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    CLEVO P170EM Upgrade...

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by mrguunter, Nov 28, 2014.

  1. mrguunter

    mrguunter Newbie

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    So I have a P170EM and the 7970M recently died I presume. It always crashes the system and fails to boot into windows with drivers installed. Without it on I can boot into windows fine... I how ever discovered if you pull it from the machine and try to just use the HD4000 you are welcomed by loud beeps lol. Kind of a shame that I cant just use the HD4000 while I wait to get a new card...

    My question is what GPU should I get and where? I've been trying to find a 680M 4GB on ebay but only see the Dell version. I'm pretty sure the Dell won't work in the P170EM right? Same goes for 7970M....

    I know PREMA is working on a bios mod but there is no ETA so I can't really wait that long.

    So any viable solutions?
     
    mrguunter, Nov 28, 2014
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  2. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

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    right now, a middle-ranged laptop with gtx960m in it can be compared to your P170EM in performance, with less consumption, less weight and smaller price.

    Either buy another 7970m or a new laptop alltogether. I am not sure about a gtx680m, its too much of a risk to get it working in your machine. Potential problems and driver verification would just seem too much (in my perspective).

    I'd advise on getting a new laptop and selling this for parts. I just get that feeling, if you end up buying another 7970m, you never know how long its gonna work. It might just fail like all the rest of AMD cards (that seems to be the trend).
     
    b0b1man, Nov 28, 2014
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  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    A clevo 680M is likely to work, but now is a good time to upgrade if you can afford it. Otherwise a reasonable 7970M/680M would work. Be aware the 680M requires a different thermal pad arrangement.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Nov 28, 2014
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  4. mrguunter

    mrguunter Newbie

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    Yeah im trying to sell it on ebay as well as save money for a 680M if I can find one. I messaged Xoticpc to see if they sell them seperate. I hope they do for a reasonable price. Dont really want to buy a whole new machine.
     
    mrguunter, Nov 29, 2014
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  5. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Keep an eye on the members market and if you are confident ebay too.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Nov 29, 2014
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  6. mrguunter

    mrguunter Newbie

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    Or how about a 675MX. I see RJTECH has one but for 590$.... Whats the loss in performance compared to a 7970M or 680M?
     
    mrguunter, Nov 29, 2014
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  7. mahalsk

    mahalsk Notebook Consultant

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    Today, the exact same thing happened to my 150EM also with 7970m. I new something unussual happend, as right in the middle of a BF4 round the screen just froze, and after a hard reset, it didnt boot to windows anymore...After removing the AMD driver, I can use the laptop with the integrated graphics, but after trying to instal the driver agein, it crashes right away. It is defiinitelly a problem with the 7970m. Im still covered with warranty, so hopefully they'll give me a new card. But anyways, I have fingers crossed that Prema will make a working bios for 970m/980m in our generation of machines so we'll be able to upgrade in the near future.
    As for now If your not in warranty anymore, you should try this :

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...r-your-dead-graphics-card-your-alienware.html

    There is a big possibility, you will be able to use your laptop until you'll get a new card, or maybe a lot longer. If I wouldnt be still under warranty, my card would be baked already :D Good luck
     
    mahalsk, Nov 29, 2014
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