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    Upgrading P370SM3 to 980M

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Troy_Carnahan, Jun 6, 2015.

  1. Troy_Carnahan

    Troy_Carnahan Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone know if it's possible to upgrade this model to one or even two GTX 980Ms? I am currently running two 780Ms.
     
    Troy_Carnahan, Jun 6, 2015
    #1
  2. Prema

    Prema Your Freedom, Your Choice

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    Flash my P370SM (non 3) BIOS Mod and your are good to go.

    (click my signature)
     
    Prema, Jun 7, 2015
    #2
    kolias and Mr Najsman like this.
  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    You will also need to adjust the thermal pads or get some heatsinks with your GPUs.

    Also drop off some beer money to Prema since his hard work has made it easy.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 7, 2015
    #3
    bennyg, kolias and Troy_Carnahan like this.
  4. Troy_Carnahan

    Troy_Carnahan Notebook Consultant

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    Awesome, thanks for the replies! If I flash to the BIOS will I lose the 120hz 3D functionality of my panel? I have the NP9380-S version. Also, any suggestions of where the best place to order 980s at a good price would be, as well as the best place to sell my 780s? Normally I would just buy an upgrade to replace a part, but seeing as how the 780s still hold some value I was hoping to get some money out of them towards the 980s. I attempted to contact Sager to see if they would potentially buy back my 780s at a cheap price if I purchased the 980s from them, and the only response I was able to get was that the 980s wouldn't work.
     
    Troy_Carnahan, Jun 7, 2015
    #4
  5. Prema

    Prema Your Freedom, Your Choice

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    There is no 3D license for GTX980M so it won't have 3D on the internal screen.
     
    Prema, Jun 8, 2015
    #5
  6. Troy_Carnahan

    Troy_Carnahan Notebook Consultant

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    Oh wow I did not know that, that's unfortunate. I've been doing some research and it seems like a single 980m is going to set me back more than a 980 desktop card would. Have you ever experimented with Alienware's graphics amplifier? I'm wondering if taking out my 780ms and purchasing a desktop 980 Ti would be a better performance per dollar route.
     
    Troy_Carnahan, Jun 8, 2015
    #6
  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    The issue is hooking a desktop card up to the notebook, unless the machine is designed to do it then it wont be the cleanest solution.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 11, 2015
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  8. Troy_Carnahan

    Troy_Carnahan Notebook Consultant

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    After some research I now realize that, the Alienware brick requires a unique connector that they have patented for their units. I've tried calling a few manufacturers to see if they would sell me the boards without heatsinks and they all reply with "Unfortunately we can only sell parts compatible with your serial number, and policy states we cannot make exceptions." I'm still searching for a place to buy a 980m for a good deal other than the overpriced sellers on ebay. No way I'm paying 1k for a single card. I guess I'll just have to wait until type-c USB and Thunderbolt 3.0 are released and use Intel's external graphics card housing they're developing.
     
    Troy_Carnahan, Jun 11, 2015
    #8
  9. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Well there are a few connectors out there, none are overly special in and of themselves. Have you contacted our team about a card?
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 13, 2015
    #9
  10. Neal0790

    Neal0790 Notebook Consultant

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    Let me know if you ever find a good price on a 980m. I have the same laptop and im looking to upgrade too. Cheapest ive found is rjtech.com 970m for $450 and a 980m for $720. I also tried to contact sager and xoticpc and was told the same thing you were.
     
    Neal0790, Jun 14, 2015
    #10
  11. Support.3@XOTIC PC

    Support.3@XOTIC PC Company Representative

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    Video hold their value for quite a ways down the road.
     
    Support.3@XOTIC PC, Jun 15, 2015
    #11