GT72/GT72S and GT80/GT80S Owners GPU Upgrade Discussion

I would say that the biggest limitation is that Pascal doesn't have LVDS output, and there is some/almost half of the models affected use lvds displays in the first iteration/first batches that where sold, then you would read that you just need the upgrade kit and it works, but it doesn't..
Now you need to replace at least the display and the lvds cable as well as the GPU..
The gpu is more or less quick and easy to replace, the lcd is a bit more tiresome, you crank the lid screws a bit more and you rip one hinge off, you pop the bezel to hard and you get bleeding all around the display, you dont disconnect the battery and put the eDP connector by feel and you now have a fried mobo..
Too much to **** up by the end user, this will be cheaper to replace this way..

None the less I have an MSI and I would prefer to upgrade it myself, and I will investigate a bit about that..

 

MSI USA, and waiting on a response, when I inquired the first time as to where the response was to my reply to their email requesting info it was quick. Since sending in the info it has gone silent. I have a GT72 2QE Dom Pro G , my option is to a GT72VR Dom Pro G w 1070 @ $700 US cost plus my ship expense. I really want the new gpu for future longevity as I had initially planned to upgrade my 980M in a year or so from purchase date. Well with that option thrown out the windo my only option is to pay the piper which I am not too overly happy with as I lose alot of functionality I currently have like 4 x M.2 and Superraid 3 which I currently use. Not only that but switchable gpu and Thunderbolt i think.. The only benefit is ability of nvme i believe and a faster gpu plus ddr4. Too boot I give up a i7 5700 for a i7 6700, i would rather keep the 5700

 

I would really like the GT83VR with a single GTX 1080 and only 1 power brick, but that doesn't seem to be an option at all.

Is it possible to take the GTX 1070 SLI version and then sell both of those cards and purchase a single GTX 1080 and the higher wattage power brick?

The struggle for me is that I *really* want the full mechanical keyboard, but I don't want/need $2900 into dual GTX 1080's, when I only need the really need the single GTX 1080.

 

Come to the dark side of GT73 owners, we sport single GTX1080s!

I don't think you can purchase a single 1080 for the GT83 as they are not sold as individual items. Maybe only if you have connections with MSI to purchase one as a replacement or something. You can definitely sell them though, there is always a market for that.

I would love for a full mechanical keyboard, keypad included, for a new GT8X version

 

The full mechanical keyboard is the only reason I bought a GT80. It is really hard for me to willingly give up the primary selling point of the laptop. I absolutely hate Chiclet style keyboards. :-(

Dual Power bricks is also not an option.

I am torn between the GT73 and waiting out the next revision for a solution that better meets my needs. The GT83 with a single power brick and GPU would 100% meet my needs.

 

Hmmm, I think the only way in your case is for a full custom Gt83 from a reseller. Asking them to take out a single GTX1080, and change the PSUs to a single one. You would have a full custom GT83. I don't see why it wouldn't work by removing a GPU as well as using a standard single power brick.

Or maybe, if you have extra cash lying round and for some reason feel like investing a lot of money, you can get the dual GTX1080 and sell stuff separately to recoup some losses. But I suspect this is way too much of an investment haha.

I would love for the GT73 series to adopt a mini mechanical switch approach. Or the GT80 to change the touchpad just to have a full on mechanical keyboard. I can understand you, It is a fantastic typing experience.

 

I would also take a half height mechanical keyboard on the GT73. That would also meet my needs.

 

The summary I made was to point out involving me in it all yesterday at length, and then finally telling me what you told me in the last 2 posts seemed to me like a waste of time.

I wouldn't have spent time on it with you if you had said you already decided not to do the upgrades.

I'm not sure why people hang around here and continue to post complaining about the trade-in when they have already decided to not take the trade-in because their personal circumstances make it not viable for them personally.

It just seems like beating a dead horse. You've found the trade-in isn't what you want, but you are still posting about it.

