How can I build my own alienware m17x laptop?

Ok, I really like the alienware m17x, but the price is absolutly outragoues, so I would like to build my own, I dont have the best building experience build I know people that can do it for me. So heres my question, does anyone know what I can and cant put in these laptops, like I can put in one size motherboard, video cards, etc. and not other ones or I am I stuck with what alienware has on their website because that is the only components that will fit in the laptop, or is there a website that will show me what I can and cant put into one

Another question is what is required to buy for the laptop (like the case, alienfx, etc) and what is not, because if I could put in any motherboard, video card etc. I want to put in what I want

Also there might be faster laptops that you could build, but I just like the way the alienware mx line looks like

So, if anyone could help me out, could you give me some advice or a place/website that could help me out or something like that

Thank you

 

sorry mate you can't really build your own. unless you can source all Alienware parts on ebay (highly doubt!)

 

I think I saw someone selling a barebones in the NBR marketplace.

I would try to get a barebones and buy the CPU, ram and HDD on ebay.

If you try to buy a motherboard and a chassis and other parts separately, it's going to cost a lot.
It's not a good idea to try to build a notebook as if it was a desktop.

 

I agree it will be very difficult/expensive to do this, and will also be - a warranty.

 

you will spend way more building one yourself

 

You'll find it quite difficult to build your own. There are almost no standard when it comes to laptop components, so motherboard and chassis come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. This is most unlike a desktop PC, where almost all of the components and connectors conform to one standard or another.

The bare-bones laptops you buy generally come with a handful of components already installed. You get to put in your own CPU and RAM (limited by the motherboard), optical and HDD drives, and graphics card. Everything else (including the keyboard, screen and touchpad) you're pretty much stuck with. I doubt if the screen will be anything more than average, and you may be lucky to find a chassis/motherboard that can support dual HDDs or dual GPUs. There's also a question of how good the cooling will be...

So while Alienware are expensive, you do get what you pay for. There's very little choice in the market at this spec level.

 

Yeah, after really trying to do my homework over the last couple of months I agree with what the other folks have said. I looked into the possibity of building one and it's really not feasible. nzgeek brings up what seems to be the biggest factor - there are no standards for laptops like there are for desktops (nothing equivalent to like an ATX standard where the mobo has to fit a particular case, etc.). The closest thing to it I guess would be a "barebones" Clevo, which other manufacturers like Sager use and rebrand and allow you to choose from a list of components they offer. I also priced them against AW and to be honest for a similar level of features they were about the same (as I configured them, which was not necessarily "all out maximum"). But nowhere near as cool looking or with as many bells and whistles. Hey, if I'm gonna spend more than your average laptop it might as well look like something special too right? Another thing I found is that even with AW which allows you access to things like gfx cards (some mfrs actually solder their cards to the mobo so you can't remove them), if it's not supported in the BIOS forget it, and it looks like nobody actually sells laptop graphics cards! I could only find them on eBay.

Regarding cost - I would never pay Alienware's full price for a given configuration, whether it's fair or not it's just too much for me. Base config at $1800 is an i5 520, single 5870, 250GB HD, 4GB RAM and 1440 x 900 screen. For that money I think the base processor should be minimum i5 540, the HD should be bigger, and the base screen at that price is a joke. I say that because other manufacturers offer WAY more at much lower prices. Yeah I know there are intangibles like "cool factor", construction quality, and rock concert lighting features, but competitors give you more guts for the same money or often several hundred $ less.

Solution? Be patient. Search for Dell/Alienware coupons, there's one for 20% off this week. Others have said sales reps will work with you and often can give significant discounts. Or do what I did - check the Dell Outlet every day until they have a sale and grab one from there. I got one with an i7 620, 320GB drive, 2 graphics cards (granted the older 4870s) and the RGB LED 1200p screen for less than the starting price of the base system at full retail. I saved about $700, and would have been more if I had grabbed another one that I liked right away instead of thinking about it for a few hours. NOW I'm getting a killer system (for me) for a reasonable price. I saw one with the 920xm this weekend for $2200. Figure at full retail even if that was the only upgrade it would have been minimum $2800. Too bad the 20% isn't for the outlet too!

