JakeyBoy1991

have you done an undervolt with svl7s vbios?

run gpu-z and tab out of game, to see if the card is running 3D clocks (850/1200).

i had to flash the 0.950v vbios, to make my 7970m run stable.

are you using the latest amd drivers as well?

in WoW i get about 40-60 fps in major cities and stable 60fps anywhere else (vsync on, high settings).

i havent, but i also installed the old GPU to test, and same result, does this mean faulty mobo? that dell will no longer replace due to warranty being void.... (sigh) computer is now worse off that it started before they touched it! :'(

cheers

i have noticed, that enabling and disabling Stealth Mode boosts the FPS! but i cant be playing a game costantly enabling and disabling stealth mode!? any ideas?

during nova bench, enabling and disabling stealth mode boosts the fps to 400 but then goes back down to 250 pretty quick?

thanks for reading

hey all,

I completed the AMD 7970M upgrade in January 2013, and it went perfect! but today i had my motherboard replaced under warranty due to the Ethernet port not working, after having a mix up with Alienware and about 3 faulty motherboards fitted i now have one that allows the computer to start, and also has a working Ethernet connection!

But, there is always a BUT! when i play games which i used to get 60-80 fps during a high load battle and about 120 fps just standing around (World of Warcraft) i now get 6 - 15 fps in major city's and 20-30 fps being stationary! i have re seated and re pasted the GPU but this has not helped, any ideas what the reason to this may be? neither the GPU or CPU temps are high, but the grames have droped by 75% since the new motherboard has been installed!

NovaBench

322 FPS with Geforce Graphics Card

907 FPS with AMD 7970M

These results where on 08/01/13 when the new card was fitted (before / after)

Now i run the benchmark again and i am only getting 219 FPS... what has happened?

also, Alienware are now informing me that due to the change of graphics card the whole laptop is warranty void? i thought this was not the case with Alieware?

Many thanks for your time to reply to this issue!

Jake

hey all, i done this upgrade a fair few months ago, went perfect! but today i had my motherboard replaced under warranty due to the Ethernet port not working, after having a mix up with Alienware and about 3 faulty motherboards fitted i now have one that allows the computer to start, and also has a working Ethernet connection! but, there is always a BUT! when i play games which i used to get 60-80 fps during a high load battle and about 120 fps just standing around (World of Warcraft) i now get 6 - 15 fps in major city's and 40-60 fps with graphics on the lowest possible settings! i have re seated and re pasted the GPU but this has not helped, any ideas what the reason to this may be?

NovaBench

322 FPS with Geforce Graphics Card

907 FPS with 7970M

these results where on 08/01/13 when the new card was fitted (before / after)

now i run the benchmark again and i am only getting 219 FPS... what has happened?

also, Alienware are now informing me that due to the change of graphics card the whole laptop is warranty void? i thought this was not the case with Alieware?

many thanks for your time to reply to this issue!

Jake

Regards,

JB91

I will post when home later, running 2 additional screens so 3 including laptop screen and the laptop only supports 2 including the laptop screen right?

Regards,

JB91

Keep getting my laptop and 2 additional screens blacking out and computer vein non responsive to anything unless I power the laptop off and back on, been checking the temperatures and seems to not be getting to hot, any reason this may be happening? Installing 7970m tomorrow so it's not because of the upgrade as it hasn't been done yet,

1 screen is hdmi 1 is VGA via USB

Thanks in advance

Regards,

JB91

I think try should make it so the alienhead on the back of the screen works as a ambilight that would be awesome

I for one love the quality from the screen, I personally installed remote curtains to operate from my desk to deal with the light problem makes me feel a little bit like James Bond haha

Okay thanks! Looking at completing this upgrade later today so ill let you know how it goes!

Regards

JB91

Okay i have the dell card and the Clevo x bracket, but the supplier of the xbracket didnt send me the 4 screws as per listing, anything special about these screws or can i pick up from any computer shop? also, when it comes to the pasting, spread or ball? some people explain its smarter to spread the paste on the dye rather than place a ball and spread via placing the heatsink on top?

Many thanks,

JB91

Okay thanks mate! Will do that!

The heatsink fits well, you might need to do a very slight mod to one of the heatipipes in order to get the best results, for this again, check the 6970m upgrade thread, there are pictures.

hmmmmm im good with a hammer when it comes to demolition but when it comes to bodging things.... im not so good! so i am dreading the outcome! from making this modification does it improve the tempratures a huge amount that its needed or just something to slightly improve? as i would rather i kept the hammer in the not to be used draw..

Many thanks,

JB91

Thank you all for your replies, much appreciated! i will get looking at the 6970m guide now and hopefully i will understand a little more before i start the installation and leave my laptop in peices.

Thanks again,

JB91

Awesome might have to invest in water cooling my M15x myself!

The design gets me every time! The only annoying thing is every time the girlfriend uses the laptop (M15x) she changes the damn leds to pink! Other than that it's sexy and it knows it

Hello, I'm new so sorry for seeming stupid! I have read guides and have a general understanding on how to replace my graphics card but just want to check I have everything, if I am missing anything help would greatly be appreciated.

When I purchased by M15x I went onto the customise selection and basically selected the best parts available, from reading online it looks like I can greatly improve the graphics card and double up the ram, so ill start with my current spec:

Processor : i7 920XM(2.00GHZ, 8MB)

Memory : 8192Mb (2x4096) 1333mhz

Graphics : 1 GB Nvidia GeForce GTX260M

HD : 256Gb SSD

And I'm looking to get 7970M and 2 corsair vengeance 8gb sticks, the main question is about the installation of the graphics card, I have ordered the card, the x bracket, thermal pads @ 0.5mm and thermal paste (artic Mx-4) as per Svl7 guide but I just wondered if I'm going to hit any comparability issues with fitting the card? I read about the m15x standard heat sink not fitting correctly or something? Also the correct backplate, i ordered the card off ebay that does say it will suit M15x so does the backplate some with or buy separate usually? Is there anything else I will need to complete the upgrade?

Many thanks in advance, and a big thanks for Svl7 for his guides, and sorry if this is answered elsewhere.

Regards

Jb91