Sager P170HM needs a new GPU

I have a Sager P170HM. The 6990 is toast. It died back in October 2013 or so but I have put off fixing it because I wanted to know a little more about where I was headed in fall 2014. I now have a pretty good idea. I was also hoping that prices would drop, even a little, but looking on eBay the 680m is still an awful lot. I was told by a reseller that they could not find any evidence of anyone getting the 7970m working on the P170HM so they said they couldn’t flash the card. I really don’t want to go to any expense to downgrade my computer, and likewise I have no intention of buying a $900 replacement card. So, my questions:

1. Can the P170HM run the 7970m?
2. Can one get a 680m for less than $500?
3. Should I just throw my computer off a bridge and find a new hobby?

 

There is a specific vbios for the 7970M from sager/clevo to enable official support.

 

Here we go....
1. Yes use rjtech vbios
2. NFI... But it's a premium powerhouse gpu and TBH worth it based on 28nm die size compared to 40nm on 6990m = much much less heat
3. No persevere and search on eBay and the classifieds here on notebook review. The flashing of the 7970m will have to be done blind if you are not sure what vbios it comes with or if buying from someone with notebook get them to flash it for you before removal.

Best of luck

 

You can see more info about getting the 7970M to work on the last post here http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...-june-12-2012-official-sager-news-thread.html

 

What concerns me is that when RJTech sells the card, they specifically state it won't work with the 170HM: Laptop Video Cards :: ATI HD 7970M 2GB Mobile Video Card - R&J Technology, Clevo Barebone Notebook kits, Laptop and desktop system builder

 

I got my 7970 from ebay through this seller:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131039837591

It is a Clevo GPU so need to reflash. Don't forget to request the newest BIOS from Sager. Install the card, flash the BIOS, and you are set. Mine has been working perfectly in my NP8170 for a month or so. Hope this helps.

 

You can contact them and double check. It could be possible they added that information when the 7970M was initially released because it didnt work at first, or have it up there since it will take a few more steps then plug and play.

 

Yep it still won't work without a flash which will confuse most people so they likely just say it won't work.

 

Just to add to my post above... The GPU is flashed with "Enduro disabled" VBIOS so it will work in your P170HM even though the description does not specifically state that it will. Saves you the extra steps of blind flashing (since your 6990 died). Also, make the seller an offer. I got mine for significantly less than the asking price. I did 2 weeks of research and this ended up being the best deal (for me).

NOTE: I am not affiliated with that seller... Just trying to help a fellow NBR member. =)

 

It's not a bad option scouting the MM first over new.

 

I went looking for it but the most recent BIOS update I can find is Oct. 2011, which is a bit earlier than the 7970 was announced. Is that the one I should install (from here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/556299-clevo-bios-older-models.html) to enable support?

 

That is a system BIOS you're thinking of/referring to. Meaker is referring to the video BIOS, which is firmware specific to the card.

 

I'd go ahead and buy one, but I've been in contact with Eurocom and they've been discouraging it, claiming that they've had variable results getting the 7970m working in the P170HM. It's enough to cause concern when one is dropping $500+.

 

Well most users have never flashed a bios before or fitted an mxm card which does not help success rates.

 

There seems to be a lot of experience on this forum with flashing the bios and quite a few success stories, so I'll give it a try as soon as I hear back from RJTech. On the Sager News thread that discusses the 7970m, it notes that certain displays cause problems. I just have the stock display, with no 3D or anything, so that shouldn't cause any trouble?

 

You should be ok, the 3d versions yes wont work due to the requirements of an nvidia GPU.

 

Finally got a straight answer out of RJTech.

My second email: "Even if there is no recent support, is it possible that you guys could flash one with the last vBIOS Sager released? I would be happy to purchase one in that case. I could blind-flash it myself, but I'd really rather not if I don't have to."

Their response: "No, we don’t have such vBIOS.

And it will not work."

 

More modern vbios files are not compatible, it needs to be specifically the HM version. You will be able to blind flash a card that does not come with it.

 

Thanks again, Meaker. It seems that the last of the pre-flashed eBay cards that DriftKing purchased were sold this morning. Unless something shows up here on the NBR marketplace right away, I suppose the next best option is RJTech, despite their claims that it will not work. From their website I get the option of choosing the model number for my notebook, presumably so they can flash the right vBIOS on there. This shouldn't matter in my case since I need to flash my a different vBIOS on there anyway, right?

Regarding the vBIOS to flash onto the card, Jaybee's seems to be the easiest to find, but I have heard talk of RJTech and Eurocom vBIOSes, despite the claims of these companies to not support the card. Which of these should I be using?

Also, my 6990m is not dead, just severely malfunctioning. It's alive after one reflow, and I keep the computer that has it off all the time unless I desperately need something from it. Drift King's post made it sound like I could avoid blind flashing if I still had a living 6990m - I'm not totally understanding how I could flash the 7970m while the 6990m is in the MXM slot. Am I just misreading that post?

