Why is it so hard to find laptop graphics cards?

[Puffnstuff]

I've got an alienware m17xr3 laptop with an ati hd6970m gpu and was just curious about what I could get for a replacement. Being partial to nvidia I started searching around for prices on a gtx 980m which I was able to find for a small fortune. I realize that swapping out a component in a laptop is not quite the same as doing it on a desktop system but geez.

Why do the manufacturers try to corner the market on laptop parts instead of offering them as upgrades? I think that competent owners should be allowed to swap out their components. Besides the gpu is one of the first items you will see when you take off the bottom cover and is very easy to get to. What do you guys think?

 

[bystander36]

It's likely due to the fact that 99% of laptops cannot swap out parts. Since nearly no one can swap out parts on their laptops, there is no market for it. I'd try Alienware, since they are one of the few that have upgrade-able laptops.

 

[postmortemIA]

yep, name of the game is sell your laptop and buy a new one if you are looking for gfx upgrade

 

[RadiclDreamer]

With laptops you have to worry far more about power, cooling and space than on a desktop, its because of these factors there havent been good mobile gpu markets.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I looked at dell and they don't offer any graphics card upgrades for my unit. Plenty of sorry hd's but not much else.

 

[Techhog]

With laptops you have to worry far more about power, cooling and space than on a desktop, its because of these factors there havent been good mobile gpu markets.

This... Speaking of which, the 980M likely uses more power than your 6970M anyway.

 

[bystander36]

I looked at dell and they don't offer any graphics card upgrades for my unit. Plenty of sorry hd's but not much else.

Is yours one of those upgrade-able units?

 

[3DVagabond]

No competition.

 

[destrekor]

With laptops you have to worry far more about power, cooling and space than on a desktop, its because of these factors there havent been good mobile gpu markets.

That isn't quite the issue the OP is curious about.

He has a laptop where one can upgrade the GPU. I, long ago, had a Dell laptop with a 9700 or 9800 Mobile that could be upgraded. Problem was, no upgrades really came about.

Very few laptop manufacturers include an ability to swap the GPU, and there is no unified standard for this ability unlike in the desktop world where you have standardized slots.

In laptops, there are the same unified buses and whatnot, but outside of things like SATA or Express Card and RAM, there are not unified connection standards. Most parts are soldered.

With such a small and proprietary market, most manufacturers are not privy to the details, nor interested in developing a part for such a small demographic. Dell/Alienware can throw some muscle and money to a manufacturer and bribe them into producing a one-off, but it's not a lucrative market, and thus, no contenders.

Now, as to why we don't have these upgrade options?

Size. And compatibility. With slots come a need for more space to dedicate to this function, with a user-accessible spot and screws and whatnot, which all require additional allocated space.
This would need to be ratified as an access standard, which could be called Mini PCI-E, but I just don't see this ever happening. Cost, size, weight, and potential heat concerns with additional upgrades are all very much factors laptop manufacturers do not wish to deal with.

 

[therealnickdanger]

The best advice I can give is to go lurk/join the notebookreview.com forums.

Best case scenario, you'll only be able to find replacement GPUs designed specifically to fit in your specific model with a specific HSF configuration. Due to the tiny number of mobile GPUs produced (compared to desktop), the prices will never be reasonable unless you find a used or closeout part. Even then, it may still be more cost effective to sell your current laptop to buy a new laptop with the GPU you want because you'll also get the latest CPU and features.

