Help Please - New M17XR3 - Upgrading CPU, Adding 2nd Drive, Upgrading RAM, Overclocking

Hi All,

I am new member who could really use some help.

I have just ordered an M17XR3 with the following specs:
Alienware M17XR3 - Delivery August 12, 2011
2720QM i7
16GB DDR3 1333MHz
250GB SSD
580m Graphics Card
1080P 3D Screen with 3D Bundle
Killer Wireless N 1103 Network Card


I would like advice on the following modifications/upgrades please:

Upgraded CPU:
I specified a 2720 i7, is it worthwhile upgrading to the 2820 as I can still amend my order?

2nd Hard Drive:
Dell said that because I opted for the 250GB SSD they cant offer me 2nd drive other than another 250GB SSD in RAID 0. I was hoping to add a large 7200rpm storage drive.

Can a 7200rpm drive be added as hard drive 2 and if so, what is the largest capacity drive that will fit?


Memory:
The best Dell could offer is 16GB of DDR 1333MHz.
Is there a big difference going with the Hyper X 1600MHz?
If so can the Laptop support, 16GB of the Hyper X RAM or only 8 GB? Is 8GB of Hyper X better than 16GB of DDR 1333MHz?
Please note that this laptop is intended for accessing a huge number of emails in outlook (40%), large accounting programs/files (10%) and gaming (50%).

If worthwhile I will amend my Dell order to have the lowest RAM option and then I will install the better RAM myself.

Is Over-clocking Available in the BIOS and Is It Recommend On These Laptops?


Thanks for taking the time to read my thread and help. I will post benchmarks once I have received the laptop.

 

The CPU question you gotta ask yourself: how much computing power do you really need? If you play lotsa graphics based games then 2720 is more than enough power.

For RAID 0 you need 2 identical drives.

Memory speed? Pfff. Between 1333MHz and 1600MHz the difference is barely noticeable unless you run extreme tests. Think multitasking. If you run lotsa programs all at once, then just get more memory.

And yes, overclocking is available, just don't destroy your new toy.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

Please me clarify:

CPU- I am hoping to be able to play Battlefield 3 when it comes out at as close to maxed out as possible, keeping a decent frame rate. Will upgrading the CPU to the 2820 make much difference?

Hard Drives - Dell said only Raid 0 was available if I wanted more than one drive. They stated that I could not have a Non-RAID setup with 2 Hard Drives. MY ideal setup is having one SSD drive (OS and Startup Programs) and a second Large 7200RPM HD. Ia this possible or will the motherboard not support it?

Also what is the largest drive that will fit for HD 2?

RAM - Gaming will likely be the demanding factor. Will the Computer support 16GB of 1600MHz RAM? For Gaming is 8GB of 1600 better than 16 of 1333? Will this upgrade have much impact on gaming?

Good News on the Over-Clocking.


Thanks Again!

 

RAM-Save your money and buy aftermarket. Waaaaaaaaaay cheaper. You can OC in the BIOS but only very little. And they will send you the 250Gb single with RAID selected in the BIOS. Just make your respawn disks and reinstall them after changing the BIOS setting for hard drive (SATA) to AHCI. And get the large HDD aftermarket also. Gonna be waaaaaaaaay cheaper I promise.

That is if you can change your config sti. ll

 

Overclocking:

You can overclock the GPU quite a bit. I can get almost 20% out of my 6990M, and others can get even more. The CPU on the other hand, you will only be able to overclock 2-5%.

 

With me, you should build your beast like this:
CPU: 2720QM -> it's enough, no need 2820 coz u can't find the differences with daily works, unless benchmarking.

Ram: 16GB DDR3 -> best for your beast, I don't see any possibilities for an 8GB 1600MHz to beats 16GB 1333MHz.

Drive: 1 cheapest HDD -> Save money (coz Dell selling them too expensive ), you can buy 2 SSD from amazon later, like OCZ Vertex 3 or Corsair Force 3, which using Sata 6Gbps (over 500MB/s). All M17x machines (R1, R2, R3) are available with 2 slot for HDDs (and cable is available too even you built it with just 1 HDD), then you sure can install 2 HDDs without problem.
Last thing is set Bios to Raid 0 (with 2 SSDs/HDDs available), then the setting screen (while booting) will guide you till the rest.

Have fun .

 

RAM and hard drives. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy these aftermarket and install them yourself. Don't contribute to Dell's perpetual thinking that they should get away with overcharging for these parts as disgustingly as they do.

16GB of hyperX (which Dell doesn't even use) aftermarket will be LOADS cheaper than the crappy stuff Dell uses.

I guess really it's your money...it just makes the baby jesus cry when people waste so much of it.

To answer more of your questions. Upgrading your CPU will have almost NO effect on Battlefield 3.

8GB RAM is more than you will ever need...why do you even insist on 16GB? I have a crap-ton of programs open right now and am only using 3.3GB of my 8.

You can put a 1TB 7200 RPM drive in the second slot, no problem. Just buy it aftermarket and do it yourself.

 

Thanks Everyone!

 

What HDD would you recommend?

 

For just a large storage drive:
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint M8 HN-M101MBB 1TB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive
or
Newegg.com - Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD10TPVT 1TB 5200 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Or if you want 7200 RPM, and will be running many games off of your secondary HD, this one:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Scorpio Black WD7500BPKT 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive
There's only one 7200 RPM 1TB drive out yet, and it's overpriced... Sorry, misspoke on that one.

I'm really not totally sure of Dell's prices, but last I remembered, their hard drive prices were outrageous.

 

I ordered my M17xR3 from dell with the Minimum specs for HDD, RAM. Dell want $360.00 for 16GB's of DDR3 RAM and $600.00 for a 256GB SSD. I can buy a New 47in Samsung TV for that price.

I opted for the 1920x1080p LCD, Blu-ray, and 6990M. Kept the Ram at 4GB and the hard drive at 320GB.

Ordered the following:
1. Crucial M4 256GB SSD on Amazon for $359.00.
2. 500GB Seagate Momentus Hybrid on Newegg for $89.00
3. 16GB of Kingston HyperX Plug n' Play 1600 on Amazon for $98.00 each 8GB set. I have the 2630QM so it runs at 1333, but left the option open to upgrade CPU later down the road

I used the rest of the money I would have wasted on Dell for 7 games, Orion Backpack and Targas Laptop cooler.

As far as overclocking goes, pretty much no need with the Benchmarks this thing puts out, very satisfied

 

Its Pnp so it should run at 1600.

 

Awesome, thanks for that.

Dell's prices are retarded.