M17x R1 CPU upgrade help

Hey everyone, i am new to this forum so do forgive me if i ask a silly question. I own a M17x R1 (Intel core 2 duo T9800, 4x2gbRAM) and i was wondering what i can do to upgrade it. It is still running strong after so many years so i don't want to replace it. Can i upgrade the processor to a quad core? If so, what steps do i have to take/which processors are compatible. The main reason for wanting to upgrade is the want to start streaming some game play. A lot of people have suggested getting a new set up, but as mentioned earlier, i don't really want to part with my computer. Any advice is welcomed! I am not great with computers, so please be patient with me, i am just a guy that loves his M17x a lot. Thanks!

 

I'd upgrade to a core 2 extreme

"Tested" Intel Core 2 Extreme Mobile X9100 3 06 GHz SLB48 Dual Core CPU Socket P 0735858203050 | eBay

 

Hello and welcome to NBR.
The best CPU you can fit in your M17x is the QX9300.

I suggest you perform a search in the Alienware M17x subforum as I'm sure you'll find lots of useful info on this.
And if you still have questions, don't hesitate to post them in this thread.

 

if you want, you can upgrade the motherboard to the r2 version and install a core i7 cpu. depending on your budget of course.

 

Thanks for all the replies! I had already found out about the QX9300 but i just wanted to see if there are any other solutions like the option of changing the mother board to a r2 as mentioned int the last post.

pinoy_92, you mentioned about changing the motherbaord, how do i go about doing that? do you have any links to a guide?

On a side note katalin_2003, i saw that you mentioned that you use to run 2x4Gb Kingston HyperX in your m17x, downclocked to 1333Mhz from 1600Mhz. How did you do that? i have a spare set of HyperX earmarked for the m17x at first, but i tried to use it with the m17x to no avail and ended up swapping it with another set or default 8gb from another laptop.

Once again, thank you all for your help, really appreciate it loads.

Found katalin_2003's post about the r1 r2 mother board swapping after some searching I still cant find out about the RAM problem though, still need help on that one, thanks!

 

I'll give you the exact part number of my set when i get home this evening.
I didn't do anything special, just installed them, performed a full power drain and they downclocked themselves to 1333Mhz.

What do you get when you boot the system with these sticks installed?
Have you tried performing a full power drain after installing them?
Try them one by one.

 

You can swap the motherboards, but you'll need to modify the chassis to fit everything. Unless something is already bad, swapping the motherboard is quite a hassle (you need motherboard, a new i3/i5/i7 CPU), though having the R2 motherboard, it can accept almost all modern MXM 3.0b GPU's.

 

you dont have to modify the chassis. when i changed my r1 motherboard to r2, it was pretty much fits the same way. all the electrical components fits exactly the same as it will on the r1 motherboard. the only modification, and it is completely optional, is on the magnesium tray that separates the keyboard and the motherboard. you can buy a new one or you can drill holes on the r1 tray. the only difference between the two trays is the screw holes for the cpu heatsink. you will need a new heatsink for the new cpu. the r2 heatsink screws in differently than the r1 heatsink.

New Dell Alienware M17XR2 Keyboard Tray Frame Magnesium Cover Assembly 3MJ0K | eBay

its a bad picture, but you can see how the holes near the path where the crosfire/sli cables go.

tsunade_hime is right about upgrading to an r2 is a hassle. there are so many thing that needs to be replaced, and since no one makes the parts anymore, it is very difficult to find parts at a reasonable price. however. like what tsunade_hime also said, the r2 motherboard can accept most modern gpus. i am personally running a single 7970m. there are other running two 7970m on crossfire that rivals even the alienware 18. in the end, it all boils down to how deep is your pocket is and how patient you are.

 

I meant modification if OP didn't want to buy a new keyboard tray yes.

 

Here's the part number of the sticks I have KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX .

 

I have already tried that cpu in my R1.... it will not even boot to post, it just turns on with a plain blue screen.

If you stick with the R1 motherboard the highest you can go with configurations is: QX9300, 8GB Ram, 5870M Crossfire.

If you are willing to try out the R2 motherboard you can go up to: i7 940xm, 16GB Ram, 7970M Crossfire. Here is the only tutorial on how to swap the motherboard, it is in Chinese though but the pictures really show you how to do it: ¹ýÄêÀ²£¡Ë͸øËùÓÐM17X R1µÄÐÖµÜÃÇÒ»·Ý´óÀñ£¡R1¸ÄR2³É¹¦£¡£¡£¡£¡_´÷¶ûAlienwareÍâÐÇÈËÂÛ̳

 

Thank you so much for the prompt replies! It boots to the screen where you can hit f2 to go to BIOS and f12 to boot, then freezes. I tried doing a full drain after installing the new ram, and it boots pass that screen but as i have my boot order in the other way, i need to go into the bios to change it, but it freezes when i try to go into the BIOS. So now i end up stuck at a black screen. Tried them one by one, same results. I have the hyperx pnp model. Part number KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G.

An update on the original purpose of this thread, I have decided to go with the QX9300. Thank you very much for all the other advice!

 

Awesome, the QX9300 is still a great cpu, for gaming/streaming it should work nicely. When you buy it try asking for one that can stably overclock to 3.06GHz+, that way you wont end up with a cpu that can barely push past the 2.53GHz mark.

If you're still looking for ram I use 8GB of Kingston 1333MHz ram, part #: KVR1333D3S0/4GR. The ram plugged into my system with no problems and I have been using the same ram since about 2008 with my older Gateway FX gaming laptop before I put it into my M17X in 2009.