This thread reminds me of when I tried to replace the GPU in my Dell E1705 almost 10 years ago. It had a GeForce Go 7800 and I wanted to upgrade to the 7950 GTX. The laptop cost me $1300. The GPU part on ebay was $900. Did I mention the E1705 was a 32-bit Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo)? I'm glad that I didn't follow through with it. My dad bought his E1705 8 months later and it came with a 64-bit Core 2 Duo and a 7950 GTX for roughly the same price that I paid.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The issue is it isnt really being sold much on the enduser market. The same applies for quite a few other laptop centric parts. Including M2 SSDs, M2 Wifi cards etc. Other things are T model CPUs and so on. All very hard parts to get hold on as an average joe, while you order them in the 10000s as an OEM. I would love to see the MXM factor being much more DIY. Both for mini desktops and laptops.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I really am pleased with this laptop apart from it not having a bdrw which is a $75 fix so I'm not inclined to spring for a new unit. I've already replaced the slow hd with a samsung 840 pro 256 and the wifi card with a 7260ac. I really don't game on it but I would like a better nvidia gpu which is why I started looking around in the first place. I'll just keep lurking about and see what turns up. Thanks for all of your input.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

That isn't quite the issue the OP is curious about.

He has a laptop where one can upgrade the GPU. I, long ago, had a Dell laptop with a 9700 or 9800 Mobile that could be upgraded. Problem was, no upgrades really came about.

Very few laptop manufacturers include an ability to swap the GPU, and there is no unified standard for this ability unlike in the desktop world where you have standardized slots.

In laptops, there are the same unified buses and whatnot, but outside of things like SATA or Express Card and RAM, there are not unified connection standards. Most parts are soldered.

With such a small and proprietary market, most manufacturers are not privy to the details, nor interested in developing a part for such a small demographic. Dell/Alienware can throw some muscle and money to a manufacturer and bribe them into producing a one-off, but it's not a lucrative market, and thus, no contenders.

Now, as to why we don't have these upgrade options?

Size. And compatibility. With slots come a need for more space to dedicate to this function, with a user-accessible spot and screws and whatnot, which all require additional allocated space.
This would need to be ratified as an access standard, which could be called Mini PCI-E, but I just don't see this ever happening. Cost, size, weight, and potential heat concerns with additional upgrades are all very much factors laptop manufacturers do not wish to deal with.

And I explained the reason why it becomes so difficult to do so is because the market is small because of the power, heat and form factor.

Only a certain number of laptop model xyz will be manufactured and out of those, only a percentage will want to upgrade, therefore the stock is going to be typically expensive and rare.

 

[master_shake_]

i noticed the same thing while looking for an mxm to pci-e adapter.

mobile gpus are EXPENSIVE!

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

Is yours one of those upgrade-able units?

I would assume so, They make more off after market sales. Seeing as alien ware was a nitch market for custom computing.

I see many cards on flee bay, only place i can think of to find anything of this sort. Not sure about anything cutting edge though...........

 

[destrekor]

And I explained the reason why it becomes so difficult to do so is because the market is small because of the power, heat and form factor.

Only a certain number of laptop model xyz will be manufactured and out of those, only a percentage will want to upgrade, therefore the stock is going to be typically expensive and rare.

Re-reading your post I see that now. I had originally understood that to mean the larger mobile GPU market in its entirety, as in what laptop manufacturers can even choose from, let alone produce upgrade parts.

 

[bystander36]

I would assume so, They make more off after market sales. Seeing as alien ware was a nitch market for custom computing.

I see many cards on flee bay, only place i can think of to find anything of this sort. Not sure about anything cutting edge though...........

I know Alienware sells a lot that are, but the website for that laptop, and every review I saw of it, did not mention it. Assuming gets you into trouble, so I thought I'd ask. Not to mention the OP's description of what he did sounds it is not.

 

[Insomniator]

Plenty of MXM cards can be found on ebay, I just purchased a 675m for my dell M6600.

They do cost a lot, because its a much smaller market than normal GPU's. Its also harder to figure out if it will actually work in your machine unless you see on forums that someone confirmed it.

 

[Blue_Max]

Plenty of MXM cards can be found on ebay, I just purchased a 675m for my dell M6600.

They do cost a lot, because its a much smaller market than normal GPU's. Its also harder to figure out if it will actually work in your machine unless you see on forums that someone confirmed it.

You beat me to it. MXM modules ARE available from 1-2 vendors. You have to be so careful though - gotta' make sure the cooling platforms will match up so it'll work in your laptop.