 

Check the Dell outlet, often find good deals there.

 

I can't believe some ppl have WUXGA RGB for $999 on Ebay. Yeah, just the LCD, nothing else.

 

I think the 1920x1200 RGB LED LCD starts at $1100 if bought directly from Dell.

That's screen only.

 

Are you serious? That's more than my Samsung 1080p 120Hz 46" TV!?!?!?!? If it's that much why is it only $180 - $200 upgrade over the base screen? Not complaining but if that's what they charge for the screen by itself, whoah that's crazy.

 

It's because screen price is factored into the base price. But yea you definately can't build one for less then you can buy one. Check the link in my sig for some advice on price reduction. It's been fairly successful.

 

Even going the barebone route can be a hassle...my first highend laptop was a barebones and in the end I wish I had just bought the equivalent AW system (would have been the M17). After getting the parts all together the AW would have been cheaper for me and had a warranty and looked better because they had a custom finish

 

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, the best option is to go through the Dell Outlet. I got an M17X R1 with Basic specs for 1300 including tax and shipping. It came with a Core 2 Duo P8600, GTX260m, and 4 Gigs of ram. It also had a 250gb Harddrive. I've really liked it so far and it's perfect for me. Plus the integrated battery gets 3 hours which I think is amazing.

Another cheaper option would be looking into those huge ASUS laptops. They also have some pretty good parts and they can be found at sub 1400 prices. The only problem is that those things are super huge.

 

I would have to say I understand your enthusiasm in wanting to save some money. However I really think that you would have way to much time and money wraped up into getting all the parts. I have not read all the threads on this yet so maybe somebody has already said this. But how about getting a low end AW and over time upgrading parts. just a thought...

 

Even getting lowend and upgrading later will cost more than just getting it all up front. This is what I have learned in the last 2 years of highend laptops lol

It also becomes a gamble on warranties

 

only:
-lcd creen $1000
-processor: $400 (depends)
-video card/cards: $500-800
-4GB DDR3: $150

Ok, thats more than $2000. You can get a M17x even cheaper in eBay.

 

How about you get one with cheapest options possible and then upgrade everything by yourself? That'd be fun, imo.

 

It really is not that fun. Finding parts is a pain and you also have to sell the old parts to make it economically feasible. And selling you always take a loss. It will be cheaper and less stressful to just get what you originally wanted up front.

My advice, and what I did, figure out what you want and just save up to buy it - buy once and do it right. Yes you have to wait a little longer, but it works out MUCH better for you in the end. And it allows you to get that much more excited in the mean time haha

 

And remember this. High performance machines break much often than others. Bottom line, not worth it.

 

I totally disagree. My friend and I had super fun dismantling his m17x. We swapped the cpu, added the 2nd gpu, BD drive, and new thermal paste job. I felt like we were building a new machine and it ultimately convinced me to buy my own m17x. The new parts were purchased from ebay(940xm and 2nd 5870m) for much much lower price than what AW charges for upgrade.

 

I've replaced the CPU so many times, that at this point, it's getting to be less fun, I changed it three times today alone. Although I do enjoy working on the system once in a while. I'm running a 720M at the moment, I used a 920XM and 940XM. The 720M was to be benched, but now I'm too lazy. I'll get to it tommorrow and then swap the CPU out again.

 

Three times in a day? My MX-2 from a few years back is almost full still.

 

I also enjoy the physical opening up and working on the machine. I was referring to the part procurement process. (buying new parts and selling old parts)

 

Mine ran out after 1 or 2 weeks (and it wasn't the only paste I used at the time).
They don't give you enough paste IMO (though I do use it on vram so that may be why I use more paste than normal).