Acer MXM Models and Cards

This extra connector makes the difference between MXM-IV and the rest of the MXM 2.1 versions (excluding the size). MXM-I, MXM-II and MXM-III all are using the same connector, thats why you can put a MXM-I GPU in MXM-II slot (it's pretty pointless, but some manufacturers are doing it) and MXM-II GPU in MXM-III slot (this is the case with 8930G). You can't do the opposite though (MXM-III GPU in MXM-II slot), mainly because of space limitations and the laptop's cooling system is not adequate enough to accept bigger GPU (sometimes it's not adequate to cool its own type of GPUs more less a bigger ones ).

 

So the 9700m gt is actually MXM-II ?

Would the ati's be a good solution for upgrade? Also do you happen to know where to buy these? I've been looking for a couple of hours now and still only found the 3650's and not the 4800 series.

 

9700M is MXM-III, I was pointing at versions that are equipped with 9600M

To be honest I prefer ATi over nVIDIA, but HD3650 is like twice weaker than 9700M. The problem is this that it would be pretty difficult to find HD3870, more less HD4850. I just remembered that Alienware M17 would receive upgrade from HD3870 to HD4850, that means that both are MXM-III. Most of the M17 owners want this upgrade, so you can expect to see some HD3870s for sale pretty soon, but to find HD4850 for sale would be HELL difficult. One more thing - in SLi configurations, I know for sure that one of the GPUs is MXM-IV (master) and the other is MXM-III (slave). I'm not very sure how it is at ATi's side, but I think that both are MXM-III.

 

I see...

So if I would find someone nearby with an m17 who is willing to order one for me it might be possible? Because I happen to have a friend who owns a m17.

And an 4870 would be a huge improvement over the 9700m .

 

You can check for yourself your friend's lappy, in order to make sure, that everything is like I said And yes, if your friend doesn't think about upgrading, you can definitely take advantage of this Well, HD4870 would be quite of a performer, since it sports GDDR5 memory, but you can't find it anywhere and I seriously doubt, that if you find one, it would be MXM 2.1. HD4850 is what you are looking for, it's generally the same as HD4870, but with GDDR3 memory instead

BTW: As far as I know, the upgrade consists two GPUs. So you can either buy two and sell one of them over eBay, or ask over Alienware forum around here, if it's possible to buy only one.

 

I've seen a 7720g with a 9300m GS for sale.

 

I think I finally understand . The 2.1 is also known as the MXM-III and the 3 version are available in a MXM-HA type A and type B am I right? So actually when the buyer said 9800m gt MXM-III he actually ment to say MXM-3 and in this case it is a type A. Am I right? So actually I got misinformed by the buyer (off course it is also my own dumb fault ).

Now I see why the 4870 will probably be an 3 because of the bandwith the memory is using. So a 4850 will be the only way and probably the best upgrade one can have for now but also in the future as the new cards use more bandwith and therfore probably are MXM-HA. Thank you for the clearing thing up. That is if I'm right .

 

No, but you're close - you're confusing the MXM standard (2.1) with the size of the card (III).
The buyer got mixed up between MXM-III and MXM-IV.
MXM-IV isn't a Version 3.0 MXM form factor, it's kind of in between 2.1 and 3.0.
MXM-A and MXM-B are the only Version 3.0 forms, while MXM-I, MXM-II, and MXM-III are Version 2.1 forms.

And yes, the 4870 will be on MXM 3.0, as an MXM-B card, and thus incompatible.

Numbers - 2.1 or 3.0 - denote the standard that the cards use
Roman numerals or letters - II, IV, A - denote the size of the card

 

Ahh... but that's a bummer. If the buyer would have posted its info right I wouldn't have bought the card. Now I have a 9800m gt which I will probably never use. And it wasn't cheap. I paid 300 euro's for it.

But how am I suppose to call this card then? Because it is the same size as a 9700m but with the extra connector. I would say (according to you comment > same size) it should be a MXM-III but that is not correct because it doesn't work. I think I'm more confused then ever. I would really like to sell the card, but I need the proper info because I do not want anyone to get in the same situation as I am in right now.

 

I'll try to explain it, again

The size measurements are from mxm-upgrade.

MXM 2.1 has 5 types:
- MXM-I - size: w-70mm l-68mm, connector: standard
- MXM-II - size: w-73mm l-78mm, connector: standard
- MXM-III - size: w-82mm l-100mm, connector: standard
- MXM-IV - size: w-82mm l-115mm, connector: as standard + extra pin
- MXM-HE - size: w-82mm l-100mm, connector: as standard + extra pin

It seems that I was wrong, 9800M GT is HE, not IV as I thought, if it's the same size as your 9700M GT