BIOS update for m570ru and nv280?

I asked briefly, awhile back, about putting the 280 into the m570ru; the MXM socket and thermal budget seem okay.

Soviet suggested it should be okay:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=429572&page=2

I'm wondering if anyone has done it, and more to point.. if anyone has got a BIOS that is happy on the m570ru, but also supports that card?

(Yes I know its only about 15% faster than my 8800m gtx, but might buy another year of life on the laptop, so worth tracking. Certainly worth _knowing_ if its an option or not. The 9800 isn't an upgrade over the 8800 I'm told.)

jeff

 

I would be surprised if your current bios did NOT support the 280M. If it uses the same mxm connection, and power/heat isn't an issue, all should be well.

 

Plus the GTX 280M comes with a sexier heatsink.

 

brandon -- BIOS for 8800m gtx was released prior to 280, so why _Would_ it support it? (unless its same BIOS code for 9800 or something?) Does anyone actually know? ie: I woudlnt' want to lay out $500+ for a gpu and not have it work, you see

Soviet -- heatsink fit into m570ru? I already got the new backpanel and heatpipe for the 8800gtx, would 280 pipe/etc fit in?

How much better over the 8800m gtx is that sucker in reality?

Thanks

jeff

 

Yes, the GTX 280M heatsink will fit in the M570RU. Providing that the GTX 280M and the 8800M GTX are using the same clock set, the 32 additional shaders on the GTX 280M should give it a ~15% increase in performance over the 8800M GTX.

 

*bump* Anyone actually done it? Or all just conjecture.. "it should work.."?

jeff

 

The bios is concerned more with the MXM connection, not what is connected to the other end of it. As long as the communication follows MXM standards, and the power requirements don't change, it should support it. Think of it like a desktop. Would you think you'd need to update your desktop's bios to replace a 8800 with a 285? It should just plug into your PCI express slot and work.

That being said, I certainly understand your concern, and if I were in your place I'd want to know 100% myself before shelling out $500. The problem is I don't think you're going to find anyone whose done that upgrade to ask. Why not call your reseller and ask their tech people to be safe?

 

I ordered with an 8600 in, and later picked up an 8800m gtx; the system was hosed with the 8800 until I got a BIOS update. MXM slot compatible, and it was the Sager 8800.. (ie: not some other brand of MXM card). (If I recall, the machine woudl boot to basic pure VGA 16 color mode with the 8800 being unrecognized.) (And after reflashing the BIOS, Windows freaked out about machines changes and needed me to call their hotline .. no . Good thing I had FreeBSD and Linux on there as well

As I understand it, the card posts its part number and the BIOS figures out what to do with it based on mapping this through a table; to what end I can make guesses, but it seems to be the case.

So I'm assuming we would again need a BIOS update, for this card.

Hence my paranoia .. I've been here before

jeff

 

Well, it would surprise me if you needed a bios update, but since you've had to do it before that certainly makes a case for it. If I were you I'd just do it and see what happens, and if it fails and you can't get it working, just re-sell the card. I really don't see anything to lose, other than maybe ~$10-$20 in shipping or misc fees.

 

I'd update the BIOS to be sure. You can never be too sure.