Just have a couple of questions.

Hey Notebookreview and Alienware peeps all over the world! I just have a couple of q's for me upgrading my Alienware M17x R4.

1st one: How big a difference does an SSD drive make? 256gb vs. 128gb and the 512gb (if one is applicable to the R4)

2nd one: Is there a forum place here in the forum that people might be selling videocards like the 680m or the Radeon 7970m? Unfortunately when my relatives bought me the laptop, it came with the measly 660m. Oh if you have advice with overclocking the 660m, feel free.

I'm from the Philippines and they don't sell Alienware here just a heads up.

 

SSD is probably the most cost efficient upgrade you can make. The perfomance increase it gives is amazing. As for sizes, well that depends on you, and how your going to set up. I have a 128GB SSD for OS and important Apps and 750GB HDD for games, movies and music.

There is a Market place where you can place an add for want to buy (WTB) or browse to see if a card is for sale here: NBR Marketplace

 

As Joe said, the marketplace sub-forum will be the best place to find items and parts specific to your system. As for the SSD size, it depends on what you're going to use it for. For example, I have a 240GB SSD as my primary (OS) drive, and a 1.5 TB RAID volume to store my files and such on. I don't run any games or storage intense programs so I could have gotten away with a 128GB SSD. So unless you plan to have like 5 more large sized games (10GB+ each) then you will do fine with a 128GB SSD for your OS drive.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S III© powered by Sprint®

 

Oh okay. So you installed your Windows and all the other Alienware stuff on the SSD?

Cool thanks for the link!

 

Cool cool thanks for the input! I might go with the 256GB SSD one because I really do play lots of video games! Thanks again! Now I just need a legit place to buy it from...

 

Just updating this thread as to not make any more loose threads:

What does adding the SSD do? (I'm planning to add a 256GB Crucial M4) Just makes booting faster? :|

 

Boot faster, Windows will run faster, applications will load quicker and respond better. All around speed upgrade. The effects will be very noticeable. Passive effects may include: less noise from your system, lower heat output from your system, your system drive will no longer be susceptible to shock or vibration damage as it would if it were a regular hard drive.

 

That sounds great. I think after adding an SSD, I'll add RAM to my 6GB system only. How much do you think I should add? Oh and is there any way to change the LED? I got the generic 1600x900 but I'd really want the 1920x1200. Is there any way I could do that?

 

Happy new year,

Can't comment on the screen swap, but on RAM 16gb seems the common upgrade

-H

 

Happy New Year to you too! 16gb? So I need to add 10 more... How many slots does the Alienware have? And how do I change it?

 

Happy new year! I have seen some people upgrading their display and they are available from other sources than dell (expensive). I just did a quick search and found this : ALIENWARE M17X R4 REPLACEMENT LAPTOP LCD SCREEN £59.95

You have 4 slots, two under the lower cover and very easy to access (two screws) and two on the otherside of the motherboard, and require almost full stripdown. Dell seen to use the easy ones on their builds. search out some teardown videos to see what is involved. If you go for a screen replacement then you can do the memory at the same time. Most people agree though that for a gaming laptop 8gb is way more than enough and you probably will see no difference

 

hi

it has 4 slots, so its easier to upgrade to order the system with the standard 6GB if your upgrading, as these are the easiest to upgrade (not done it yet thou) so just order a 16GB kit from someone like crucial etc and remove the 6gb you have and then fir the new 16GB and job done

-H

 

Happy New Year MickyD1234! Well, after seeing that and as to having no money (student), I guess I'll sell for the 1600x900 for now.

Thanks for the info! I've seen some teardown videos but I forgot where I did see them. Well, that's great help! I wouldn't want my laptop to be overkill for no apparent reason. 8GB IT IS!

 

Haha cool man. Thanks!

 

You're welcome -good luck

I've seen a lot of people say that the fullHD screen is so much better but since I haven't seen the lower one I can't say. I do know that I'll drop my resolution to 1600x900 in-game sometimes to get a little more horsepower and I honestly cannot see a difference. I even found a nice depth view in FC3 and switched between 1280x720 and 1920x1080, nope, couldn't see it. It might even have been slightly better at the lower resolution since I could crank up AA

 

Posted way to quick, didn't see there was two pages, so the content in this post was for something in last page Edited it out, and if a moderator sees this, please delete the post.