Upgrading my 1651/gx620 to an ATI 3870 mobility

So I found a great deal on a brand new 3870 master card on ebay (182 shipped), and I'm going to be putting it in this weekend. Really excited after reading all the results on doing this upgrade. Any tips for installing the 3870? I've read that I need to modify the heatsink, and ensure the spacers don't make contact. I'm not 100% on the modifications I need to make, so if someone could point me to that thread or break it down for me I'd appreciate it. I searched and couldn't find anything that was specific on what I needed to do.

I intend to take pictures and will post the process of me updating the card, since I'm sure other people would like to see the procedure for upgrading an MXM GPU as well. Thanks in advance!

 

What were your search terms? I'm looking for one too.

 

I kept searching ebay for "9800m", "160m", and "mobility". Just waded through the irrelevant ones, got lucky and found the 3870 mobility though.

 

thats good i should be getting my 4850 soon like a week or two ill post pics on how i did it.

 

ive done it what do you need to know? fyi you can not use the 620 heatsink without a LOT of work you will need a heatsink from the gx627 instead then modify that one. you will need some sort of backplate or a way to secure the card to the heatsink, the newest bios is recc for this, and you may need to mod the ati drivers so they work right. anything else? lol

 

Hmm. So I don't have a heatsink from a gx627 and I'm not ever sure where to get one, so I guess it's going to be a bit tougher than I had thought. We'll see how it goes!

 

The heatsink can be found for $60 on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MSI-GT627-GPU-C...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a049f54a9

EDIT: sorry that's the wrong one, see next post for the right one.

 

That heatsink is not for a GT627, it looks like the original MS-1651-9600 VGA heatsink.

 

You're right sorry, I didn't look at the pic.

here is the GT627 heatsink:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MSI-GT627-Noteb...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e5a320a33

Or you can get it here:
http://www.rkcomputer.net/rkcnotebooks/index.php?l=product_detail&p=217

 

Now I see the difference, the one you posted originally didn't look any different from the 1651 style. I'll have to see what can be done, might just have to sell it back because I'm not dropping close to $300 dollars to upgrade the video card. Thanks!

 

dont do that click my link its like half the price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/CPU-Heatsink-Fa...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27aebc7f77
edit: either message the guy on ebay or if the link is correct buy it.

 

Oh awesome find! Thanks alot! I'll let you know!

 

Got the new heatsink thanks to Mexicansnake! Now I need to figure out a way to secure the card as the one I have doesn't have a backplate. Any ideas for how to secure it? Thanks in advance!

 

Finding a back plate for it it's hard thing. You can buy nuts and secure the heatsink with them. It will do the job.
BTW if you find somebody selling more than one, I want to buy one too

 

Do you think a backplate from an 8600m GT MXM II card would work?

Because I might be able to help, and I'll have two of them


Or maybe send an email to mxm-upgrade and ask if they have any.

 

moral hazard, sorry but no.
We need MXM 2.1 Type III or higher back plate for exact fit.
Your back plates are good for modding though. Actually what we can use it for is to take the nuts out of them.

 

Ok, I see. Well I guess I'll sell the GPUs whole then.

 

well u can use washers and use double sided tape to put it on the back of the card so the heatsink fits in properly at least thats what i did.

 

Awesome. Looks like I'll be heading to home depot and grabbing some nuts to secure this bad boy down. And I was lucky enough to have Mexicansnake sell me his old heatsink, otherwise I have no idea where to get the heatsink other than ebay.

 

Is anyone selling a heatsink for less than $70?

 

It's alive! I scored a 9010 on 3DMark06 vs a 5820 with the 9600m. Highest temp was about 89, with just web browsing and such it's running around 45. Not too bad, but a little hot. I made a make-shift backplate with the nuts being secured to a hard plastic backing. Seems to work pretty well. Just using standard ATI drivers with no tweaks.

Once I get some time tomorrow I'll take pictures of the backplate I made, since it seems like others are trying this same upgrade. Thanks again for all the help! Rep spread around! Yay!

 

ayle i have a modded heatsink i cna take pictures of in the morning see if your interested in it. trying to sell my 4850.. used in my gx620 for like 2 weeks.

 

You got PM.