Area-51 m15x using m17 4850

Hey guys I've been a lurker here for a few weeks now and decided to join not so long ago. So this has definitely been asked already and I have read different things from old threads on this forum. My m15x mxm slot either died or my 3870 and backup 8700gt both died and because I have nothing to test I decided to buy a new motherboard and video card after if the cards are indeed dead. I managed to inquire about the 4850 from the m17 from a retailer on ebay who also seems to operate a website. (Here's the link if anyone wants to purchase that has a m17 as they are kind of rare: Alienware M17 ATI Redeon HD 4850 1GB Master Video Card MOBL VM981GBMST | eBay). Since this could get lengthy I'll just make bullet point questions about my concerns:
-Has anyone tried the m17 4850 card on an m15x? I know the MSI version has been tried with no luck.

-Is it good value as a refurb? If not what alternatives should I be looking at. I'm looking for something more powerful than a 3870 and don't have money to spend on a new laptop.

Thanks in advance!

 

I have not seen a similar deal since but almost a year ago at this time I bought my 1GB 4850 used on ebay for $125 shipped. There was also a user on here whose name began with "Table..." selling 1GB 4870's around the same time for $100 + ship.

For more powerful cards than a 3870 you are looking at a 1GB 4850 / 4870 or GTX 280. I would imagine the ATI cards would run cooler and be more reliable but could be wrong.

 

Thanks for the reply. I don't think the 4870 works as I believe someone has tried it. A GTX 280 would be nice but those seem pretty hard to come by and the only one I could find was on ebay for $450 starting. I've also looked at the 9800m gt/gtx and fx3700 which could supposedly run like a gtx 280m but am not so sure about the performance with the outdated drivers thanks to the bios problem. Just curious but have you tried the 4850 on an m15x? $125 for the 4850 seems like a steal and I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for one at those prices...unless you're willing to sell me yours

 

Though I only turn on my m5750 once every few months, I do like knowing I have one of (if not the) most powerful ones out there at least GPU wise haha so no sales yet.

Reading originally I thought you had a M17 but now I see it's a m15x. Then yes you are correct a green pcb 4870 (and probably a 4850) will not work in your laptop. I was the one who tried the green pcb 4870 in a m15x. The 4870 & 4850 are pretty much the same card aside of clock speeds so if one doesn't work, I imagine the other would not either.

I use the term "green pcb" for lack of a better way to describe it. The real issue is the VBIOS these cards run. The ones that come from the M17 are not compatible (from my testing) with a m15x or m5700 due to the vbios. Because every single card from the M17 I have seen is green that's how I refer to them.

The card I got on ebay to work with my m5750 was a red pcb card. It is still debatable what laptop came with the red ones, or if it's just an engineering sample, but the VBIOS supports my laptop perfectly with the built-in screen and games run great.

 

Spent an hour or so searching for the red pcb card. Is this the one you have? http://www.serverpartswarehouse.com...M-M98-GDDR3-1Gb-MXM-13-Type-III-P1922303.aspx. If it is, at the price they list, it doesn't seem like a worthwhile purchase. Have you tried the red pcb version on an m15x or just the m5750 exclusively? I appreciate your help!

 

Yes that is the exact card I have. You can see pics and read my upgrade story by searching for the thread "4850 in a m5750" in my past posts. Like I said I paid $125 so that seems a bit much. And no I have never tried it in a m15x though my m5750 tends to be VERY picky so if it worked there I would think the m15x would as well.

P.S., It's a complete shot in the daaaaarrrkk, but to help you out I did send a message to the ebay seller I bought from to see if he could get more.

 

I see that and I need it... I have Alienware M17 and my HD3870 (512MB) may need replacement with HD 4850 as the best choice, I want to upgrade to 1GB since I have 512MB. Can any1 tell me if this link above on ebay is the one I need?

Alienware M17 ATI Redeon HD 4850 1GB Master Video Card MOBL VM981GBMST | eBay

Or this one??
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850M (M98) GDDR3 1Gb MXM 1.3 Type III

Damn so confusing... same models 4850, they couldn't just give them different names.. It has drivers for "some HD 4850"... also ANY way to get this in Europe?

http://support.alienware.com/Suppor...rocessed.aspx?os=W764&cat=2&manu=12&item=1161

 

The eBay link should work but I've had nothing but trouble with the seller as the quality of the products are hit or miss. I called about the one on serverpartswarehouse and they don't have it in stock apparently. Hope this helps.

 

Hi protivakid would you be willing/able to make a vbios dump of your mobility 4850 card for me please? will be a lifesaver!! pretty pretty please!! *grovels*

 

It's on the forums somewhere. I managed to download it but its on my external and I'm on break. If you can't find it or if provitakid doesn't respond I'll post it next week when I get back.

 

Hey,
I uploaded two files to the forum at some point in time.

Here is the VBIOS from my red card:

4850 Red Card "Radeon Bios Editor" & "GPUZ" files

Here is a link of various 4850 / 4870 VBIOS' I have found when I was trying to get cards to work with my laptop. DO NOT flash these without doing research / having the knowledge to know if it will / won't work on your card. You risk bricking your card if the VBIOS is not compatible:

48x0 VBIOS collection

Good luck and let us know how everything goes!