Want to upgrade my r2

So i managed to buy this alienware m17x r2 pretty cheap a couple days ago and although it runs game pretty good, it's not completely satisfying me. So here I am, asking the experienced laptoptweakers.


The specs i currently know:

*i7 [email protected] (4cores 8threads 1.86ghz/2.93ghz Turbo, 2ghz IMC, 4x256kb L2, 6MB L3)
*6gb ddr3 so-dimm PC3-10700S ddr3-1333mhz
*2x 5870m (latest vbios) 720 SMS.0 700MHZ, 2GB DDR5 ghz 128bit, PCIe 2.00 x16
upgraded to official bios A10 01/17/2011.
*1920*1200 max resolution
*240v A/C DELL W851DILD 86.58Wh/6.97 Ah

DETAILED MOTHERBOARDSPECS:

Code:

SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Manufacturer : AlienWare (Dell)
Model : M17x
Version : A10
Serial Number : GPNDSM1
ID : 4C4C4544-4E100050-C0474480-314D534F

Chassis
Manufacturer : AlienWare (Dell)
Type : Portable
Can be locked : No
Version : A10
Serial Number : GPNDSM1
Boot-up State : Safe
Power State : Safe
Thermal State : Safe
Security State : External Interface Locked-out

Mainboard
Manufacturer : AlienWare (Dell)
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processing (MPS) Version : 1.40
Type : Mainboard
Version : A10
Serial Number : .GPNDSM1. .
Location in Chassis : Not Applicable

Mainboard Properties
Removable : No
Replaceable : Yes
Hot Swap : No

On-board Devices
IGD : Video Adapter (Disabled)
GigaLAN : Ethernet Adapter (Enabled)

Chipset
Model : Dell Core (Clarksfield/Lynnfield) DMI
OEM Device Name : Intel Core (Clarksfield/Lynnfield) DMI
Revision : B2
Bus : Intel CSI (Quick Path)
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.4GHz (4.79GHz)
Maximum FSB Speed : 2x 3.2GHz (6.4GHz)
Width : 20-bit / 20-bit
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 18.7GB/s
Maximum Power : 5.000W

Chipset 1 Hub Interface
Type : Hub-Interface
Version : 2.00
Number of Ports : 4
In/Out Width : 16-bit
Duplex : Yes
Multiplier : 2x

Chipset
Model : Intel Core Mobile (Clarksfield) UnCore
OEM Device Name : Intel Core Mobile (Clarksfield) UnCore
Revision : A5
Bus : Intel CSI (Quick Path)
Version : 1.00
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.13GHz (4.26GHz)
Maximum FSB Speed : 2x 2.13GHz (4.26GHz)
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : Yes
I/O Queue Depth : 64 request(s)

Chipset 2 Hub Interface
Type : Intel CSI (Quick Path)
Version : 1.00
Multiplier : 16x
Speed : 2x 2.13GHz (4.26GHz)

Logical/Chipset Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM 9-9-9-24 4-33-11-6 1T
Bank 3 : 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM 9-9-9-24 4-33-11-6 1T
Maximum Installable Memory : 32GB
Supported Memory Types : DDR3 SO-DIMM Scrubbing
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 665MHz (1.33GHz)
Maximum Memory Speed : 2x 667MHz (1.33GHz)
Multiplier : 5x
Width : 64-bit
Integrated in Processor : Yes
Power Save Mode : No
Fixed Hole Present : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 20.78GB/s

APIC 1
Version : 2.00
Multiplier : 1/2x
Maximum Interrupts : 24
IRQ Handler Engaged : Yes
Enhanced Support : Yes

Memory Module
Manufacturer : Samsung
Model : M471B5273CH0-CH9
Serial Number : 771794D0
Type : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Technology : 8x(2048Mx8)
Speed : PC3-10700S DDR3-1334
Standard Timings : 9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5
Version : 1.00
Date of Manufacture : vrijdag 30 september 2016
Memory DC Line : 1.500V
Timing @ 686MHz : 9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5
Timing @ 610MHz : 8-8-8-22 4-30-9-5
Timing @ 533MHz : 7-7-7-19 3-26-8-4
Timing @ 457MHz : 6-6-6-16 3-22-7-3
Timing @ 381MHz : 5-5-5-14 2-19-6-3

