8800 GTS upgrade to base AW M15X Possible?

I recently purchased the $1500 M15X (w/ the new Penryn 2.1 ghz)and am really happy so far. Only problem surfaces when playing Crisis. Looks like the 8600 GT can't do anything more than "Medium" settings.

Since AW only offers the 8800 GTX for upgrade for $500, I thought I'd ask if it's possible to upgrade to the lesser 8800GTS to save $? Anyone done this before?

Thanks in advance!

 

what the heck? I don't see the first post?

 

I don't think it's possible.

 

nope its not...research before you buy

 

Care to explain why?

So my options are 8800GTX and 8700 GT and that's it? So much for upgradable laptop

 

you just cant....they do not offer it, so you will not be able to swap.

this is not a desktop, you cant just swap the graphics card, and I doubt it will be that way for a long time.

also it will cost you on the upside of $800 for them to install an 8800m GTX for you, cause you will need to have it sent to them to be able to do it

 

because the 8800m gts is soldered onboard, unlike 8700m gt/8800m gtx

 

just sell your laptop and get a new m15x with 8800m gtx you've cut corners now you're screwed

 

More accurately, notebooks tend to use proprietary cards, which means only certain size/shape cards work with certain machines. Since Alienware doesn't offer the 8800M GTS, you wouldn't be able to buy a separate 8800M GTS that would fit in there, even if you could find a 8800M GTS to purchase.

This is why it's generally recommended for you to buy the best possible graphic card you can afford at the point of time if you're gaming, as there is little or no guarantee in most laptops that you will be able to upgrade to another graphic card. Even laptops that are sold as being upgradeable have no guarantee of being able to do so without a motherboard revision or other expensive changes.

 

You can`t upgrade because AW doesn`t offer the option in the specs. If it ain`t in the specs,the card won`t work in the laptop.
Only 8600M GT, 8700M GT and 8800M GTX will work.

 

Thanks guys!

Theoratically, if they launch the 9800 GTX on the M15X in a couple months, that should work too, correct?

I don't have problem being limited to AW's selection. Just wanted to understand why. I'm still having a hard time believing the 8800 GTS is designed radically differently compared to it's more powerful sibling.

Total cost is $500 for the upgrade, which is what I would have paid had I purchased it directly from them. Difference here is that I have a 8600GT as well.

 

How do you have a "hard time believing" that. Welcome to laptops.

I would just purchase the 8800GTX. It's gonna future-proof you for a while. Hell, my 8400GT STILL keeps me happy. (Screw Crysis...)

 

no, there will be no 9800m GTX till the winter, these cards usually have a one year lifespan, and It might work for the m15x but most likely not.

its not the fact its designed differently, they are actually the same chip, just modified, but if they do not offer it it will not work period.

 

Isn't there anyone out there who can modify GPUs to work in specific machines? It sounds like the problem is not the chip itself, but the 'fit' for specific models.

If the issue is only 'fit' and not software related, this sounds like a viable business plan to me. For those of you w/ the 9750, wouldn't you pay for an 8800gtx and then pay someone to mod it to fit your lappy? Obviously this is a warranty issue, but that aside, from that, I know I'd pay for it.

 

There is extensive R&D in laying out a laptop and what parts can actually work properly in it, performance parts equal hot parts and are usually large, which often times run too hot or are too big for the small light compact units folks want today. Thats why high end gaming cards are typically only found in 17" or larger models, its not the connector of the card thats at issue, its the card itself, you cant just snip away at the pcb, and hope those IC's or VRMs arent "really" needed, because they are.

 

I understand that there are size and heat issues involved.... im not suggesting someone think of a way to cram a 8800m gtx into a thinkpad. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. If it runs too hot, its a no-go.

But aren't there reasonable modifications that can be made? Like in my example of an AW 9750, there really should be no problems sticking an 8800 gtx in there. This seems especially doable considering the newer generation gfx cards use less power and produce less heat despite performance increases.