That's the waste of time I am referring to. When you post here talking about problems with the MSI UK Trade-in people will think you need help, stop and try to lend assistance, only to find out there wasn't any help needed.

If you drop the dream of getting full refunds on your purchases from MSI over the last 2 years, and look at it objectively, the trade-in would work fine for you.

Good luck

 

Yeah, same for me, I'll miss my 5950HQ, it really rips through benchmarks, and beats the 6820HK / 6920HK, that's why I'm waiting through this round and see how the next couple of new model releases measure up.

The GT72VR is a real problem for the trade-in, MSI really messed up on that frame this generation. Hopefully all the feedback everyone has been giving on losing the CM236 chipset, reduced internal storage, loss of the MUX, etc will prompt MSI to put out a better GT72 frame for Series 200 motherboard chipset.

Hopefully you'll get a response from the MSI Trade-in Team quickly now that the new year is here.

 

@hmscotts

I am not looking at getting refunds for both laptops, only for mine, please read my posts.
I am hanging around here as I still, potentialy, have an interest in the upgrade program, I still may take it depending upon what the Credit Card Company, CAB and the financia ombudsman all state, at the moment I am being told that a full refund under UK Law should be given, if it is not then I will have to look into the trade in program more closely.
My long post set out all the facts as you asked me for these facts.
Not only is this trade in program a dead horse for me it is also a dead and expensive one for others as well.
There are othe options for people in the UK due to consumer laws that we have here, should I not mention them?

 

From what I know about it, which isn't much, it sounds like a pipe dream, with no chance of anyone being able to push through a claim.

I don't think it's a way to plan a path forward.

Has anyone even tried to make a claim personally or through a credit card company, did they succeed?

I think its a good way to talk yourself out of making a real trade-in deal through MSI, which for your options sound like a good deal, easily on par with what we have from MSI USA.

Anyone can bicker back and forth on the price of any deal, but it is what it is. The cost of upgrading was going to be expensive no matter the method.

The only real problem I see with the trade-in deal is the GT72VR being a shadow of the previous GT72(S) models.

The GT73VR is there for 1070 / 1080's, too bad there was no 1060 option - an odd combo for everyone except for GT72(S) owners looking for a less pricey trade-in option on par with their GT72(S).

Hopefully the next GT72 Kabylake Series 200 chipset model release will provide a better trade-in option for GT72 owners.

 

Bit OT but isn't the 5950HQ hard locked to 45W after 2.5 mins? I'm curious how it's beating an unlocked TDP 6820HK at 4.0 or 4.1.

 

It's the EDRAM that makes the difference

Hopefully one of the new laptop CPU models will bring back eDRAM.

For most benchmarks the timeout doesn't hit, or only briefly so it still gets better numbers. Fire Strike Physics is one of those.

If you can get a laptop with a 5950HQ, or a future laptop with a CPU with eDRAM, it's a good feature to get.

Intel's Core i7-7700K 'Kaby Lake' CPU reviewed
https://techreport.com/review/31179/intel-core-i7-7700k-kaby-lake-cpu-reviewed

"Basically every item on our wish list for Kaby was dashed during Intel's Kaby Lake introduction earlier this year at IDF. No, there will be no eDRAM for socketed Kaby Lake CPUs."

Looks like no time soon...

Unless you want a U level CPU:

Intel pushes out the rest of its Kaby Lake processors for 2017’s PCs
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017...st-of-its-kaby-lake-processors-for-2017s-pcs/

Good section on eDRAM's real reason for being there, improving iGPU performance, but I found for benchmarks and batch jobs doing Nvidia CUDA it made a difference too.

Spoiler: OT for now, but later if a eDRAM Hx CPU arrives, good to know

"Eight of these processors—the 28W i7-7567U, i5-7287U, i5-7267U, and i3-7167U and the 15W i7-7660U, i7-7560U, i5-7360U, and i5-7260U—feature Intel Iris Plus 650 and 640 GPUs. The "Iris Plus" name is new, but the basic configuration really isn't. Like the Skylake Iris GPUs, they use 48 of Intel's graphics execution units (EUs) and include a 64MB eDRAM cache to boost performance. The "Plus" label seems intended to separate them from previous-generation Iris GPUs with no eDRAM and the Iris Pro GPUs with 72 EUs and 128MB of eDRAM.