Your lappy and mine are capable of swapping MXM's, but make sure the GPU is in the exact same spot or the cooling pad will be 1/2 inch off and not work at all, etc.

I'll enjoy my upgrade when it's time. :wub:

 

[tcsenter]

There basically are NO companies marketing 'off-the-shelf' GPU modules for laptops. Any mGPU modules that are being sold are either pulled from other laptops, or are left-over (surplus) parts that were intended to go into a particular company's laptops. In addition, most laptops ship with BIOS/firmware that are customized for particular mGPU parts intended to be sold/marketed with that laptop. Many even have a "white list" of approved mGPU modules and won't work with others.

 

[destrekor]

Plenty of MXM cards can be found on ebay, I just purchased a 675m for my dell M6600.

They do cost a lot, because its a much smaller market than normal GPU's. Its also harder to figure out if it will actually work in your machine unless you see on forums that someone confirmed it.

Oh?! I had to look up this MXM, I did not realize they finally came up with a non-proprietary GPU connection standard.

Of course the trouble that remains is ensuring each system that uses them is capable of cooling different cards. Do systems provide any TDP information so that the user can figure out if a card can be utilized in their system? Or, is it even accessible without breaking the warranty on many models?

 

[SamMaster]

I've got an alienware m17xr3 laptop with an ati hd6970m gpu and was just curious about what I could get for a replacement. Being partial to nvidia I started searching around for prices on a gtx 980m which I was able to find for a small fortune. I realize that swapping out a component in a laptop is not quite the same as doing it on a desktop system but geez.

Why do the manufacturers try to corner the market on laptop parts instead of offering them as upgrades? I think that competent owners should be allowed to swap out their components. Besides the gpu is one of the first items you will see when you take off the bottom cover and is very easy to get to. What do you guys think?

Changing a graphics card on that model is easy (I fix Dell systems, including, but not limited to, Alienware). You simply need a #1 phillips screwdriver. 2 screws on the bottom panel, two on the card itself. Maybe the fan too.

Laptop manufacturers reserve upgradability to professional and gaming laptops. Everything else is either soldered on or use torx screws to prevent pseudo-techs from causing damage, as well as saving money from manufacturing process.

Someone mentioned notebook review forums, here is something I found in a quick search:


http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m17x-r3-upgrade-gpu-to-980m-cpu.764274/

LVNeptune said: ↑

L_Porras: Are you saying the upgrade should work? The 980m WILL run on the R3/R4 models...?
​

It in fact turns out that it will not work. I have just recieved an email from the supplier, indicating that they will require Dell to come up with a vBIOS update for this to work.

So either I drop to the 780m, or refund and wait. Thinking to refund and wait.

Looks like the 780m is the better upgrade path. Since gaming is not your thing, perhaps even a lower end nvidia gpu would do the trick, saving you a couple bucks.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I found a place named eurocom that sells kits for laptops and according to them my laptop supports the NVidia gtx780m. They offer it for a measly $890 after which I quietly coughed while reflecting upon the price. Looks like I'll have to just be happy with my hd6970m for a bit longer. Maybe I'll make myself feel better and do something like clean off the old paste and give it some as5.

 

[Cloudfire777]

There are lots of notebooks that use MXM boards although the trend seems to be headed toward soldered GPUs for the new notebooks (seriously messed up).

You can find MXM GPUs all over ebay and through some resellers in Germany and US.
6970M is a 75W GPU I think so you should try to get other 75W GPUs. Mostly it works out great with 100W GPUs too, just remember to keep an eye on temps for the first couple of days with HWInfo etc.

And the GPU heatsink you are using now may not fit the new GPU properly. Remove the black tape from the heatsink to ensure full contact with the die and stack thermal pads on VRMs and VRAM so that they are in contact with the heatsink.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well I did go ahead and clean off the gpu and heatsink and applied as5 and buttoned her back up. Did a few benchmarks to heat it up and then put her away for the night. I really don't see myself paying that kind of money for a new gpu unless I win the lottery.