The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M17x VGA upgrading help

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by GrassCube, Feb 8, 2014.

  1. GrassCube

    GrassCube Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    36
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I have the M17x R1 with a single gtx 260m and i would like to upgrade to a dual card configuration and i wanted to ask some help with that.
    I looked it up but didnt find anything straight forward to how to do this.

    So those are the thing that i want to know:
    1)What hardware i need for the upgrade, beside the card, heatsink, fan, connector cables...?
    2)How to find them on ebay, by serial number or by a specific name?
    3)Can i even do it by myself, and if i can, are there any trouble points that i need to watch out from?
     
    GrassCube, Feb 8, 2014
    #1
  2. Trome71

    Trome71 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    167
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    142
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Perhaps here is some help.
     
    Trome71, Feb 8, 2014
    #2
  3. GrassCube

    GrassCube Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    36
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms." nothing at this link.
     
    GrassCube, Feb 8, 2014
    #3
  4. Trome71

    Trome71 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    167
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    142
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Trome71, Feb 8, 2014
    #4
  5. Alienware-Natalia_J

    Alienware-Natalia_J Company Representative

    Reputations:
    672
    Messages:
    423
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hi,

    1) The graphics card usually comes with the heat sink and fan, you need the SLI cable.
    2) Here's the part number: 4WGVV - Nvidia GTX 260M Secondary Graphics Card
    3) Installing the secondary graphics card is not very difficult, and we have full disassembly videos you can use as a guide, you can find Part 1 here. If you don't feel comfortable disassembling, we recommend you ask for assistance or take it to a shop.

    Good luck! ;)
     
    Alienware-Natalia_J, Feb 11, 2014
    #5
  6. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    The R1 is pretty easy to upgrade, but you'll need to be careful of which card to buy. Best is to get a Dell/Alienware 260M as Clevo cards have some vBios troubles in Alienware laptop. That being said, 260M is pretty weak, I doubt you'll be happy with the performance upgrade. I think the best cards for the R1 is 5870M Crossfire or 280/285M SLI.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Feb 12, 2014
    #6
  7. GrassCube

    GrassCube Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    36
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Tnx a lot! just what i needed to know :)
     
    GrassCube, Feb 14, 2014
    #7
    Alienware-Natalia_J likes this.
  8. GrassCube

    GrassCube Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    36
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I know and checked that option but with tuition fees, rent and other money liquidating situations im left with the 260 option :)
     
    GrassCube, Feb 14, 2014
    #8
  9. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Well instead of going SLI, you could just buy a single more powerful card, like a single 280M or a 5870M which do work in an R1 without a hitch. That and if you upgrade to 260M SLI, you'd have to outright buy upgraded cards vs if you bought a single 280M/5870M, you could dual GPU that later on. Just FYI, my W860CU runs a 280M, still plays all the games I want with no hiccups (Dota 2, SC2, MW3, TF2).
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Feb 14, 2014
    #9