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    Replacing M17x R3 motherboard (0GFWM3, GFWM3, 5VYM9 or LA-6601P)?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by TheSteven, Oct 12, 2014.

  1. TheSteven

    TheSteven Newbie

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    Hi - I'm hoping that someone has some information that will help me on this.
    I've gotten a 2nd hand M17xR3 system and I need to replace the motherboard*

    *     m17x-r3-insane-beeping-but-boots-passes-all-tests-no-errors

    Dell's info on the system indicates that this is an     Alienware M17x R3 (Early 2011)
    Symptoms lead me to believe that this MB is either suffering from ESD damage or has the defective Sandy Bridge** chipset that affected MBs on these systems release prior to March/April 2001 ( Dell_reaching_fix_pcs_faulty_intel_chipset)
    **I am also experiencing constant minor random data corruption on this system

    Current m otherboard has PAR00 LA-6601P Rev:1.0(A00) stamped on it.
    CPU is Intel i7-2670QM.
    Out in the market I see     0GFWM3, GFWM3, 5VYM9 and LA-6601P parts for sale and can't seem to find any info on what the differences are.
    I've contacted Dell about replacing the motherboard but not being the original owner of the laptop they will not give me any information or assistance.

    These motherboards are not cheap and I'm concerned that I may buy a replacement that ends up having future issues.

    Thanks
     
    TheSteven, Oct 12, 2014
    #1
  2. U2WAR

    U2WAR Notebook Consultant

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    It might be a tumor JK. But really I was in the same boat with my first alienware. In the end I just sold it. In your case it would be cheaper to buy a broken system on CL or ebay. However if you lucky like me there is a Goodwill Computer works were I live. Good luck.
     
    U2WAR, Oct 13, 2014
    #2
  3. U2WAR

    U2WAR Notebook Consultant

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    Oh just a thought. You could try a reflow on the MLB. There are lots of videos out there on how to do it. I did it a few times by putting it in the over or a heat gun.
     
    U2WAR, Oct 13, 2014
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  4. Siphorous

    Siphorous Notebook Consultant

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    U2 has a point regarding that it might be cheaper to buy a for parts or other low spec system just for the motherboard.

    I was considering at one point upgrading my graphics and noticed going by the ebay prices it would be not much more to buy say an R4 complete system on say Dell Outlet.

    For the record - you seem to have done a lot of research and I recall your post about the beeps but from my own little searching it appears there's only one version of the mobo if you are going to go that route. *cue someone to say otherwise* :p All the part numbers you mention appear to be for the same thing.

    Looking at pictures, LA-6601P does seem to be on the mobo whereas 0GFWM3 is on a sticker nearby - perhaps the other numbers are also there somewhere. I don't think it's a major thing from what I can tell as the chipset is going to be the key thing. As I guess all mobos (hopefully) that will be on sale will be post recall of the sandy bridge bugged chipsets (if indeed the R3 mobos were part of that) then it shouldn't be an issue. *touch wood*
     
    Siphorous, Oct 13, 2014
    #4