Possible GPU upgrade for Precision M4600

Actually, there's no more reason for S4000X......

M5100 is selling for $47.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Preci...501784?hash=item4d5f215518:g:DXoAAOSwdAxZbVB-

Why risk your computer to save only $2?
M5100 works just fine.

 

It was more expensive when he was originally looking.

 

Yeah but not anymore... M5100 became dirt cheap.. $47 for this spec seems funny but I can understand because now M5100 is four years old.

So now you can build M4600 + M5100 workstation for about $165 on Ebay.

 

Yeah true. Might be cheaper if you look for a 2760qm vs the 2860qm as well since the 2760qm is 50 bucks on its own and has a 3.3Ghz 4 core turbo, only 100Mhz less than the 100 USD 2860qm. If I end up keeping my m4600 in the coming months then I may purchase a 2760qm for mine. Especially if Valuxin works a miracle and somehow gets the RX 560 working, it will need the CPU grunt to push the GPU properly.

 

I got my 2760QM M4600 for only $115 include free shipping on Ebay few months ago.
It didn't come with HDD caddy, HDD, adapter, RAM though but it had M5950 firepro installed with FHD.

I ended up paying roughly $145 total for my M4600... then I grabbed M5100 for $57 so total investment for working machine was less than $200.
M5100 is better than built-in graphic card of any laptop which sells for under $600 now.
I choose M4600 & M5100 combo over newer overpriced i7 dual core laptops.

For RX560, I will try overclocked 2960XM. Then maybe both can work well? You can overclock 2960XM to 4.13GHz speed!
http://cpuboss.com/cpu/Intel-Core-i7-2960XM

Overclocking
Overclocked clock speed 4.13 GHz
Overclocked clock speed (Water) 2.7 GHz
Overclocked clock speed (Air) 4.13 GHz

 

No, XM chips will power throttle. They are not suitable for these laptops according to @valuxin and I dont really have any reason to doubt his judgement based on the knowledge he has shared with us thus far. Plus it will run hot, as you know the GPU shares a vent with the CPU, it will increase the the heat of both. Also you will not be able to achieve 4.0Ghz, only the max stock 4 core turbo, which is I believe 3.6Ghz and thats assuming it doesnt power throttle. There is no CPU overclocking in this laptop as far as I am aware. Its why many have desired an unlocked BIOS. I dont know if the powercut exception can work for SB CPU's.

From a price to performance ratio the 2760qm would be best, for best raw consistent performance the 2860qm would it. Coupled with 1600Mhz tight timing RAM.

The only down side to the m4600 is there is no enduro, which for most is a plus but if your in college and away from a power socket it will prove a challenge.

Regardless though the keyboard is probably the best I have ever used. The Ranger comes close but I still think the Precision keyboards are superior.

 

I see that. I already have 2760QM so I have no worries then.
Although this CPU is not the most powerful out there.

Yes, M4600 precision series keyboard is a masterpiece. In my opinion this is the best work from Michael Dell... no other laptop keyboard comes close.
Dell even published a portable version of this keyboard:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-U473D-H...510781696&sr=1-3&keywords=dell+keyboard+U473D

Although this one's expensive, used one costs $19. You can use this with a desktop.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VDDQ7C/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1

i3 dual core plastic laptop sells for $560...

Its design can fool only non-techies!
M4600 & M5100 will perform much better for sure.
I see all new laptops are in this way. They put i5 or i3 dual core and try to charge $550+... I don't understand why laptops are degrading?

 

Are you sure its not the 2670qm? I sometimes get them confused but its 2.8Ghz vs 3.3Ghz

Its a shame that the Ivybridge CPU's dont work lol Valuxin tested that as well

They got rid of the keyboard in the new precision laptops, along with a lot of I/O, and BGA CPU's but I think they still have MXM3.0b in the 7710

 

mine is 2760QM...
it runs from 2.4GHz
It can still handle all Adobe applications although it's not the fastest. I'm trying to get 256GB mSATA card to make this laptop faster.