Video card upgradeable on Clevo notebooks???

I am shopping for a laptop which can handle gaming. So far I am considering the Asus G71G-A2 (for all the features, 3-yr warrantee), the OCZ Whitebook (for the ATI 3870 Crossfire), and the Clevo from XOtic (for the 3-yr warrantee and upgradability?). If I try to order a Clevo from XOtic, it says the GPU is upgradeable. Is this correct? How does the motherboard allow this?

 

Most GPUs nowadays are MXM based, so they are definitely upgradable. Also depends on which GPUs the motherboard allows. Which Clevo were you looking at?

 

Probably since it uses MXM for both GPUs. If there is a 9800M GTX+ in the works, then it could be an additional upgrade option on top of the 9800M GTX.

There as also been talks of the ATi Radeon 3870 working in some Clevos, but I have yet to see proof of this.

 

Yes; however, don't forget to read the fine print. "Upgradeable" in this context means that the GPU can be removed by a reasonably technically competent user, and that if, and only if, Clevo has put out another, better, GPU that is supported by the system you have, will it be upgradeable.

In other words, "upgradeable" does not mean that there will, in fact, be another superior GPU released that will fit the current system, just that, if the stars are properly aligned and a new GPU is released for that system, then you'll be able to swap GPUs by yourself without too much trouble.

 

I did a search on upgradability and one poster mentioned that laptop GPUs are really expensive. So even if a 10800 Nvidia GPU becomes available in the future it might cost as much as a cheap laptop alone .

 

That's quite true. I believe that the kit for adding a second 8800M in SLi on the NP9261 came to about $800.

 

Clevo has had many critics about their MXM-IV slot not being too upgradeable, (which Nvidia has reluctantly confirmed to be their latest slot, but not officially announced it)....

... But, so far the MXM-IV for Clevo notebooks (M570RU, M570TU, M860TU, D901C) have seen:
- 7950GTX
- 7950GTX SLI (with Clevo D901C)
- 8700M GT
- 8700M GT SLI (with Clevo D901C)
- 8800M GTX
- 8800M GTX SLI (with Clevo D901C)
- 9800M GTS
- 9800M GTS SLI (with Clevo D901C) ... not confirmed yet.
- 9800M GT
- 9800M GT SLI (with Clevo D901C)
- 9800M GTX
- 9800M GTX SLI (with Clevo D901C)
- Quadro 1600M
- Quadro 1700M
- Quadro 2700M

upcoming:
- Quadro 3700M ... confirmed already.
- more to come.

Thats a lot of videocards for one MXM Type IV slot...

 

So if I buy a Sager NP5793 now with the 9800M GTS in it, what current supierior GPUs can be substituted down the road (say 1-2 years from now) and what do you guess the price would be to do this? I understand there may be future cards released that are even better and maybe compatible, but I was wondering what exists today that would work in this unit.

 

Well any of the GPU's Gophn listed will be substitutable, but I wouldn't recommand getting the 9800M GTS now and then upgrade to a 9800M GTX down the road... I would reckon that you would atleast end up paying the cards pricediffrence you see today, waste of money from my point of view looking at the performance difference... If even you would be able to get one of these cards in 2 years from now... If tho, you want to upgrade in future you can just hope, that next gen. cards will be compatible with current MB revision... As Shyster states, nothing is for sure

So get the best card you can afford now and then hope newer gens will fit in

 

Thanks M3z3iAs.

I thought as much myself but wanted confirmation. Based on your experience (or what you have heard) what are the chances a new series card would be compatible?

If the physical connection is compatible, what are the limiting factors that would cause the next gen series of cards not to work? I have heard people mention heat, but I would think with a good laptop cooler and a weary eye on temps this shouldn't be a huge deal. Are there motherboard chipset issues that come in to play and how likely is this?

 

Well as Shyster with his star-analogy, I would say its a grain of luck, stirred up with manifactures wanting to keep their development costs at a minimum... But it have just got to my knowledge that MXM 3.0 has been confirmed at http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/ so really it will be hard to say anything... We are now at 3. gen cards on same type MXM (7-/8-/9-series), to my knowledge its the most compatible to date, so hopefully Clevo will be able/want to stick with their current design as long as possible, so next gen cards might be possible, we can always cross our fingers Maybe someone with a foot inside the industry can give a hint ? I wouldn't tho count on it to last another 2 years...

Well limiting factors are as you descripe connection, heat development, but also power consumption, motherboard support/Bios-support ect.

 

None - the NP5793 is currently only available with the 9800GTS, which means that that's the only GPU you can count on working in the NP5793. Other than that, you'll have to consult with a qualified stargazer or fortuneteller, because the rest of us (whether we admit it or not) cannot see into the future and tell you whether or not there will ever be any other, superior, GPU that the NP5793 will be able to accomodate. The only thing we can say is that, provided such a GPU is developed in the future by NVidia/Clevo, you'll be able to swap out the existing 9800GTS and replace it with that hypothetical future GPU.

 

I hope most manufacturers don't make the move to MXM 3.0 soon or at least within a years time.

 

I would not worry about it.

that MXM standard seems to mainly affect MXM-III slots, Clevo notebooks are using MXM-IV slots.... with MXM 4.x it seems.

 

hey I dont want to create a whole new thread about this but does anyone know if applying AS5 on my Sager will void the warranty somehow!?

 

applying or re-applying thermal compound would not void the warranty... just make sure you know what you are doing, thats all.

 

Indeed that seems to state a V4.0 MXM Tho this document: http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_13290.html released November 2007, says, that current MXM Type I to IV is build on MXM version 2.1 (Type IV layout of clevo seems to fits the Type IV in the document) Maybe a spelling error ??

Features of MXM v 3 from http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/# :

- Only two mechanical formats
-> Type 'A' 82x70mm, 35W TDP
-> Type 'B' 82x105mm, 75W TDP
- Up to 4 dual mode Display Ports
- 16 lanes PCIe Generation 2
- Legacy VGA support

Stating they will go to only two "Types" A and B instead of Type I-IV Also it seems, that with MXM v3, any MXM v3 cards has to be fit into every MXM v3 boards, regardless of manufactures changes on the module So from what ive read, taken you got a Type B MB, any MXM-cards of version 3, should fit and be usable

But lets hope they are right over at MXM-upgrade as they say:
There is actually no pressing reason in this feature set to move to 3.0 It's obviously better 'future proof' so for new designs it will most likely be the choice of preference but perhaps evolutions of existing designs will stick to 2.x for some time..

Also more info can be found at http://www.mxm-sig.org/ and http://www.notebookcheck.net/Newsentry.153+M5e53390a2b3.0.html

 

you're right... I forgot about that doc.

up to now I think the high-end cards were running MXM 2.x

I would not worry too much about this, let Nvidia and Clevo hammer it out.

 

Indeed, us living people can only take a guess about whats on, just let the big guys sort it out

 

In your opinion MXM 2.1 will last for 1 year at least or not?
I hope to upgrade to a DX11 40nm ATi or NVIDIA next year (maybe march?)..

 

Depending on when a new mobile chip is released, I would say it is possible that next gen cards might be current version, 2.1, there are to many variables to say anything for sure tho