M15x with 580M - Compatible, if w/ 240W PSU?

As above. I don't intend to overlock or do bench tests, but for games that I would like to play on my M15x.

I know the 6990M is easily the more compatible option with this laptop though, but there have been a few 580Ms on sale lately in the Marketplace so I thought why not.

I haven't bought though, just thinking and googling what are my chances. I've came upon Mexic00l's thread and a few others..

 

Unfortunately the M15x power limitations is with the motherboard design. There is nothing we as users can do about it. The 240W PSU is so when a M15x is pushed to its power limits, the PSU won't run blazing hot nor kill the PSU much faster.

As for running a 580M. I believe there's been a few reports of issues with issues, I'll see if I can find a thread and edit

TI link here: GTX 580m from M17X in M15X...

svl7 saying "Bad idea, the voltage supply circuits of the M15x mobo are too weak, you'll need to modifiy the vbios in order to make it run at 3d clocks, and it will only work when undervolted... and some games may not be stable at undervolted settings..."


Which reminds me, there is a thread somewhere where a user was unable to get the 580m to use its highest 3D clock settings and had to do vbios editting on a lower 3D setting just to get the higher clocks (like a clock stepping). Either way, it sounds like a bad idea. Don't do the 580M hassle you very likely won't be happy with it!

 

Hey Dave,

Is this the same case with 7970M? Since I have been told to undervolt as well if I upgrade my m15x with 940xm if I decided to put 7970M in.
Thanks!

 

Partially, with power yes! The 580m has some other inherent issues for use with the m15x.

The 7970m at stock voltage with a XM with the system is pushed to the max will not give enough power to the 7970m and cause throttling. This is much more evident with overclocking the XM. By undervolting the 7970m, this gives us a little more power for the motherboard to use for the CPU. Then its a matter of finding your sweetspot where you can have a mild OC on the XM while having the 7970m run without throttling down.

In other words, if you go 7970m. You'll need to undervolt AND likely cut down your XM overclock some. I've dropped from 27/26/24/24 85/72 all the time to 26/26/20/20 65/62 so my XM is using a good amount of less juice. My old clocks would cause the GPU to throttle down (cuz power)

 

If you get the 7970m and just leave your XM and GPU at stock clocks would there be a need to undervolt still?

 

Depends. If your games are throttling, go for it.

 

Hey! This is a little late but thanks for your reply. What you said was exactly what I wanted to know.

Meanwhile, after reading your post I went around snooping in ebay and won an auction selling 6990M.. ..although it's a Clevo model. Guess I'll have to do some extra work in flashing vbios. But I'm still much excited with my purchase. It's my first ever laptop GPU upgrade.