Memory Module
Manufacturer : Nanya
Model : NT2GC64B8HC0NS-CG
Serial Number : 1EE21A6F
Type : 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Technology : 8x(1024Mx8)
Speed : PC3-10700S DDR3-1334
Standard Timings : 9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5
Version : 1.00
Date of Manufacture : vrijdag 2 september 2016
Memory DC Line : 1.500V
Timing @ 686MHz : 9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5
Timing @ 610MHz : 8-8-8-22 4-30-9-5
Timing @ 533MHz : 7-7-7-19 3-26-8-4
Timing @ 457MHz : 6-6-6-16 3-22-7-3

Sensor
Model :  DELL W851DILD BAT
Mainboard Specific Support : No

Sensor
Model : Intel Core CPU [P1, C4]
Version : 30.05
Mainboard Specific Support : No

Sensor
Model : Intel ICH55 HWM
Version : 0.06
Mainboard Specific Support : No

Temperature Sensor(s)
Board Temperature : 59.00°C
CPU Temperature : 48.53°C

Voltage Sensor(s)
Battery DC Line : 12.417V

Power Sensor(s)
CPU Power : 45.000W

Capacity Sensor(s)
UPS/Battery Capacity : 76.50Wh

System Bus(es) on Hub 1
Version : 2.30
System Bus 0 : PCI
System Bus 2 : PCIe 2.00 x8 5Gbps
System Bus 3 : PCIe 2.00 x8 5Gbps
System Bus 4 : PCIe 2.00 x1 2.5Gbps
System Bus 6 : PCIe 2.00 x1 2.5Gbps
System Bus 8 : PCIe 2.00 x1 2.5Gbps
System Bus 10 : PCI66
System Bus 255 : PCI

LPC Hub Controller 1
Model : Dell PM55 LPC Interface Controller
OEM Device Name : Intel PM55 LPC Interface Controller
Revision : A7
ACPI Power Management Enabled : Yes
Advanced TCO Mode Support : Yes
Advanced TCO Mode Enabled : No
High Precision Timer Enabled : Yes
Number of Precision Timers : 8
System Timer : 14.32MHz
Delayed Transaction Enabled : Yes

LPC Legacy Controller 1
Type : Winbond W83687THF
Version : 0.12
Number of Enabled Devices : 3 Unit(s)

Disk Controller
Model : Dell P55/PM55/3400 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
OEM Device Name : Intel P55/PM55/3400 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Interface : SATA
Revision : A7
Specification : 1.10
Maximum SATA Mode : G2 / SATA300
Channels : 4
In Use Channels : 2, 50%
Port : G2 / SATA300
Port : G1 / SATA150

Disk Controller
Model : Dell PCIe SD/MMC Host Controller
OEM Device Name : Ricoh PCIe SD/MMC Host Controller
Interface : SDA
Revision : A2
Channels : 1

Audio Device
Model : Dell P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
OEM Device Name : Intel P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
Revision : A7
Type : HD (High-Definition) Audio
Version : 1.00
Number of In / Out / Bi-Directional Streams : 4 / 4 / 0
Number of Serial Data Streams : 1

Audio Device
Model : Dell EG JUNIPER XT Audio Device [Radeon HD 5700 Series]
OEM Device Name : ATI (AMD) EG JUNIPER XT Audio Device [Radeon HD 5700 Series]
Revision : A1
Type : HD (High-Definition) Audio
Version : 1.00
Number of In / Out / Bi-Directional Streams : 0 / 1 / 0
Number of Serial Data Streams : 1

USB Controller 1
Model : Dell P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
OEM Device Name : Intel P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
Revision : A7
Version : 2.00
Specification : 1.00
Interface : EHCI
Channels : 3
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps) High (480Mbps)
Addressing Support : 64-bit
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

USB Controller 2
Model : Dell P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
OEM Device Name : Intel P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
Revision : A7
Version : 2.00
Specification : 1.00
Interface : EHCI
Channels : 3
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps) High (480Mbps)
Addressing Support : 64-bit
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

FireWire/1394 Controller 1
Model : Dell FireWire Host Controller
OEM Device Name : Ricoh FireWire Host Controller
Revision : A2
Version : 1.10
Interface : OHCI
Enhanced Support : Yes
Speed : 400MHz

