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    M17x-R2 w/i7 940XM

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Tone-Bone, Sep 4, 2010.

  1. Tone-Bone

    Tone-Bone Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi All,

    New to site today.. I was looking at purchasing a the M17x-R2 and noticed a few folks had the 940XM processor on this site. Dell sells the laptop with the 920 being the highest option. My question is, can the option be offered thru Dell as a special purchase or was there some other means that the upgrade was done. Meaning did the folks on this site upgrade the processor themselves..

    Thanks so much!
    Bone
     
    Tone-Bone, Sep 4, 2010
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  2. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Yup, got the CPU's on ebay form Laptopmonkey. Much cheaper that route. I also have the 920. Not to mention the i5 520M and i7 720M in the mail.
     
    DR650SE, Sep 4, 2010
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  3. Tone-Bone

    Tone-Bone Notebook Enthusiast

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    Cool man! I appreciate the quick response. Thanks for the info!
     
    Tone-Bone, Sep 4, 2010
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  4. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    No prob ;)
     
    DR650SE, Sep 4, 2010
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  5. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    Looks like laptopmonkey mostly sells QS (ES) versions. Are those QS versions OK? What is the downside of those?
     
    lancorp, Sep 4, 2010
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  6. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Really no downside. They operate like OEM. The only downside is they are not OEM. Functionally, though, they are the same. I have a 940 ES. Laptopmokey also provides a 1 year warranty in case the chip fails, which it shouldn't. ES/QS chips are chips that are given to the manufactures so that they can design thier systems with a product in mind.
     
    DR650SE, Sep 5, 2010
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  7. Lethdorr

    Lethdorr Notebook Enthusiast

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    As of last week, I would've said go for it.

    But with the latest BIOS update (A08) dramatically decreasing the CPU multiplier value (aka, speed) of the 920 and the 940, I'm curious as to whether or not it would even be worth the extra money to upgrade.

    If/when the issue is resolved, then go for it. :D

    For what it's worth, I've used multiple ES chips over the years on a few different systems and never saw any issues.
     
    Lethdorr, Sep 5, 2010
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  8. Lethdorr

    Lethdorr Notebook Enthusiast

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    Lethdorr, Sep 5, 2010
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  9. Easirok

    Easirok Notebook Consultant

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    I just installed a 940XM (ES) yesterday that I bought from "extremeprocessor" on ebay. It works very well so far. I have no complaints, and it was certainly worth the $575 (I see they are now down to $558).

    I would recommend watching the "tear-down" videos on youtube before opening your system up. This will give you a good picture of what you will be in for once you open it. Search for "M17x Teardown Video", there are 2 parts and both say "(official)" in the video title.
     
    Easirok, Sep 5, 2010
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  10. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    If the A08 is an issue, just install an older BIOS. Quick easy fix. Who uses the touchpad anyway? I always use an external mouse
     
    DR650SE, Sep 5, 2010
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  11. claxdog

    claxdog Notebook Evangelist

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    you took the word right outta my mouth.
     
    claxdog, Sep 5, 2010
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  12. calingasan

    calingasan Notebook Geek

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    i got my 940xm for free from dell. they screwed up on the m17x 920xm + xfire and they know it. thats why there's so many issues with it. rang them up and told them all the problems i was having. they told me they are aware of this issue so they sent me a new one with 940xm. Now I have two m17x r2, complete with the box, hat, everything. They said they will contact me about how to ship them back the other one, but they never did.
     
    calingasan, Sep 17, 2010
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  13. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    They will. Don't worry. ;)

    Plus, your warranty won't transfer to the new one until you return the old one. So, they kind of get you one way or the other!
     
    lancorp, Sep 17, 2010
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  14. bumbo2

    bumbo2 Notebook Deity

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    wow, dell have the best support in the world
     
    bumbo2, Sep 17, 2010
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  15. calingasan

    calingasan Notebook Geek

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    They indeed do. I just hope that they also had the best laptop in the world!
     
    calingasan, Sep 18, 2010
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  16. Walshman

    Walshman Notebook Consultant

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    Are you in the US? Is it just me or does the Alienware site now have the 940XM as an option now? I just checked, it's a $900 upgrade...
     
    Walshman, Sep 18, 2010
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  17. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

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    last I checked, Australia was not the United States. Yes, X40 processors are now avaliable on the US site.
     
    Lozz, Sep 18, 2010
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  18. Walshman

    Walshman Notebook Consultant

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    I was quoting Tone-Bone, not calingasan, dude. But thanks for the confirmation.
     
    Walshman, Sep 18, 2010
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  19. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

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    I just saw that, I suppose that's what posting @ 1:00 am gets me. My mistake.
     
    Lozz, Sep 18, 2010
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  20. faiz23

    faiz23 Macbook FTW

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    i got my ES chip from Ebay and i have been able to run it as 25x multiplier using Throttle Stop which i believe is the default multiplier for the 940xm. I have had no issues using new bios along with TS to keep the multi in check using A08 on my m15x. Here is my prime test showing the 25x multi and clock speeds.

    The ES chip has all sensors including temp sensor which is most important to keep an eye on when OC. I would recommend the ES chip and put the extra $$$ towards a warranty or upgrades like SSD.

    Throttling might be different with the m17x but TS helps alot to keep them in check

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/6694734-post1974.html

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/att...408-mx-3-thermal-paste-results-mx-3-920xm.jpg
     
    faiz23, Sep 18, 2010
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