Question Alienware GPU in used market - worth it, or to be avoided?!

[alexb75]

I've come across a few Alienware GTX 4060/4070 options in used market. They're priced a bit below brand named GPUs, I assume you must use standard nvidia drivers.

Are they any decent?! Any issues with their firmwares being locked?! Any challenges with driver updates or other issues?!

One major item for me, is for GPU to be SILENT or very QUIET during office work hours, so for the fan to slow down or stop when GPU isn't pushed. Do these offer such fan management?!

Thanks

 

[Lutfij]

What sort of monitors and resolution are you planning to run with your intended purchase?

This is the only review of a Dell graphics card i can find of the RTX4000 series;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_KEnvhdxBM

and it wasn't trashed by Steve. Where are you seeing the listings and how much are you seeing the cards go for? IMHO, I'd invest in a something brand new as they will hold warranty for more than a year.

Drivers would be universal though overclocking would be negated, perhaps. As for sound, that's a subjective topic like aesthetics. You can have the fans running at zero rpm, provided the airflow in your chassis is good/optimal, however some can hear choil whine.

 

[alexb75]

Thanks, I am using 2x1920x1200 monitors, and would like to add one more for Sim Racing!

My current GPU is old GTX 1070, which can't max out 1080P right now.

Looking at either 4060 Ti, or 4070. The one from Alienware seems like 4070 with short motherboard and 2 fans. There's also 4060 options.

I can get the 4070 for around $400, 4060Ti, $300.

 

[QyInvoLing]

No, it's a 4060 laptop's GPU being planted on a desktop graphics card's PCB which couldn't pass NV's check so you can only install fixed verrsion of driver. Don't buy that

 

[PiersPlowman]

Is that retail or cannibalized from an OEM (Dell, presumably)? Dell's builds lean towards being highly non-standard, so you may have problems getting the cards to work, and even if you can, you might not be able to install the generic Nvidia drivers.

 

[stonecarver]

No, it's a 4060 laptop's GPU being planted on a desktop graphics card's PCB which couldn't pass NV's check so you can only install fixed verrsion of driver. Don't buy that

Is that something Steve said or is there a link to these GPU's using laptop chips. Just trying to stay up on the ever changing landscape of our PC world.

 

[COLGeek]

No, it's a 4060 laptop's GPU being planted on a desktop graphics card's PCB which couldn't pass NV's check so you can only install fixed verrsion of driver. Don't buy that

Just for awareness, can you link a source for this statement?

 

[COLGeek]

Is that retail or cannibalized from an OEM (Dell, presumably)? Dell's builds lean towards being highly non-standard, so you may have problems getting the cards to work, and even if you can, you might not be able to install the generic Nvidia drivers.

This has not been an issue with OEM GPUs. They are actually, very often, about as bone stock and vanilla as can be.

For example: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/pny...d-8-gb-gddr6/apd/ac638164/graphic-video-cards

 

[PiersPlowman]

This has not been an issue with OEM GPUs. They are actually, very often, about as bone stock and vanilla as can be.

For example: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/pny...d-8-gb-gddr6/apd/ac638164/graphic-video-cards

Maybe I am getting confused with Dell power connectors? In any case: caveat emptor.

 

[COLGeek]

Maybe I am getting confused with Dell power connectors? In any case: caveat emptor.

Things that get connected to some motherboards, maybe. Not GPUs.

 

[QyInvoLing]

Is that something Steve said or is there a link to these GPU's using laptop chips. Just trying to stay up on the ever changing landscape of our PC world.

Just for awareness, can you link a source for this statement?

The poster said "alienware", "I assume you must use standard nvidia drivers" which immediately raised my doubt, as "driver-locked"(which means you can only install fixed version of driver, installing the latest driver will fail) card equals to laptop gpu replanted mining card of 20/30 series in my memory. It's easy to get these cards in China years ago, and it's called "yellovidia" because the nvidia logo printed by on these cards is yellow.

If @stonecarver provide more info, I can check if it's a laptop-replanted card. There's also high chance that the card is a DELL OEM version card(just like the Lenovo 4090), if so, you can buy it.

 

[alexb75]

No, it's a 4060 laptop's GPU being planted on a desktop graphics card's PCB which couldn't pass NV's check so you can only install fixed verrsion of driver. Don't buy that

Ok, what about the 4070?

 

[QyInvoLing]

Ok, what about the 4070?

Can you provide more info(for example,image)?

 

[stonecarver]

If @stonecarver provide more info, I can check if it's a laptop-replanted card. There's also high chance that the card is a DELL OEM version card(just like the Lenovo 4090), if so, you can buy it.

My point of my question was not to get excited about some hack and slash card to buy but to know to avoid.

Can you post a link to where you have seen this information.

Can you provide more info(for example,image)?

Why ask alexb75 to provide a picture of a RTX 4070?

We all know fake card are flying around out there everywhere not denying that but it really helps to have the facts to the fake cards available if the claim is made.

 

[COLGeek]

Not hard to find Dell (owns Alienware) GPUs:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226003444428

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-GeForce-192-bit-Graphics-Renewed/dp/B0CS3SYC1L?th=1

I don't seen anything that suggests any of the one's found use a mobile processor on them.

I would comfortable using one of these (and the previously mentioned one).