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HOW-TO: Upgrade your 9300 with the Ultra or 7800 "Photo Guide" - Page 14

post #261 of 1001
12/28/05 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baja1000
Btw, it seems I will have 2 sticks of 256 ram and 1 64 mobility radeon spare..I wonder what I can get for them?
Probably jack squat because everyone else has them too

Quote:
Originally Posted by dsorrent
1) The 7800 GTX will run without modifying to the XPS BIOS?

2) If I run on the 9 cell battery and the 90 watt power supply on the i9300 BIOS, the 7800 GTX will run, but slower than normal until I use the 130 watt power supply?
Nope, you need the XPS BIOS to run the Go 7800GTX properly. There was a thread on that around here somewhere, maybe it's this one . And yes, you can boot up on battery and then plug in your 90watt adapter, but it will run in low power 3D until you get your 130watt PSU.
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post #262 of 1001
12/28/05 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. K6
Nope, you need the XPS BIOS to run the Go 7800GTX properly. There was a thread on that around here somewhere, maybe it's this one .
Mr. K6,

Thanks for the reply, but this is where I am getting confused. On the other thread (http://www.notebookforums.com/showth...120789&page=25) JaxChris's post 12-09-2005, 04:11 AM says:

Quote:
Originally Posted by JaxChris
p.s. The 130watt Duracell brick is available as an additional adapter and the 9cell is available as the primary battery. And A05 9300 bios will not stop Windows from recognizing the 7800gtx... but without the 130watt adapter and 9cell it runs in low power mode.
And there are other posts which say you need the XPS BIOS. So that's why I was under the impression you don't need the XPS BIOS. Does anyone have an i9300 with an updated i9300 BIOS and can verify this?
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post #263 of 1001
12/28/05 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsorrent
And there are other posts which say you need the XPS BIOS. So that's why I was under the impression you don't need the XPS BIOS. Does anyone have an i9300 with an updated i9300 BIOS and can verify this?
From, http://www.notebookforums.com/showpo...2&postcount=12

Yes, you do need the XPS2 BIOS. Even with the 7800, 9-cell battery, and 130W adapter, the 9300 will not run the 7800 at full throttle.

With my rig and XPS2 BIOS, I get a little over 7000 in 3dMark05.
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post #264 of 1001
12/28/05 at 7:31pm
How did you get the card for $280? Did you order from DELL USA or CANADA?

also do we have to get the 9v battery? I always have my labtop plug into an outlet...would the 130w brick alone do?
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post #265 of 1001
12/28/05 at 7:57pm
BIOS flashing isnt that difficult at all, dont worry about it, just follow the directions and you guys will be fine

Stressing use of the search function , here's the thread on how to get the card for $250: http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=120789

And you need the 9-CELL batter to boot the laptop. You can always boot the laptop without a battery and plugged into the wall with the 130watt adapter, but the laptop will not boot (and perform properly) with the 9-Cell and the 7800Go.
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post #266 of 1001
12/28/05 at 8:08pm
you mean it won't boot with a 6cell +7800? I can live with that :P I rarely ever have my labtop unplugged.
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post #267 of 1001
12/28/05 at 9:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. K6
BIOS flashing isnt that difficult at all, dont worry about it, just follow the directions and you guys will be fine

Stressing use of the search function , here's the thread on how to get the card for $250: http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=120789

And you need the 9-CELL batter to boot the laptop. You can always boot the laptop without a battery and plugged into the wall with the 130watt adapter, but the laptop will not boot (and perform properly) with the 9-Cell and the 7800Go.
I'm not too concerned with the BIOS flashing since I've done it many times to my desktop. Since I ordered the 130w and it's backordered (yes, yes, I know they are on eBay ), I just wanted to know if I can run the laptop with the 9 cell battery and the 90w power brick in the interim. From what it sounds like, I can, but the 7800 will be "under-volted" and run slower. I don't think it could possibly be slower than the 64mb x300 that comes standard on the i9300 though, can it?
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post #268 of 1001
12/28/05 at 10:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lealand
you mean it won't boot with a 6cell +7800? I can live with that :P I rarely ever have my labtop unplugged.
You'll need the 130W power brick that comes with the XPS no matter what battery. You can find it on Ebay (read threads in regards) or on Dell's site.

If you want to play unplugged you'll want that 9-cell.

Edit: Yes it will boot with a 6-cell so long as its plugged into that 130W.
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post #269 of 1001
12/29/05 at 12:29am

Alright guys- please offer me some advice

I hate to ask this question since it's probably been asked before but I read through the 18 pages and found only tacit statements about how to purchase the 7800gtx card from dell. So, if you are an i9300 owner can you just call Dell and order the 7800 or do you need the xps2 tag number in order to qualify?

My last question is this: I just bought a PA-13 family power brick from ebay and, now that I've read through the last 18 pages, am getting worried that it may be the wrong one. I know that hotrodguru bought the same kind and it gave him error messages. Should I get a different one or do i have to do the mod first and wait to see?

