G74sx-A1 vs Best Buy G74?

I just sent back a Thinkpad Edge series that I bought that had a dead pixel the first day out of the box that they refused to fix after I sent it in, even though on the phone they said it would be no problem. Managed to get out of the restocking fee so I'm getting all my money back. Obviously there is a large dollar difference to make up here, but I'm trying to do my homework early so when I get ready to buy one of these, I buy the right one.

There have been multiple versions that have turned up on my Google searches today. From what I've seen, there seems to be an A1, an A2, and a Best Buy version that is "crap", from what I read. Can anyone explain the differences?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/597201-gpu-best-buy-g74.html#post7735909

 

Thanks for that. As far as the stuff being soldered onto the motherboard, would you maybe recommend getting the G73 instead and just upgrading it?

 

Well the first post in that thread lists the differences between the BB G74 and its A series counterparts, the rest of the thread is about what the rest of us consider the most significant differene, its gimped GPU as I am sure you started reading.

As for going with a G73 instead, really just comes down to preference, if you want the most gaming power possible, then yea a G73 might still be the better bet. If an outstanding keyboard (among slight other astethic changes) is the top of your list, then the G74 would probably still be the better pick, just as the guy in that thread.

 

Okay great. If I wanted to get a G73 and upgrade the graphics card, would I just look for one on eBay or somewhere like that? Haven't ever really tried upgrading any laptops so I wouldn't know where to start with buying parts for one.

 

Well thats the tricky part lol it is sorta difficult upgrading the GPU in a G73.

From what Ive read, it seems the JH is BIOS locked to ATI/AMD and the JW/SW is locked to Nvidia, with that being said, their has been limited success with some 6970's in the JH, a failure with a 470 in the JW, and no one afaik has tried upgrading an SW.

Ebay is one place yes, they are standard MXM3.0b type cards, or MXM-upgrade.com, probably a few other places too if you look around.

 

I thought someone said Asus use some kind of reversed MXM for their GPU? Can you confirm if I can use standard MXM3b card on the SW (G53 and G73 shouldnt be different right?)

 

Oh they most certainly have lol, for pre-G73, however, I am pretty sure the census is now, that at least the G73 is standard mxm 3.0b.

We know Sager/Clevo/Alienware/MSI use standard, and as such, I believe it was @tilla that took an MSI GPU and got it to work in the JH, both the MSI, and the various 6970's that were tried all allowed booting into windows and functioned. The MSI completely as far as I remember, and the only problem with the 6970's were their clock settings.

I cant confirm much about any of the SW's because no one has tried. The things I stated above have taken place over many months. The JH and JW use similar series motherboards, the HM55 and PM55 respectively. The SW's is obviously a bit different since it is capable of Sandy Bridge CPU's. The HM65 if I remember correctly.

Time to be a pioneer dragon290513 lol

 

Im thinking of swap out my GTX460M for a GTX560M or GTX570M if I could find one and see how it goes but as those 2 just recently came out, they are not up for sale just yet

If I have the chance to try though I would definitely ask you and many here for consult

edit: just found one on ebay from some seller in Canada for ~$300, should I consider it? But have a look at the specs and it was listed as 256bit???

 

The main problem with the G53 series is that it is physically smaller, so it would be more difficult to get a GPU in there, would probably need some heavy modification.

yeap, it has a wide bus width lol whats wrong with that?

EDIT: Wait, for the bus width are you talking about a 560 or 570?

 

I know it's Asus and All, but I've never trusted anything that has come out of Best Buy computer related. They always find a way to mess something up. I know with the older Asus models they gimped you out of a second HDD and gimped CPU... Havn't looked in a while to see if they've gotten better but I'd day you'd get better costumer support through a reseller than Best Buy (which is always a good thing)!

 

its a GTX560M , thats why Im confused

NEW 1.5GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M Video card | eBay

also after watching a disassembly for this laptop I am kinda wary of the idea, not because of the process but the compatibility of the card

BTOtech.com | G53Jw & G53Sw Disassembly Take Apart G53 g53j service manual - YouTube

 

LOL @ that ebay seller; He just copy/pasted the Specs for the 560 TI desktop (which isnt even the normal GTX 560 desktop).

Look closely my friend, 384 Cuda Cores =/= 192 Cuda Cores of the 560m

Not to mention why the bus width is so much higher.

You should make contact so your certain hes selling the MOBILITY 560 and not a desktop 560 TI.

"The card will ship in perfect working order every time! You need to do you homework" funny, they get an F in the homework category

 

HarHAr

Standard Graphics Card Dimensions:
Height 4.376 inches
Length 9 inches
Width Dual-Slot

Thermal and Power Specs:
Maximum GPU Temperature (in C) 99 C
Graphics Card Power (W) 170 W
Minimum Recommended System Power (W) 500 W
Supplementary Power Connectors Two 6-pin

Exactly what CrappyAlloy is saying. This guy copied and pasted everything for a desktop 560Ti.