M11x R3 Motherboard Fixable?

Hi, so I'm completely overhauling my Alienware M11x R3. It's slow and I'd like to speed it up, I'd buy a new laptop but I love the design, size and features of the M11x R3 so I'm overhauling mine. I'm wanting to swap out it's i5 motherboard for an i7 motherboard, thing is I can only find one and it doesn't power on, look fixable?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alienware-m...333?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae40bd025
Also I'm not just doing the motherboard.
Current Specs, i5 2537M, 6GB DDR3, 1TB SSHD, Intel WiFi, almost dead battery, stock screen.
When finished, i7 2617M / i7 2637M, 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3L, 1TB Samsung 850 SSD, Bigfoot 1202 WiFi, 3G Adapter, New Samsung Battery, HD Screen Modification.
That's basically the maximum possible configuration right? If I'm missing something please say, I'm getting (most of) the parts at Fry's this Monday and would prefer one trip.
Another question, are their higher quality speakers that would fit "IN" the M11x R3? And is there such a thing as a Sound Card that would fit inside the M11x? Like in the mSATA?
Any Mods that improve the M11x? I know about the screen swap mod.
So main point of this post is does the motherboard in the link look fixable (failed bios flash?)? Then any advice for maxing out my M11x R3.
Thanks!


BTW, I don't game very much other than occasional BO2 Zombies once or twice a week so I don't care that a new laptop would have a better GPU. Keeping the M11x for now.

 

I certainly wouldn't buy. Motherboard in hopes of repair. Might try one of those places on eBay that "repair motherboards"..

The r3 doesn't have mSata slot. It looks like one but it's not really a "msata" slot for a SSD per say.

 

OK, thanks for the reply! I guess I'll pass on that motherboard for now, besides I'm trying to get the i7 2637M version. Been watching for months, only seen a few i7 2617M models. Interested in selling your board? lol Well if you know of any place I can get the MoBo I'm looking for let me know!

 

You can try Ztronics.com or parts-people.com

 

Thanks for the reply, I checked those sites though didn't see any. I did find two at these links but they are the 2617M, I'd really prefer a i7 2637M. Want to have it completely MAXED!
Any other places you can think of that might have the 2637M? If not I'll just keep searching.

http://www.notebookparts.com/dell-a...05pWNrK2KoUoCdUTpkbwkCmS34LRphSN5ERoCSMLw_wcB
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Warr...-Fully-Tested-i7-2617m-Y98C0/32269724243.html

 

Hi! Back again! Was going to buy the Bigfoot 1202 WiFi card but would this be better and would it work? Is there anything faster/better?
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/dual-band-wireless-ac-7260-bluetooth.html
Would like to get a new WiFi card, mines going out and is slow.
Thanks!

 

Seen several variations of the 7260, this'd be the one with all the bells and whistles right?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106240

 

For the Msata you can get a 2.5" SATA adapter to dual Msata to drop into the original hard drive location. I have one of these adapters but I haven't got the second SSD in to see how the numbers are in speed trials yet.

I don't know the buyer and I don't think this is the exact one I have but this link is to show you want is available so you can start to research this kind of adapter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Syba-Dual-m...d=100338&rk=2&rkt=28&mehot=pp&sd=321557886173

 

Awesome! I already bought a 1TB Samsung 850 Evo though. Cool idea though! Would my speeds be limited with two mSATA SSD's on that?

 

So I've purchased a 1TB Samsung 850 Evo SSD, 16GB (2x8GB) Corsair Vengeance 1600 DDR3 RAM and just ordered the Intel 7260 802.11AC WiFi with Bluetooth 4.0 . Now I need a i7 2637M Motherboard, a 4G LTE Broadband card and install a aftermarket screen. Please let me know if you've seen the motherboard I'm looking for. As for the 4G LTE Broadband card would this work? And is there anything better?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Wirele...nd-0WRYPD-E362-PCI-E-3G-4G-Card-/271414399355
Has anyone (who's reading this) done the screen mod? How does it turn out? Does it look like stock? Other than the quality of course. Does it fit right or look off/awkward?
Also are there any good cooling mods to make it run cooler/quieter? Like maybe a better fan? I'm using ANTEC IC Diamond thermal right now.

