980M last regular size MXM 3.0 cards

For two years, we have known, that NVidia will not be making newer cards for the old 100/125W regular 3.0B MXM sized mobile graphics cards.

So, anyone holding out for a 10X0 series, should note, they will have mobile versions of those cards, but they will have different shape and size and fit only newer laptops, like the P870DM-G(2/3) from Clevo, aka X9 from Eurocom if your Canadian like me, and MSI has one of thier own, but I'm not as familiar with the name off hand, that uses the "DT" variant of the 980 / will use the 10X0 MXM card.

(wouldn't mind anyone telling me more, mind you.)

Anyways, I have no reason to believe the 10X0 would have a "1080M" or even a 1060M as someone recently suggested to me, in the old form factor. However, if anyone knows otherwise, confirming they have real evidence of such, I would personally LOVE to know.

I would have mentioned this in the Clevo forums, but everyone there already knows, I'm sure. I get a lot of guys with an MSI laptop, suggesting they are holding out for a 1080M and contact me asking for details - of which i have very few if any at all.

Production has also slowed if not completely stopped on 980M now. So pricing, where ever your going to get it from, is about as low as it is going to go. Mentioning this, for those who have also suggested "waiting on a price drop" which never happened. They will go out of supply before that.

 

Are you sure the 1060 (stronger 13% to 23% than a 980M...) is not MXM 3 compliant ?

 

I own one of those laptops with the DT card. It is the GT72S 6QF (the only one that can house it besides the titan).

MSI suggested I'll be able to get the 1080, do you think its true?

 

Thank you. What's it's actual name though, they had some crazy name for it, if I recalled.

The chassis is the GT72 right, but a different variant then the original ?

 

Yes it is a different variant of the GT72. Its actual name is GT72S 6QF 29th Anniversary Dragon Edition

So you think I should be able to fit the 1080 right? Since I already have the non standard 980 DT.

 

ahh it double posted... somehow your post is inbetween WTF

 

It double posted after i posted

 

I'm not surprised the 9xx series was the end of the line for this iteration of MXM. I figured with the significant changes in hardware over the last year or so (more TB3, m.2 NVe PCI-E x4 slots, etc), that we'd be due for a change. This looks like this is it. I also see no reason for Nvidia to offer an M version of the 10x0 series - the whole point of these is that we finally don't have to compromise (much) between the desktop and laptop versions.

The 980GTX MXM cards were significantly bigger. The slot appeared to be the same, but there was at least another inch added to the card's width. I don't see how it or an upcoming Pascal could fit in the existing slots.

I also agree with the pricing on the 970/980's not changing. Laptop cards aren't like desktop cards - the prices hardly change. I've bought 2 970m's thru RJTech and the prices are still the same now as when I bought my first one. Even looking at their old cards, some of them are insanely expensive. I'm with you in suggesting getting it while you can, if you want it.

I think the Kabies are going to be killer when they finally integrate things like TB3 into the system rather than being extra chips.

 

RIGHT ! Finally someone understands. In the beginning I was selling the cards for 300$ less then I am now, and the price has steadily gone up for almost 2 years. I even warned everyone, buy it sooner then later. There were people I was selling 980M for 700CAD originally. Or 500USD. New. Cost and pricing has gone up for manufacturing since, it's not like we've been making steadily more profit - on the contrary, been much much less. There's been times, just because I'd rather have a client then not, we've lost money on a card sale, to make up 5-10$ else where.

 

Thats true, people shouldn't really hope for cheaper MXM modules...

I asked above sorry for repeating but do you think MSI 1080 will be able to fit in the GT72S which has the desktop 980 currently?

 

I'm sure we'll find out soon once someone's able to tear it open and see.

I think the GT72S with the desktop 980 would have the best chance of accepting it of any besides the GT80.

 

I'll be interested to see what's done with the mid-range cards, but you're probably right. I can't wait to take a look inside one to be sure.

 

Please do! The wait is killing me here xD (As you can see in my sig.)

NDA should be over in a few hours anyway..

 

that sounds plausible, but from what I understand, the power connector is different. It might go further then that too. Anything else I would say would have to come fro my source, and I've been asked to ask before saying anything or hitting anything, and really - honestly, i don't have much of anything to go on. Just what we know now, I've known for over a year, since nothing has changed from NVidia since before the 980DT.

