Clevo D900C and GTX 260M Possible??

Hello NBR guys, First time posting and I am hoping you guys can help as I tried searching for the answer all over plus I have already read some of the stickies and know my laptop falls within the MXM 1% of upgrade able laptops. Let me start with my specs:

Clevo D900C Mobo v 5.0 A
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHZ
OCZ 2x2GB DDR 800 MHz (4 GB) RAM
nVidia Go 7950 GTX 512 MB
Bios recently updated to 1.00.22 KBC/EC 13N

My issue is that I want to upgrade my video card and being how pricey these options are I want to be nearly 100% sure that the card in question will work. For the price I am not sure if going to 8800M is worth it and would rather spend a little more and be set for a while with a GTX 260M. I have contacted mxm-upgrade.com and they state that have upgraded the D900C to a GTX 280 successfully but with so many opinions about it can be done or can't be done and with little support from Hypersonic (OCZ) and Clevo I wanted some insight. I have been reading and receiving info that I cannot swap out my card for the GTX 260M due to my mother board revision being 5.0 A and not 6.x. Is this a physical restriction or BIOS? As I mentioned above I was able to flash my bios to .22 which mxm-upgrade suggested I do. Has anyone done this with a Clevo with my revision or do I have no hope?

EuroCom_Card_Interested_in

My Mobo Pics showing revisision
MoBo Revision

Picture of MXM Slot
MXM Slot IV

 

I think that you're going to need a motherboard swap.

That is the correct variant of the GTX 260m, however.

 

Awhile back, there was an option to send in your D900C and have the MoBo swapped so you could replace your 7950s with 8800s. Sooo, I do not believe the 260m will drop right in. I doubt it would drop in into mine.....wouldn't mind trying it though.

 

I have been trying to call Hypersonic-PC to find out about a mobo swap but getting them to answer is as painful as getting your teeth pulled out. Does any one even know where to even purchase one of these motherboards?

 

Any Clevo reseller should be able to help you out with a new motherboard. Try xoticpc first~

 

agreed.. start with xoticpc

 

I believe the 9800M GTX's work though right? Should be on par with the GTX 260M

 

Xoticpc referred me to Sager. Sager said my model mobo has been phased out plus they won't sell to non sager customers. *sigh*

 

Actually I thought the 9800 is a rebatched 8800.

 

A 9800m GT is a rebadge of an 8800m GTX.

If you bought your D900C with an 8800m GTX/9800m GT/9800m GTX pre-installed, then a GTX 260m MXM Type III 2.1 should work just fine. You will not be able to go SLi with it, however.

 

Mine came with a 7950 GTX not a 8800 GTX. However mxm-upgrade are claiming that they put in a 280 gtx. See Here. Seeing this brings some light and although i would love to purchase a 280M, the price is still $600+ vs $475 for a 260M.

All the vendors tell me (other than MXM-Upgrade) that due to my revision (5.0A) I cannot do this. However, as per MXM, I did successfully upgraded my bios to v.22 and they say it "should" work. So my question is the little sticker saying 5.0 if its only a bios revision than i'm set. However if its a physical thing, then im out of luck. Just afraid of spending the cash and then sitting with the card non-returnable because it doesn't work with my motherboard.

Just wondering if anyone else out there has done this kind of upgrade with a rev. 5 mobo.

 

I am pretty sure you can return cards to mxm-upgrade if they don't work. Send them a email explaining your situation and I am sure they will be accomodating.