Sager NP8268/Clevo P150SM-A GPU Upgrade for Solidworks

I currently have a NP8268 with a Nvidia 880m. However, Solidworks performs horribly. I'm thinking upgrading the GPU to a Nvidia Quadro or ATI Fire would help. I know there are issues with vBios compatibility, but I'm a bit confused. Would a K3100M/K4100M/K5100M work? Do I need to find a Clevo specific card or can I use a Dell/MSI card? If I can't use a Dell/MSI out of the box, am I able to flash the Clevo vBios on them safely?

 

The only workstation cards listed for the machine at launch were

NVIDIA® Quadro K1100M GPU with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM
NVIDIA® Quadro K3100M GPU with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM

Knowing Clevo, you need a Clevo version card to make it work. Flashing vbios won't help because you most likely won't be able to boot with cards of other brand.

You want to ask Prema, the expert on these things.

 

Great. I've been looking into NVIDIA® Quadro K3100M GPU with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM.

I found one on AliExpress that says it works and has been tested in Dell/Alienware/Clevo models. It is a used card though. Any ideas where I can buy a K3100M new? Also, I'm really confused about how to figure out if it will work in my machine. What precludes Clevos from being able to use other branded video cards to begin with? Are there certain specs I should be concentrating on?

 

You might try your reseller or RJTech. RJTech will often have things not listed.

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It's the EC controller. Clevo EC controller thinks all non-Clevo cards are always overheating. There are always exceptions but unless someone has done it it's gonna be expensive to try it yourself. I think only Sager and other resellers can get you a new one.

 

I checked out RJTech, but they don't have any workstation GPUs for Clevos right now. Sager said they have one K3100M left for $775.

I suppose I could try something like this out:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NVIDIA-QUAD...00-/191624337924?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

It says compatible with my system. If it doesn't work, I imagine it would be on the seller to accept the return given they say it's compatible. Any thoughts on the best way forward? Is it my best bet to order from Sager or is there a good chance the eBay one will work alright?

 

Did you call RJtech? I did when I didn't see the bottom cover for my P170SM-A on their website. They took my order over the phone and added the cover to their site a few days later.

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I actually just tried calling them. They said that GPU is very limited right now and they don't have one unfortunately.

 

Ah, ok. I wasn't clear in my first post that you needed to call them.


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There are like 3-4 sellers based out of China and Canada that have stock of Clevo GPU. One is upgrademonkey and that's Eurocom, I don't know who the rest are.

 

upgrademonkey was actually the seller I saw on AliExpress. I also found them on eBay. There post says it's for a Dell 6700M though - http://www.ebay.com/itm/NVIDIA-QUAD...M6600-M6700-/130964463543?hash=item1e7e171fb7

Although, they do say "tested working with" my machine. Is this my best bet?

 

With getting it from ebay, and not a Clevo manufacturer, there is always going to be some risk there. Make sure if you get it some place else that they have some kind of warranty or return policy in case it doesn't work or is DoA.