Thanks for any enlightenment you may be able to offer.

il Don
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post #270 of 1001
12/29/05 at 2:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsorrent
From what it sounds like, I can, but the 7800 will be "under-volted" and run slower. I don't think it could possibly be slower than the 64mb x300 that comes standard on the i9300 though, can it?
The 7800 in low power is actually quite a bit faster than even an overclocked 6800Go, so you'll definitely see some performance improvement

Quote:
Originally Posted by DonQuePaso
So, if you are an i9300 owner can you just call Dell and order the 7800 or do you need the xps2 tag number in order to qualify?

My last question is this: I just bought a PA-13 family power brick from ebay and, now that I've read through the last 18 pages, am getting worried that it may be the wrong one. I know that hotrodguru bought the same kind and it gave him error messages. Should I get a different one or do i have to do the mod first and wait to see?
I just gave them my 9300 service tag and said "I'd like to order part HF594." And that was that. No questions asked, and I honestly think that they dont care who they sell it to as long as they sell it, because the initial demand was met for the XPS2 owners and they had to keep their "promise." Here's the thread on the whole deal with numerous examples such as mine: http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=120789

PA-13 should do the trick. Unfortunately, the only way to be sure is to plug it in and try it. Just make sure you flash the XPS2 hacked BIOS first before you think that it doesnt work correctly
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post #271 of 1001
12/29/05 at 2:15am

7800gtx

Got it from Dell USA $280
check thread below for various and imaginative ways to do the purchase.

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=120789

My story to Dell rep was that I was ordering card for a I9300 I had just purchased and order was in production,I said I had limited out my DPA and wanted un upgrade to the rig I ordered and I wanted to pay it with mt credit card,which is actually the truth,the rep then did asked my for my order number,I gave it to him.I thought he would say that the 7800GTX wasnt compatible with the 9300 or something to that matter but he never did, he just said "Ok,that card will cost you $248.73 plus tax and shipping" so I said Allllllllrighty then! I chose the 2nd day shipping option and total came to $280 with tax and all.
But check thread on "How I ordered a 7800gtx go for $259.68 " on link I posted, theres lots of gang doing it with different storys.
Good Luck!

Edit: Lol!! I just noticed the link has been posted aboout 3 or 4 yimes in last 10 replies
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post #272 of 1001
12/29/05 at 5:25am

Thanks for the info

A hearty thanks to Mr-K6 and Baja,
Perhaps I should have read the page on which I posted a bit better. My initial question was answered and I could have saved some LCD ink- don't I feel sheepish!

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to placing the order later today. I have been debating all month and think that since the card doesn't cost as much as a black market kidney I'll take the plunge.

If this thread is still going when I complete the mod I'll include pics of the new and improved i9300.

Thanks again for the pointers - I'm sure I'll use them all.

il Don
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post #273 of 1001
12/29/05 at 4:14pm

question about install

Since the new card has an addition heat pipe that goes to the left, will that mean you have to remove the heatsink on the cpu? And if the cpu has no heatsink, wont it overheat? Sorry little confuse by the picture. Someone have a pic of the new video card already installed on the motherboard?
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post #274 of 1001
12/29/05 at 4:46pm

Another question

That's a good question lealand, I checked the Dell site and see that the heatpipe next to the (northbridge?) is not present in the XPS. I'm not sure why that is and pics or explanations would be helpful.

Also, I puchased my i9300 nearly 7 months ago. What are my chances that the heatsink for the northbridge is the right one? If they are slim does anyone have an extra they're willing to part with. IM me please.

Don
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post #275 of 1001
12/29/05 at 6:39pm
Purchase the 7800 and open your laptop. You'll see how easy it is. You don't have to remove any CPU heatpipe. You don't have to modify the NB heatsinks at all either. This is literally a drop in mod.
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post #276 of 1001
12/29/05 at 7:01pm
Thanks for clearing that up. Just have to wait for the video card to come in.
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post #277 of 1001
12/29/05 at 7:40pm
Well, chalk up another success story, thanks to this guide and the helpful people here.

HOWEVER

Two things should be noted when taking apart the i9300 according to the tech specs given on the Dell website.

I followed the directions to the letter, but in the process, got stuck when removing the palm rest.

What the directions do not tell you is that YOU MUST remove the screw (on the bottom) from the Optical Drive, and YOU MUST remove the screw that sits next to the battery, on the edge of the laptop bottom (holds a small black plastic piece in place that covers a set of connectors.)

When you finally get around to placing in the 7800GTX, YOU MUST remove the rubber stoppers that sit in the other vent first. There is one on each side of the vent that must be removed (easy though, they are loosely glued in.)

Once these two were also removed, then the installation went very smoothly. From start to finish, took only 40 minutes. I spent the most time worrying if I was going to break the hinge cover as I removed it. ;-)

Thanks to all... now to O/C. Though, i barely see a need to. Hehehehe
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post #278 of 1001
12/29/05 at 7:53pm
that thing next to the battery is the bluetooth btw.

and the instructions DO tell you to remove the optical drive.
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post #279 of 1001
12/29/05 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by drizek
that thing next to the battery is the bluetooth btw.

and the instructions DO tell you to remove the optical drive.

Hmm... must of missed the optical drive screw removal. Oh well. But still yeah, you need to remove the bluetooth screw, and the rubber stoppers. ;-)
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post #280 of 1001
12/29/05 at 8:17pm
Yeah it did. I had to remove mine today to see if i had the proper heatsink.
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