M6800 GPU and AC adapter requirements.

So, I have an M6800, which currently has a K3100M(I had one, so I put it in, replacing the FirePro M6100 that it came with) card in it. And I have the 240W AC adapter from Dell.
The GPU only reaches full performance in games when the AC is plugged in.

Now, I've been thinking about upgrading to the K5100M, which consumes 100W of power(K3100M only uses 75W). Does this mean I will need to use a 330W power supply? Will the 330W one even work on the M6800?

In addition, I've seed on here that when replacing an AMD card with an nVidia one, you need a new heatsink, however, I have not installed a new heatsink, yet I haven't had any issues. Will I have heat problems with a K5100M.

Then there is the GTX 880M, which I guess is very similar to the K5100M, would it be a good choice, since I guess the GTX cards are better for gaming than Quadro cards? Although it does consume 122W of power...

 

Hi, the M6800 is rated to use 240W max, 330W PSU make no difference.

 

Luckily, on the laptop series of cards, most cards fall within operating range of the 240W PSU, and Quentincc is right, to step up to a more powerful one, won't give you any additional benefits. However, there are quite a few more card options if your wanting to step up ; the 880 you mention, I believe the 680 works as well, the GTX980 works, the Quadro M5000M works, and recently we've gotten the Tesla M6 (Supermoth had success, and I'll link a guide for you below). Power vs. Price, so far though, the Tesla's probably the cheapest/strongest option I can think of off hand, and easily is a gaming monster on a laptop. The 1080 may very well work as well, but I've had no experience installing one on my 6800.

To be honest, a lot of these cards are separated in main function by VRAM limitations, and different driver package releases and support. The Quadro line being Autocad/3D app based, vs the 980M being a graphic release option, function quite similar, but have varying levels of driver and option support, and VRAM limitations. That said, having a M5000M for instance, and customizing a driver install, will allow you install say the GXT980 line of drivers (which in the case, is based on the same 204 Maxwell chip architecture), which would open a few graphic option doors.

Another random thing to consider, the newer the card, the better the manufacturing generally, and lower power usage. The 122W on the 880 for instance, on the Tesla M6, is down to a 100W rating, due to finer refining process on the chips.

Here's a link for a install guide on the Tesla, and I do know the GTX980m works just fine, as well the Quadro M5000M.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...m-working-updated-switchable-graphics.835018/