Q: P370EM + Desktop 980 ?

So I have searched a little but can't find anything, I also don't know too much about the desktop 980 MXM card other then there seems to be some different versions 180w and 200w?

What I was thinking is, since I got my hands on a P370EM and it with some Prema Love supports 980m's will it also support a desktop 980 mxm card, and if not, what is holding the P370EM back from utilizing the 980?

Then if one of the lower TDP 980's work could SLI 980's work?

If this has already been answered, please point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

 

Not psooible. The p370em cannot accommodate the desktop 980.

Best you can do is 980m sli

 

Thanks for the answer, but do you know why? Bios compatibility? I am pretty sure it fits physically.

 

It's probably compatible. See here: https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/6583-980m-seems-to-be-compatible-with-em-series/
I don't know if the bios mod adds support for maxwell in general or just the 970m or 980m. According to Clevo, the p377sm-a is the first laptop they've built to fully incorporate the MXM standard and as such all future graphics cards should be supported so long as they also follow the MXM standard. This is not the case with the 370em, but maybe that bios mod works.

The 200 watt card will definitely not fit - so don't bother.

The 180 watt card will fit with some minor case modding. Assuming the p370em has the same/similar power circuitry for the MXM slots as the p377sm-a, you can tap into one of the MXM power rails to power the auxiliary connector.

Your hardest task will be finding a 180 watt GTX 980. I've been looking for months and haven't been able to find a single card for sale anywhere. Seems like the only way to get it is bundled with a laptop. . . .

 

The 980 doesn't fit in the 370em. That's it.

It was never designed to accepted anything like it. Even if you by some miracle shove one in, you would risk damaging the notebook itself.

Why bother when it will perfectly support either a single or dual 980m setup....

 

Lol, what a pessimistic attitude.

The 980 doesn't fit? I beg to differ, like I mentioned the physical size of the 180w could work.

https://www.techinferno.com/index.p...x-980-m5500-n16e-gxx-all-variants/#post145870

The P370EM wasn't "meant" to fit the 980m or 970m either, yet with some bios genius work of those who think past "it doesn't work" we get great performance in our PXXXEM series laptops. People mod the cooling to flow better or work better too, so doing some mods and getting the 980 to work would not be strange, especially if it got documented to do it properly. Besides with a single good card you wouldn't have to worry about SLI support, and the 980 is obviously above the 970 (desktop) recommended performance to be able to run VR games. And even without the ultra settings it would run games and VR for the next two or more years as the technology and API's (DX12, Vulkan etc) mature.

Besides we are talking about a four year old laptop here, not a new 2k + laptop.

Why bother you ask? Then I ask why not? Do I need a reason other then to see if I/other people can do it? It is always interesting to push the boundaries with tech.

 

I think he's referring to the physical dimensions, not the connection or how its keyed. It's still the same ol' MXM 3.0b form factor, but the card is slightly larger than the counterparts with an "M" suffix. It would take some serious modding to make it work, as you mentioned regarding the 980M.

 

There is a little height above the primary slot but it's quite restrictive in width. Due to cooling the 980M might be a better idea, certainly 980M SLI is very potent.

 

Right, thanks for clarifying!

True, it would be potent. But the grass is always greener on the other side.

I guess I got caught up in my imagination a little, and I might of reacted a bit too strongly to his response.

Thanks for the clarity.

If I keep the P370EM long enough maybe I can get lucky and do some testing myself. (aka... years down the road...)

I honestly don't see a point in upgrading to new hardware now with 10bit/HDR/adaptive refresh rate panels, new 16nm FinFET GPU's, new API's, VR all being around the corner or needing to mature. I think I will play the waiting game to see how it works out.

 

Everyone has a different time scale for their machines, the P370EM is still a very potent machine.

 

It's the kind of attitude one assumes when the OP doesn't listen.

Like I said, if you want to ruin a perfectly good laptop then go for it.

As for the "it was never designed to accommodate the 9xxm" yes it was meant to. The p370em is designed to accommodate cards that keep within the cards dimensions and power consumption limits. Clevo just didn't bother supporting it and we are only lucky enough to get that option cause of a great guy called Perma (consider donating if you use their bios).

However since you beg to differ then go for it.

 

What do you mean he didn't listen? You straight up say nope. Then you say it's not designed for it. The 980m was also not designed for it.

M17x R4 isn't designed to accept 880m, 970m, or 980m, yet it does. This laptop is no different.

P775DM isn't designed to accept a gtx 980 desktop, yet it can run it.

All OP is asking is will the motherboard support a gtx 980 desktop variant, not if it will fit in the laptop.

Here's my input OP, if you can fit it in, the worst it can do is not boot. I've never once heard of a card killing an MXM slot, vice versa. It just will give a black screen and never post. I know the 200w variant might need the extra power cable, which the P370EM does not have, so your best bet is to try the 180w version (which I'm not sure if it has the power cable required)

 

I think he means it's designed for standard MXM-B cards in terms of width, height and power where as the 980 desktop cards exceed those limits.

 

Cough...we may actually have killed a supported motherboard with a 180W card by simply using it without the external power cord and running a single +1xxMhz bench @ stock voltage ...all in the name of science...

 

Yay science ouch on the cost of that.

 

Well, I stand corrected, I have now once heard of it happening

 

Thanks gents!

I pretty much figured what I wanted to know, and that was that it has not really been done, but there might be some hope if the motherboard can recognize the mobile maxwell cards that it might also the 980, oh and to make sure to keep it plugged in.

Now to sit back and wait for a 180W 980 to appear at a "reasonable" price...(300?).l this could take a while...(months.. year?) If I get one I will try it, and update accordingly! Unless someone else documents it before hand.

Again thanks for the responses!

 

MXM cards don't tend to drop much, not as much as you are hoping.

 

I think some of the cards become more expensive, as they become harder to find.

 

Popular ones can after supplies start drying up.

 

You'd be lucky to get one for double that price. The supply of laptops with upgradeable GPUs is limited, and the number of said GPUs is even more so.

 

True... I have been looking at MXM prices for a long time now so I should know better. Its usually the top of any generation that prices will increase, especially nvidia ex: 485m, 680m, etc Seen it over and over again, AMD card prices usually stay low though.

Especially considering that the desktop 980 @ 180w isn't as prevalent in the market as the 980m or 970m.

Sigh.. what I was hoping is some lucky ebay/craigslist/forum snag . . . dreams and wishes.

 

I've been looking for GTX 980 180 watt cards for a LONG time and haven't been able to source any. I think these might only start to come to market after mobile pascal has launched which kind of makes this whole discussion pointless anyway lol.

 

If you can get such a card (if it were to exist ) then it would make more sense.

 

I'm confused. They do exist . . . right?

 

I am talking of possible future cards.

 

Of course is not possible with 980 Desktop. Always you can upgrade to 980m in sli.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G935F mit Tapatalk

 

It's not obvious to a community like this, it has pulled off some things that would surprise you.

 

Okay, maybe yes. Gtx 980 Desktop 180w working on Alienware 17 but this isnt worth. This the the same Mode like a 4k gsync and p870dm for this moment. Next Generation will be with 4k and gsync.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G935F mit Tapatalk

 

^^^This!

Worth it? That isn't always the point. =) Modding and overclocking and messing with laptops isn't really always "worth it" but there are many things that we all do that others might not think as worth it.

Thanks for the input though.

 

The 980 desktop card is pretty expensive to be playing round with it's true, I'd warn against it unless you had some serious cash to burn.