Does a non g-sync GPU work in my laptop?

I got a P771-DM-G Clevo laptop and it was made with g-sync. So gpu and screen g-sync.

If one were to replace the GPU, and it were one without g-sync. Would it still work in my laptop? And if so only the g-sync part would not work, obviously? Does it work like this? The listings on ebay for example nowhere mention g-sync at all.

My seller said the N17E-G1 should be compatible for my laptop. I can find listings on ebay but they mention "N17E-G1-A1" Does the A-1 matter?

For all listings on wether 980m or 1060m on ebay and such it is mentioned it should be compatible with the P770DM-G but the P771DM-G is not mentioned. Does this small difference matter? Or is the model so similiar enough it will work.

Would a 2060m or 3060, work nowadays in this laptop?

 

The display is either Gsync compatible or not. The GPU doesn't change what the display is capable of.

 

You will probably need a GPU with a vBIOS that supports G-sync for G-sync to fully work if you decide to upgrade. I would re-post this in this thread so that more people can see it and help you out.

If the 980m's and 1060's you are looking like are the standard MXM 3.0 spec, they should work fine, just stay away from the funky shaped ones.

Anything past the 10 series won't work as the only MXM cards are from Clevo and are shaped weird while needing external power.

 

I honestly dont care for g-sync aslong as the card performs normal. The seller listed these as compatible:
· GTX 1060 6GB (N17E-G1) - P775DM3-G
· GTX 980M (N16E-GX-A1-6G) - P771DM-G
· GTX 980M (DA2-G) - P771ZM
· GTX 980 Desktop (N16E-GXX) - P771DM-G
· GTX 970M (N16E-GT-6G) - P771DM-G

But from what you are saying the 1070 like this: should also be compatible..?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3930145112...WuQujciMmlHS2Q%3D%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675

 

1070 should work but not that one, Clevo needs to be able to read all the sensors for it to permit a successful startup (POST)

I run a 1080 in mine but that takes a lot of work, the MSI 1070 would be your ideal candidate for a more "Simple" upgrade but even then you will need to remove a capacitor as well as M.2 slot.

I would probably stick to the 1060 if you need something right now, otherwise I would consult with google to see if you can find precedent for those other GPU's

Definitely take a look at the modified bios thread, basically anything P750DM-G and up are very flexible on upgrades (CPU and GPU) and you may find additional feedback there (somewhere here in the forums)

 

Those 1070's aren't compatible, and even if they were I would stay away from those "Dell" ones. Myself and many others have purchased them and they are hit or miss a lot of the time. The one I bought had many issues and had a cracked die, so again, try to stay away from those "Dell" variants unless you are willing to go through the process of getting your money back if something didn't work.

I would mostly recommend either a Quadro P4000/P4200 mobile or an MSI GTX 1060 MXM. I think you could be able to get the MSI 1070 MXM working, but it would require dremelling the chassis, which is something that not very many would like to do.

 

What makes you say that the 1070 wouldn't post? The 1070 "seems' the same size layout as the 980m. But appearently you say it wouldn't fit as you'd need to remove some stuff?
The 1060 is different in that department? If that is true. Then i'd best go with a 1060 I guess.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393015650016?hash=item5b818ee6e0:g:VHcAAOSwbgVfrtmT This one says "Open box" probably means it has been used?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164899274505?epid=20037914712&hash=item2664c33f09:g:togAAOSw3mpguzx5 This one suppose to be new.

It doesn't come with heatsink /fan, and I would have to reuse the 980m or source something exclusive for that or..?

 

The listings on ebay basically all say, dell, alienware, clevo. It does not mean it is from Dell I think or exclusively for dell. The link I posted abov even says "DELL Alienware Clevo MSI"
Are you meaning to say listings that say "EXCLUSIVELY for dell laptops"? But obviously I wouldn't use that as I have clevo.

So im not sure when you say go for an "MSI" gtx 1060 xmx... Since most listings mention msi anyway..

