M18x-r2 CPU heatsink upgrade question

Hi All,
First time posting here so hope I'm doing it right.

I have a Alienware M18x-R2 purchased in October 2012, I am looking at upgrading the CPU to Intel i7-3940xm and thanks to the great posts by Mr Fox I have worked out I need to upgrade my single pipe cpu heatsink to a triple pipe cpu heatsink.
So I rushed off ordered a heatsink from Ebay D/PN: 0VMK2 00VMK2 that said it suited Alienware 18 models, then I found Mr Fox's thread on this and saw it had a different Dell Part Number to the one he suggested (D/PN:0MXJ5 00MXJ5).
My question is does anyone know if the heatsink that I ordered will fit my system please.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Pics are from the Ebay listing and a link to the listing as well below.




Pics are from the Ebay listing
Ebay Listing: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/11197299...2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#rpdCntId

My Current set up is:

Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
Intel i7-3840QM 2.8GHz (Single pipe cpu heatsink)
Nvidia Geforoce GTX 675M Duel in SLI
24 GB DDR3 1600GHz Ram
Samsung 840 EVO 500Gb SSD

I will be looking at upgrading the GPU's latter down the track when I can afford it and have read heaps on this site about that - Thanks to everyone for all of that info

Cheers

 

Hi Mark,
The heatsink you have bought is for the Alienware 18 not the M18x R2 sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I don't think it will work.
Hopefully you can sell it on to an 18 owner?

 

will not fit m18x class systems and all alienware 18 already came with triple pipe heatsink for cpu

This is the one you want:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Dell-AL...983783?hash=item1a2309a2e7:g:HWoAAOSwnHZYaz1s

 

Thank you Kenny27 and Raidriar for your fast reply,
I thought it was not the right one, didn't want to pull apart the laptop to find out it wouldn't fit. I will organize a return of the other one back to the seller.
Thanks Raisriar for the link I will grab that one and happy days.

Cheers again

 

Another question please,
Would it be a good idea to remove the thermal pad it comes with and use something like Gelid GC-Extreme or will that be a bit of over kill.

Cheers again

 

absolutely. go one step further and use liquid ultra or conductonaut for optimal thermal transfer. That's what I use on all my CPUs

 

Thank You again Raidriar,
I will order some of what you have suggested, I'm so chuffed in this site wasn't expecting such quick replies and to sort out my problems as easy as you have help me with.
Top Stuff Old Mate
I'm looking for to doing the CPU upgrade and a bit latter the GPU's as well.

Take Care

 

Go for the 3920XM, don't bother with the 3940XM unless you find it same price or cheaper than a 3920XM. overclock that baby, slap a 980M or two in there, and you get a computer that's very capable even today. Keep your M18x R2, it's the best laptop Alienware ever built.

 

I absolutely agree with you Raidriar, I would have to facing Ragnarok before I get rid of my M18X-R2 it's been the best rig and has never missed a beat.
I already picked up a i7-3940XM for $400 from a reliable seller and it's on it's way so I can't turn that one back (and I will overclock that sucker as well) and reckon I will go with the Thermal grizzly conductnaught for the paste.
Thanks also for the advice on the GPU too that was going to be my next lengthy task to research what GPU to go for, I will check what price I can get a couple of them for. Is there a price mark you would suggest that I should be spending on them.
I read Mr Fox's posts on upgrading the GPU and INF files to get that working, good info and his vid on the tear down of my beast as well.
I'll update this thread with my results too, I'm very much looking forward to this project.

Thanks heaps Man

 

980Ms typically run 500 used and 650-700 new...steep prices. You will need the updated hacked BIOS that svl7, swick, and I modified:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-r2-maxwell-legacy-bios.800447/#post-10435796

 

Again Thanks Raidriar,

I'm working on my budget to see where I can tweak it to see if I can get them soon so I only have to do one tear down to fit all the new stuff in my little beast and bring it back up to where I need it.
Don't mind spending the dollars now to have a good rig for a while, haven't needed to upgrade anything since I got it in 2012 - That's a good run I reckon.
I'll read through the link after my lad has gone to bed so I can concentrate on it.
Great forum for this stuff too.

Cheers Raidriar

 

no problem mate these boards are here for enthusiasts like us

 

Cheers Raidriar,
Very cool is there a place you would suggest for me to grab the GTX 980M 8Gb cards from or just a good look on Ebay.
I'll have a look at that link when the lad goes to bed so I can concentrate on it, I'm going to enjoy doing this and then I'll do my friend's M18X-R2 latter this year as we both got the same rigs at the same time

Appreciate your help

 

Sometimes forum members here sel them, typically 500-550USD for a single card. @woodzstack sells new 980Ms as he has a line to factory that produces them, contact him directly for pricing. Cheapest card on ebay is 550USD at the moment, and no warranty at that....look on parts people sometimes they stock the 980M, and they give a warranty for 1 year. I got mine from there for as little as 475$

 

Thanks for the mention !

Yeah it's true, I can help people find what they are looking for usually. Can always click on the avatar and start a conversation.

How- to contact me : Click the blue mage Avatar, and there should be an option that says "Star Conversation" That is how it is done on Zenforo forums.

Let me know if you need anything else or help etc..

 

Perfect,

I will work on my budget and get in contact with you woodzstack to organize one of these cards through you.

 

Well it's been a bit but this is the outcome.

Now have installed 3940MX with the correct heatsink thanks @Raidriar and for pointing me in woodzstack's direction.
(still got to learn more of the overclocking side of it but woodzstack has got me in the right direction on that as well)
2 x GTX 980M installed and running like a dream.
A massive thanks to @woodzstack for his help in getting the cards, the price and the guide through to get all this together and working and for answering all my silly questions. Your a bloody legend mate.

If anyone was wanting to upgrade their graphic cards especially with a Alienware M18X-R2, you should defiantly contact woodzstack get the cards from him.

So now I have

Alienware M18X-R2 Nebular Red (2012 model)
Intel Core i7 3940MX - With the triple pipe heatsink (will be overclocked a bit latter)
2 x Nvidia GTX 980M 8Gb in SLI
960Gb sandisk Ultra II SSD
32Gb 1600MHz of Ram
27 inch Asus IPS display

Living The Man Cave Dream

Can not say Thank You enough for everyone's help here for me to have done this, it has been so much fun

 

Glad you got sorted. 3940XM + 980M SLI is still a formidable machine today.

 

Yeah very happy with it all @Raidriar , now just got to do the polishing off and learn more about overclocking the 3940XM and it's max voltage set up all that and I'll be seriously chuffed.
thanks for pointing me in woodzstack's direction he's been a huge help.