Area-51 m15x and Nvidia GTX 280M

Since my Alienware M15X is out of warranty, I went ahead and purchased a Nvidia GTX 280M video card from RJTech. The video card that I received is originally for the Sager M570TU. It came last week and I have it installed in my laptop now. Been benchmarking it for several days now.

First thing I did was update my BIOS to from X32 to the latest X36 Bios. Next the install of the GTX 280M GPU is pretty easy, almost plug-n-play . If you have the 8800M GTX / 9800M GT video cards, they look almost the same. The GPU comes with a massive heatsink for the Sager M570TU. You must first remove this heatsink to get to the GPU. Once the heatsink has been removed, you will see that it looks almost like the stock 8800M GTX / 98000M GT GPU that you have now. Remove the heatsink from your 8800M GTX / 98000M GT GPU to access your your stock GPU. Once you have removed your stock GPU, turn your stock GPU over and you will see a metal square that the screws also go through. Push this metal square out of your stock GPU and put it on your new GTX 280M GPU. Since I was replacing my GPU I went ahead and did a similar procedure as described here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=268081


I also added another step to the above procedure by polishing both sides of the copper square and the bottom of the stock heatsink using 600 grit automotive wet/dry sandpaper. I then used Arctic Silver 5 that I purchased from a local Radio Shack and put some on top of the GTX 280M GPU (Please be sure that your GPU is clean ) Then I placed the new copper square on top of the GPU, put some Arctic Silver 5 on top of the new copper square and then I placed the stock heatsink back on top. If anyone plans on trying this, please be informed that this will void your warranty and that your results may differ from mine.


Here is a screen shot of the temperatures that I was seeing when running AtiTools 'Scan for Artifacts' test for 2 hours. This is with the laptop laying on a flat table.





Here is the screen shot of the result of running 3DMark2006 with a STOCK clocks of the GTX 280M. Please note since my current screen is 1440 x 900 the test was done using the 1280 x 800 screen resolution. Also this test was done with the laptop on top of a laptop stand that does NOT have a fan but does have a screen mesh to allow fresh air to the bottom of the laptop.





Here is the screen shot of the results of running 3DMark2006 by overclocking the GTX 280M with Nvidia's NTUNE @ 630Mhz/835Mhz/1567Mhz. Again this is using the 1280 x 800 screen resolution and with the laptop on top of the laptop stand mentioned above.





The problems that I have currently is that only certain drivers seem to work. Of course the stock Alienware driver does not work. Also the new driver that are out from Nvidia does not work and I am getting an error where it does not find my GPU or something like that. I am able to use the Sager 179.27 driver and also currently using the one of the DOX drivers. Also the other problem I am experiencing is that I am not able to connect an external monitor. It was working when I had the stock 8800M GTX and the stock Alienware drivers, so I do not know if it is a driver problem.



Ok I downloaded the Crysis Demo and editted the GPU Test Config file to loop 60 times. I then set the graphics for Crysis to the highest I can do which is 1440 x 900 with 8AA. Here are the temps I got while running the GPU test for about an hour. This is with my laptop on my desk and not on my laptop stand.





Here I ran the DMC4 performance test again using the highest setting I can do currently because of my stock resolution of 1440 x 900. The test was done using DX9.0C; 1440 x 900; All settings on Super High, and CQ16X .....pretty much everything MAXED out !!!





Here are the temperatures of my M15X laptop / notebook after it has been sitting in my office for about 30 minutes after first bootup.






I hope this helps. God Bless

 

Man here's some rep for ya buddy and well deserved too!

Great job taking the plunge and making it happen!

 

Those are some really hot temps for the GPU.

You better start undervolting that 280M.

but nice efforts to make a 15.4" go faster.

Now lets see you stick in a quad-core....

 

I truly admire your experimental nature, but...

Can you run FurMark or Crysis without the GPU going over 95° and downclocking? If ATiTool is pushing it to 92° at stock clocks, that's a bad sign. You probably can't even run AtiTool with the overclock on, unless you want to hit 100°.

This isn't a move that will allow stable gaming without a good cooler running at full blast.

 

Your temps look acceptable running 3DMark06.

 

I Know Want An M15x!

 

You should overclock the 280.

 

god like~great job~

 

Congrats but as has been said you're running hot on your GPUs.

As a quick example compare your 92 degree max at stock clocks running ATITool for 2 hours to Mr. M.A.'s 77 degree max temp from running GTA IV for an hour overclocked at 670-1000-675.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4851097&postcount=388

 

Nice work. Glad to see the gamble paid off. Love to see some more benches like extended crysis and (assuming you have access) some benching on a notebook cooler.

Now who can we get to try two of these in a m17x?

 

good job for trying that.

 

nice nice nice under volt n play

 

Why dose it say GTX180 in the 3d mark page?

Adding a custom cooler would help.

But thanks for being the first to take the plunge. Now you have a 1 of a kind notebook.

 

m15x wasnt designed for it so its screwy

 

nice job, but some more infos on temperatures would be nice. how are they during extensive gaming?

 

He did on his last run 635/865/1567.

