m9700 video cards

If you've got an m9700, the 7900gs is top card now. If you've got a single card and want to have SLI, AW will sell you another. If you're trying to add a second card, call again.

Call and get in touch with technical support. I bought a second 7900GS that way and put it in myself. Saved $200 also.

I can't remember if I talked with customer support or technical support now that I think about it...

For upgrades like this, you need to talk to customer service. Call them and tell them you're an existing customer, and you'd like to buy a video card as an upgrade.

Since the m9700 has only shipped with the 7900gs, I assume you're talking about adding a second card for SLI? They haven't offered anything above the 7900gs yet.

Hi ! im back. I got my m9700 for like 2 weeks ago. I got some nice pics of em too. Im thinking of buying second GPU to enable SLi. Is there anything important i shud do before n after inserting the second GPU. I mean like do i new to buy thermal grease or sumthing for the second GPU? or i dont need to?

secondly i called alienware they said they will ship with the bridge. What is that actually? I have been searching on knowledge database on the website but i couldnt recognize the 'bridge'. and i assume the tutorial for inserting the 2nd GPU is the "reseat or replace video module ..." It would be nice if someone can point out the any site or tutorial so it will be an easy task for me !!

Oh and so far my m9700 is working well. But i already reformat it once tho due to Adobe PhotoShop was not working. and i also bought the pacific breeze cooler and it manage to reduce the heat by 1-2 Celcius. And my Alienware PC information is gone after reformat.

I also have one more question about the popping sound but i think i should ask on other post or create a new one for it. So far from what i read, it is claimed coming from the hard drive but the problem is im using speaker and headset but still could hear that somewhat annoying noise. Is it possible that its one of the drivers problem? audio driver? graphic card driver?

You should check out aaronjb's string on applying Arctic Silver 5 to the gpu's in the mobile section. It has pics that should help. In order to install the second video card, you will need to remove the heatsink assembly for the gpu's. Once you remove any heatsink, you need to re-apply either heat pads, or another thermal interface like AS5 thermal compound.


The "bridge" or in this case cable, is a connection between the two cards in SLI so they can communicate.


Yeah, the pc info is gone unless you've got a respawn disc. I believe they include that in the respawn so everything is like it was from the factory. Not sure why photoshop would cause an issue, I've got it on my m9700 and it works fine.


I'm not aware of a popping sound. The only time I get any sound interference is when I'm running or starting up more than one program at a time. Occasionally I'll get a stutter while doing that, but other than that I've got no popping issues with sound.

That was a quick reply. Thanks HH. this kept me thinking; what if i bought the respawn now? Would it restore my pc like it was from the factory default or it only works if u purchase it with ur m9700 only. I think it will work even i just get it like rite now. Oh thanks for the information about the second GPU it really helps. Now i need to add one more thing other than GPU. AC5 .. hhmm... any links anybody ?

So as i have to tear off my m9700 to insert the 2nd GPU why shudnt i ask bout how to clean the dust. Could i use vacuum or not ? I read and heard that u could use the compressed air thingy (that blows). I would appreciate any recommendation.

Oh HH bout the PhotoShop. Its not the m9700, its the software. When u mess up with the preference it will hang and u will unable to use PhotoShop. I read about it and it happen for some people. I manage to find how to make it works; make a new user account and use it with that new account. But i found out that isnt much efficient as u need to log on log off just to use Adobe. But now after reformat it works in the default user account

Is there anyone out there that use multiple monitor but have SLi? What is like the best driver that works best for regularly switching multiple monitors to single-monitor n vice versa. I ask this bcoz i aware that SLi is only working on single-monitor; not multiple. After this i could never play CS while chatting, surfing, and searching for game or scrim . Alt + Tab works but u will lost visuals-alert during the game session in single-monitor.

Unfortunately, they need the machine to make a respawn disk. Respawn is made for each machine on the machine itself... You can make your own, it's just a Norton Ghost image, but the image will be of what you have set up now, not original factory settings with your pc info...


You can buy small cans of compressed air at places like office depot. I use those to spray the dust out of the fans and heatsinks.


I have no experience with this, but I understand SLI does only work with a single monitor selected... Bummer...

I knew it i was thinking how could it be it reset to my personal factory settings. Then if it works like that probably i dont even need the real OS cd to reformat.

nice thanks for the info. I need to have everything in list i make sure everything comes at once. I hate to do work halfway just because the tools wasnt there. Basically i need the GPU itself, bridge, AC5, compressed air can, screwdriver. So that basically it right ? I think i have seen compressed air thingy before, but definitely not the AC5. I hope i dont mess up as theres no problem for this lappy for now. Hope that i have that magic touch hehe.

All this talk has me thinking of upgrading to the 512 cards ...

Save your cash for the next big thing, that would be a colossal waste of money.

It's AS5 (Arctic Silver 5).

You can get it at Newegg.com(The small size should be fine for several applications...), or some local computer shops will carry it.

Here is their website. It includes detailed instructions on applying.

. Its not worth the extra money for just a couple more fps. Save up for the m9750 or the next big thing like what Groove said.

u guys really make me think twice.. but that's really a nice thought actually. So which one is better for the savings the classy black matte finish m9750 with probability of dx10 capability on its introduction (thats what i read.. ) OR a PlayStation 3 with HD monitor/TV (especially Metal Gear Solid 4 is coming out this July). Seriously, that game is one of the "must-play" game in the world. And the cost for both is about the same probably with ps3 a little bit cheaper if u dont get the highest quality for the HD monitor/TV.

Well um they're two completely different things. If you really want a PS3 (actually MGS4 is rumored for the X360 by multiple sources, and the people saying that its gonna go to the X360 are the people who said DMC4 was coming to the X360, if you don't know DMC4 was announced for the 360 and PC not too long ago) then just get one. You don't need a HDTV to have the games look good. I have a 360 and I play on a 27" Magnavox, the games look amazing. An HDTV will make the games look better, but ultimately you don't need one.
The m9750 will have more value, like a lot more because you'll be able to do a lot of things you can't do on the PS3, but it'll be a lot more $$$. I saw get a PS3, then just get like the m5550 or 5790.

em actually DMC is made by Capcom while MGS is by Konami or to be specific Kojima Production. So it all depends on them. If they will then it will be nice. I dont get u here. Did u mean I shud get PS3 bcoz that is definitely what im thinking rite now. And why shud i get m5550 when i already have m9700? Oh and i think m9750 will do alot more than PS3, but not that much with m9700 + PS3. I probably dont have DX10 thats all. or probably Ageia's PPU which probably not included in m9750. So i dont lose that much amount of technology/advantages compared to the amount of money i'll lose for the m9750 hehe. I hope u dont take me too seriously bcoz im just kidding but i do see a point here.