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    Alienware Area 51 M17x - wrong bracket on gpu (8800M GTX)

    Discussion in 'Alienware Area-51/Aurora and Legacy Systems' started by Zoef2390, Sep 11, 2013.

  1. Zoef2390

    Zoef2390 Newbie

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    A few weeks I managed to win an ebay auction, I bought the gpu for only $60, but when it arrived I noticed that it has the wrong bracket.

    Like this:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    But it should be this one (I think):
    csm_alienware_m17x_gfx_01_e0ac413af7.jpg
    (sorry for small image, couldn't find other one)

    Can I remove the current bracket from my gpu? And where can I find the correct one?

    I mailed to Ztronics, but they don't answer me :(
     
    Zoef2390, Sep 11, 2013
    #1
  2. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

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    I would love to help but even I am unsure what you are asking. Does the bracket not fit the card? Will the heatsink not bolt down to it?

    Provide some other pics and circle / explain exactly what is wrong
     
    protivakid, Sep 12, 2013
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  3. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    Remove the black bracket and heat sink from your original GPU and set aside. Take the metallic grey bracket off your new GPU. It's held on by two-sided tape and may require some physical force or chemical assistance (lighter fluid) to take it off. Clean off the old thermal compound from the new GPU and old heat sink. Apply new thermal compound and sandwich the new GPU between the original heat sink and black bracket. Apply the screws and re-install your GPU.
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 19, 2013
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  4. Zoef2390

    Zoef2390 Newbie

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    Thx!
    But I don't have another gpu with the black bracket and can't find one online :/
     
    Zoef2390, Sep 20, 2013
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  5. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

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    Like I asked above, please let us know what you have tried, what doesn't fit, and include as many details as you can.
     
    protivakid, Sep 20, 2013
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  6. WhapAChow

    WhapAChow Notebook Geek

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    The semi-metallic one in the 1st picture will not work with your heat sink & fan combination. I don't know if there's another X-bracket available for a different make/model GPU that will fit that. You could *possibly* try a combination of nylon washers and longer screws to try to secure the heat sink to the card. Just go easy on the pressure of the card against the heat sink.
     
    WhapAChow, Sep 21, 2013
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  7. protivakid

    protivakid Notebook Evangelist

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    Nylon washers & longer screws ftw! That's what I did to get my 4850 secured. Just be sure the screws are not too long that they go past the bracket or you risk driving them right into the motherboard underneath the mxm card.
     
    protivakid, Sep 24, 2013
    #7