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    Upgrading CPU from i5 to i7

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Caustixide, Nov 24, 2010.

  1. Caustixide

    Caustixide Notebook Geek

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    I currently have a M17x-R2 with an i5-520M and I was wondering, is it possible for me to upgrade it to an i7-720QM or is there a socket incompatibility?
     
    Caustixide, Nov 24, 2010
    #1
  2. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

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    Hi there,

    The upgrade is 100% possible.

    Cheers. :)
     
    reborn2003, Nov 24, 2010
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  3. fishnbanjo

    fishnbanjo Notebook Consultant

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    It's a piece of cake, I recently upgraded my M15x from i3 530 to an i7 920 and very simple to do.
     
    fishnbanjo, Nov 24, 2010
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  4. Heliophobic

    Heliophobic Newbie

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    What about from a Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 to a i7-920XM Processor in an m17xR1? :)

    Less about doing it and more about curiosity, tbh :p.

    And am I able to upgrade my 2x280M SLI to anything, while I'm on the subject?
     
    Heliophobic, Nov 26, 2010
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  5. Porter

    Porter Notebook Virtuoso

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    No, you must stay with the C2D and quad line of chips, no I5 or I7.

    I think the 280 is the best officially supported card. I have heard about fitiing 285's in there but required modding, not sure how well it works though.
     
    Porter, Nov 26, 2010
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  6. Heliophobic

    Heliophobic Newbie

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    Any reason for the incompatability? Don't they all use the same socket types in laptops, lol?

    Not worth the effort then, I guess :)

    I love my little m17x, and whilst I've had to battle with it for nearly 2 years, it's always been there for me :)
     
    Heliophobic, Nov 26, 2010
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  7. Porter

    Porter Notebook Virtuoso

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    CPU - Just totally different sockets. There are multiple variations of each, but they are completely incompatible with each other.

    GPU - From a quick google, it sounded like there was some trimming you have to do with the SLI bridge. Also I'm not sure if the BIOS supports it.
     
    Porter, Nov 26, 2010
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  8. fishnbanjo

    fishnbanjo Notebook Consultant

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    280's in SLi work just fine and I have a Q9100 Extreme ES which makes my M17x a happy little beast but it has been upgraded to 4870's in CrossFireX. The M15x has the 240 and while a 280 worked when it had the i3 535 it does not work when I upgraded it to an i7 920XM ES so they sit on the shelf, will try and trade the 280's with cable for a 260 and some $'s at some point to get the M15x a bit of a graphics boost.
     
    fishnbanjo, Nov 27, 2010
    #8