The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    GTX 460m in the XPS 15 possible?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011.

  1. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Anyone try this yet? I'd be interested to know if it's feasible. I'm guessing you would lose the switchable graphics.

    Other problems: heat sink, bios, etc.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #1
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    No, 460M is MXM, XPS 15 GPU is soldered onto the motherboard.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Apr 10, 2011
    #2
  3. xxbadboys93

    xxbadboys93 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    89
    Messages:
    913
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Its not soldered onto the motherboard, its glued....
     
    xxbadboys93, Apr 10, 2011
    #3
  4. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Point is, no it won't work, answering OP's question.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Apr 10, 2011
    #4
  5. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No it's not soldered or glued on to the motherboard omitted. The real issue is bios support, and fabricating a heat sink that will work...and a fan that will exhaust the extra heat fast enough. I know you would lose optimus however. Guess no one is brave enough to try, lol. Ashame...I mean, rgb led screen...2820qm...sigh.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #5
  6. Jukkie

    Jukkie Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    ...deleted...nvm
     
    Jukkie, Apr 10, 2011
    #6
  7. xxbadboys93

    xxbadboys93 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    89
    Messages:
    913
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    And where are you getting this info that the gpu can indeed come out of the socket.
     
    xxbadboys93, Apr 10, 2011
    #7
  8. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'd like to see some info where it doesn't come out of the socket.

    Last time I checked these were discrete graphics cards?
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #8
  9. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    354
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Not possible. Don't forget, you'd also have to swap out all the RAM chips if you wanted to have a full speed 460m with GDDR5. Even if you had a machine solderer, a BIOS engineer, and loads of time, you probably still couldn't do it. On the off chance that it is actually remotely possible, it would be cheaper and easier to return your XPS15 and buy a real gaming laptop instead.
     
    seeker_moc, Apr 10, 2011
    #9
  10. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That might be true if the gpu was soldered on to the motherboard, which it is not. Who's opened up the xps 15 to at least change the thermal paste? And where the heck is the proof that this is "soldered" or "glued" on to the motherboard? At least provide a link with these ridiculous claims.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #10
  11. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    354
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    56
    How else do you propose that it is attached???
     
    seeker_moc, Apr 10, 2011
    #11
  12. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Get outta my thread, lol. Hello...pcie slot of course. I guess no one has really taken this laptop apart let alone thought about attempting the swap.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #12
  13. xxbadboys93

    xxbadboys93 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    89
    Messages:
    913
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have taken this computer apart. I have pics on my blackberry and i will put them on. Reps?

    :)
     
    xxbadboys93, Apr 10, 2011
    #13
  14. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So you've tried to remove the graphics card from the slot.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #14
  15. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    354
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    56
    You do realize that MXM means Mobile PCI-E Module. It is NOT MXM. It is attached through the PCI-E bus, but through a permanent, non-removable connection. There are no mini-PCI-E slot GPUs.
     
    seeker_moc, Apr 10, 2011
    #15
  16. whackamac

    whackamac Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    18
    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    People making claims with NO OBVIOUS KNOWLEDGE is amazing.

    I am a Dell DCSE tech. I have stripped the XPS 15 (GT540M) down to screws and back due to my sound HW going out. I replaced the MB, speakers, sub, and all the USB connectors.

    ... And yes I AS5'ed it when I reassembled.

    THE GPU IS SOLDERED TO THE MAINBOARD. I thermal pasted it myself. The CPU and GPU both have copper contacts and all the memory use thermal pads. The heatsink unit is a one piece deal that covers all the above with 8 spring'ed screwdowns and a single screw to stabilize.

    So you cannot replace it. Period.
     
    whackamac, Apr 10, 2011
    #16
  17. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Do you have a link to where it states that it is not mxm?
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #17
  18. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Pics or it didn't happen. :eek:

    I won't believe it until I see pics.

    I know the older xps m1710 had a removable gpu. Given the fact that you can select between the 540m and 525m, it just seems all the more likely the gpu is removable and swappable.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #18
  19. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    354
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I'm not trying to be rude, but you just don't seem to get it. There are 4 types of laptop GPUs. There are those built into the chipset (now obsolete), there are those built into the CPU (like on the new core i-series), there are those soldiered onto the motherboard (95% of all 'non-integrated' laptop GPUs), and those with MXM slots. MXM GPUs are only found on high-end and gaming laptops, and very rarely on some mid-range ones. The Dell XPS 15 is not one of them. It is soldered into the motherboard. You can't upgrade it. The 420m and 435m come on different motherboards, it's not that the chips are swappable.

    If the 420m or 435m aren't enough for you, then sell/return your laptop and buy another one. You could also try a DIY vDock, but this isn't the most elegant solution. http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...gure-out-how-make-diy-vidock.html#post5061567

    In the future, please refrain from insulting people that are trying to help answer your question. This is the last of what I'm going to say on this subject.
     
    seeker_moc, Apr 10, 2011
    #19
  20. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    117
    Messages:
    1,590
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    66
    [-Mac-], Apr 10, 2011
    #20
  21. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I think you are confused. The GPUs available are the 525m and the 540m. We are talking about the 2nd generation XPS 15 here.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #21
  22. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    354
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    56
    My mistake. I assumed you meant the XPS15 R1, as you were asking for a 460m, not a 5xxm replacement. However, it makes no difference. The concept is the same.
     
    seeker_moc, Apr 10, 2011
    #22
  23. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    117
    Messages:
    1,590
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    66
    GT435m or GT540m don't change that they are part of motherboard.
     
    [-Mac-], Apr 10, 2011
    #23
  24. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well that's too bad. Must be the same with the 540m then. Definitely have second thoughts on purchasing this laptop due to that. Still an awesome laptop, but if I got it I would probably go with an i5 / 525m with the rgb monitor and blu ray player then. No sense shelling $80 more for 1 more gb of ram in the 540m...heck might as well get the blu-ray writer option instead of the 540m.

    +rep, thanks.
     
    KipCoo, Apr 10, 2011
    #24
  25. xxbadboys93

    xxbadboys93 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    89
    Messages:
    913
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    xxbadboys93, Apr 10, 2011
    #25
  26. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    354
    Messages:
    2,141
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    56
    $80 for 1 more GB of RAM, not worth it. $80 for a better binned chip (will probably run cooler / OC higher)... That probably is worth it, especially if you plan on gaming. If you don't want to game, then not worth it.
     
    seeker_moc, Apr 10, 2011
    #26