I'm ready to upgrade my R2..but where?

This Christmas i want to upgrade to 5870's and possibly get a i7 this time. I don't know where to get these or how to install them. Can someone please help?

 

The cpu is soldiered on, so that will take work to replace.

 

CPU is not soldered . your best bet is to buy you upgrades on Ebay or just phone dell a see what they can swing

 

Sorry guy I think you have Alienware confused with Acer. He can upgrade any component in his system.

OP: You can grab an i7-920xm off eBay for about $400. The 5870s are only available from Dell, you should PM erawneila about getting a pair.

 

lol what? i cant remember the last time i opened a laptop and saw a soldered on cpu. i think these days only ulv cpus are soldered on. you can get any CPU you want from ebay, as for the 5870s they are difficult to get at the moment, i was unable to get them from dell , but you may be able to get them from the person joker specified.

 

The 920XM Joker is talking about will be light years ahead of your 520. I upgraded from a 720 to a 920 and the difference was amazing. Your 4870s are very formidable still, it really depends on what kind of price you can get the 5870s for.

 

Seems like dell is having a hard time delivering the 5870 out for parts and saving all inventory for building new units and repairs. Try to see availability of parts and like said previously you can upgrade the CPU it is simple as swapping out the chip and slapping new thermal paste on the heat sink. The CPU will be a huge upgrade from what you have and you will really enjoy it for many years to come. I would look into the processor and SSD versus crossfire 5870 unless you have a need for the extra power in one of your specific games or jobs. The ssd and processor will make a big jump in games and everyday usage. Once you find a good deal on video cards and availability is showing up then maybe jump into it at that time

 

I also agree the 4870's will still be good for sometime still. The best bang for your buck would be the 920xm, a SSD for sure and maybe 6g ram if you want. You will see the biggest jump from the CPU and SSD. Luck

 

Yep, 4870's still rock and the only thing I'd upgrade is CPU.

 

I ordered with a 520M and I have the 920 and 940. All great CPU's I've swaped CPUs in and out maybe 10-15 times in the last month for various tests. CPU soldered in, LMAO

 

you sir have mad soldering skills

 

You know it! I'm like Michelangelo with a soldering iron

 

what kind of price am i looking at for a i7 720 or even a 740?

 

$175-$225 for i7 720qm no point spending more for the 740qm for slight increase in speed which is no point might as well save up for 920xm instead of spending extra on the 740qm.

 

Sorry for being such a "newb" guys but i don't get which cpu to get on ebay. The desktop cpu's are compatible with the m17x?

 

scratch that last question, they're definitely not haha