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    alienware m18x r1 right gou slot usage

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by matei florin, Jan 14, 2016.

  1. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    Hello guys, first time posting on the forums, i have a question for you if it can be answeared quick, sorry for my bad english, so i wan`t to upgrade my single 6970m gpu to something else like 680m 770m or 880m, my question is can i use the right side gpu slot which i understood is the slave one as i have ordered a nvidia 100w right side heatsink, or can it be something done to use that slot? i can always send the heatsink back but i got it realy cheap, thank you
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2016
    matei florin, Jan 14, 2016
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  2. JasperLee93

    JasperLee93 Notebook Consultant

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    The second GPU slot I believe is to house your second GPU only if you wish to upgrade your M18X R1 to an SLI/Crossfire.

    If you want to just change your 6970M, you must remove it and replace it with your desired new GPU (680M/780M/880M). The second GPU slot can be left empty.

    If you are not a computer expert or cracker, do not install the GPU on the second slot with your HD6970M (Unless you add another HD6970M), it would most likely crash your M18X.

    And if you wish to SLI, don't forget the SLI Cable! :)
     
    JasperLee93, Jan 14, 2016
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  3. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    Thank you for the quick reply, i will then just buy a left side heatsink and use the new card only in the left side unless in SLI config ofcourse with two of the same cards
     
    matei florin, Jan 15, 2016
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  4. JasperLee93

    JasperLee93 Notebook Consultant

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    Do note too though, if I am not wrong (correct me if I am wrong here xD), M18X R1 doesn't support 980M, so my guess is 880M is the best Nvidia GPU you can use.
     
    JasperLee93, Jan 15, 2016
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  5. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    you are right but i need to modify the .inf file and maybe flash a modifided vbios so i would have to look for some good guides for that
     
    matei florin, Jan 15, 2016
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  6. GodlikeRU

    GodlikeRU Notebook Deity

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    980M is not supported in M18xR1 due to Nvidia UEFI restriction. It's currently unknown whether 1080M will be still restricted.

    880M is good card if you have newest version of stock vBIOS. Check this link after buying to ensure that you have newest one - http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-test-run-review.746259/page-70#post-10125266
    If you don't care about 8 GB vRAM or just don't want to flash anything you can use 780M if you find any. It's basically same gpu.

    You will need inf mod but it's easy to do it yourself. You can also use modded drivers that do not care about hardware ID's thus passing every configuration.
     
    GodlikeRU, Jan 16, 2016
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    JasperLee93 likes this.
  7. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    nice info, thank you, at the moment i will have to wait to sell my 6970m card with the heatsink( don`t know if will fit nvidia card but i saw they are almost the same, some of them are a bit larger) and buy a 770 or an 880m depends on what i can get on my card, the 770m i can get with 160pounds, and 880m with 200, so will see either one of them will be a better card then the 6970m from what i can see ofcourse the 880 being the better one so will have to wait and see, thank you for your help, i am a first time user of an alienware m18x and this is an amazing laptop.
     
    matei florin, Jan 16, 2016
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  8. JasperLee93

    JasperLee93 Notebook Consultant

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    The GPU's are all MxM form factor. So it can fit definitely.

    880M is actually a decent upgrade for your M18X.

    In fact, if the heatsink you are using for your 6970M is 100w, I believe you still can use it for your new 880M since its for MxM Video/GPUs
     
    JasperLee93, Jan 16, 2016
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  9. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    i was thinking on using the heatsink as it is 100w but i saw some treads where some parts of the gpu`s won`t be covered, so i am a bit afraid, but i will wait and see what offers i will have and then decide if i will keep it or sell it with the cpu, and get an nvidia heatsink 100w,
     
    matei florin, Jan 16, 2016
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  10. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    one more question for you guys, is www.videocardbenchmark.net a good reference guide when buying a videocard and cpu? as i am always compairing gpu on there.
     
    matei florin, Jan 16, 2016
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  11. tanzmeister

    tanzmeister Notebook Evangelist

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    that's true, but you can use some thick thermal pads that will cover these ellements and let them go under the heatsink, also you will need to take the tape that surrounds the chip contact area on the heatsink and clean it from the glue. been there, done that, all works perfectly. besides that, i have never found any actuall physical difference between 75w and 100w heatsinks on the m18x r1. correct me if i am wrong, please.
     
    tanzmeister, Jan 16, 2016
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  12. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    i don`t se a diference either between 75w and 100w they look a like but i did see some 100w have a slightly more that covers the gpu in the space where the heatpipes are curving
     
    matei florin, Jan 17, 2016
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  13. JasperLee93

    JasperLee93 Notebook Consultant

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    I think there will definitely be a difference in performance. It is better if you use the 100W heatsink. Dell recommends.
     
    JasperLee93, Jan 17, 2016
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  14. matei florin

    matei florin Notebook Geek

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    i will bw using the 100w heatsink as i don`t wan`t to take any risks
     
    matei florin, Jan 17, 2016
    #14