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    Hardware upgrade questions

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by SparklyArmstrong, Jan 5, 2011.

  1. SparklyArmstrong

    SparklyArmstrong Newbie

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    hello all, i have questions about upgrading my m17x hardware and i apologize if any or all of my questions have been answered before. My M17x is a 1st gen, i bought it about a month after the 17x was released and my specs are listed below.
    dual SLI GTX 260M
    4gb DDR3SODIMM ram
    500gb esata
    1920x1200 trulife display
    core 2 extreme quad-core 2.53GHz

    So my basic question is, if i want to (if even possible) upgrade the graphics cards, am i limited to what the machine could handle when i first customized it? (Which would be dual GTX 280M's i believe) or can i get one of the newer sets of graphics cards without changing my motherboard? Additionally, is upgrading the processor out of the question? Dell is only useful for getting replacement parts and i am sick of their customer service.
    (Slight tangent, when one of my GPU cooling fans broke, the in-home service tech broke my keyboard trying to take the computer apart)
    I am totally capable of changing out the hardware myself as i have built desktops before, I am just wondering whether or not all of this is possible. Thank you all
     
    SparklyArmstrong, Jan 5, 2011
    #1
  2. juliant

    juliant Notebook Deity

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    The price you will need to pay to replace all those parts will most probably enable you to buy a refurbished / returned m17x r2 with i7 proc and 5870m CF or 285m SLi.

    Your queries: according to the motherboard you have, maximum gpu you may have is 280m SLi. In order to change your CPU to an i7 upgrade, you will require to get the motherboard as well...

    But like I mentioned above: you may get a new motherboard of m17x r2 on ebay at approx. 400 USD + the graphic cards which will be more than 700 USD + CPU i7 (you can go for an ES version of XM model) 450 USD = 1,550.00 for an upgrade which I would not even think about it.

    If you buy the new model with a single GPU and i7 740 QM + 1 year warranty and you will have to add few hundreds more.

    Don't waste your time and money with upgrades (you may have a lot of troubleshooting as well), it has no value...

    This is my opinion only...
     
    juliant, Jan 5, 2011
    #2
  3. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    + one of the best upgrades foir the R2 is the RGB LED display, that alone is selling for about 1K on Ebay.

    Better to sell what you have and buy a refurb or new
     
    dave-p, Jan 5, 2011
    #3
  4. VoiceInTheWilderness

    VoiceInTheWilderness Notebook Consultant

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    Sparkly,

    I agree with the other two in that you should not do parts upgrades to the machine. It would not be a wise expenditure, and besides, I'm sure the machine works well anyway. Keep it in the stable and perhaps just wait for the new R3 version, that being around the corner. Then you'll have the absolute latest.
     
    VoiceInTheWilderness, Jan 5, 2011
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  5. SparklyArmstrong

    SparklyArmstrong Newbie

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    excellent, thank you for you opinions. i might get the 280m's and then wait for the R3. Thanks again
     
    SparklyArmstrong, Jan 5, 2011
    #5