Alienware notebook upgrade Q's

AW will likely test the 8800 cards in the m9750, and if it works without causing heat issues, they'll likely offer it as an upgrade in the future when the card is available in sufficient numbers to have some left over after filling the new orders for the 15x and 17x.

Several people bought the m9700 with a single 7900gs, then added a second through Alienware. The difference between one card in the configurator, and two was $400, but existing customers were sold the second 7900gs for $230, so it was a pretty good deal.

You can upgrade any hardware through AW once they've certified the hardware for your platform. CPU upgrades require you to send the machine in, but under warranty all you'll pay for upgrades is shipping one way, and their upgrade hardware price. AW covers the labor, and run in, as well as return shipping for upgrades under warranty. If you're out of warranty, they'll do the upgrade for shipping, parts and labor if you're the original customer.

Last time I saw AW offer upgrades to laptops regarding vid cards was the 7700 line, and they only offered upgrades once they had an adequate stock of the hardware to make sure they didn't run out for new machines. That means it'll likely be a while if indeed they offer the 8800 for the m9750. The card isn't out yet, so it'll take some time, and I assume the new laptops will cause tons of orders...

With vid cards, you call customer service and tell them you want to upgrade. They'll offer you the upgrade price for the hardware, then you can either have them FedEx the card(s) to you so you can install them with assistance over the phone if you want, or they'll arrange for you to ship the system to Alienware so they can perform the upgrade.

Unfortunately if you wait too long like I did you will be SOL. I called recently to get a second video card for my M9700 and was told they are" end of life" and they don't carry anything for them anymore. They sent me links to some laptop parts sites but none of them even mention the M9700 and didn't even have a section for video cards.

I second what Stealthsurfer said - see if the card is available now and for how much.

Wow, they won't order one?

Try this guy: Ice-Tea

Here's his website.

No dice. If you have a M9700 without SLI you are just out of luck unless you find someone parting one out.