the motherboard revision.

My question is this: Can I buy the 7900gtx that is for an Alienware mALX and remove the heatsink apparatus that that comes with this 7900gtx (and appears to be for an mALX only) and use the heatsink apparatus from the 6800 with the "bare" 7900gtx?

Thanks for any help!

 

the 7950 puts out way more heat and prolly would fry witht he 6800 heatsink i unno though

 

I dont even know where to start with ^this... almost 100% of what this kid says is either totally wrong or irrelevant to the question.

An actual response:

Theoretically it would be possible, and here is why:
1.) the mALX is a rebadged Clevo, as is the m7700; hence I am almost certain they both use the standard clevo proprietary graphics interface.
2.) The 7900 GTX is of MXM type 3, as is the 6800, putting them in the same thermal envelope, making the upgrade that much more feasable.
3.) from what I can recall, the Alienware aurora has been offered in the past with high end 7 series graphics cards.


My recommendation: If the price is right, go for the 7900gtx. If you can find a 7900 GS for a little less, go for that one because it has a lower TDP (25w vs 45-50w) making it a "cooler" solution, without sacrificing that much performance.

 

i was just refering the 6800 runs cooler then a 7950gtx ...he wants to use the same heat sink im not a kid

but if the heat sink will dissapate the heat then you should be able to use it

 

its very very possible.

I have considered this a few years ago.

the M7700 and mALX are Clevo notebooks... and they share the same modular videocard designs.

judging by many high resolution pics, the modular cards seem the same (the mALX may have an extra connection... for SLI more than likely).

by removing the heatsink/fan assemblies, the cards definitely look like the same size as well

 

Gophn, why would Clevo use an onboard SLI connector, that makes no sense. Arima, Flextronics and others all use a cable connector for SLI.

The biggest thing I am worried about is the layout. The two ports from the D900T/K cards look like they align with the MALX gpu, but I dont know if they are located in the same spot. They look like they do, but since it has a third connector it may not work.

I am going to call a not work on this one

The only way it could work is if we could verify what the third port was for. Do you have a service manual for the MALX?

K-TRON

 

I have read through almost all Clevo service manuals.

do you guys realize that Clevo made the world's first SLI notebook?
.... the Clevo M590K/KE (aka. Alienware mALX)

There is no SLI cable for the M590K/KE.... its a multiplexer that is on the motherboard to create the SLI bridge.
- now there are MXM cards that use SLI bridge cables

MXM was a ways away at that time... especially for high-end card, so Clevo (as well as other notebook ODMs) decided to use proprietary modules.

 

I guess it could work than.
However when you buy the malx gpu, make sure to put some electrical tape over that third port, so that no metallic parts on the motherboard short the graphics card when it is installed.

If it does work, please let us know.
If it doesnt work, than also let us know.

Good luck,

K-TRON

 

^^ that is a very good suggestion.

I would have done it myself if I were to test it.

 

Thanks for the help, everyone. Not sure yet if I will do this, but if I do I will be sure to let you know how it turns out.