SMBus/i2c Controller 1
Model : Intel ICH SMBus
Version : 0.06
Specification : 2.00
Advanced TCO Mode Enabled : No
Slave Device Enabled : Yes
PEC Support : Yes
Speed : 100kHz

Expansion Slot(s)
PEG Slot J5C1 for *Field processor (6h) : PCIe x16 +5V +3.3V Full Used
PEG Slot J5C1 for *dale processor (6h) : PCIe x16 +5V +3.3V Full Used
PCI Express Slot J6C2 (7h) : PCIe x1 +5V +3.3V Full Available
PCI Express Slot J6D2 (8h) : PCIe x1 +5V +3.3V Full Used
PCI Express Slot J7C1 (9h) : PCIe x1 +5V +3.3V Full Available
PCI Express Slot J7D2 (Ah) : PCIe x1 +5V +3.3V Full Used
PCI Express Slot J6C1 (Bh) : PCIe x1 +5V +3.3V Full Available
PCI Express Slot J8C2 (Ch) : PCIe x16 +5V +3.3V Full Available

Port Connector(s)
J1A2A - Serial Port : Serial Port 16550 / 9 Pin Dual Inline / DB-9 pin male
J1A1 - Keyboard : Keyboard / Circular DIN-8 male
J1A1 - PS2Mouse : Mouse / Circular DIN-8 male

Performance Enhancing Tips
Warning 102 : Memory module voltage high for a mobile computer. Use lower voltage memory.
Warning 2513 : TPM not detected. Some security features are unavailable.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

Questions:

1. Is the cpu allready bottlenecking in this setup? if not, would it bottleneck let's say on one 6990m or even 2 of those? Or would it not even bottleneck a 7970m?(in case you guys manage to get it to work and post a howto)

2. If I would just change to 1 gpu, should i buy the left one, or right one?(from the look as if you were using the laptop..)

3. What's the best cpu that should be perfectly supported by the alienware's motherboard?(including no risk of overheating)?

4. I know there's this ebay shop (upgradeyourlaptop or something like that) but does anyone know if there's a thrustworthy shop in europe?

5. Is a stronger A/C adapter required if i would go for a cf 6990m or 7970m setup?

*That's all i need to know for now. I'm experienced with messing with desktops, but laptops are completely new to me. I haven't even opened it up yet.
*will give more hardware details shortly

Any help/feedback would be appreciated

 

I'm very much interested in this thread too as i soon will be buying a m17x r3 soon and would like to know the steps to upgrading it.

 

1) no, but CPU intense games YES
2) LOL, there are no left/right card versions, just Heatsinks on those cards are called left/right.
3) 920/940xm
4) for 6990m yes, but this includes mods, and raping your PSU cable ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...w-get-m18x-330-watt-psu-working-m17x-r2.html), for x-fire 7970m yes as well, maybe undervolting the cards would help a bit. But throttling would exist anyway on a stock PSU.

 

try the 7970M

 

Just make your R2 like mine.

 

Once I upgrade up to M18x R2.

 

on the R2
MXM3 interface is the 75W max TDP or 100W ?

single 7970M on a R2 would also throtte ?

 

No cause you can do 2 x 6990M which are 100 watt TDP cards. Wait for DR650SE to try the 7970M swap into an R2.

 

so you saying that 2x6990M should work on the r2 without having to mod the A/C or?

English just isn't my native language so missing out on some words, also what is "throtte/throttle"?@Mitsuhide

Got a question regarding the CPU:

People here who play Tera (EU)? if so: you got high fps with a 920/940? I heard its very cpu-depending and since i have some issues with it, i believe the 740qm is just not good enough..?!

 

will work but it may throttle

question answered before

it may not be enough power in 740qm, if this is a cpu intense game

imagine man
740qm can turbo-boost to 1,73ghz on all cores when 920/940xm can turbo-jump to 3,5ghz on all cores

some people may say
DOUBLE THE POWER, TRIPLE THE EXCITMENT

 

If you have a heavily overclocked i7 Extreme 920/940XM, yes you will throttle, the 240 watt PSU is barely enough as it is.

 

You could also get a pair of 6970's and overclock them slightly, and along with a 920XM you'll get great performance and no throttling what-so-ever. The 6990's can also be undervolted to prevent throttling as well.