 

Size layout has absolutely nothing to do with whether a card will work or not. Physical limitations is just one criteria and often the least important.

The motherboard needs to be able to read all sensors that it wants from the GPU, if it cant, it will shut down as it thinks its protecting itself, there is no way around that to my knowledge.

Those "Dell" cards are recycled parts, They are p5000 PCB's with 1070 dies installed. You are welcome to buy it and install, it may very well work but you would be the first where there have been many failed attempts previously. You would be wasting about a month in shipping and returns.

Typically from what I have seen MSi cards are the only ones that tend to work outside of the Clevo OEM offerings. You can get those Dell ones to work I guess but you will be needing to add sensor readouts for the motherboard to then read from which is beyond me personally.

 

Okay okay. Im just curious how you happen to know the 1070 doesn't get read by the motherboard? Experience?

As for the "dell" thing. As I said in my other post. What makes you think these listings are dell? They mention many brands "DELL Alienware Clevo MSI" Why assume it is "just" a "dell" one? Unless you know something I don't?

Show me a 1070 listing that does't have dell in it's name.
There aren't many on ebay and they basically all say "DELL Alienware Clevo MSI".....
So there doesn't seem much difference if any at all on ebay.?!

So you think these listings are PURE dell? and not alienware, clevo,msi?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393015650016?hash=item5b818ee6e0:g:VHcAAOSwbgVfrtmT
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164899274505?epid=20037914712&hash=item2664c33f09:g:togAAOSw3mpguzx5 T

 

Those vendor names are included just so that they show up in a search.

They report as Dell in GPU-Z despite Dell never actually offering such a product.

Only that model 1070 with the black pcb is the recycled components that make up the 1070 you are looking at.

Dell = Alienware and neither ever offered an MXM 1070. We call them "Dell" with air quotes since they report in GPU-Z that it is a Dell product.

This is an MSi 1070

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304047960007?hash=item46caabafc7:g:OPoAAOSwGhxgrbN2

There are various means to acquire MXM cards.

Zotac offered a 10XX card but can only pull from their desktop NUC systems.
MSi had their 1070 in both desktop NUCs and Laptops
Clevo has their offerings in laptops
Dell only had the P5000 MXM card and everything else was BGA or NGFF
Most other vendors never had anything in this space in terms of MXM (aetina and others were to be avoided)

 

How do you know, I don't see a GPU-Z screenshot on the listing of those?
idk photo's or me colour blind idk. but first link I posted looks kinda blue. 2nd more blackish.

The msi you linked was the only one I found on ebay for 1070 and it clearly states:

"MSI NOTEBOOKS ONLY
MSI OEM Nvidia GTX 1070 Mobile Desktop GPU
This will not fit or function on most laptops
This card will function in a pcie mxm carrier With the proper heatsink
so please do not purchase intending to install this GPU into a laptop such as clevo or Alienware"

Which does not look good for my clevo laptop. Also it has a strange shape. Which someone in this topic told my to avoid. Not to mention refurbished, which I wouldn't really want. New preferably.

Oh and im going for a 1060 since the 1070 seems a no go. Basicall all other say "dell" in name....

 

Well, if you decide to get a 1060, make sure to get the MSI variant, it has a black PCB and should said MSI near the die. See if you can get one for around 300, the most I would pay for one is 350, because at that point, the price to performance ratio becomes small enough to justify buying a new computer.

 

I thought reciever said black pcb means recycled components... well problem is I can't seem to find one that is "approved" by you guys that doesn't look funky shaped and is refurbished...
By all means please link one that meets your proposed criteria. I'd even buy it even for 400. if I can't get the price down. As for colours I can't for the life see what is black or not esp with alot of these photo's. Im colour blind.

If you could link me one that you comfortable that would work in my laptop. MUCH appreciated.
I have been trying to get a replacement for 2 years now. And because this indecisiveness I can't seem to make a decision on what I trust to be working in my system, and here still I am. at my final attempt to try to breath in new life in this laptop.