When we compared the 15W Skylake CPUs with Iris and eDRAM to the 15W Broadwell CPUs without eDRAM, we saw a nearly 100 percent jump in graphics performance. Going from Skylake to Kaby Lake won't yield the same kind of jump, but upgrading from Haswell or Broadwell or anything older will give you a lot more performance"

 

Your opinion on UK law is unhelpful.


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I am not giving an opinion on a UK law, I am saying that hinging your upgrade hopes on some magical refund is a pipe dream.

It's a good way to let time fly by and miss out on the real options available, until it's too late.

And, it seems to be brought up as a common response to the MSI UK upgrade program, so making a comment on it is not only on topic, it's important to point out.

If you give up all the real upgrade options available now, wait for something that's never going to arrive, you will miss out on reality for a fantasy.

Pushing that kind of agenda, "believing in a magical full refund", would be "really unhelpful".

 

When you have attempted a credit card refund for your notebook in the UK your opinion will be considered until then it's irrelevant.

Your opinion on the trade in program is well known.

Do you have anything else to add to this thread other than 'accept the program'?


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Do you have anything to add to this thread other than "don't accept the MSI UK trade-in program"?

 

Yes.

Don't accept the USA or any other program.

Let's work together to get something that's not an insult to us, the customers.


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Just sell the laptop privately...why wait on a lower offer from MSI?

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Thanks for finally putting into summary your intentions and agenda here.

You intend to respond to every positive post with a negative one to stop people from taking the trade-in program.

Interfering with their ability to make an informed rational decision by throwing a wrench in their thought path.

This has been true from the start, and you continue to post the same negative posts today, no change or improvement, just a constant vengeful hate against MSI.

Here's an MSI rep responding to your constant tirade's against MSI:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=30335610&postcount=312

Guys, he's just admitted he is only here to cause trouble for anyone wanting to do the MSI US/UK trade-in program, nothing positive to help anyone.

It's not fair to those that just want to come here to upgrade their laptops with the reality of what is available today.

 

@hmscott Please read my posts, I am not completely ruling out the trade in program, I am finding out where I stand with respect to UK Law, the trade in program may end up being my only option.
But as already said, after contacting various legal entities in the UK, CC company, CAB etc. I am being told that either a non faulty replacement should be provided a repair made or a refund.
As the laptop cannot be 'repaired' it simply does not match the advertised specification and can never be made upgradeable therefore any replacement will also have the same flaw then the only other option is a refund.
I would also ask that you stop calling it a 'pipedream' as this gives the wrong impression, at least read up on UK Law before you do so (but I know you won't as you have no interest in this, purely because it is not relevant to your situation):
The below is a useful summary of Conusmer Rights here in the UK:
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act
There is also additional information to this.

 

MSI provides a perfectly serviceable upgrade path through the trade-in, and there isn't any assurance the MXM only upgrades would be cheaper considering everything involved - including the risks of physically upgrading customer laptops making them unstable long term, I doubt any such "full refund" path will be fruitful.

You might get an unaware Credit Card Company to refund you, and they would take that loss against their books, but that's really not cool.

Given the hopeful dreaminess provided by the thought, and the wonderful inaction it personally requires - no cost, no action, thoughts of someone else doing the heavy lifting to prosecute, I think it's important to drop a wet blanket on the idea lest it ruins too many people's lives.

If you think the UK Consumer law ploy is going to work for you, then pursue it, but please don't post trying to disrupt the MSI trade-in program for others. That's not cool.

 

Unlike you, I'm not telling anyone what to do. I'm sharing my point of view, it differs from yours.

I think we as MSI's customers deserve better than lies and misinformation.

