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    Need Help With M17X R2 CPU upgrade i7-720 up to i7-920XM or 940xm

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by thatdbrown, Jul 23, 2011.

  1. thatdbrown

    thatdbrown Newbie

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    Hi guys, I'm new here and have a question about upgrading my CPU on my M17x R2.

    I was wondering, as I am looking for a good price on the cpu, I noticed that some of the sellers are saying that the TDP should be able to handle 55W, but my readout on HWiNFO32 says my CPU that I have now(i7-720qm) is 45W.

    Okay, but on Ebay the seller is saying that it will work with an Intel PM55 motherboard, which is what I have.

    I'm a little confused, and I may have not explained this well enough.

    So I guess what I need to know is, is the Intel PM55 able to handle 55W TDP?

    I'm ready to upgrade instead of buying a whole new laptop.

    I really appreciate any help you folks could give.
    Thanks!! :D
     
    thatdbrown, Jul 23, 2011
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  2. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    It has less to do with your chipset and more to do with your laptop's motherboard and BIOS. I dont know as much about the R2, but if it has the same motherboard as the ones with the higher end processors as well as the same power brick then I would say it should work without issue.

    I'm sure someone here has done the upgrade though, take a look around.

    EDIT:

    Here is the Intel ARK page about the PM55 chipset. If you click compatible products on the left, then processors. It lists the 940XM.
    Mobile Intel® PM55 Express Chipset

    Again, you'll need to be sure your power supply supplies enough power (likely it does), and that the bios supports it. I dont think Dell uses a different board/bios for lower or higher end AWs, I think its all the same.
     
    Beradon, Jul 23, 2011
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  3. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

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    If you have the M17x R2 you can upgrade to the 820/840qm or the 920/940xm no problems at all (I did this upgrade myself) the motherboard should be able to handle more then 55w as a overclocked 920/940xm can draw much more then that.

    TDP actually stands for Thermal Design Power and has to do with the cooling system, but a 55w cpu will need a cooling system rated for 55w which is were the TDP comes in
     
    kenny27, Jul 23, 2011
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  4. thatdbrown

    thatdbrown Newbie

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    Thanks for the fast response guys!
    I'm still searching this site, and on Google, so between the two I hope to find the answer.
    With that said though, I think you are right Kenny27.
    I believe the HWiNFO32 just meant that the CPU that's in there now is 45W.
    I'm still looking, but I'm 99% convinced that the Alienware motherboard/Intel PM55 chipset supports TDP 55W.

    Thanks for the info!

    Thanks for the help folks!
    It's been resolved! :D
     
    thatdbrown, Jul 23, 2011
    #4