 

Ahh, forgot “Dell” variants have the black PCB too. Here’s and image of the MSI variant, and here’s a seller selling way overpriced, but offer 300 as i doubt they get those sold at 500, that’s outrageous.

Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/122874783756?hash=item1c9be8680c:g:0w0AAOSw5dlaPSXs

 

You need to stop looking at ebay listings as gospel, they are trying to sell something, if you buy something that doesnt work due to lack of research, you get stuck with the bill, not them.

This forum has done extensive testing on these cards for the same reason you have now, back in 2018.

That seller is being responsible and is only guaranteeing that it will work for a specific intended scenario, where as the other seller just wants to sell. There is no universal MXM card that works in all machines, each machine has its own checklist that must be fulfilled in order to function in a given scenario.

The MSI card obviously works in MSI laptops, but also works in a large number of Clevo laptops and the Alienware 17 R1 and m17x R4, more if you allow for SG mode (Optimus)

MSi only ever had G-Sync and non G-sync card made in that form factor. No other manufacturer used the same design, thus, it is MSI.

Just like how no OEM ever offered Black PCB 1070's, ever. They are merely called "Dell" due to how they report in GPU-Z. You dont see it because I am not going to spoon feed every single detail, I would be here all night pulling links for you to look over and I have other projects I am working on. Suffice it to say, members share information here on the forums.

You are not going to find ANY GPU in MXM form factor new. That outlet DOES NOT EXIST. All the GPU's you find in Pascal i.e. 10XX are all system pulls. So if you dont want touch used items then give up now and sell your machine for something newer.

 

Thanks fort he link
Wow that price and shipping is outrageous.

The seller's info Will work in the following notebooks...
Does not exactly comfort me as my model is not mentioned.. and the seller also does not seem to allow returns.

But atleast I got an example, but now I still haven't got something that I can just buy right off the hat... It really seems impossible to find a card that is
1. Compatible and of good quality.
2. Seller allows returns, if card is not right.
3. somewhat normal price (i can try and reduce price of suggested listing.. but kinda pointless if doesn't allow returns.)

Im just about to give up again... Why is this so hard.

 

It's difficult because MXM has always been a niche thing, its not like a desktop GPU where you can go to the store and buy it, it was mostly just a "hey, you can upgrade if you want, but don't expect it to be easy" kind of thing. I went through 2 1070's before I got one that worked, and the one that worked was pulled from an MSI laptop so that I could guarantee that it was fully functional. E-bay usually sides with the buyer, so if you buy one that doesn't work, and let hell loose, then there's a good chance you will get your money back. People have gotten the MSI 1060 to work in many similar Clevo machines, and I wouldn't doubt that it won't work for you too.

It would be a bit easier if you had a "newer" Clevo machine that takes the Clevo form factor GPU's, but you don't so it will be a lot harder.

 

Anything will seem impossible if you dont know the basics in this space, which I think is OP's source issue here.

 

Sellers should know their product though I would think? I mean they dont gain anything if people send it back.. seems strange but yeah I do have some faith in ebay, but I'd rather get something right, right of the bat. Shipping takes a long ass time already.
So here I am still 2 years later. With no replacement GPU under acceptable conditions. And me or no one else is able to find one

 

You need to do the research, based on your responses you don't seem to have done any at all beyond if it will fit in the slot or not.

I already gave you a link, you need to do some reading there first

 

Im not a technician nor do I have desire to be one. I already did plenty attempts of research as you can see in my post history, and it did not help me anywhere as here I am still 2 years later with no card. If it is not clear Im not so good at these things. And actually only further confuses me.

This is why I came here for help for people who do have more experience knowledge and understanding to be able to help me source a card. And not just with words of what im looking for, because Im telling you I won't find it. Time has proven that. But an actual place of an item where I can go buy it. I understand you have no obligation to help me. Thats okay, then I just hope someone is kind enough to help me along to the solution that I am seeking.

