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    [GUIDE] Installing and Overclocking the AMD Mobility 7970 in the M17x R3,an illustrated guide

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by SlickDude80, Apr 24, 2012.

  1. wtferrell

    wtferrell Notebook Evangelist

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    Awesome, anyone know what size screws the heatsink attaches with? The screws from the M15x isn't lining up with the backplate of the 7970M
     
  2. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    WT, can you take a pic?
     
  3. wtferrell

    wtferrell Notebook Evangelist

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    Unfortunately the camera is not getting any kind of detail man. The screws from the 240M will not thread into the backplate of the 7970M. They're too large. Visibly too large as well.
     
  4. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Unfortunately, i'm at work right now and i can't say for sure. Take a trip to home depot? Table is the only one who has one in the m15x, he might be able to guide you
     
  5. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    This is kinda obvious but you need to get smaller ones somehow... :p
     
  6. wtferrell

    wtferrell Notebook Evangelist

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    lol. thanks, master of the install Geo. :)

    Gone to Lowes... wish me luck fellows.
     
  7. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Good luck WT! :)
     
  8. wtferrell

    wtferrell Notebook Evangelist

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    Unfortunately, no luck. Went to every place that I could find that carried any type of screw, and nobody had anything. sent a message back to our contact and awaiting to hear if they can get some to me fairly quick.
     
  9. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

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    bro hate to tell this to you (seriously as I also am waiting on him), but he is not online anymore (he said only in the weekends but he was off this weekend as well), you won't get an answer quick most likely :(
     
  10. long2905

    long2905 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Is your contact and mine the same one I wonder.

    May I suggest you get the bracket kit from upgradeyourlaptop. Their screws *might fit.
     
  11. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

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    yeah Long, his contact is different but he is asking Table as Table also installed it to a m15x
     
  12. wtferrell

    wtferrell Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh no, I'm asking my contact to send some screws, not table, lol. Sorry for the confusion fellas. Just flustered.

    Have the thermal pads placed, ready to roll... went to install the heatsink after putting the thermal paste on... and........... That's as far as I could go, lol.

    So now I have a 7970M, and can't do anything with it. Awesome. The install otherwise was going amazingly smooth.

    Welp, have some new screws coming.... hopefully they'll get here tomorrow, if not, Wednesday will have to do. :)
     
  13. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    Haha, I know the feeling man. I've replaced my GPU so many times I got spare parts all over.. but the first few times were annoying. Even to the point where I was using a backplate that was so broken only 2 out of 4 screws fit (desperation I tell ya). Just be patient and do everything properly, you will be rewarded. ;)


    Contact a moderator or report the offending post next time.
     
  14. destinymax

    destinymax Notebook Consultant

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    SlickDude80, Did you remove the x plate from 6990m to 7970m?
    I used M15x, and did this from 5850m to 6970m, but I find the shape of X plate is obviously different between mine and your pictures. I wonder if I can't use it on 7970m any more. If fact is like this, I should find a new X plate for 7970m (I bought my 6970m from DELL, but they did't give me one X plate, and I will buy 7970m from them as well)
     
  15. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    Where can one find a 7970M lol!? Did some preliminary searching in the usual places but can't find one :(
     
  16. Heihachi88

    Heihachi88 Notebook Deity

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    PM to UPGRADEYOURLAPTOP through ebay.
     
  17. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    wonderful do they accept partial trades for our 6990M's haha

    edit: I asked in my PM to them anyway :) would be awesome if they do accept!
     
  18. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    lol crazy idea,they might just find it to be funny enough to let ONLY you do that :D keep us updated!

    OT edit: remember our C90 times together dude? installing out-of-spec wolfdale cpus through a hacked bios and 9600m gts with selfmade heatsinks (dremel + ebay copper plates FTW!) and OCing the crap outta them! :D those were the days....

    Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk 2
     
  19. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    destiny, I didn't have to transfer any X plates. It was already on my card when i received it. I didn't buy from Eurocom though. I don't know how those cards will come. The card that i have is a dell card and it came with X plate attached
     
  20. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    I do indeed remember! Nvm wolfdales how about stuffing a 3.16ghz X3380 quad in it haha then modding the fans to run manually at up to 11,000 rpm and then trying my utmost to install a mxm 2.1 III card (which did work!) :D indeed those were fun times!

    Not surprisingly upgrade your laptop skirted around that question so I have subtly prodded them once more. 654 dollhairs is a little too much for me now. Besides the 6990M isn t a joke they could easily sell em off :rolleyes:
     
  21. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    lol ok at that point i think i had already sold off my C90S :D those mods were with the C90P tho right?

    Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk 2
     
  22. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

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    A nice little vid from the Eurocom guys showing about mid way through the vid; where to place thermal pads on older gen GPUs.
    Too bad the 7970M wasn't included. Perhaps in a more up to date vid soon.
    Still it should give us a good idea for peeps who have never seen either GPU or are not too sure where to place thermal pads.

