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    New M17x R4 owner here! Have upgrade questions (RAM/SSD)

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by [Cyanide], May 26, 2012.

  1. [Cyanide]

    [Cyanide] Notebook Consultant

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    LOVING this beast of a machine, came in the mail yesterday, ordered from HIDEvolution (GREAT company and customer service), got the standard/default options, except I'm rocking the 7970M and a Killer Wireless-N card.

    I want to upgrade to 16Gb of RAM and would like to know what would be the best. I know I'll need DDR3 1600 most likely if I'm not mistaken and this thing comes w/one 4Gb stick and one 2Gb stick (which is weird to me).

    I'm also going to get a Crucial M4 256GB SSD as well.

    I might have missed it, but I wasn't able to find an article to show me how to open this thing up and install these 2 items. If someone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it highly!
     
    [Cyanide], May 26, 2012
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  2. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Check Page 22 and thereafter of the Owner's Manual.
     
    The Revelator, May 26, 2012
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  3. Arai

    Arai Notebook Evangelist

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    How to open with pictures

    Youtube video of on how to

    If you're lucky the RAM banks will directly be accessible once you remove the bottom cover.
    Unless they installed it underneath the keyboard...that's more tricky.
    2x8GB @ 1600Mhz DDR3 > 16GB would be the way to go, it's recommended to use the same size of memory banks.

    Sweeeet memories

    SSD I'm going for either Corsair Performance Pro or Samsung 830 Series at 256GB.
    The Samsung or Crucial M4 are better bang for the buck drives, Samsung being most reliable apparently.
    In terms of speed they are also equal, and yet a bit different (long story).
     
    Arai, May 26, 2012
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  4. [Cyanide]

    [Cyanide] Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks!

    So any brand RAM will be fine? As long as they're DDR3 1600?
     
    [Cyanide], May 26, 2012
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  5. Arai

    Arai Notebook Evangelist

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    And as long it's for laptops :)
    The timing on those Corsair are also better than the other ones I've came across.
     
    Arai, May 26, 2012
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  6. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    Hi [Cyanide], you will be able to upgrade your RAM on that machine up to 32GB of RAM and personally I believe that with 1600hz it would be perfect. If you need any further information about possible upgrades on your machine please send us an e-mail to [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible. #IWork4AW
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 28, 2012
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