Other questions I have that are less likely to be possible but I'd like to do.
Aftermarket Internal Speakers
Integrated Soundcard
Swap the Alien head for one that changes colors
Any other things I could do to make my M11x even more high end? when I say I want to max it out I mean MAX IT OUT! Whether it's parts or cosmetic.

Thanks!

 

On the speakers search this forum. I have seen a update of the speakers in this forum. But I think the R3 has better speakers to begin with than the R1/2. I think there is another one where they use "beats" speakers.

Color would be something else you can do, I have seen a M11x in white using white vinyl. It looked good.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-way-better-audio-for-games-and-music.656611/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m11x-white-carbon-fiber-skin.629964/

A heatsink mod is also a good one.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m11x-r1-heatsink-mod.585720/

I am using my wwan slot on my R1 for extra storage. I have a 32gb card and a 16gb micro sd cards in it though a adapter.

 

Thanks for the respnse!

I heard the same thing about the speakers in the R3 being better than the R1 & R2, though I'm an audiophile and notice every little detail. I actually just found that speakers forum the other day and asked about a pair of Beats speakers and sub that might work. Anyone know?

The white paint mod is neat but I want to keep mine black, thinking it'd be cool to have a more premium palm rest like the bigger Alienware models. I'm also planning on swapping my alien head for one that changes colors, that I found a forum on.

That extra storage option in the WWAM slot is cool but I have 1TB of SSD storage so I think I'm good on that!

My top 4 wanted improvements are
1. An internal sound card (that could like maybe go in the WWAM slot.)
2. Higher quality screen that's a swap with no intense modding
3. i7 2637M Motherboard
4. Internal Beats by Dre. Speakers

 

Another user has tried a TV tuner card in the WWAN slot and didn't get it to work, so I can't say if that sound card would work or not.

 

I asked this question on the speakers forum, anyone here know the answer?

 

I've got a my original motherboard, Core i7 CPU, 2617M, part Y98C0 i believe from my m11x r3 if you're interested.

I upgraded to the 2637m from the 2617m when it came out ~2 years ago and have kept my original in a sealed box ever since...just in case.

It's fully battle ready, heatsink, fan, and all, as I wanted minimum downtime in case the 37 failed me. (had issues with a previous m11x which is sitting in the basement collecting dust. It should also have the 2637m MB, but after swapping, i couldn't get it to boot after 2 months of part swaps, blood, sweat, & tears later...Never got back around to looking at it before warranty expired either.)

I'm planning on retiring my m11x in a month-ish for the AW13, but don't really have plans to pull the MB though, but if you're really keen on getting one, I suppose we could chat about that too.

Not sure where you're located, but I'm central USA if it matters.

 

Hi! I'm totally interested in your motherboard if your selling! Would absolutely love that i7 2637M if your willing to part with it but if not I'm interested in the i7 2617M as well! Let me know what you'd want for it!
I actually just posted a new forum this morning saying my motherboard died (was just last night... ) and that I need a new one soon! Perfect timing!

Here's the forum link.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/need-new-motherboard-asap.773161/

 

Hi again,
Sorry to hear that, that really sucks.
I'm not quite ready to rip apart my m11x though...I ordered my new AW13 just the other day, and it's saying it won't arrive until mid-April...Until then my little M11x is my daily...
I sent you a "Conversation" with one of my email addresses, we can continue the chat there.
Timing might not be too horrible, I'm still open to pulling the 2637m, but I'd just prefer not to until i get hands on the 13 and make sure it'll work for me, i hope you can understand...
I can get the 2617M out ASAP though.
Anyway hit me up through email, or reply here if you don't see my converstaion and we'll go from there.
Cheers,

 

I realize this is a slightly old thread, but I too am interested in upgrading my new (to me - bought used on eBay) M11x R3 to the i7-2637M motherboard. After much searching online, I *think* I have found the appropriate part number, which is VWD41. However, getting it is another matter. It's not available directly on eBay, and doing a blind search for it via Google reveals a number of odd results, some of them insanely expensive (~$900? ummm, yeah right). MightyMidget, can you confirm the part number? How did you obtain your 2637M motherboard? Directly from Dell/Alienware?