    How to Prepare a GPU / VGA Card for Installation and Upgrade in a Notebook - YouTube

    Cheers. :)
     
  23. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

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    ^^ damn it I covered it exactly right! what happened to my 7970m will remain a mystery forever, probably it was just a faulty one, my luck :(
     
  24. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

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    We're praying the Magician can breathe new life into your beloved 7970M Graz!! :)

    Cheers. :)
     
  25. wtferrell

    wtferrell Notebook Evangelist

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    How do you all get the plastic coating off of the thermal pads easily? I found that to be the most difficult. The stuff is almost too pliable.
     
  26. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

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    @errell, I put my finger nail between them and gently rub the part where it meets the coating with the tip of my other finger, it comes off in a few trials :)

    @reborn, thanks Chief!! :)
     
  27. DirtyTrickster

    DirtyTrickster Notebook Evangelist

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    How do you remove the x bracket off of the old gpu? Seems tough. Also did you use any adhesive on the 7970m?
     
  28. peppergrass

    peppergrass Notebook Guru

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    Can I ask, for people who know,

    how much do 6990m sell for on ebay?



    also thanks for the write-up. wondering if I want to upgrade, because isn't there another Ati card coming, the 7990 ? won't it be better to wait a little then upgrade then?
     
  29. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    469 USD and 569 USD, respectively. R&J offers them for 490 USD a piece

    the "fabled" 7990M is pure speculation at this point. besides, since nvidia is so far behind in releasing their 680M mobile flagship counterpart, there wont be a need for AMD to update the 7970M anytime soon (meaning for a minimum of 6 months or maybe even longer)
     
  30. DirtyTrickster

    DirtyTrickster Notebook Evangelist

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    6990m price will continue to drop as eBay gets saturated with them
     
  31. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    naturally....but as for now, there are just two listings worldwide ^^
     
  32. peppergrass

    peppergrass Notebook Guru

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    I thank you very much.. for taking the time to show me, and explain.

    I see you are in Germany? Danke
     
  33. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    thats what NBR is for mate ^^

    Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk 2
     
  34. wild05kid05

    wild05kid05 Cook Free or Die

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    How's the thermal Slick ? What's the avg you're getting ? I will opt this card for my next Clevo :cool:
     
  35. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    Hey Wild! The thermals are great. I just ran through a full Unigine heaven Bench (all 26 stages) and my maxx temp as shown on MSI Afterburner was 69c. I'll be gaming tomorrow for a bit and i'll update this thread.
     
  36. wild05kid05

    wild05kid05 Cook Free or Die

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    That is a good reading there :D can't wait
     
  37. jubbing

    jubbing Notebook Deity

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    I've never checked, but how similar is a m17xr2 to a r3 in opening it?
     
  38. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Probably not, it's a very different design. Should still be under a hatch though IIRC.
     
  39. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

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    Hey Jubbing,

    Like Meaker said the R3's innards and layout are completely different to that of the R2. Check out Slicks pics at the start of this thread and you will see a little insight to the R3.

    Cheers. :)
     
  40. Special_K

    Special_K Notebook Guru

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    Stupid question,

    Where are you guys getting the card? I've been looking around and cant find one to buy....and yes I googled it.
     
  41. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    officially, the card isn't available yet. But very soon, Dell, Eurocom, and just about everyone will be selling them
     
  42. Joe85

    Joe85 Notebook Deity

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    Slick, what did you use to clean the old thermal paste? if you at all that is?
    Sorry if its a stupid question.
     
  43. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    You can use alcohol and a cloth, or alcohol wipes. I bought some thermal paste cleaner a while back when I ordered some paste and pads, but in the end, alcohol is easier and just as effective.
     
  44. Joe85

    Joe85 Notebook Deity

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    Thanks. +rep
     
  45. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    i always use Isopropyl 99% alcohol. You can get this from any drugstore...i bought a big bottle for $3

    This is essentially what artic-clean is...but without the lemon smell. Isopropyl is also much cheaper
     
  46. qohelet

    qohelet Senior Member

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    I always use artic silver articlean. Works well for me.
     
  47. Joe85

    Joe85 Notebook Deity

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    Great stuff. Thanks.

    Im going for it, the only thing that concerns me is the positioning of the new thermal pads. Any futher advice on that?
     
  48. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    you buying a 7970? Do you really need all that power? :D

    The pads should cover everything...meaning some pads will be thicker than others. When you pull off your 6970 heatsink, look at how the pads are arranged and what they cover. You want to do the same thing on the new card...you can also use how my pads are arranged as a reference (look at pic on page 1 of this thread)
     
  49. dimotion

    dimotion Notebook Guru

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    Hello,

    are the thermal pads included when i buy the 7970M?

    Can i reuse the thermal pads from my GTX 580M?

    Thanks
     
  50. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    if u want them to,they include the pads. its also possible to reuse ur old pads.

    Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk 2
     
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