10 things you should know about MXM

1) PCI Express x16 does not mean MXM.: PCI Express is just the electrical interface. It`s like saying `it runs on 12V`. It`s not because your Marklin train set also runs on 12V that you can plug in your Pullman wagon in your notebook.
2)You can mix Type I, II and III cards as much as you like, provided you have the mechanical and thermal headroom.
3)Acer, Dell, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Lenovo, Apple (notebooks) and Clevo never use MXM cards. So don`t ask.
4)No, you don`t need a new Bios for new cards. MXM has it`s own vBios onboard, just like desktop cards and should allow easy swapping. Sometimes that doesn`t work out without an apparant reason, though.
5)Quanta and Apple made their `proprietary` MXM card. Quanta also produces many Gateway machines. It measn their cards fit in other machines but do not work. The vBios seems to be locked. Cards can`t even be swapped between different Quanta machines. Apples uses a Type II card in their iMac 24", but their vBios is not compatiblem just like `standard` AGP cards had special vBios`s in the past.
6)The Arima Special. Made by (surprise) Arima, this card differs mechanically from all Types (hence the `Arima Special`) but is perfectly compatible in every other way.
7)Asus Flip Chip. Used `standard` MXM in the past (A4/Z81, verified through a 6800 -> x1800 upgrade) but has abandonned the concept. However, the A8 series uses a `kinda MXM` card, with less mounting provisions and the chip on the bottom. I actually ordered one of those and will be testing it for compatibility.
8)There is no 8.
9)Also scheduled for verification: HP nx94xx, PackardBell, Thoshiba P105
10)Will there be DX10 cards? I don`t know. I certainly hope so, but the chip dimensions, thermal budget and increased routing challenges due to higher mem bus width may cause problems.

 

So here's a stupid question, and maybe I'm the only one asking it:

What's the point in having a card standard if the cards are basically useless outside the system they were designed for. I thought the goal of MXM, etc was to have an industry standard mobile graphics port that could accept a range of cards. So far it seems like they're just contributing to the 'every manufacturer has their own standard' standard.

EDIT: Nice list, sorry I nuked the first line before posting and that had the 'nice' part =)

 

And 11) COOKIES! YUM YUM YUM!


Nice list, pretty informative.

 

Great list. Thanks for sharing the information. This will be an excellent thread to link to for those with MXM questions.

BTW, #8 is my favorite =p.

 

IRT #2: Not sure what you mean. MSI and Uniwill seem to be pretty strict about MXM. HP also probably is. Asus and Aopen were. Arima is a bit naughty, but the card is still interchangeable. Actually, I guided swaps between Arima, Uniwill, Asus and MSI. I don`t think that would have been possible if not for MXM.

#4: 9 things would have been stupid, no?

 

as far as the a8 card

Im interested in seeing if the same card comes in the new asus g1p. The reason is its design is new while the a8j first came out last april.


g1p would likely have gpu refreshes based on its target audience, and if it were compatible with my machine maybe i could upgrade the card in my a8js someday.
I realize my interest is different than yours Im interested in asus model upgrades.

But then again if you find a mxm use for the a8j card, then that means the a8j also could have a use for an mxm card someday as well. Im just less hopefull about that than I am about putting a g1p card in my a8js someday

 

Ive learned a lot about mxm from your site.

But what Id like to actually learn more about someday is axiom.

Because believe it or not more laptops are upgraded that use axiom than mxm, and this is because of Dell. This system had its origins for Dell. Dell sells more laptop gpus than pretty much anyone they are the only real manufacturer who pursue this market other than the clevo resellers. I call it axiom but I dont think it is titled that anymore. And check this out, axiom interfaces are actually built to accept mxm cards meaning its an mxm card but it needs a bios update. I wanted to try and throw that in with the quanta mac problem ice tea described.

The first thing I want to clear up is that mxm cards are nvidia and axiom are ati. This is not the case. I mean, nvidia designed the mxm interface if its there so that machine likely has a nvidia card but, you can put any gpu on the card. The gpu itself can be anything...

Just like there are only 2 gpu manufactures there are two laptop interfaces you can have in your laptop for the gpu. But the gpu can be ati or nvidia.
However I dont think a model exists with a axiom interface that doesnt have at least one ati option, meaning this interface is used more for models that only use an ati card or have an ati card( like e1505 or tm 8200 or asus w3j)

the mxm interface has the bare end board at the end like a nintendo cartridge. The axiom one has a plastic end to it like a parrallel printer interface


All axiom cards seem to require a bios update to upgrade. This means that you can plug it in but unless your model has a related model that uses this other card it wont post ( dell 9300 - xps2, dell e1705 xps 1710)

Axiom interface and cards are far more varied so its difficult to compare themo mxm and no one has tried to categorize them. They are not a regular rectangle and they are more built to order.

Meaning the oem went to ati with their laptops design and goal and ati came back with the card and heat sink design and interface. Thats what axiom is.

Ice teas information sort of puts the cards into mxm or other but the gpus have a lot more detail that needs to be uncovered.

next youll find that what he calls non mxm is still mxm or an nvidia designed gpu interface just not the generic interchangeable between models one. I do believe this is still called mxm. I believe the a8js gpu interface is still called mxm, and clevos is as well. They are just not compatible with the uniwill arima cards its a different design. but still an nvidia design removable gpu just custom for that model.

 

Just a question, in the manual it says that FujitsuSiemens xi1546 have MXM3 card, is it compatible with other cards or not???

 

Yes.

IRT Stamar

As far as I know, Axiom is dead. Dell uses a proprietary design. So does Clevo. And my stance is simple: if you can`t plug a card into a `generic` MXM slot and hit the power button, then it`s not MXM.

 

How much does is cost to get one of these cards? (i realize you don't have a price listed for the 7900gs but i'm still curious). It might not be worthwhile to upgrade your video card if the prices are around what dell charges for a mobile video card($500-$1000).

 

If there was a poll here I would vote for No. 1 because my train set runs on 12V, as far as I remember.

I'll put a link to this thread in the so-called "upgading GPUs guide", if you don't mind.

 

Point 8: there is no 8. I didnt understand it first but then, haha I lauged 5 minutes about it. You rock, great thread.

I tested the Xi1526 with 7600Go. So in fact it is upgradable to an X1800/7900S?

Charlie

 

If the HP nx9420 is an MXM, it is possible that the nc8430 is MXM as well since they are similarly built (and from the same ODM I believe). Any comments?

 

#10 Price still hasn`t been settled (too much stuff going on: my own trusty 3438 broke down, finishing up paperwork for company, changed daytime jobs, actually getting cards) but it should be around 500$ or so.
#11 Sure. Go right ahead.
#12 Yep. Actually: even the 1437 handles the 7900GS rather well.
# Should be, yes.

 

the dell propietary interface was designed by ati

The axiom thing comes from the agp xps, or 8600. Those were the first gpu upgradable cards.

The word might not be used but ati still makes removable card gpu design. Im reasonably sure their design is more prevalent.

Thats my key key point, there are only 2 types of removable gpus, there is the ati one and the nvidia one.

 

I spoke to ATI reps earlier this year. They told me AXIOM was dead. They actually push MXM designs for some embedded costumers. Maybe they designed the Dell interface, I don`t know. But to say there`s only MXM and Axiom, that`s just rubbish. There`s a pleatora of interfaces. Unless you consider designs with totally different connectors to be `axiom` or something.

Perhaps we`re just talking about two different things

 

Very nice Ice tea.

Thanks.

Ivan