Replacing my dead GPU D901C

So basically I found out that my 9800m gtx is dead and I want to replace it so I can make my rig up and running again. I know this kind of thread has been made before, but I include a question that I have not found the answer for it in other threads.

The thing is that the 9800m gtx is the most overpriced card the world has ever seen!
Now, I ve read a lot of threads about my model and its GPU options in this forum, making the 280m gtx mxm 2.1 type III (not 3.0b!) the best option. (i assume with vbios update and/or forceware driver updates?)

However, the thing I do NOT know and I ask of you, is if there are any incompatibilities in my laptop or graphic restrictions or bugs just because I am inserting a 280m 2.1 in my laptop. And I would appreciate if someone who has installed a 280m in his D901C successfully to tell me exactly the process he followed.

Now, I recognize that the 280m 2.1 gtx is the best option my laptop can take, ever. However, if you had the GPU list and prices shown below (taken from eurocom price list), which card would you choose just to keep your laptop up and running ASAP without spending much? Basically im asking for a price/performance relativity.

**1GB GDDR3 GTS 160M NVIDIA GeForce; 16x PCIe; DX10; MXM 2.1 Type III [£256]
**1GB GDDR3 GTS 9800M NVIDIA GeForce; MXM 2.1 Type III; 16x PCIe; DX10 [£224]
1GB GDDR3 GTX 280M Nvidia GeForce; MXM 2.1 Type III; 16x PCIe; DX10 [£448](my best option for performance)
1GB GDDR3 GTX 9800M Nvidia GeForce Go; 16x PCIe; DX10; MXM [£617](no way im buying that again..)
1GB GDDR3; GTX 260M NVIDIA GeForce; DX10; MXM 2.1 Type III; 16x PCIe [£380]
**512 MB GDDR3 GTS 9800M Nvidia GeForce Go; 16x PCIe; DX10; MXM 2.1 Type III [£211]
**512MB GDDR3 Nvidia GeForce Go 9600M GT; 16x PCIe; DX10; NB9P-GS1 [£211]
512MB GDDR3 Nvidia GeForce Go 8700GT; 16x PCIe; DX10; Modular VGA [£354]
512MB GDDR3; Nvidia GeForce Go 7950GTX; 16x PCI Express; MXM-HE [£419]

Would you consider SLI of any 2 of the above 512mb cards as a better option?(trying to keep around 1gb of vram) Also why cards that I marked with ** are cheap compared to their Vram? If you have any other card in mind, help yourselves by visiting this eurocom list. http://web.eurocom.com/ec/ecu_pricelist(2,0)
These prices and list are just an example, because it was the only List that I found about vga cards and prices. Prices will be relatively the same in any other list.

I hope that this post along with its answers will help other people that have similar problems with this model or trying to choose the GPU that suits them.

 

I would take two 160Ms and put them in SLI (if possible). Otherwise I would go for two GTS 9800M and sli them.

 

So I am guessing that you put SLI very high up in your hierarchy level right Blacky?

1 question about the 9800m GTS'es though. There is a 1gb 9800m GTS costing 224 gbp and another 512mb 9800m GTS costing 211 gbp oO.
Isn't that weird? Why are there 2 versions in different vrams for this card Blacky with the same cost?

 

Yes, if you have a SLI capable laptop then you should opt for a SLI solution. It brings much better performance.

I have no idea, maybe it's a typo. But I would go for the 1GB version. Not because of the price or extra memory, but I have a feeling that the 1 GB version is a newer version.

 

Hey Blacky, i made a quick research and I found that is not a typo.
The 65 nm version is the 9800m gts 512 mb, and the 55 nm version is the 9800m gts is 1gb of vram which was later renamed as 160m gts.
So basically 9800m gts 1gb = 160m gts

What I am trying to find out is if you can SLI the 9800m GTS 1gb (160m gts). If that's the case, its the same price as the 512 version and it definitely worths it. But I still havn't found if i can SLI that card.

 

I think the 160M GTS is a slightly newer version of the 9800M GTS, in terms of production process not the core itself. I would actually opt for a 160M GTS SLI solution if I could, if not, the 9800M GTS 1 GB in SLI should be alright.

STAY AWAY FROM THE 9800m GTS 512 MB! The one made on 65nm.

 

The card have to fit the MXM type. You can put 1 280m card I know only mxm-upgrade.com, but there might be others.

 

Oh we know all about MXM types.

You could use 2 gtx 280m cards but they would not be in SLI.
Unless you soldered the connector on. Which could work, who knows?

I wouldn't recommend the 9800m GTS, I'd sooner get a single 9800m GT and plan for another in the future. 2 9800m GTS have the same shader count as 1gtx 280m (128)

 

1 280m is not as powerfull as 1 9800m GTX, but it is reasonable and I think it is about 1.5 9800m gtx. The TDP is 75 W and it costs only 60 % of one 9800m GTX.

 

I don't recommend the 9800M GT nor the 9800M GTS with 512MB, the 9800M GT is a re-branded 8800M GTX and has a life span of 1.5 years so you will see it fail in about 2 years or so.

That's why you need to focus on 55nm cards because they shouldn't have this problem.

The 9800M GTX is increadibly expensive and not worth it, no matter how you look at it. Given the price, I am pretty sure that the 9800M GTS with 1 GB vram or the 160M GTS , both in SLI are your best options and will give you the most performance per dollar. Shaders are one aspect, but two cards will also have an extra core, memory controller and vRAM. Plus the 9800M GTS overclocks like hell.

 

8800M GTX's can last if cooled properly, mine is nearly 3 now and still going strong.

 

And just after he posted this his system had a meltdown

 

I'd get a GTX 260m 1gb. More powerful than your 9800m GTX and much cheaper than the 280m.

 

Nope, still here