 

You should be using the HM blind flash guide on this forum:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...-7970m-modded-vbios-clevo-p1xxhm-laptops.html

 

Xiu, I was going to reply to your PM, but this info could possibly help someone else so I will post it here...

I was in the same boat. Read conflicting information. Not knowing which mGPU would work (differing versions, different chips, etc, etc). But after a couple of weeks of research and a leap of faith, it all worked out. When you posted, I wanted to help someone who was in the same predicament.

Concerning the 7970m: There was no need to flash/blind-flash a special vBIOS for the 7970m from the eBay listing I posted. The 7970m's that "upgradeyourlaptop" were selling were already flashed with the correct vBIOS (Enduro off). All I needed to do was request an updated motherboard BIOS/EC from Sager. They will request your serial number then e-mail the BIOS/EC to you. I removed my 6990m and replaced it with the 7970m (I swapped out the heat-sinks for the new ones although you could use the originals as they are basically the same). Booted the laptop. Then flashed the new BIOS/EC. Reboot, logged into windows, cleaned then updated drivers, and BAM! That's all she wrote. Laptop was fixed and performs almost as well as the NP8295 w/780m that I ordered as a replacement.



Now here is the bad news... I checked eBay for you. It looks like "upgradeyourlaptop" is no longer selling the 7970m. However, if you can find a 7970m (Clevo model) that is flashed with the vBIOS that disables Enduro, there is no reason for it not to work in your laptop. Also, you could possibly e-mail that seller to see if they plan on offering it up again for sale. I hope this helps. Good luck and I hope you get your laptop fixed.

EDIT: Woops! I saw your PM and replied here before seeing your post (#19) in this thread... So I guess you know that they are out of stock.

 

Thanks for the reply, Drift King. I contacted the eBay seller and they figure it's unlikely that they'll be getting any more in, as they're getting scarce. I suppose I can always get one from RJTech for $475 but that will entail the blind-flashing. Failing that, Eurocom sells a 675m for the same price that will work out of the box. It's roughly equal to my 6990m, it seems. Unless a great deal happens to turn up for the 680m I just don't think it's worth it, since I mostly just play Morrowind, Crusader Kings II, and Skyrim. I guess the RJTech card + blind flash is the best option for the money, assuming it works.

 

The warning on RJTech's listing for the 7970 says the following: "For Clevo P150EM/P170EM model, the motherboard version number must be V6.2 or later to support this video card. You can check the version number by the sticker on top of the memory slots."

I just opened up my machine and the sticker on the top of the memory slot says V3.3. I'm going to need a different 7970m than the one they sell, then?

 

Can you post a picture?

 

This is what's stuck to the RAM holder.

 

Any ideas? I'm not having much luck finding any 7970s other than the RJTech one, unfortunately.

 

Look around the memory slots, not the actual memory, since the brand and model of memory used often can change they wont have the motherboard version on it.

 

The only other sticker in the immediate vicinity of the memory slots beyond the "Jan- '12" one is a barcoded one that reads NKP170HM0001L0028.

 

Maybe by the other two RAM slots which are under the keyboard?

 

I think that sticker on the memory slot itself is the version of the board, I had a look round at variety of models and yeah it seems to be. It all depends if you trust the advice you have been given, it's not a specific issue I was aware of.

 

I looked at the memory slots under the keyboard and there is nothing obviously a mobo version number. The RJTech site specifically says "You can check the version number by the sticker on top of the memory slots."

I've seen consistently good evidence for people running the 7970m in HM models here, and not a thing mentioned about mobo version numbers other than on RJTech's site. I really can't justify the 680m for the amount and sorts of games I play. The only other alternative is a 675m from Eurocom for the same price as the 7970m. Although they claim it'll work out of the box, it does seem a bit steep. I've been checking both eBay and the NBR marketplace for the last few weeks, and no 7970m cards have been posted for Clevo, so it seems like RJTech is the best option. A German retailer sells HM versions, but for what they're asking I could get a 680m after the currency conversion. I'm going to go ahead a get the RJTech one and do the blind-flash, and we'll see what happens.

 

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

I'll keep you updated. It'll be three weeks or so, as I'm moving at the end of March. Space is extremely tight on the journey so I'll order this thing in a few weeks so it can meet me there.

 

Good luck!

 

I wish I was just reporting success, but rather back to irritate you all you wonderfully helpful folks with more pestering questions. An MSI 680m just appeared today for a price I'm willing to pay here on NBR. My quick searches have suggested that the MSI vBIOS works with the Clevo. If anyone has further information on that I would be much obliged, since the seller does not have the option to test it.

The second question concerns the bracket. It does not include one. I have the bracket from the 6990m, but a few quick searches have suggested that using it may be dubious. Does anyone know if I'll need to buy a bracket somewhere online?

 

Just a data point here - my 6990m died, replaced with a 7970m. Did blind flash aaaaaand ... no dice. Black screen stays black. It is possible the card itself was defective, but I think I am done with this project. Will scavenge the old system for parts and am looking at a new system (this time with a 3 year warranty).