Upgradable Laptop GPU

[Opyders]

Would this laptop be upgradable to a next gen GPU when the time comes? It says "User upgradable" for the GTX 670MX. So like text year when the 770M comes out can I upgrade to that?

http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=524

 

[dma0991]

They are upgradable if the mobile GPU is of a MXM slot type which comes with most gaming laptops. But as a reminder, MXM slot GPU is targeted at a very small market hence it will not be cheap. Just take a look here.

 

[KingFatty]

What would be involved in upgrading with the MXM thing?

Not to be pessimistic, but what if this company goes out of business before the next GPU module is available?

 

[dma0991]

What would be involved in upgrading with the MXM thing?

Not to be pessimistic, but what if this company goes out of business before the next GPU module is available?

MXM is a standard that every high end gaming laptop use, not limited to Malibal. They are probably transferable from one manufacturer's model to another since they are almost made the same. As for the upgrading of MXM slot GPUs, there are videos on how to DIY.

 

[Opyders]

They are upgradable if the mobile GPU is of a MXM slot type which comes with most gaming laptops. But as a reminder, MXM slot GPU is targeted at a very small market hence it will not be cheap. Just take a look here.

So are all the high mobile graphics chips MXM? I could get the p150em se with a 7970m instead. Would that be more upgradable in the future? Thanks for the reply.

 

[dma0991]

So are all the high mobile graphics chips MXM? I could get the p150em se with a 7970m instead. Would that be more upgradable in the future? Thanks for the reply.

It depends on the method of implementation by the laptop manufacturers. Usually it is MXM for high end gaming laptops to enable customizability of different GPUs in the same model.

I've linked to Malibal's page where they have GPUs for upgrades/replacement, they only carry Nvidia's cards. This isn't to say that it isn't upgradable with an AMD GPU. It is possible if it is of a MXM slot type which is a common standard among high end laptop GPUs.

 

[KompuKare]

I remember looking into MMX when I had this broken AiO desktop I wanted to fix: the spec is a bit vague but the mobo usually has to support the upgraded card in the BIOS too so it's not like with a desktop. I guess the rational is to stop a user from installing a card which is a higher wattage but I would have preferred if Nvidia (who designed MXM) had just made it so that a card could report 'I need 50W, 70W etc' and the BIOS would know what TPU the laptop was designed for and if the card was below that it would run.

Never got that AiO working since the parts were too expensive but the irony was it was mainly used for TV usage and the motherboard had an Intel 4500 onboard which would have handled that fine but there was no way to disable the MXM slot. I managed to find the MXM spec PDF somewhere and there is meant to be a MXM 'bypass' card but I was never able to find any. A pity.