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    alienware m17x r4 upgradable?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by magikeryk1, May 4, 2014.

  1. magikeryk1

    magikeryk1 Newbie

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    Hey guys i wanted to ask you if i could upgrade my laptop a bit it to the specs i want or if i have to drop them down a bit because they wont work.
    current specs:
    32GB ram
    2x1TB HDD
    nvidia gtx 675m
    i7-3630QM
    240 power adapter.
    specs i want to upgrade to:
    nvidia gtx 880m or sli if possible (i was told by dell that my laptop can support gtx 675m sli so im just asking if it would work with the 880m cards)
    i7-3940xm
    2x2TB.
    :)
     
    magikeryk1, May 4, 2014
    #1
  2. destinationsky

    destinationsky Notebook Evangelist

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    The m17x R4 only has one gpu slot, so no sli.
    single 880m - possible
    3940xm - possible
    2x2tb - possible (I would also add a 240gb msata for much faster power up times and a snappier overall system.
     
    destinationsky, May 4, 2014
    #2
  3. magikeryk1

    magikeryk1 Newbie

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    thanks for the help ^^
     
    magikeryk1, May 4, 2014
    #3
  4. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Also, if you have a 120hz machine the only upgrade that is fully plug-n-play compliant is the 680m which I am told is still maxing out all games :D.

    If you have a 60hz display the same applies but you'd need a modified BIOS for anything above an NV 680m or AMD 7970.

    ;)
     
    MickyD1234, May 5, 2014
    #4
  5. Cequence

    Cequence Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have some questions also,
    * Is it only the intel i7 3xxx CPU´s that works in the R4 ? or is it possible to upgrade to a 4xxx series?
    * What is the easiest GPU upgrade to an 7979m ? (best I guess is880m but that sounds abit trixy or?)
     
    Cequence, May 8, 2014
    #5
  6. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Hi, CPU's are based on the motherboard chipset (northbridge/southbridge) and the first number will indicate a CPU family. Short answer - only same CPU family will (or at least have a good chance) of working.

    I am only familiar with NV these days and would expect them to be easier than AMD from all the driver problems I see here. NV are not clean in this area though. This year it's been bad release after bad release, but they have always been more (IMO) proactive in releasing new versions/fixes. Sometimes releasing an optimised driver every few weeks :rolleyes:
     
    MickyD1234, May 8, 2014
    #6
  7. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    This pretty much sums it up. These are the best components you can have on the R4.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 8, 2014
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  8. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Well 120hz should work on the higher end cards, just no 3D.
     
    Meaker@Sager, May 8, 2014
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  9. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    True, but I was recently following a thread where a few guys were upgrading to the 120hz display and the 3D was working with an external emitter and glasses from a 3D vision kit :)
     
    MickyD1234, May 9, 2014
    #9