The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    video card upgrade

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Saljoe, Apr 28, 2013.

  1. Saljoe

    Saljoe Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have a sager x7200 model laptop with 2 560m gtx in sli mode. I called sager and they told me that I can only upgrade up to a 580m. my question is is that true? I have read on other sites that there is a white list in the BIOS that prevent you from updating your video cards. can I upgrade past a 580 or am I limited. thanks for the help guys
     
    Saljoe, Apr 28, 2013
    #1
  2. Ingvarr

    Ingvarr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    292
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    115
    Trophy Points:
    81
    There is no whitelist in Clevo BIOS just to prevent you from upgrade.
    But videocard must be compatible with your laptop BIOS and MXM video output/custom pins. Further forward you move in time, more differences preventing newer cards work.
     
    Ingvarr, Apr 29, 2013
    #2
  3. Marecki_clf

    Marecki_clf Homo laptopicus

    Reputations:
    464
    Messages:
    1,507
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Marecki_clf, Apr 29, 2013
    #3
  4. sirana

    sirana Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    267
    Messages:
    748
    Likes Received:
    329
    Trophy Points:
    76
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...i-gtx-680m-how-works-impressions-benches.html

    You're welcome.
     
    sirana, Apr 29, 2013
    #4
  5. Saljoe

    Saljoe Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Other then have the bios set for nvidia cards what else do I need to check. I assume that the pin out of the cards is all the same for the mxm 3.0b
     
    Saljoe, Apr 29, 2013
    #5
  6. Ingvarr

    Ingvarr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    292
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    115
    Trophy Points:
    81
    No its not. Connector is same, but there are several pins which MXM 3.0 standard defines as manufacturer-customizable. That's why, for example, HDMI does not work properly if you put 7970M into P1x0HM.
     
    Ingvarr, Apr 29, 2013
    #6
  7. sirana

    sirana Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    267
    Messages:
    748
    Likes Received:
    329
    Trophy Points:
    76
    You don't need to check anything, just have a look at the thread I posted above.
    The 680M (even in SLI with a modded driver) works flawlessly in the X7200.

    Everything is explained in the thread.
     
    sirana, Apr 29, 2013
    #7
  8. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

    Reputations:
    4,125
    Messages:
    11,571
    Likes Received:
    9,151
    Trophy Points:
    931
    hm, here i thought it was rather driver related, since hdmi works as long as the amd driver isnt installed :)

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
    jaybee83, Apr 29, 2013
    #8
  9. Ingvarr

    Ingvarr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    292
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    115
    Trophy Points:
    81
    "works", you mean it works in mirroring mode? Do you know is it actually works as proper HDMI or in DVI compatibility mode? This just means what it means - it works partially, but still incorrect due to BIOS being somehow able to figure pins just to mirror the screen in pre-boot, but driver not working because its still not being recognized correctly (or maybe can't function as proper separate output at all).
    Customization mismatch causes all these kind of wierd issues.
    I've tried to upgrade MXM card on Thinkpad W701 once, and almost bricked the LCD screen due to I2S pins not working properly and overwriting part of panel EDID with garbage.
     
    Ingvarr, Apr 29, 2013
    #9
  10. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

    Reputations:
    4,125
    Messages:
    11,571
    Likes Received:
    9,151
    Trophy Points:
    931
    interesting info, hasnt come up before in our 7970m hdmi discussions :)

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
    jaybee83, Apr 30, 2013
    #10