OCZ graphics upgrade path?

[Thanny]

I ordered the OCZ laptop a couple of days ago, and the comment in the description that the 9800M GTX is being tested for compatibility makes me wonder just what upgrades are possible.

Specifically, will it support the mobile 4850 in CF or the 4870 when they come out? Would a 4870 X2 be feasible, in terms of power consumption?

How would one go about finding the mobile cards, anyway? Right now, for example, I can't find anywhere to buy just the mobile 3870 X2 card. And roughly how much do they cost, compared to the desktop counterparts?

[xpcdude]

It is still to early to say,but if the 4870's thermal design does not exceed the limitations of the OCZ board,then it should be possible.
About Crossfire of the 4870,again, before testing, all would be just speculation.

And the 9800M GTX support is still debatable, yet there is no reason not to get the 3870 Crossfire,which is much better than the 9800M GTX.

[Thanny]

Since asking initially, I discovered that the 3870 card is MXM type 2, while the 48XX cards are expected to be MXM type 3. Does the OCZ laptop have a type 3 slot (which is backwards compatible with 2)?

Also, any insight on where one can buy mobile graphics cards individually?

[xpcdude]

Mobile cards are hard to get ,unless there are special offers and upgrade paths.
Again, before the 4870 is even tested with this system, there is but speculation.

When the 9800M GTX will be available for it, it would put an end to the debate about the MXM factor, however, the system cannot hold 2 9800M GTXs, and therefore , if ,by pure speculation again, the 4870 cards would have a thermal design similar to the 9800M GTX, then Crossfire would be out of the question.

Disclaimer : in no way may these supositions be qualified as being facts, I am merely debating around the subject and the possibility of future upgrades.

[EGB]

Since asking initially, I discovered that the 3870 card is MXM type 2, while the 48XX cards are expected to be MXM type 3. Does the OCZ laptop have a type 3 slot (which is backwards compatible with 2)?

Where did you read this?

[powerpack]

I thought MXM II was over so yea where did you read?

[EGB]

Also, any insight on where one can buy mobile graphics cards individually?

ATI 3870:

http://www.pugetsystems.com/store/item.php?cat=Video+Card&id=5652&com=d41d8cd9

[Thanny]

I don't recall where I read that the 3870's were MXM-II cards (it was more than one place), but that was wrong.

Now that I have the laptop, I can see they are clearly MXM-III cards (82mm x 100mm), so unless the 4850/4870 cards are version 3.0 cards (which have no backwards compatibility, according to what I've read), they should work.

Thermally, I think two 4850's will work fine. The heat coming out the back, where both 3870 cards are vented, is quite mild (downright cool, compared to the CPU vent). It's hard to find information on TDP for mobile graphics cards, but given that the desktop 4850 consumes very little more power than the desktop 3870, my guess is that the 4850 X2 configuration will work. Likely only a single 4870, which would be mostly outclassed by two 4850's.

The real challenge will be finding any for sale. The link to the 3870, for example, now shows nothing.

[tae]

Since asking initially, I discovered that the 3870 card is MXM type 2, while the 48XX cards are expected to be MXM type 3. Does the OCZ laptop have a type 3 slot (which is backwards compatible with 2)?

Also, any insight on where one can buy mobile graphics cards individually?

The OCZNBIM17A is a type II slot. http://www.ocztechnology.com/aboutocz/press/2008/299

Only thing I've found out about this chassis that's disappointing. I'll probably get it anyway but man an upgrade path to 48xx would have been sweet.