Alienware 17 R1 (2013) Upgrades

So, I have a hand-me-down 2013 AW 17 R1 that was being used as a work computer that I am now taking home to use as a personal laptop. Since I haven't paid anything for this laptop I'm willing to throw a little bit of cash into it to clean it up, and I really enjoy the R1 case over the newer R4 cases. Since this was a work computer, and still is at the moment, the hard drive is a little bit loaded down (even after cleaning it) and the computer has been running a bit slow as of late.

The specs on it are: i7-4900mq cpu, 32 GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 770, and a 750 GB hdd, I believe (it only reads 688 GB on it).

I think I want to upgrade to a 1 or 2 TB Samsung Pro SSD first, then a CPU, then maybe a GPU and screen. But, all of the posts I've found on upgrading the CPU on an R1 are circa 2016 on this forum, and recommends a 4930, but I don't really want to upgrade unless I can go up a few series (preferably 7000). Would any of the 7000 series be compatible without (too) much other upgrades? What CPU upgrade would give me the biggest bang for the buck without too too much work?

Sorry if this post sucks, this is my first post, and the first time I've tried to get hands on with a computer upgrade.

 

The 4900 mq is a very good cpu and you would not really benefit from a 4930mx as it is just unlocked and allows for overclocking. The 4900mq runs at about 3.8ghz and is a quad core. My 4930mx runs at 4.2ghz but requires better cooling. You are limited to the 4000 series cpus as that is the only type your laptop will accept. There are also no socketable 5000, 6000 or 7000 cpus. They are all BGA. Your laptop supports MXM cards and as such will officially support the 780m and 880m without modification. You can put a 980m as well as a 1060 and 1070 in your system but it requires a fair amount of research to do. If you upgrade your gpu to a 780m or 880m, I recommend you get a 100w heat sink for your new card. Part number is NP31N and you can get it pretty cheap through dell spare parts or on ebay. There is also an all copper 5 pipe heatsink on ebay as well as a 4 pipe all copper cpu heatsink on ebay that I've had great success with.

The best upgrade for you would be a 1tb ssd as that will make it like a brand new machine. There is a 120hz screen option that requires an edp cable be purchased as well and a bit of know how. This screen is in my opinion the best option for this laptop but you will lose the ability to switch graphics. A 780m is the best card for your laptop that is supported natively and with some bios modification and overclocking can punch up quite a bit. It's pretty close to a modern day 1050 gpu. The forums have a wealth of knowledge on how to upgrade this laptop and to this day it is my favorite laptop.

 

Yeah, I don’t think I have the know-how, or will power to figure out the screen replacement/ GPU upgrade. I think if all I’m changing out is upgrading to an SSD I may go all out for a 2 TB Samsung 860 Pro. I think I can get my hands on a newer model 17 (maybe an R4?) I’m going to check the specs on it on Thursday. If I can find a place to keep them (without driving the girlfriend crazy) I might try to hold onto them both. I feel like letting go of the R1 is a tough thing to do since it’s the last really upgradable model

 

It is a great laptop. I have a 15r3 with a 7820hk and a gtx 1080 but I use my 17 more. I think it's because I've used this laptop for a long time. I am thinking about selling the 15r3 and just sticking with what I know.

 

The newer alienware 17's have a slew of QC issues one of which is overheating.

According to some other members the 4Ghz 4930mx performs about the same as the 6700hq but that is also with DDR4 memory.

You would see the most change with an SSD for the OS and upgrading the GPU from the 770m to the 980m. You could get the 1070 but that requires more effort and driver .inf mods

 

Yeah, the newer one already has a USB that isn't working (so 1 out of 2) and I'm already not a fan of the 2 USB slots vs 4 on the R1. I think I might try to see if the newer 17 is still in warranty and get the USB fixed and just keep both, that way I can save up money and take my time research what and how to upgrade the R1. I think I can do the SSD upgrade no problem, but the GPU I don't think I'm ready to just jump into yet. If I did go to the 980m would I just need heatsinks or would I have to upgrade to the 120hz screen? I know if I start getting into the 1000 series I would definitely have to do a screen upgrade. Just for overall speed I'd be better off with the SSD and GPU rather than SSD and CPU?

 

For the 980m you would just want the 100w heatsink, if it has 3 pipes on it then you're square. The 980m works with the 60hz panel and the 120hz panel, 120hz isnt a requirement until you start venturing into the 10XX GPU's. That and also would require a Full UEFI environment. @EepoSaurus could correct me as I am not certain myself but I dont think the 980m requires a Full UEFI installation.

On the R4, for sure get that fixed up. Warranties are expensive, best get your money out of it.

 

Ok, thank you. Where is the best place to start looking for the NVIDIA 980m and the heatsink? Ebay? Do you know if all of the AW 17 heatsinks are compatible with one another? I've seen someone mention it on here and vaguely sounded like all of the models can be used, but it wasn't very clear.

As for the R4 (at least that's what I think it is), I'm going to check the specs and everything on it tomorrow afternoon, someone has been using it at the moment, but hopefully I can check the warranty and maybe get it sent off. I'm still not positive I'll be able to take it, but if all plays out right I could probably purchase it for a good price.

 

Ebay is a good place to start or you can talk with @woodzstack

If you have the 100w heatsink you should be fine for the 980m. If you have the 75w heatsink you can probably still run it but it wouldnt be advised. They arent GPU specific, just AMD (100w) and Nvidia (75w+100w) and iirc the 980m doesnt require modification on the heatsink. 10XX does require some grinding.

