Eurocom Now Selling GPU Upgrades For Existing Laptops With GTX 980M and GTX 970M Options
by Brett Howse on February 10, 2015 5:10 PM EST
Today Eurocom announced some interesting news. They are now selling new upgrade kits for existing laptops which feature a MXM 3.0b graphics card. This will let owners of older laptops, who are not interested in a complete upgrade, obtain the power of the new Maxwell 2 based GPUs from NVIDIA in their laptop.
MXM, or Mobile PCI Express Module, is a standard graphics interface for low power and small form factor systems, and was introduced to make it easier for OEMs to integrate a GPU into a system. They feature up to 16 PCIe Gen 2 lanes, up to a 256 bit memory interface, up to 4 dual mode Display Ports with HDMI support, in a standard package.
Although not inexpensive, it will allow customers to get some extra mileage out of their laptop, especially with the major improvements in performance we have seen with the Maxwell 2 based GTX 980M and GTX 970M. And overall while MXM was designed to allow just this kind of upgradability, it's actually fairly rare that we see upgrade cards released in this fashion, so it's nice to see this upgrade offered.
The kits come with all of the required hardware to make the swap, and each kit is tailored to a specific laptop make and model. Obviously this will only apply to systems that utilize MXM 3.0b card for the GPU.
If you are not afraid to open up your laptop, and you are looking for a graphics boost, you may want to check out the kits which can be found at Eurocom’s site.
Source: Eurocom
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fade2blac - Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - link
It's interesting to see that the kit includes IC Diamond thermal compound. The diamond content actually makes this like a fine abrasive. Some people are hesitant to use it for direct die applications. I can confirm that it is slowly polishing away the markings on the IHS of my i7-2600k.TheinsanegamerN - Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - link
then stop reapplying it? Usually a thermal paste application lasts for around 2 years, and by then that gpu is due for replacement. even if you replace it after two years, that gpu is now 4 years old. horribly outdated by that point, and the whole laptop will probably be replaced.Alexvrb - Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - link
TWO YEARS? I've never had to reapply thermal compound after only two years. What compound goes to pot after two years? I'd like to know so I can avoid it.TheinsanegamerN - Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - link
Its not that the paste itself is going bad, but the rapid heating of the chip, combined with high temperatures (mobile gpus easily get into the 80c range), and the fact that the laptop is being moved around, set on tables, taken in cars, ece. and the paste can dry out and become flaky, rather than goopy. something like arctic silver 5 or IC diamond are more resistant to this, but cheaper pastes can dry out quickly. (IE what OEMs use in the factory). best practice is to repaste once you get it, and you'll be good.Murloc - Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - link
I've never replaced the thermal paste on my gpu, temps are still about the same as 6 years ago.nathanddrews - Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - link
Yeah, that's BS. I've never had thermal paste issues, even a decade later.Set it and forget it.
http://youtu.be/tLq27iOW0R0?t=26s
superflex - Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - link
My overclocked Opteron 170 and X800GTO^2 flash modded to a X850 PE back in 2004 are still using the same paste.Quit spreading FUD
Flunk - Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - link
I've heard this from quite a few people when it comes to laptops. Other than replacing the stock paste once I've never had an issue with paste ageing. Assuming you install it right, without bubbles caused by removing the heatsink or using too much or too little paste. But, that said I have been using IC Diamond paste recently and that stuff is so thick I don't think it's going anywhere.Sushisamurai - Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - link
the only thermal paste issue I've ever had was my xbox360 LE drying up, but that was 10 years of moderate-heavy use.Sushisamurai - Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - link
yay, a canadian company! I didn't even know about their existence until now - but holy those GPU's are expensive.Anandtech should do a review of their laptops - 15.6", a i7-4K processor with BIOS OC, with a GTX980M (SLI capable in their bigger laptops) and 2133GHz CL10 RAM - wow, you don't see those specs on a laptop very often. Obviously, when tricked out it's not cheap, but I think that's the first consumer overclockable laptop i've ever seen.