Reading of? You gave me a link to a 1070 when you told me you'd probably wanna go for a 1060.. as the 1070 wont fit.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...imate-msi-gtx-1080-frankenmod-upgrade.835593/

If you arent willing to learn anything and just want to be spoon fed, you wont find an abundance of assistance here. We put our time and large amounts of money into these scenarios and half the time its a total flop, with the other half being successful. Im not going to crawl through your post history to figure out you didnt do much in the span of 2 years.

That ebay listing says Clevo on it so it must work I guess. Good luck!

 

I understand your sentiment. It's very nice when things just work.

However, you will have to put in a little effort to make the upgrade work. It's not going to be exactly plug and play, but with the right tools, it'll be close.

Your safest bet is to get an MSI GTX 1060 MXM module. You can tell which ones are Dells and which ones are from MSI by looking at the slots for VRAM chips. Both variants of the 1060 have 6 VRAM chips on the front (the black rectangles surrounding the GPU core), but the Dell variant has 2 extra unpopulated slots.

This is the MSI variant:


This is the Dell variant. Don't get one of these because it won't work:


If you install a non-Gsync card in a system with a Gsync panel, then Gsync will just not work. The system should still boot and work.

The last step after installing the card is modding the Nvidia graphics drivers to force them to install. Fortunately for you, you no longer have to do this manually. There's this nifty tool called Nvcleanstall that will do that for you automatically if you provide it the information it needs.

 

You know, if you’d have put, say, $15 a week into a savings account for two years you could have bought a pretty nice gaming laptop that would run circles around any overpriced MXM GPU that you are still apparently searching for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks that helps. Since it all looks sort of the same to me. counting the VRAM makes it easier. Basically all are dell then on ebay... only 2 listings (3 if you count the mega expensive one)
And one might not even send to my location..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154151368571?hash=item23e423377b:g:OpEAAOSw-M9fjmDh
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363443460413?hash=item549eeb193d:g:IrgAAOSwFZBg0kS6

So these should post and have their temperature sensures read.
Before I go over to buying can I just use my 980M heatsink and fan, or do I need something new for it?

 

I've looked dozens of hours upon listings alie express and ebay through all sorts of mxm gpu's. And because of the difference I never felt comfortable buying. I spend time finding out which ones should be compatible from the retailer. First I was going for the 980m since i felt more comfortable buying the same card as I have, comparing any listings with my own card. and now I think why not the 1060 if it really is compatible..
I made a topic here years ago. Without luck. So don't say I want to be spoon fed when I already have done so much. If just asking is being spoon fed, then yes. Because there wont be another way of finding out the information I need.

I was even asking you questions what made you come to the conclusions you did, to better understand.
There is just a point up to which Im willing to give up. And that was already increasingly near when I made this topic.I like to evade buying a wrong one at all costs.
I mean if some people here have gone through so much trial and error it should be easy to point out and or even find a listing that would work for my situation. Which you did, just an expensive one, which I now seem to find cheaper versions of. Since Clamibot gave something really useful to help a noob like me immediatly identify if im dealing with a dell 1060 board that appearently will or wont work.(risky) or msi board that supposidely will work.

 

Send your laptop off to Eurocom or some other boutique that is willing to do the upgrade for you, since clearly you dont want to do it yourself. Which is perfectly reasonable, nothing wrong with that.

The information is here on the forums, has been for years. Again, best of luck on your upgrade. However with the lack of knowledge and willpower I would heavily recommend you sell your machine and move on to another platform. As a GPU upgrade is going to stress you out if it doesnt "just work". I always advocate for people to upgrade their laptops over replacement but I genuinely dont think you are up to the task. 2 years to essentially have no additional understanding and return back to the original route of "give me link to a GPU that I can drop in upgrade" only to be made responsible if it doesnt "just work".

unsubbed

 

Sending your laptop off to some foreign country is very costly. I think that would be counterproductive. But if I knew of such option here in Holland, i'd do that in a heartbeat.