Though, it seems the standard that's this next gen starting pascal or maybe maxwell if you consider 980DT is not a set -in stone form factor yet, like there seems to be something holding them back, and some differences that are not ironed out. Like the power regs and such are not onboard. So even if it did fit a M17X-R4 or AW17 it wouldn't work for another reason.

 

Oh that doesn't sound good... I guess I have to wait for someone to actually try and place a card in one of these..

 

Someone around is saying the 1060 or 1070 are different size based on the little information they have, base don wattage. But they're still ignoring that they are not the mobile standard we had previously, which did everything on card. no external power, and very limited not only space wise but how far it could go in terms of power.

 

MSI says they can't comment because they haven't tasted the pascal cards on maxwell notebooks.

Did the 980 MSI use external power?

 

I'm really hoping we can upgrade from 980 to 1080. If not, I'm going to the eGPU route.

 

I think we're on the same wavelength. I've been thinking of going with the 1070 in it and calling it good, and using an eGPU for future use and upgrades.

 

that's a stupid way of them saying, they know it's not a perfect fit or something. Might be just be the Aux power connector is different.

 

I saw from another thread that the 1070 is identical to 130W 980 used in GT80. Now about the 1080 I know it is different from Clevo's one in terms of power connectors, one is 6 and clevo is 8. Does this match with the GTX 980 in the GT72S?

 

don't know.

 

I'm sure we'll start seeing pics and disassembly guides soon.

 

I horse laugh anybody that says, "Wait for the new mobile cards, the old ones will drop in price!"

This never happens in the mobile segment except on the used market.

 

Finally someone understands. I spend an hour or more every day for the last 2 years explaining just that.

 

Well, there's going to be a 1060 that might just technically replace the 980M but haven't tested it yet. Would be small performance increase and much less heat, and cost less - hopefully.

I know the 980DT cards were 1600$ meaning they were 2 x the price of a 980M so imagine the 1070 and 1080 prices !

 

aaaaand MSI officially says do not upgrade existing notebooks to pascal. Brb gotta get that lawsuit going.

 

oh is that what they say ? Seems suspicious without more information as to why

 

They actually did, "thermal/power/electrical/motherboard reasons" was their official reason.

 

ah there you go :S

 

Maybe later they will make 10x0 series compatible. If 1070 has a tdp of 980m as I've read somewhere then I see no problem with power. Motherboard connection might be another problem.

Maybe engineer at MSI meant that current mxm graphic cards in new vr series laptops do not work with older laptops and they will need to make custom cards to fit older machines.

If they really do not release mxm upgrade kits then it's d!ck move from MSI to advertise as upgradable with next 2 generations.

 

Time for Class Action about misleading.

 

I was reading on the upgrade kit about the future generation upgrade but I couldn't find anything that says "next 2". Do you have a pamphlet or link to it?

 

Techradar mention about upgrade kits:
http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/behind-the-design-msi-gt80-titan-1283546/2

Also from 12:35 :


Also :
https://www.msi.com/Laptop/GT72-MXM-Graphics-Upgrade-kit.html#hero-overview

" Newer GT72 models featuring the GTX970M/GTX980M in their turn will be upgradable to future graphics generations in 2015."

Edit:
Also on NBR forums MSIGeno commented about 2 future upgrades:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/official-questions-for-the-msi-rep.761676/page-85

 

I'm not sure if I would want to stick a 1080 in an existing unit due to power requirements. I'm all for experimenting but I'd rather have an entire system engineered for the full capacity and performance of those cards instead of trying to "make" it work. Just my two cents. I can understand where people who bought systems this year would want to upgrade before buying again.

 

Even if it was Nvidia's call to change their cards, it's on MSI to make it work and fulfill their guarantees.

 

Hey @MSIGeno, wanna comment on this:

 

Watch them say its " up to 2 generation"...

 

His post made long after the GTX 980M was released though.

Mathematically, "up to 2...." doesn't include the number zero, therefore we're owed at least 1.

 

Hopefully they fulfill the MXM upgrades for you guys.

I will also snag two 1070s if they are in a 980m successor (MXM 3.0b) format.

 

no 1070, going to sell my GT72 that would make me mad !

 

I'll see if selling my GT60-2OD would be a viable alternative. It has a i7-4700MQ 16GB 980m and a 128GB SSD 2TB combo. In very good condition. Was thinking about 1000€ what do you guys think?

Otherwise I'll keep it and start saving for volta + kabylake/cannonlake

 

I am sure that the 10xx series of GPU's are MXM 3.0b so its a question of OEM to figure how to do the upgrade path if any at all.