M15x GPU Upgrade Questions/GPU Questions

Alright, so I posted this on another forum as well, but I realized after-the-fact that I would probably receive better information here, so here goes:

Hello all, I'm looking to upgrade the GPU on my M15x laptop and I have several questions regarding how mobile GPU's work (or GPUs in general) as I don't know very much about them at all.

First, I understand how CPUs of a certain socket require a motherboard of a matching socket to work, are GPUs similar in this respect? For example, will a certain motherboard only support certain GPUs or does the motherboard just need a PCI(e) slot?

What about mobile GPUs? Can any discrete mobile GPU be swapped for another discrete mobile GPU? If that is not the case, what restrictions are in place to prevent this from happening. From the mobile GPUs that I've seen, the only thing that seems drastically different are the heatsinks, and I understand this as there are many different laptop designs out there and therefore there must be many different, form-fitting, heatsinks.

What upgrade possibilities are there with an Alienware M15x equipped with an NVIDIA GT 240M?

Where can one buy mobile GPUs? I cannot seem to find any retailer who sells them and I have a strong distrust for Ebay. Does Dell/Alienware sell parts to owners of Dell/Alienware systems and would I be able to order from them?

If instead you know of a good source of information on mobile GPUs that may answer many of these questions, please let me know (I like to read).

Thanks!

 

Alright lemme break it down for you:

Yes Alienware machines are highly upgradable. You can upgrade to (listed in order of performance):
5730, 260m GTX, 280m GTX, 285m GTX, 460m GTX, 5850, 5870 and 6970m although the last one is still experimental.

Places you can get them: the market place has them every now and them, ebay and phoning up Dell and requesting for one, the only options provided by Dell are the 460m GTX and 5850, 5870 and 6970m cards are hard to get if you tell them that you have a M15x as Dell offer them in other laptops. You can also go to mxm-upgrade.com for the 6970m.

Like desktops, the graphics cards you buy must be in MXM 3.0 type B format. I have basically listed all the cards that are offered in that format besides the 470m GTX (which had some problems) and the 480m and 485m cards which are too demanding in terms of power draw.

Heatsinks should fit fine. If you want to change, remember to have thermal paste and pads
Hope this helps

 

Arent the pads already on the heatsink

 

Yeah but just in case. The GT 240m has fewer memory chips and heat sink contacts so there may be a lack of them. And the pads Dell offer are pretty bad. Not that I've changed mine. It's up to you.

 

Thank you very much!

One last question then, where can I find Dell's phone number to call and inquire about an upgrade to, for example, a 460M?

Again, thank you. I had searched for this information for quite some time (I must've just not really know what to search for) and had come up empty, this was quite helpful.

 

so when going from 5730 to 5850 do i have to worry?

Try 1-800-254-3692 and just ask for what you want

 

I don't think going from a 5730 to a 5850 is a problem
@Kicki I've never called Dell and even if I did I'm in the UK so the number is different. There are plenty other people in this forums that have done so. I think it's just the customer service number you call to make a purchase.

 

I called Dell this evening, ordered the 5850 and will even have in house service to intsall it!

 

Lucky, I asked if they could install it, and they said no. So now im stuck asking all of these questions on how to do it

 

Was 100.bucks more, but I know nothing about having them installed.

 

installing the card is really not that hard, plus dell techs are really iffy. hopefully you get a good tech. but i recommend downloading the service manual or my gpu replacement guide or thermal paste guide just to have for reference.

 

neither do i, but i feel like i've gotten all the expert advice i need from the people on this forum.

 

@IIAMRFJII

Oh yeah if your upgrading your friends GPU for the m15x, then it's easy bro - If I can do it you can do it easily.

I had the 260 gtx and upgraded to the 5850 ati card

Nice boost of performance it's basically a 5870 now since I OC'ed it.

 

Just the thought of static killing my gpu just freaks me out. Its like throwng money out the window.

 

just make sure to touch something metal to discharge yourself before touching your laptop or gpu card. I never use the anti-static wrist strap and have been fine. i'm pretty sure no one else has open up their laptop as much as i do.

 

Im just gonna use the strap and mat just in case. and do i have to clean the existing thermal paste off the heatsink, or can i just leave it and put some on the gpu die?

 

oh you have the wrist strap thingy, then you shouldn't worry about static at all. yes cleaning the heatsink is a must.

 

ok. but i dont know what to attach it to. Im thinkin bout attaching it to the power supply of my desktop which is plugged into an outlet. Is this good?

 

i haven't used a anti static mat before so i can't really say. but shouldn't the mat have something for you to attach the strap to?

 

mine doesn't. But i guess ill just use it as a backup plan just incase. Since you say its not required. But i got one more question, i ordered this Amazon.com: ALCOHOL 99% ISOPROPYL PINT: Health & Personal Care

is it good for cleaning the heatsink?

 

yeah that more then good. anything above 70% would do the trick.

 

alright. im sorry about all of the questions, but i have one more, when i re-use the thermal pads, will the temperature change be drastically different from using new ones? Will they do the job? or is there a chance of my gpu getting damaged or overheating while doing some intense gaming?

 

Those questions can't be answered with any degree of confidence because of the variables, mostly the quality and condition of the existing pads, the care with which they are removed if necessary, etc. There's not much risk of damage staying with the existing pads if you monitor GPU temps closely; if you see temps rising alarmingly, reduce the load and go back in and fix it properly. But, it's a lot smarter to fix it right the first time while the notebook is opened up and disassembled. Do it right with quality paste and new thermal pads fit properly and you will be rewarded with low temps for a long time.

 

Hmmmmmm...



If you're really that concerned (I'd just take inaps word for it, the guy really is quite clued up, to put it humbly) attach the strap to any metal piping if possible? I don't know how these straps work exactly, but a common practice for earthing mains electrics is to bond the earth cable (or CPC if you prefer) to water pipes or something similar. Remember, mains water lines go straight to the ground. So you could even attach it to a tap or something like that. Do you have some kind of chain or cord on it? I've never used one, infact I've never even seen one. I just blunder around like an oaf and always seem to fluke my around any disaster.

 

how do i attach an alligator clip to a pipe?

 

Be creative I guess. Wind a length of copper wire round the pipe and clip onto the wire? Just an idea.

 

can i clip it to the faucet? just an idea

 

As long as it's not painted, I don't see why not.

* By paint I mean that thick red enamel kinda stuff you sometimes see on them. Not sure how much resistance it offers, but I try and steer clear of the unknown.

 

Because under the sink the pipes look plastic

 

The water inside still conducts electricity though.



Metal part -> Water -> Earth

 

thank u so much

 

If the power supply is connected via a three prong plug into a three prong outlet, then you could use the chassis of your desktop, because the chassis will be grounded.

If your wiring is up to code (it should be) the round prong on any three prong outlet will be grounded. One of the slots should be grounded - however, the other one will be at 120v. I would not ground to this - every once in a while the lines get switched, and you would not want to connect your wrist to the 120v.

Joe