Im not scourging through (again) 100's of pages worth of information only to then still not able to find one perhaps.(which is why I make this topic) Im just not smart enough for this stuff to make heads or tail off.
I just want to buy one now, or not at all. Someone to lead me to the quick and easy path to it. Not willing to do that? Shame. But you'd really help me with that more then then long explanations that are above my head. and telling me "to go search" wth man? Im a pc noob. If you can't help someone like that Then idk man.

And while some of the information you supplied was helpful, thanks for that, but you know what would have been more helpful? Linking to something that is actually available compatible, and affordable for this user to buy.
But where is that??? nowhere? Why? Because it almost nowhere to be found! (as far as I can see) There are only 3 possible listings for this "MSI" you refered to, I found out after some long search. 1 of which does not deliver to my country, 1 which is expensive as hell, and 1 that I probably can buy.

Long story short. There seems to be short of no way of buying a compatible affordable one.
Regardless of any explanations. (except maybe one)

 

Funny how the same conversation seems helpful or unhelpful depending on how much work you want to put into it.

If I made (non) decisions every two years, I'd be a lonely human being without many friends.

Everything you do is for your own education. Trust me, it's well worth the cost.

Take a chance. Roll the die. Make a mistake (or not!). But live.

 

Insert philosophical babbel * insert philospophical babbel *
Just think of me as your grandma, who barely just knows how to replace a mxm card in a laptop.

 

Well if the ebay listing says it works then it must work, until you read through those 100's of pages like many of us have, you'll never know. Which is the point I am making here.

The issue here isnt the 100's of pages, its the questions you are asking. They telegraph your level of understanding in the subject matter which is quite low. This is not to be insulting, ignorance is not an insult just a state of being on a particular base of knowledge. Which tells me you never read 100's pages to begin with. @Tenoroon was basically at the same spot you were some many months ago. He made a thread, states his intended goal and inquired how to get there. 50 some pages later, we got there. Now running an MSI 1070 inside an Alienware 17 R1.

You spend the cash if you want to save the time and if you have the time you can save the cash. You have to decide what your priority is. Selfishly demanding links (assuming there are any to begin with) for one stop shop as well as asking for new MXM cards despite no Pascal card ever being sold as new in box.

There are no current listings on ebay with the MSI 1060 MXM card. Since you believe ebay listings over the forum then buy one of those Dell and see if it works, if it doesnt then I guess you can hope to return it.

Im aware of the expense of sending a laptop across the pond, I did the same thing with my P750FM, since I lacked the expertise to personally carry out the modification. But before I just threw it in a box and shipped it out, I read many pages and many threads determining the best course of action to achieve intended goal.

@DaMafiaGamer Any thoughts? You are closer to the locale, maybe you have a better understanding of potential avenues of sourcing an MXM card.

 

My grandma isn't so argumentative.

 

Yeah those are the cards that should work in your laptop. MSI cards are known and sought for their compatibility with other laptop brands.

As for the heatsink and fan, you can keep using the fan you have. The GTX 1060 has the same TDP (Thermal Design Power) as the 980m (both are 120 watt cards). I've yet to own a Clevo (I plan on getting a Clevo DTR later this year), so can you post a picture of the heatsink and your current GPU?

If the VRM and Mosfet layout (the black and gray squares on the top of the card) on the 980m is similar to the 1060, then the heatsink will work with the 1060. I never had to mod my Alienware Ranger's heatsink in my sig because the heatsink fit the 1060 like it fit my old 860m.

Having said all of this, given how hard it is to find a reasonable priced GPU at this point in time, I'd recommend you consider buying a newer laptop if you need the extra compute power right this instant. zTecpc is currently having a sale on their Clevo X170SM-G models equipped with RTX 2000 series cards. I don't know if they do international shipping though. You'd have to message brother Donald@zTecpc about that.

The Clevo X170SM-G or the newer X170KM-G models will be much more powerful than your current machine. If you can score one for a good price, I'd say go for that instead. Some Clevo resellers in the EU include XMG, Metabox, and Dream Machines.

