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    P170EM Graphics Card Upgrade

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Troy Coleman, Mar 31, 2016.

  1. Troy Coleman

    Troy Coleman Newbie

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    I'm looking to upgrade my graphics card in my P170EM that I purchased through Pro-Star about 4 years ago.

    Computer Specs:
    - Processors: x8 Intel Core i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz
    - Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX (What I want to upgrade)
    - Memory: x2 4GB Crucial DDR3-1600 SODIMM,
    x2 2GB Crucial DDR3-1600 SODIMM
    - I know I can upgrade the memory to 32GB which I might do as well

    I can't find any specs on the motherboard to know exactly how high it can go, and I have no idea where the graphics card even is on the laptop to replace it myself.

    Can someone please point me in the right direction?

    ((I've build computers before so I know the difference between them (basic stuff), but when it comes to Laptops, I'm in the dark.))

    Thanks for the help.
     
    Troy Coleman, Mar 31, 2016
    #1
  2. Prmt

    Prmt Notebook Consultant

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    Hey mate,

    You can upgrade to any CLEVO based 6xx series card. It will just be a matter of swapping the thermal pads around.

    If look for and flash PERMA bios for your notebook you will be able to upgrade to the 9xx series as well. 7xx and 8xx series cards are also possible. However it is a tad more sketchy. Again it would be best to use a CLEVO version and you would need to make sure the thermal pads make proper contact.
     
    Prmt, Mar 31, 2016
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  3. Troy Coleman

    Troy Coleman Newbie

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    Thanks for the response,

    After some amazingly complicated research on these forums, it does look like I can update the graphics card to a more updated version. I've reached out to Pro-Star to see if they can provide me with the most up-to-date version of the PERMA Bios, but there is one thing that I still am not following.

    What do you mean when you say, "CLEVO Version" does that mean that I can't purchase a "GTX 950M" (just for the sake of argument) directly from NVIDIA?
     
    Troy Coleman, Mar 31, 2016
    #3
  4. Prmt

    Prmt Notebook Consultant

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    Generally there will be more than one version I.E one for Dell, Clevo, MSI etc etc. Clevo and MSI from my experience are generally cross compatible. Dell on the otherhand is a lot more of a pain in Clevos.

    You dont need to go to Pro-Star from Permad bios. You can get it directly from Permas thread.

    I would reconmend you upgrade to something along the linds of the 965m or 970m if you do upgrade though.
     
    Prmt, Mar 31, 2016
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  5. Troy Coleman

    Troy Coleman Newbie

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    Thanks again,

    After doing so more research online. Where is a good place to buy GPUs? I can't find them on NewEgg or anywhere it seems...

    Secondly, at the risk of sounding like a complete nub... where is the Permas thread? You aren't meaning on this site are you?
    - Also, do I need to update the Bios?
     
    Troy Coleman, Mar 31, 2016
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  6. Prmt

    Prmt Notebook Consultant

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    Your best off googling perma bios P170EM. Just in case there have been any changed.

    You can grab them off upgrademonkey etc on eBay. Plently of decent places.
     
    Prmt, Mar 31, 2016
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  7. Troy Coleman

    Troy Coleman Newbie

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    Yeah, I've found those. Thanks again for the consistent responses.

    Do I Need to update my Bios in order to make the GTX 9xx series GPUs work?
     
    Troy Coleman, Mar 31, 2016
    #7
  8. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Yes, it will not work without it.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 31, 2016
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  9. Prmt

    Prmt Notebook Consultant

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    As meaker said. Yes you will need to. Only the 6xx series is supported on stock.
     
    Prmt, Mar 31, 2016
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  10. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Hey Troy!

    We've been in touch outside the forum as well, but just wanted to follow up here for you:

    Clevo being the original manufacturer, you'll need to source a Clevo branded video card for the upgrade, whether you stick with an officially supported 6xxM series card or go the modded route (i.e. get the Prema BIOS and a newer [Clevo] card).

    Hopefully you get some good advice here, and your best resources for the video cards are usually places like eBay or the NBR Marketplace.
     
    Prostar Computer, Apr 1, 2016
    #10
  11. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It does tend to make things easier sticking with the clevo/sager cards.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 1, 2016
    #11
  12. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    here a chinese guy upgrades this laptop with a gtx1060
    https://translate.google.it/translate?hl=it&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.hkepc.com/forum/viewthread.php?fid=84&tid=2362739
    Clevo P170EM
    Sandybridge i7-3820QM @ 3.9GHz Quad-core
    AMD Radeon HD7970m 2GB @ 850/1250
    AUO B173HW01v4 17.3" 1920x1080@60hz 90%NTSC TN/LVDS
    Corsair Vengeance 1600C10 8GB x4 @ 1600CL10
    Samsung SSD 830 256GB
    Toshiba MQ01ABD100 1TB
    Intel Wifi Centrino Advanced-N 6235 2x2
    Panasonic UJ160 BD Combo

    http://www.hkepc.com/forum/viewthread.php?fid=84&tid=2362739&extra=&page=1
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 24, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 10, 2017
    #12
  13. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    I'm not hiding it's me sharing on both forums :D FYi:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ification-possibilities-advice-needed.802054/
     
    Billy2789, Apr 10, 2017
    #13
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  14. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    And google translate looks awful btw
     
    Billy2789, Apr 10, 2017
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  15. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    Last edited: Apr 11, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 11, 2017
    #15
  16. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    Yes, I'm guessing the reference GTX1070 from GeCube should work aswell
     
    Billy2789, Apr 11, 2017
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  17. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    what about temps? do you have some benchmark?
     
    sicily428, Apr 11, 2017
    #17
  18. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    Will post some pic when I'm home tonight. It runs cool basically, from mid 60s to low 70s in kombuster/unigene heaven/bf1.
     
