The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    looking for MXM converters, any exisit?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by somep3ople, Oct 3, 2010.

  1. somep3ople

    somep3ople Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I'm trying to get an video upgrade to my laptop (vaio ux) which has a mini pci-e slot

    I've stumbled upon a few mxm mini pci-e video cards, however the interface is mxm. What i was thinking is getting some kind of simple converter that can convert an mxm vid card to a mini pci-e

    Do any exist and where would be the best place to look or inquire.
     
  2. TehSuigi

    TehSuigi Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    931
    Messages:
    3,882
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    MXM /= Mini PCI-E.
    They require completely different circuitry and space in your chassis. Plus, there's the whole issue of how to get the new GPU to co-operate with any existing ones in your machine.

    That being said, there is a topic on the board for a do-it-yourself external video card that attaches to your Vaio through the ExpressCard slot.
     
  3. somep3ople

    somep3ople Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    31
    But sony vaio ux doesn't' have a express card slot, it uses a compact flash slot.

    As for getting it to fit, that i'm willing to work out on my own somehow and as for the added gpu, i would assume the onboard would just be disabled or a bios hack would be required. I'm just wondering if the connector on a MXM could be replicated to a mini-pci-e format

    Example

    HP nVidia Quadro FX 540 MXM 128M Mini-PCI-e 390151-003 - eBay (item 390247143196 end time Oct-31-10 10:21:10 PDT)

    Newegg.com - Habey HB-MAT5070 ATI Theater HD PCI express Mini Card ATSC/DVB-T/Clear-QAM Digital TV tuner card - Server Accessories

    Notice the mxm's layout is completely different, just wondering if there is a converter for that interface.
     
  4. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

    Reputations:
    1,748
    Messages:
    4,094
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    116
    No.
    Yeah, nope there really isn't.

    The second thing you posted isn't even a graphics card, its like a digital tv tuner card.

    the closest you are going to get is with the external vidock tehsuigi suggested. you can use it with a mpci-e slot and a desktop graphics card.

    and if your wondering how to convert from mpci-e to normal pci-e to MXM, its also impossible or very inconvenient. there is only 1 desktop card that uses MXM cards and it has 3 of them and was hardly put into production.




    if you really have a lot of resolve though you could look into some of the mezzanine cards by HP for using MXM cards in servers, try to use decode and use that proprietary interface, or one of these liantec "tiny bus" boards for MXM which are also proprietary interface Liantec TBM-1630 : Tiny-Bus x16 PCIe MXM 3.0 Type-A/B Mobile Graphics Extension Module with Two Dual-Link DVI (DVI-DL), LVDS, VGA, TV-out Ports.
     
  5. somep3ople

    somep3ople Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Yes i know it was a tv tuner, was just showing the interface of it, i'm not interested in an external display, this is purely for graphics horsepower on the ux. The other solution i was thinking was possibly desoldering the gma950 chip on the board and resoldering a new gma chip. As for converters, your saying i'd probably have to make one myself.
     
  6. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Doubt you'd be able to replace the GMA chip by just soldering, if you even could just desolder the chip like that. I think you're comparing too many different things without understanding the interconnections between them, for example Compact Flash and Express Cards are not comparable in terms of functionality nor connections to the motherboard.
     
  7. somep3ople

    somep3ople Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I never said express cards and compact flash are comparable the other guy thought i had a express card slot. As for desoldering the chip, if i can find a chip with voltages in mind it could be a possibility.
     
  8. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

    Reputations:
    1,748
    Messages:
    4,094
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    116
    no he didn't think that, he simply didn't care, and neither should you because this is simply not an issue of what ports your notebook has.

    resoldering a BGA chip is something you do with a multi thousand dollar machine.
    Intel graphics are not just integrated with the rest of board, they are integrated with the rest of the chipset, probably use an entirely different interface on various different boards, and are not at all compatible with anything dedicated, ati or nvidia.
    ...are you getting the picture yet?
    the external vidock is a pretty huge leap for hobbyists who cant manufacture things. you cant go any further without an SMT machine.

    believe me, I want to do this too, but its just not very possible and not practical in the eventuality that it is possible.
     
  9. somep3ople

    somep3ople Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I have a IRDA machine? what am i not getting, forget it... another project i must invest in, thx for the replies i guess.
     
  10. cleverpseudonym

    cleverpseudonym PG RATED

    Reputations:
    635
    Messages:
    1,402
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    56
    even if you had the proper knowledge & tools to desolder it, you would have to confirm the compatibility of the chipset and the new "gpu" while in theory, it may work in real time, the board may not support it. IMO all of this work isnt work the trouble, its just not a huge enough improvement over what you have. but if you could make a converter that is successful, it might be a HUGE money maker, and some interest might be generated in the manufacturing sector, however if it was possible or feasible, it would already have been done imo. i wold just save for a new laptop if you are that desperate for "gpu horsepower", all this trouble and speculation isnt worth ruining your computer.
     
  11. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,354
    Messages:
    4,449
    Likes Received:
    476
    Trophy Points:
    151
    Agree. If you really want more GPU power out of your laptop, then the fastest, easiest, cheapest, and lowest-risk option would be to just buy a new laptop.
     
  12. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    I would say it's actually faster and cheaper to build a DIY ViDock. Though it requires a little more work than choosing a new laptop.