QUIZ - Choices over GPU Upgrades for the M860TU

Howdy everyone. A bit of a conundrum - the option to get both a 280M and 260M has been given to me. And I have a few questions. I've tried to read all of the related topics on the board to understand what needs to be done but still have a few questions left.

Prices - The 280M is roughly $80/£50 more expensive than the 260M.

1 - Okay firstly, this isn't a monetary decision. The costs themselves don't matter but the difference between them should apply. Would the extra costs list above be worth the money/over performance to you?

2 - Is using a 280M likely to shorten it's lifespan in this machine. I know OC'ing a 260M to 280M levels would, and it's something I'd like to minimise the possibility of.

3 - Next, I'm well aware of the 'surgery' involved in installing the 280M (backplate and all) but would it be a viable option using in junction with an X9100?
This has been undervolted already to 1.050V with no bad effects, no BSODS and I've played Crysis for a few hours today. The only other chip I have at the moment that'll fit is the err, T5800, a temp measure in case anything went wrong with the X9100.

4 - Temps with the CPU tend to be good, 38/39 all-time low mid 40's average/low clocking to low-to-mid-60's at highest during games. The highest I've seen the current card (9800M GTS) is 90c. Bearing in mind this is as hot as it tends to get during the year here (any hotter and I'll wonder why I'm still inside anyway) and that I haven't even plugged in my NC2000 for any of those temps. How many more degrees is a 280M likely to add to that? Yes all serious guesses are good.

Thanks for any help. I wanna make a decision soon, so please get your answers in ASAP.

 

1. On a single card system I would say yes it is worth the extra 80... which is a very very good price to ratio change
2.OC, or heating of an kind will shorten your life span... there are so many factors to include... but the point is your system is going to last longer than you need it even with a 280m... as long as you clean it and reapply thermal paste! ICD 7
3. Yes it is a completely viable option... it's a poweful dual core but nothing you should be worried about since a number of people have used both a Qx9300 and a 280m in their systems
4. I don't think you would even reach the 90c temps unless you happened to be outside in the blazing heat, I'm quite suprised your 9800 GTS was that high (although the 9800 GS and GTS have been known to have some heat issues)

 

1. Thanks for your opinion. $80 seemed borderline between worthy and not worthy to me but this install more confidence in the deal.

2. MX-5 at the ready. and like many advise, I do love to use that compressed air every month or so.

My point kind of eludes to whether the 280M, without any overclocking would still be damaged overtime in the chassis of a MT860TU/ETU, a machine it wasn't mean't for.

The 260M has obviosuly been stress-tested over-and-over by experts in this so I'd expect that card to last many years in the notebook.

3. This one is kind of in response to H-Emmanuel's thread. I have to admit I was slightly confused reading through it again today. Did he take out the QX3000 due to problems with the undervolting programs he was using? Or was it the lack power to use all the hardware installed?

4. I don't know how it peaked so high either. I didn't actually catch it that high but after I came out of the game HWMonitor stated this as the highest temp reach. Quite shocking, everything else was pretty fine. I wonder what the equivalant temp would have been if that had been a 280M. Hopefully not over 100C...

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EDIT - oh and thanks for the answers, duly taken into consideration. +1 REP. Anyone else?

 

$80 more seems about right from the dealer you're purchasing from.

Haha, what the hell is MX-5?

The GTX 280M will run well with the X9100. And if you ever worry about the temps, just underclock to GTX 260M clocks.

 

Haha, yeah it's gone midnight here and a I really need to call it for the day before work tomorrow. MX-2 if you'll excuse the messy typin' - you know turn it around in a weird dyslexic kinda style, you have it.

 

You're going to love the GTX 280M coming from a 9800M GTS, Oiad. Double the shaders and similarly high clocks paired with the X9100 just screams blazing fast portable performance.

 

Okay fair enough there you go. Thanks for the help. Sage advice coming from another 280M owner (I think?)

OCUK didn't really give the option for a GT. The chance to make up for it has been a long time coming.

 

1. Yes, the 280 GTX is the single best GFX card you can get. the 260 GTX is not far behind but expect at least a 10% or 15% in performance increase
2.Probably but by how much who knows, adding extra heat that stresses other components is not a good thing.
3. The X9100 is a great CPU but personally I would go for a QUAD, you don't need a QX9300 to have the ultimate performance a slower Q9000 or Q9100 will work wonders and they are much better priced.
4. I believe the temps on the 280 MGTX would be around the same as your 9800 GTS.
Get a good laptop cooler , you never know when it will come in handy.
Good Luck
I hope everything turns out the way you wanted
Keep us posted

 

I wasn't posting for the rep, but thank you. I am humbled by your graciousness.

Yes, this is Sager advice coming from another GTX 280M owner. The long part will be transfering the 9800M GTS backplate onto the GTX 280M. A hairdryer or a heatgun will help you with that process.

 

Do you mind me asking how much you found the GTX 280m for?

 

Cheers for adding in with this. I'll be buying a M860ETU when they likely go under sale, or I'll possibly get the W860CU if all's good. Till then I'm sticking with the M860TU, which means no quads unfortunately.
The stuff about the temps is good to hear, though I thought they'd be more around the level of putting a 9800MGTX. As for the cooler, I already have a NC2000 - it gets used occasionally and it's pretty reliable for the job.
The X9100 cost me around £100, it's not OEM, only the good, official stuff. I'm yet to find a quad that prices as well in the UK. Of course if you have a cheaper QX9300 going, I wouldn't turn down the offer to buy it from you.

Hope that helps to clear up the situation.

Well, quick help was wanted and you pulled through, even if you thought it wasn't that worthy. You read the first post and understood the situation and responded accordingly, rather than giving a rushed response to the questions.
Besides, I was on a generous steak.

As for the backplate, the tool-list was going to be just a flathead screwdriver and (hopefully it wouldn't be needed) a hammer to straighten it out. As I understand, if quick enough the adhesive will be reusable without troubles.

According to the rep I spoke to, prices change due to importation, though I shouldn't have thought it would be drastic. If you're a UK resident I'll PM you with contact details. Needless to say, if you live in the US, then go to RJTech as they will be much cheaper as they don't need to import and add TAX values.

To add, if you live in Europe the price is cheaper than inforlandia and that of a site in Norway I was recommended earlier last week. It's the most modest pricing in the EU yet, for either cards.

 

Balls...

I should add something for all those who have been told that Kobalt are selling 200 series GeForce graphic cards. They aren't going to be selling them anytime soon!

They can't find a supplier at the moment and won't be able to stock them for at least a month.

To add to this, 'I've done the math' and will be contacting RJTech in my free time to get the 280M won't cost too much more, even with the added tax.