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    Replacing Alienware 17 DVD-RW With Blu-Ray?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by zombiegoat, May 23, 2014.

  1. zombiegoat

    zombiegoat Notebook Consultant

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    Hello folks! Well, after five good years, I am now seriously looking into replacing the current R1 with one of the new shiny models. It's been a good run, but warranty coverage is finally expiring so it's time for a new five-year plan. God bless aluminum casing, by the way.

    By going through the site, I can get everything I want and be reasonably-priced in doing so, with one glitch. Here's the current issue I am looking at: in order to get a Blu-Ray drive in the unit (which I want because it's great on the road), I would either have to get an AMD GPU (which is not a good option as I want an NVIDIA GPU for dealing with Unreal Engine 4 games during the next five years) or I would have to get the higher-end main processor, which I don't really need at the over $500 either option would add to the base price. I want to not shell out in spades for the base product any more than I have to, so would I be better off calling up AW Sales and asking them for configuration options? Or, failing that, is it difficult to replace the current DVD-RW drive with a Blu-Ray and in doing so, how does this affect the warranty?

    Thanks for being a great community; I've learned a lot since first registering here, and look forward to my new system. :)
     
    zombiegoat, May 23, 2014
    #1
  2. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You may be able to haggle with the sales representative and they may be able to send you a Blu-ray drive in addition to your order. If not, I know they can include an "external" Blu-ray writer. This is what they did for me once because my system specifications weren't what I wanted. The external Blu-ray isn't as good, but it's thin, portable, and gets the job done.

    Replacing the DVD drive with a Blu-ray drive from Dell will not void or affect the warranty in any way. If you purchase one aftermarket, it just won't be covered under the Alienware warranty.
     
    J.Dre, May 23, 2014
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  3. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    I was able to get a bluray on my m14xr2 when it was not listed as an option by just calling up.

    I was also able to get them to drop the price of the bluray drive because on the 14 it was a 200$ upgrade, but eh 17 it was a 100$ upgrade.
     
    ejohnson, May 23, 2014
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  4. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    It's not difficult and you won't void the warranty. We won't be able to cover it within warranty though.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 23, 2014
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  5. fruitlewps

    fruitlewps Notebook Enthusiast

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    Anyone got sources on where to buy the drive? I'd like to replace my DVD+RW drive with a Blu-Ray RW.
     
    fruitlewps, May 24, 2014
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