Where to get laptop vid cards?

narsbars

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A friend of mine has an Alienware laptop with a discrete 1070 in it and would like to upgrade at least to a 1080/1080Ti but I can't find a price that doesn't just mean "Might as well buy a new laptop". Anyone have any idea where cards can be sourced at a slightly more reasonable price?
 
I have a problem dealing with Ebay. Are they actually backing up their sales if you get a bad unit or it doesn't show up?
If you buy from reputable sources. I have had thousands of transactions over 20 years and had maybe 2 issues. Use PayPal to pay, buy from a well reviewed store with a good return policy. Problem solved.
 
I admit I only spent a couple of minutes but wasn't able to find anything but due to Rvenger and jmilcher I intend to start looking on a regular basis. Thanks.
 
I admit I only spent a couple of minutes but wasn't able to find anything but due to Rvenger and jmilcher I intend to start looking on a regular basis. Thanks.
Just remember sometimes the lowest prices are enticing, but if the seller does not have top notch feedback and a return policy, do not consider the sale. Stick to that and you will be fine.
 
As said ebay is the best place to look.

You have to buy a card that came out of a simular (or exact same model) Dell. Mxm cards are finicky and Dell is a pita.

Ebay is just fine for buyers you can purchase anything and shouldn't have a issue.

Mxm upgrades can often be prohibitively expensive.
 
As said ebay is the best place to look.

You have to buy a card that came out of a simular (or exact same model) Dell. Mxm cards are finicky and Dell is a pita.

Ebay is just fine for buyers you can purchase anything and shouldn't have a issue.

Mxm upgrades can often be prohibitively expensive.
You are so right. It can actually be almost a better deal to just buy a slightly outdated laptop instead of an upgrade card. Dell has also been know to put whitelists in their bios and hacked bios to allow a card can lead to even more problems.
 
Is it a new enough alienware laptop that it supports their egpu standard? That is going to be far easier to deal with rather than tearing it apart and upgrading the MXM GPU.
 
I don't know for sure but since it has a 1070 it might. We don't want to deal with an external GPU. I could just build her a desktop.
 
I don't know for sure but since it has a 1070 it might. We don't want to deal with an external GPU. I could just build her a desktop.
I mean that would be the route that I would go, I bought a laptop with a discrete gpu in it so I could play my games on business trips (which is like 70% of my year) and I tried to play once and hated it. Some laptop gaming lovers are gonna hate me but theres just something about having a 34” ultra wide and surround speakers with subwoofer that must have spoiled me haha.

A good compromise would be a micro build that is compact and has a handle to bring around sort of like a laptop except you still need a tv, keyboard, and mouse.

I’d ask her what she wants:

The portability and all-in-one nature of a gaming laptop that can docked into a desktop like setup.

The semi-portability of a micro PC that requires peripherals but has easy access to replacement of graphics card and same docking capabilities.

Or go all in and dedicate a small room or corner of her living space to a desktop “battle station” for the easiest and widest compatibility for hardware upgrades.

She can always just use her laptop for any other needs for the last 2 scenarios so all in all it depends on what she wants.
 
What's the exact model and year of the laptop? Compatibility and upgrade info like this was easily found on the old Notebook Review forums, but <gestures sadly>

The MXM GPU sellers are often bulk recyclers (legit businesses) who take decommissioned machines en-masse into brick-and-mortar locations thru b2b disposal contracts and part them out on eBay.
They've always been great about returns in my experience, even for "my problem" reasons like incompatibility.
 
I think by the 1070 generation, most (all?) of the Alienwares had dropped MXM 3.0b compatibility. The 1070 is going to be pretty close to maxed out, the 1080 is close enough to not make a really tangible difference and there was never a 1080Ti laptop part.
 
Likely the best place to get one would be to buy a laptop with the compatible GPU in it, swap, then resell.
Or likely the better solution, sell laptop, buy one with GPU you want.
Laptops are notoriously unserviceable.
Hell sff desktop cases are enough of a pita that I won't ever buy a sff case ever again... I can't imagine playing in the guts of a laptop is more practical. Totally get the why, just not sure its a practical option.
 
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