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    M17X R3 - Internal Aircard?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Inkjammer, Apr 27, 2011.

  1. Inkjammer

    Inkjammer Notebook Deity

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    I was looking on the forums, didn't see a thread about it.

    Is there any way to get an internal aircard/wwan setup inside a M17X R3? I know the original M17X had a spare PCI-E slot that some reported success with. I've not heard anything like that in regards to the R3.

    I'm a bit spoiled by my M11X's WWAN, and I'm looking to get an R3, so... anybody know off hand?
     
    Inkjammer, Apr 27, 2011
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  2. ECKS

    ECKS Notebook Prophet

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    Subscribed for interest and curiosity. Might one day invest into something like this.
     
    ECKS, Apr 27, 2011
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  3. shadowyani

    shadowyani Notebook Deity

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    It wouldn't work even if the R3 had a PCI-E slot; the wires from the antennae in the monitor only have enough slack to reach the WiFi card. On top of that it only has 3 antennae, you wouldn't be able to get maximum N bandwidth or WWAN bandwidth; you'd have to chose one or the other.

    The WirelessHD slot as well as the bluetooth card slot don't actually connect to any antennae, its unlikely that you'd find a card to fit those slots, and if you did, it'd be of limited usefulness without antennae.

    Also, as far as I know, no WWAN/WiFi combo card exists. If such a device existed you'd be saved since it would be easy to connect such a card to the existing antennae.
     
    shadowyani, Apr 28, 2011
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  4. paradigm

    paradigm Notebook Deity

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    but this is an interesting question...you see they "forgot" to add an express slot externally, that is available for the M18X but not for the M17X (where do the extra pciex-lanes get used up on a mobile platform...i won't know)

    i would like to know if there is a a empty PCI-exp slot on board..to support

    WWAN
    TV Tuner
    PCI-exp SSD (i believe Intel has one)
     
    paradigm, Apr 28, 2011
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  5. Inkjammer

    Inkjammer Notebook Deity

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    It seems like the only real option for WWAN on the M17X R3 is to have USB aircard or a mobile hotspot, which is really disappointing. The R3 gave up a second GPU option, and even though it's smaller than the priors (I had an original M17X) so you think there'd be enough room to add a small WWAN chip (the chip itself is tiny).

    I don't mind getting a mobile hotspot, as it's probably the easiest option, but it's really disappointing this wasn't designed into the laptop.
     
    Inkjammer, Apr 28, 2011
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