GPU upgrade for Alienware m18x r1

[Bbqflyer]

Hello all, bare with me I'm new to this forum.  I recently was given an old (2011) AW m18x r1.  It has 2 amd Radeon m6990's, which one has died and the other I am afraid is on its last legs.  I would like to upgrade these but I'm having a hard time finding what would really be good cards to upgrade to.  I've been reading several different forums and watched a few YouTube videos but I think I'm just confusing myself now.  I really would like to know just which card would be best to upgrade to, and the simplist way to do it.  

[burningcalifornia]

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/upgrade(2,267,0)Alienware_M18xR1   

These folks suggest a GTX 880M will work. Thats a pretty capable card.

[runix18]

If Gtx 880M will work, for more than sure Gtx 980M wil also work, coz basicaly its the same card physicaly but also 980m at stock speeds runs cooler than 880m.

[Zoldago]

8 hours ago, runix18 said:

coz basicaly its the same card

It's not the same. 880M has a GK-104 Chip (Kepler) and 980M has a GM-204 Chip (Maxwell).

[Bbqflyer]

Are any of the AMD cards worthwhile so I don’t have to change out heatsinks?  I’m not against changing them. Just curious. 

Edited October 18, 2017 by Bbqflyer

[runix18]

 

Edited October 23, 2017 by runix18

[runix18]

On 16.10.2017 at 10:48 PM, burningcalifornia said:

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/upgrade(2,267,0)Alienware_M18xR1   

These folks suggest a GTX 880M will work. Thats a pretty capable card.

 

I was refering tot the physical shape of the card, not the chip obviously.