    Billy2789, Apr 11, 2017
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  19. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    Thanks for your answers! Is this gtx1060 from another clevo? Where did you buy it?
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 11, 2017
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  20. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    The Clevo cards are a different shape so it wont be one of those.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 11, 2017
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  21. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    what about eurocom upgrade kits? they don't use clevo mxm card?
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 11, 2017
    #21
  22. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    The 9xx were standard MXM sizes, the clevo 10xx are not.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 12, 2017
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  23. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    MSi Kombustor DX11, 1455/8000MHz stablised, 63'C (PWR limit in place)
    [​IMG]

    Unigene Heaven DX11, OCed 1898/8000, 63'C too
    [​IMG]
     
    Billy2789, Apr 14, 2017
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  24. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    bought on Chinese auction site Taobao for 3000RMB
     
    Billy2789, Apr 14, 2017
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  25. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    Is it an msi card?
     
    sicily428, Apr 14, 2017
    #25
  26. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    Yes, that was the only card compatible, until gecube 1060/1070 rolls out
     
    Billy2789, Apr 14, 2017
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  27. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Yes, still needs a mod wire though? Or is that no longer needed?
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 14, 2017
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  28. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    this msi card is it plug and play or it needs a BIOS and EC update?
     
    sicily428, Apr 17, 2017
    #28
  29. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    Mod wire? It doesn't need one

    BIOS/EC is latest prema mod for P170EM(dated 2013), vBIOS is stock MSI. Plug in, put a 0.5mm shim between GPU die and heatsink for better contact, (driver.ini) mod and it's good to go.
    Only issue revealed after few weeks usage is that the GPu doesn't turn-off completely during idle, and the fan keep spooling up and off
     
    Billy2789, Apr 17, 2017
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  30. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Originally the MSI cards needed a wire to get them to boot, I guess that's not an issue now then :)
     
    Meaker@Sager, Apr 19, 2017
    #30
  31. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    Do you have a fire strike or unigine heaven benchmark? What score?
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 20, 2017
    #31
  32. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    I see, maybe that's required for early iterations of cards?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Billy2789, Apr 20, 2017
    #32
  33. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    Hitting the Power Limit vigorously :rolleyes:
     
    Billy2789, Apr 20, 2017
    #33
  34. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    this is a benchmark for a clevo p650rp6-g with i7-6700hq and gtx1060 so really close :)
    [​IMG]

    clevo p650hp6-g with i7-7820hk/gtx1060
    [​IMG]
     

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    Last edited: Apr 21, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 21, 2017
    #34
  35. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    do you have a benchmark with score in firestrike/unigine heaven with your old gpu?
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 21, 2017
    #35
  36. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    7820hk...that physics score :rolleyes:

    I didnt run fire strike before, only 3dm11 and 3dm vantage

    Is there anyway to raise the power limit for gtx1060 btw?
     
    Billy2789, Apr 21, 2017
    #36
  37. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    Could you test your cpu with passmark?
     
    sicily428, Apr 21, 2017
    #37
  38. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    [​IMG]
     
    Billy2789, Apr 21, 2017
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  39. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    this is a clevo p650hp6-g with i7-7820hk
    [​IMG]
    +5%



    http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-7820HK-vs-Intel-Core-i7-3820QM/m224965vsm4339
    http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-7700HQ-vs-Intel-Core-i7-3820QM/m211019vsm4339


    your cpu is really close to i7-6700hq
    http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6700HQ-vs-Intel-Core-i7-3820QM/m34954vsm4339
    http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6820HK-vs-Intel-Core-i7-3820QM/m36404vsm4339
    http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-3820QM+@+2.70GHz
    https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-6700HQ+@+2.60GHz

    edit
    this is an msi gt62vr with i7-7820hk
    [​IMG]
     

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    Last edited: Apr 21, 2017
    sicily428, Apr 21, 2017
    #39
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  40. kothletino

    kothletino Notebook Evangelist

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    Billy why no OC'?
    [​IMG]

    Did you check if optimus is working in win7?
     
    kothletino, Jun 18, 2017
    #40
  41. eriannmx

    eriannmx Notebook Consultant

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    Did you ever get the GeCube card? I'm still curious :O
     
    eriannmx, Jun 22, 2017
    #41
  42. Billy2789

    Billy2789 Notebook Geek

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    No, they are not especially cheap, and I'm generally happy with my msi 1060s performance and temp :D

    Further spending reserved for Zen x Vega machines.
     
    Billy2789, Jun 25, 2017
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  43. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    I think the 1060 is the best partner for the chassis really.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 26, 2017
    #43
  44. sicily428

    sicily428 Donuts!! :)

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    sicily428, Oct 21, 2017
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