Nice cherry picking a quote. I'll let the members here guess why you omitted my reply to that attack by the MSI rep.


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The CC Company make the claim against the merchants bank, the marchants bank then pays the CC company, the merchant then makes the claim back against the manufacturer.

 

Well another day no response. Now i am wondering if i should bother with going from gt72s 970m to the gt72vr 1070 or just wait it out for the next model.

 

If I dont hear back within a month I may just sit this round out as well use what I have an buy a new one down the road, its not like what I have is bad, gpu wise it is just not as strong as current 10xx series but everything else is pretty damn good ,

 

They can find your reply

After you've been called out here, and there (elsewhere too? links?), and banned on Facebook you've realized you have to go into stealth mode and start "sharing my point of view" instead of being outwardly rude and contemptuous - that just gets you outright banned.

So you repeatedly and incessantly stuff it down peoples throat and interrupt any positive move anyone makes to taking the trade-in from MSI.

You and your buds are purposely interfering with people's ability to progress forward with MSI UK/US trade-in deals.

 

I have a little more respect for those owners of MSI GT models. I believe they are competent to make their own independent choice.

I will continue to point out where MSI has lied and misled their customers. Where MSI is insulting us with their offers. Where they are demonstrably incompetent.

As I'm sure you will continue to patronise those whom have a differing view to yours.

The forum can accommodate both perspectives without your constant clamouring to have me banned for my 'dissent'.

Peace bro, life's to short to waste my time talking to you. MSI are the ones that need holding to account and you are not MSI.


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That's what I have been saying to you for months, are you actually ready to stop doing what you've been doing?

That would be a nice surprise

 

Out of respect I'll answer your question.

Yes, however, if you ask me a question I will endeavour to answer politely. If you quote me, I'll respond as I see appropriate. If you cast aspersions upon me, I reply as I see fit. Beyond these matters I will continue to post in the exact same manner I have been.

I'm a bit fed up with you trying to assert dominance on this thread (and if you read other members comments, so are they), so I see no point in trying to rationalise with someone that refuses to enter a discussion about this scam program by MSI.

So to be perfectly clear, I am not changing anything I post because of you, just come to the realisation that posting to you is a waste of my time.

I hope overall we (MSI's customers) can get MSI to provide a program where they stick to their word rather than the lies and misinformation they have provided so far.

 

As someone who's also in this whole MXM mess with my GT72 2QE unit, I figured I had to sign up just to share their thoughts. And that is:

Both MSi's and MiSJAH's views couldn't be the ones to help the common man find a resolution that's beneficial. Either way, we lose. We ended up spending more than is strictly reasonable (small sacrifice, really), but to see that either the law (be it UK or US) or MSI (700 for an equivalent?) couldn't help out with reason, I'm forced to think that I get what I paid for. If that's the case, then please do tell me that I may be mistaken and I'm more than happy to participate.

-Satoshi

 

MSI isn't the only one that gets screwed over by upgrade paths, even clevo laptops got screwed. But my model got lucky with alternative parts.

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The big difference with MSI is that they promised 2 generations of GPU upgrades to certain regions for the GT72 and GT80, and after no small amount of noise from the owner community, they followed through with an upgrade program through trade-in.

No other make has gone that far to help their customers.

It may seem expensive to some, over burdensome by requiring a laptop frame upgrade along with the GPU upgrade - what's the point of MXM format if you can't just swap cards? - but due to the changes required it makes sense.

The big problem for many is that we believed we could swap the old card and sell it for $.

IDK how well 980m/970m's are moving now, price wise or quantity, but I gotta believe that thousands of used cards pulled from Pascal upgraded laptops would flood the market dropping the price and drying up demand to zero. This wouldn't happen as we expected either.

I'd rather get a new laptop and a new warranty, a new laptop I that I would be happy to get with new features and a whole new positive experience.

That is a neat benefit besides getting a new GPU. Noone even mentions that.