Nice job JDELUNA!!!

REP POINTS SENT!!!!!

 

260 would fit as well people and be cooler think about that

his temps could go down if he used like mx2

with a no notebook cooler as well

and no undervolting

 

Great job!!

only if the m15x has a bit bigger gpu fan then it would run it with no problems
a cooler would be a nice gift for your m15x

REP sent

 

NIce job and repped

 

Anyone have any idea why I am not able to get any video from an external monitor ?? Does Alienware do something to the drivers that need it to work ?? When I was using the stock 8800M GTX and the stock Alienware video drivers I know that the output to the external monitor worked. Thanks for any info and help in trying to resolve this. God Bless

 

Let's see. Try using 185.85 from Nvidia.com and see if it works. Or try the stock 179.53 from Clevo. Just select M86xTU from the list.

What exactly is happening? Does the notebook recognize it, but there's no picture when you switch over?

 

Thanks I will try that later when I get home from work. The laptop does not even recognize the external monitor when it is hooked up. I have even powered down the laptop and the monitor, hooked up the cable between the two and then powered the monitor first then the laptop. Even pressing the FN and LCD/Monitor key it will only recognize the internal monitor. The external monitor just stays black and says 'No Signal Detected', and on the laptop the screen is normal. Forgot to mention, that I remember trying the latest driver from Nvidia which I believe is the 185.85 and it is not being recognized by the laptop. Researching this I believe it is a known issue that other AW users are having with their M15X. Again thanks for the info. I will try it when I get home. God Bless

 

Actually, I believe it's time for you to upgrade the screen as well, Screen for WUXGA and X9000!

 

There is little point for X9000 in M15x. The laptop is already running hot, putting a X9000 will toast it even more.

Without OC'ing support, all he'll be paying is for an extra 200 mhz; at cost of 10 extra watts under max load.

 

I do plan on upgrading my screen in the near future to a 1920 x 1200. I also downloaded and tried the Sager 179.53 drivers but for some reason when running test like 3Dmark2006 it looks to be slower by about 4-5 frames on the tests, it also scores approx. 400 - 500 points lower. Right now I am still using the Dox 182.46 drivers. God Bless

 

Do dox drivers work on your m15x? If so give those a try. Your 3dmark06 score should seriously be close to 12k with a 280m. That card is a beast. You are one lucky dude.

 

dude seriously did you not read the first page ?

you dont even have to read look at the pictures

 

Try 600/1500/950 clocks, the memory was designed to run at 950 stock. Maximum overclock is north of 650/1650/1025, but you won't run those clocks lol. Good job doing the mod!

 

Could the reason you're having troubles with the external monitors be because the BIOS doesnt support the card? As they had to update it for the 9800 didnt they old chap...

Tom

 

Well it's not that hot if you do the undervolt for just a little bit. I am using T7700 and I am still waiting for a chance to get to X9000 or at least T9500...

 

no they didn't... did they?

 

if that were true you would not be able to run x32 x34 x36 all with the 9800m gt

 

I am pretty sure the BIOS has a lot to do with the current situation he's having now,not to mention our 8800M GTX after 182.05. However, that's at least a nice thing to see -- about 1500 points more in 3DMark2006 from 8800M GTX solely from GTX 280M!

 

x27 perhaps.

 

o my bad

 

Actually I just looked at the website but I didn't see any pricing on that. How much did you pay for it?

 

http://mivasecure.abac.com/rjtech/m...roduct_Code=VGA-280M-M570TU&Category_Code=ACC


With 2nd Day air shipping it came to about $525.

 

JDELUNA, those temps look very acceptable.

Thanks again for demonstrating that this is possible!

 

wow, the price for the card are reasonable to me at least and nice gambling in putting the GTX 280M so does this mean that the M15x are capable of putting in the GTX 260M too?

damn, it is so tempting to upgrade the graphic card seeing that the benchmark are outta this world lolz... im just scared of the GPU temperature though... huhuhu..

 

Quite a huge bite on me! However, that's worth the money, I will take a look and see coz I will upgrade my screen first and see if I need extra graphics power right at the moment. I hope I don't.

 

Yes the GTX 260M would probably be a little cooler and would work too, but I am guessing here. I hope this helps. God Bless

 

Ok I added a screenshot of the temps I was getting after running the Crysis demo GPU Test looping 60 times. It is posted in the original first post. God Bless

 

Proud of you man! I undertook the same project a few weeks before you in my M860ETU and it was a success as well. The latest drivers from nVidia for the GT200m series should work perfectly and not give any installation error. GTX280m in 15.4" FTW!

 

I added to the original 1st post the DMC4 Performance Test with everything MAXED out to the highest setting. Enjoy

 

I really wish their was a way to fit that card in my asus. I'm so fu%$in jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Were you overclocked during the Crysis runs?

Run DMC4 in DX10 mode.

 

Well unfortunately that's a hard-wired soldering of the chip on the motherboard so it's definitely a no go!

 

Awesome job bro.

 

Whats a hard-wired soldering.

 

means integrated into the motherboard no way changing it