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    Is it Possible to Get Custom Bios for M17X R3 to Support IVY Bridge?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by fam, Jun 9, 2012.

  1. fam

    fam Notebook Consultant

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    Is it Possible to Get Custom Bios for M17X R3 to Support IVY Bridge?
     
  2. remedy1978

    remedy1978 Notebook Evangelist

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    No. Chipsets are different.
     
  3. Geared2play.com

    Geared2play.com Company Representative

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    i would say it is possible for the laptop to support it but dell has interest not to let you do this so it is unlikely. considering the r4 can support sandybridge cpu i think dell blocked r3 from support ivybridge. maybe just a consiparacy theory that doesnt hold water
     
  4. timurStas

    timurStas Notebook Guru

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    Kind of the same point - Will an R4 mobo fit into an R3 case?
     
  5. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Maybe. On the outside the ports look like they are all in the same place, but the only real way to tell is a side by side comparison of the MB's. In a snap judgement, I would say no. Only because if they moved the CPU to a different location (even just 1/2 an in off) the heatsink for the R3 wouldn't line up. Then you'd have to hope the R4's CPU heatsink fits in properly.
     
  6. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Has anyone even tried a sandy bridge CPU in an r4? Do you have any supporting evidence for your claim?

    Sent from my Samsung Captivate/ICS using Tapatalk 2
     
  7. long2905

    long2905 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Both use the same cpu heatsink. But there is still the included on board usb 3.0 support in contrast with 3rd party separate board on the R3.
     
  8. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    HM77 supports Sandy Bridge, but not the other way around. Ivy Bridge requires a (x)7(y) series chipset for proper support.
     
  9. long2905

    long2905 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Initially when ivy bridge is still a secret the new systems were sold with sandy bridge chips no?
     
  10. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Advertised with SB only but shipped with Ivy. Only a very small number shipped with SB.
    And yes, a SB CPU should function in the R4.
     
  11. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    When the R4 was introduced, it came only with Sandy Bridge CPU's because Ivy Bridge mobile had not been released.

    "Alienware announced that outstanding (pending) orders of M14x, M17x, and M18x gaming notebooks, which were placed before last month's refresh to the Core "Ivy Bridge" processor platform, will be upgraded for free, to Ivy Bridge. Such customers with pending orders are being notified by email that their selected models with previous-generation Core "Sandy Bridge" processors will be upgraded to their "Ivy Bridge" equivalents, at no additional charge, and with no delay in their delivery dates. This offer applies only to the Alienware line, and not other Dell notebooks."

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