 

The 980m runs best in pure uefi mode with 120hz. In my experience. I've never bothered with running it with the 60hz screen as it is not enough to stop screen tearing.

The main reason for my r1 obsession is that there is no optimus or gsync to speak of on it. Something about the lack of software intervention makes the gaming experience extremely satisfying. I sold off a razer 14 because the damn optimus made it run like crap and now my 15r3 seems to not run great with gsync and is stuck at 30fps on battery no matter what I try. I wish some one would release an upgradeable newer model with switchable graphics and much better build quality. Ive tried 3 clevos but they are all cheap feeling and overheat like crazy.

 

Yep, I enjoy the ability to disable optimus. I was able to instantly tell when I first got this Ranger that optimus was on by default and hit that Fn+F5 as soon as I saw it.

I never ran a LVDS panel at native 60hz anyways, most of the panels I've had ran at 110hz.

I liked the P157SM-A and would've used it as my daily driver but the keyboard layout was just foreign enough to put me off. I like clevo GPU heatsinks a bit more. If alienware had something similar the modding wouldnt have to be so drastic for the MSI 1070, but thats anecdotal.

 

So, would you not recommend the 980m if I don’t want to get a 120hz screen yet?

I really enjoy the feel of the R1 over the newer ones. I get the appeal for a thinner laptop, but the port positions and the number of ports, and the fans on the R1 over the newer versions is just so much better in my opinion. I’m not really trying to game (too hard) on either system. I just got a new Aurora with the 8700k so I’ll play on that at my house mostly, I could really use the R4 for processing data for work and to have when I get into the “windows only” part of my degree. But it would just be nice to be able to have my R1 running faster than it is now. It takes a little longer than normal to boot up, it takes a few minutes to kind of “warm up” once it’s on, and booting up programs can take a few minutes. I’m hoping the SSD will clear most of this up but I’d still like to do more.

 

Well no one likes screen tearing, and he would also be playing with no vsync. However the 980m isnt going to be maxing titles anymore. R6: Siege would crush it and that was released in 2015. Just really depends on the games you're interested in. That being said its still a good GPU. Shouldnt have any issue playing games with it.

You can also overclock the panel and see how far you can go with it to reduce the need for vsync and minimize screen tearing.

I have a 120hz panel and its nice having that but I honestly hate glossy displays, could never keep that darn thing clean. When I go back to 120hz it will be the MSI panel. 8-bit will be nice along with matte.

 

Well, while I'm here, do you know what adapter or mount I would need to connect a Samsung 860 Pro into the hard drive ports? I remember reading somewhere that the R1 has room for up to 3 2.5" SSD's, but I'm not sure if I'd need a mounting bracket and adapter to connect

 

you should have everything you need as long as the laptop is complete. the brackets and connectors are already there

 

If you have a blu ray drive then you need to get the HDD interposer cable. They also made brackets for the HDD in the optical bay.

 

Is the part number NP31N, or N3P1N? I've found this 3 pipe heatsink on ebay, but will it fit into the R1? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Alien...366824&hash=item56b29c7fd9:g:XTsAAOSwWcdbQ9Pd

 

Hi,

part # N3P1N is the correct one for an AW17 R1 GPU 3-Pipe-Heatsink.

Regards

 

Awesome, thanks for the help

 

Anyone know what I have to do to upgrade my Alienware 17 R1 Ranger from the 770m to a GTX 965

 

"should" be super easy. Just swap the card, and thermal paste.

 

I believe you may need to change the heatsink out with a 5 tubed copper one

 

For the 965m? Nah no need.

 

Anyone know which memory is compatanle with the 17 R1 Ranger? I got some K-Skull and it doesn't work. Works in my M17 R2 but not my 17 R1

 

So the new bios 16 fixed the probulms. Last time i tryed the GTX965 it wouldn't work. Was told I needed to buy the modified 14A bios.

 

Modified a14 isn't being sold, it's freely distributed on the forum.

 

Yes but to configure it to match my components and use my service tag then I'd need to pay someone (make a contribution) to configure a working BIOS for me. Is what i was saying.

 

There is no "working bios" you would need to pay for or donate to allow function.

The later versions also allow you to change service tag as well without hex editor if I recall correctly.

I've been working tirelessly lately so I could be wrong but I recall reading it through these forums not long ago.

 

Ok thanks, the last time i was on here they only had the 14bios and the unlocked 14 so im behind.

 

would anyone know if Nvidia P5200 16 GB MXM works normally on our Alienware 17 R1 Ranger ??

 

Nope. No one has tested.

Only version is hp and you may need to solder vbios chip to it

 

How would this procedure of having to solder the V-BIOS chip be? do you mean soldering another V-BIOS chip different from the one that originally came on the graphics card ?? or did you mean that it would be necessary only to overwrite the V-BIOS file on the Original Chip of the P5200 Graphics Card?

 

There is no vbios chip because the HP cards read that information from the system board.

So you need a vbios chip, then solder it, then program a vbios that would hopefully grant functionality.

I think similar projects have been done before.

 

a P5000 did work in the M18X R2 though .

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m18x-r2-with-quadro-p5000-gtx-1070-is-a-success.813082/

 

Quadro P5200 should work if you get a eprom chip, solder it on the board, then flash it with the HP P5200 vBIOS.

However, it may hit a power limit like the GTX 1080 did.

Best reliable upgrade will be

GTX 1070 for gaming
Quadro P5000 for professional apps