The shrieks of joy from @ryzeki about his new GT73VR reminded me that we are going to have the fun of getting a new laptop and a new GPU as part of this trade-in, let's all try and find that joy too

 

I don't see in any way how MSI has gone far on this topic for me ! Far in screwing customers yes, far in helping ? NO !
It is the OBLIGATION of a brand/manufacturer to deliver what was advertised/promised at the time of the sale. If any of the advertised specs, services or whatever is not delivered then it is the responsibility of the brand/manufacturer to reimburse in full the customer or to propose an alternative (in both case, without any additional cost incurred by the customer except the initial one at the time of the sale). This is at least applicable in France and I believe in many extent if not in full, in EU. Yet, MSI chose deliberately to screw us by not providing any valid alternative or reimbursement offer. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Not a single part of the so called "trade-in" program shall relieve MSI from its obligation. The "trade-in" is an amicable settlement as you would see before going to court. In NO WAY can it be considered the alternative the second additional money is asked from the customer.

If it is acceptable for you in US/UK, so be it, but that may not be the case for everyone depending on their country and capabilities.
I don't feel any joy for being affected by a brand, sorry. I'm glad you found out a good deal but that's not my case at all as MSI France is refusing to negotiate. I will never spend a cent more on MSI products and when MSI will be criminally sentenced, I will be plaintiff in the trial and so will be the rest of the French customers.

 

As passionate some people get regarding a subject, remember that rudeness and insulting words are not necessary do present an argument.

 

Indeed...
But it just helps to get out the frustration and anger that MSI brought in
Still no news for me since 2 months after I asked for negotiation on the price, it really proves that their customers are nothing to them.

 

You are completely entitled to your feelings on this situation. Specially since you are fighting a different battle than most users here.

Just remember that we don't represent anything other than ourselves. Just like my positive experiences don't mean everything is positive. I wont go around saying that all is good, even if in my case I am satisfied and agree with my outcome plus understand the general picture. But likewise current negative situations do not echo globally and do not affect all users.

And finally remember in the end MSI is also people, and those people are not necessarily in charge of decision making nor responsible for many things that happen. Rudeness is never necessary to convey an argument. Particularly here in the forums. How you conduct yourself outside of here is not our problem

I wish you good luck on your fight and I hope france customers can reach a satisfactory outcome, if possible, with MSI.

 

I second this. MSI has frustrated their customers, initially MSI's representatives only communicated via this forum, so NBR saw the brunt of the frustration.

As a multinational business I expect more from MSI than being lied to and misled.

Just as an example: A UK MSI customer received an offer from MSI, they challenged the numbers quoted in the offer, and MSI claimed the initial value attributed to the trade in machine had been a 'error' and increased the value by £450!

At present we have to barter with MSI to get the deal they offered in the program 'upgrade at costs comparable to previous MXM upgrades', whereas the reality should be MSI provide the upgrade as promoted in the program and we barter for a better deal.

It's a scam.

 

So you did get a trade-in offer for a new Pascal laptop from MSI France, but you didn't like the price so tried to get a discount?

The same happens with MSI USA Trade-in Team - everyone that takes the offer gets answers in a timely fashion and the transaction is handled fairly quickly once it starts.

If you try to get the offer down, you stop getting responses quickly.

AFAIK, so far no one has gotten a discount from the offer from MSI USA after verifying the value and the configuration to trade, negotiating a lower price hasn't been successful.

The only exceptions are MSI models bought from boutique dealers upgraded before shipment. MSI will then offer a trade-in configuration minus the memory and storage, so you can save a good amount.

Other than that there has been no one that has posted getting a positive response on making a lower counter offer.

Good luck

 

there it is boys! may get this instead of upgrading again next year lol

 

GUS!! (Graphics Upgrade Solution)

MSI eGPU box? Model name / Link? Nothing in Youtube searchable yet...here's some old GUS's from MSI, one from 6 years ago:

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/results?q=msi+graphics+upgrade+solution+gus&sp=CAI%3D

Now we need to wonder if our laptop's TB port will work... if it's TB3 - we need a list of compatible MSI laptops

MSI should add this GUS eGPU + an MSI desktop GPU + a new laptop with a compatible TB3 as an upgrade option

Thanks for the heads up!!