The newer, bigger form factor Clevo MXM cards in their laptops from 2017 and onward are probably here to stay. I don't see them changing the design of their card anytime soon.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

Reciever says "There are no current listings on ebay with the MSI 1060 MXM card"

My specific hardware problem in the clevo results my 980 display driver being lost in windows error log. And creates either frozen display screens or screen resets/app freezes, when I really stress the GPU with heavy tasks. Some toned down gaming, is more stable. but it can still happen. Sometimes I can play certain games for hours no problem. Other crash very soon.
Now this problem would be solved by getting a new card.

HOWEVER, im also getting this message in my windows error log "the speed of processor # is being limited by firmware for xx seconds"
I already undervolted my CPU with -125 mV and the degrees are nothing to worry about so i dont understand. (wether undervolted or not)

One fear I have is that even with a new working card, somehow these messages will continue... Though those messages don't seem to be the immediate problem.. the msg "display driver lost" seems the main one.

I'd wait for RTX 3000 cards if I were to buy a new laptop. PC specialist make them now, in august available. Though tbh.. i'd probably wait for future gen with another laptop till I have some more money too.
Im also a little bit hesitant to go for a gaming laptop again to be honest. I mean 300 euro or something for a new GPU, okay but putting down another 2k for a gaming laptop that might break again idk.

Honestly idk if the VRM and mosfet layout is the same as my 980m. (aren't VRM and mosfet the same thing?) From what I gather of the 980m pics floating around, the VRAM chips probably are on the same place. but as for the mosfets i'd really have to open it all up to make pictures... but i'd have to re-apply thermal paste which I don't have.

 

300 euro for a new GPU is ludicrous to me.

If there is a budget for a new gaming laptop, even for one that might break (everything breaks), that is the better course of action for you.

Cash = zilch is you don't use it as needed.

If you were my grandma and she was a gamer, I'd buy her an Xbox already.

 

I'd readjust your expectations then. 300 euro esp in these graphic card times is that not bad at all for what is an upgrade over my old GPU in a laptop that cost over 2k

 

Everything breaks eventually, so I wouldn't get too worked up about it. Just do your best to take good care of the laptop and it will most likely last you a long time.

Clevos appear to generally be very robust machines. We have people on these forums still using Clevos from a decade ago. Unfortunately no brand is free of defective units, so again, I wouldn't get too worked up.

The issue you describe with the GPU driver dropping appears to be a GPU or motherboard issue. With the information that has been provided, I'm not sure which one it is yet. What happens if you fully load the CPU and GPU simultaneously with a stress test?

Also, Mosfets are a component in a VRM. The smaller black squares are the Mosfets, and the bigger gray squares under them are inductors (also called chokes), which are another part of the VRM. The inductor then leads into a capacitor, which is the third component of the VRM. The heatsink must come in contact with these as well (with a thermal pad in between the electronics and the heatsink of course).

 

The GPU part alone will get you the gpu driver dropping. So if I stress CPU+GPU, the driver will be lost. If I just run CPU with prime95 I will get a msg "processor speed 1,2,3,4 has been reduced by firmware etc." It triggers msg instantly and the temps are not that high begin 60's and will ramp up to 68 with the max heat test in prime95. (which are temps I was gaming on)
EDIT. after a reboot and redid prime95 it did not trigger the cpu logbook msg, but it did when I started furmark stress test.

At very first of the beginning of the problem the laptop even lost power all together, and we thought maybe it was a power issue of my charger or something. My friend soldered a new vrm on the board and that seemed to solve the losing power part but not fix it entirely.
So it now never loses power entirely but yeah.

 

Did your friend solder the VRM to the GPU board or the motherboard?

If your friend soldered the VRM to the motherboard, and that solved the complete power loss, then this is definitely a motherboard issue.

 

GPU board.

 

I have the same Clevo. Will every Quadro Card from K3000 to P5000 work?