Is my first gen M17x upgradeable?

Hello,
I've done some searching on upgrading m17x's but see mostly r2 r3 etc. I know my 2009 laptop has completely different hardware then the other releases. I bought this for the purpose of upgrading it in the future but Dell has stopped supporting my hardware it seems.

I would like to get a more current processor, grfx card, and cooling for it, would this be possible with my current setup? I currently have a dual core 2.4 AMD and nvidia 260m gtx, I don't know much about the motherboard unfortunately, I've done searches on the serial number but havnt found much and the power supply I'm assuming isnt much.

I really appreciate any help or advice I can get. I love my laptop especially the design and I'd prefer to upgrade it then build my own desktop if possible.

Thank you.

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As for more "current" processor, you are out of luck. But you can get a better one. I also have the"R1" and I upgraded alot of it.
Component - Original/Upgrade
Proceesor - P8700 Core2Due/Q9200 (this CPU is an "Engineering Sample" you can get on Ebay. You can also get a Q9000 or X9100 or Qx9300 these are some examples of CPU's with a PGA478 socket
Hard Drive - Standard Disk HHD/Solid State Samsung SSD This is probably the best upgrade you can do. Going from a traditional hard drive to a SSD is night and day. I have a SSD in slot0 for OS and programs and a traditional HDD in slot 1 for storage
RAM - 4GB/8GB originally I have 4 now I have 8 which I believe is the max for the R1
Graphics - 260M (1)/ I have not upgraded my Graphics card I still have a single 260M. I believe you can get 280M's one Primary and one Slave or secondary. I am not sure on what this entails.
DVD ROM - DVD RW/BluRay I upgraded to a Bluray ROM to be able to watch Bluray movies

This is all I have done or am aware of.
Additionally, you may want to repaste your CPU/GPU there are instructions here on the forum somewhere. Also while you are at it, check your thermal pads too.

 

With those specs, no. If it's got an AMD processor, it's not possible unless you wish to swap out the motherboard. There aren't any AMD CPUs being used in any major gaming laptop at the moment.

If it's got the AMD CPU then it's before Dell's acquisition of the Alienware name.

 

Right. SOrry about that.... I didn't see the AMD CPU.
Forget most of what I said.
A SSD might still be an option. Probably the best thing you can do.
Repaste is prob a good idea (see this [PHOTOGUIDE] Cleaning/Replacing Thermal Compunds (GPU+CPU) on M17x-R2 for instructions.
Not sure if they are applicable to your system, but it should give you an idea of what is invaolved.

 

Happens to most of us at one point or another. I thought I was mistaken for a bit actually. XD

But yeah, just saw the laptop in question. It's one of the models that CAN have a Core 2 Duo in it, BUT requires a mobo swap...which would open up a nice performance boost for you potentially.

 

Wow thank you so much for the information! Reguardong a mono swap what release would best suit my generation? Or are all releases compatible? Also would I Need to swap power supply? I'm unfamiliar with swapping supplies in a laptop.

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He doesn't have a AMD CPU or he doesn't own a m17x or M17x.

Tacos, does your laptop look like this one:

 

Yes

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I could have sworn that the older Clevo based m17x could be outfitted with an AMD chip. o_o Though my knowledge on that is probably wrong again, oh well...

HOWEVER, you aren't using an AMD chip in your laptop then if it looks like the one in the picture. The best GPU you can go for is a pair of GTX 280Ms in SLI and a QX9300. Both of these things will probably run you upwards of $500 altogether but the boost in performance will be similar to going from a single 9600GT to a GTX 285...or roughly 3.5x the performance in games.

 

Then that's indeed a M17x you have

Actually, he can fit dual DELL AMD mobility 5870 with no problem.
Some other cards were tested with unclear results so i can't vouch for anything else above a CF mobility 5870 setup.

I agree on the CPU though.

 

I apologize I just.got home and checked the file that ships with the laptop and it says Intel core 2 duo CPU p8600. Does.that change anything?

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No, it doesn't.

 

Do you guys think it would be worth the money for the slight performance boost or should I completely gut it and go with all new internals?

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I love my r1. I upgraded my processor to the qx9300 that i bought from star micro... here is the link, it will run you 300 right now but the price does occasionally go up and down.
StarMicroInc

to upgrade the video, shop around ebay for a couple of 280's or 285's... although with a little overclocking your current card will do you just fine.

Ram... the highest you can go is 8gb... if you havent upgraded your ram yet pick up two 4gb sticks and install them

do any of that and you wont be disappointed in the performance you can still get out of your laptop.

 

The highest he can go would be dual 280Ms, which would be a considerable boost from his currently single 260M. But yeah, the QX9300 is sick even today. I'd go for at least the X9100 though, I mean, it was shown to be as fast as the E8400 and that chip at 3.8GHz is more than fast enough for any game out there at the moment.


So... Dual GTX 280Ms and either the X9100 or the QX9300.

Here's a QX9300 for $250: New Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9300 QGNG QS mobile CPU, Free ups/dhl shipping | eBay
Here's an X9100 for $150: CPU Intel CORE2 X9100 QBDW ES Mobile Processor 3.06G 6M 1066 | eBay

And you might need to struggle for that 280M pair... There are plenty of GTX 260Ms on the site, and SLI 260Ms will show a nice improvement too.

 

Thank you very much for all of your help
i have a few questions left and then i'll pull the trigger and start upgrading.
With the QX9300, X9100, or E8400 with addition to a second 260m GTX gfx card for SLI will i need to upgrade the power supply and fans as well?

I just got early beta access to PlanetSide 2 and my graphics look beautiful, however it looks like i may need a stronger processor so that's what i will be gunning for first.

Thank you

 

E8400 is a desktop chip and only mentioned for reference, its not compatible with the M17x R1. Others have gotten dual AMD 5870 GPUs working in the R1

 

i have an x9100 in my Packard bell ipower gx and its great,although Planetside 2 is a demanding game i can still play all medium setting,and low shadows.
frame rate varies between 40-20, maybe late teens in really busy zones.so if i could (and i cant) id run a quad-core.
i did download throttlestop,but am a bit cowardly about clocking it up from its stock 3.06.
i have a 9800m gts card in there also,anyone know if i can upgrade this,and if its worthwhile?
id also be interested in knowing if i could run sli in this machine with two 280m but,as my name suggests,im not too clued up