 

This was during CES2017 so you'll probably hear more about it soon xD but good to see that MSI finally stepped up to "catch up" to other brands.. hopefully it isnt proprietary and just leaves it to TB3 easy access.. no the question is can I SLI this with my current 1070?

 

Bad news for Canadians.
My follow up email to them:

My only option is the GT72VR w/ GTX 1070 for 950$ CAD and there is no second upgrade option later.

Really torn between doing it so I have a newer laptop that will last that much longer and cutting my losses and riding this one out (to be fair it'll last me some years still). Either way, MSI have totally lost me as a customer for the future.

 

yea there is a second upgrade option i have it in an email from MSI (US) which should basically be the same as canada...

USUALLY THEY DO NORTH AMERICA THE SAME
even the pricing is similar for upgrades...

 

Does MSI Canada offer the same option for trade-in for any GT model - using the difference in MSRP from the table offered model and the MSRP of the one you want?

MSI USA allows us to pick any current GT model. We just pay the difference in MSRP between the ones listed in the sample table and what MSI USA is selling now.

I sent your post URL to MSI USA to see if they can help suggest that to MSI Canada.

No promises that MSI USA can help, but it's worth a shot

I asked if MSI USA can suggest how you can reopen communications after not hearing back for 2 months.

This is a test, as I don't know if MSI USA can take the time, or has the access to do this.

MSI USA may not answer right away this time, as they are in the middle of CES 2017 - management is away - and there might be a new product release soon that they are working on.

So please be patient, again

I'll let you know what I hear back.

 

Not that I can convince them. They keep coming back with one option (gt72vr with 1070), no second upgrade, no msrp calculation. That's it, that's all. In this case, they've decided to split the US and Canada.

 

We have to be careful, as MSI USA is an independent entity, and all the other MSI regions are setting up their own Trade-in Team and rules.

MSI USA has upgraded / added options over time, and as each region emulates the MSI USA rules, they may not adopt new options that MSI USA adds automatically, or at the same time.

Hopefully MSI USA will sync up with all the other MSI Region Trade-in Teams and match the same options in all regions, but we can't count on that.

Also, there seems to be a delay even within the other regions as to the adoption of new options, not everyone hears about them at the same time, so you may get different answers only days apart from the same or different people within an office - so try to be patient and assist them by asking them to check with their management for new options.

MSI USA may not answer right away this time, as they are in the middle of CES 2017 - management is away - and there might be a new product release soon that they are working on.

So please be patient, again

 

One thing I think is true, but you'd need to check with MSI Canada, you can wait as long as you like while the trade-in program is active, all the way through the 2nd Generation GPU upgrade - Volta.

I'd ask about that.

Even if you can't upgrade twice, you can wait for a model release that offers a model configuration that you like before acting on the trade-in.

For example, MSI often changes their models features, the next GT72 models offered on trade-in might have a better motherboard chipset and additional features that are more attractive to you than the current GT72VR.

And, at least MSI Canada are answering your emails, even if the answers aren't what you are looking for, I'd keep asking.

Like if / when MSI offers new models with the Kabylake Series 200 motherboard chipset, that would be a good time to ask again what is offered.

Let's hope MSI USA can contact MSI Canada with some Trade-in Team Tips and Suggestions for Improvements to help customers with their trade-in's like MSI USA offer.

Good Luck

 

I forwarded the email chain to MSI USA. Who knows, maybe shaking that tree will help but I'm doubting it.

I am leaning towards just sucking it up with my laptop as it is but who knows, maybe something will shake loose at some point.

 

@tiliarou In the UK some people have seen discounts of over £400 when challenging MSI's pricing for the trade in scam.

Definitely worth pushing for the deal that best fits the 'comparable cost to previous MXM upgrades' that's also best for you.