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    Possible to swap out full boards?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by zmarselle, Aug 25, 2011.

  1. zmarselle

    zmarselle Notebook Guru

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    If I was to obtain a board from an R2 or R3, would I be able to just swap the board out in my R1? Is it the same size? Would this go without hitch or would I have to factor other things into account?

    No, I do not want to just sell my R1 and buy an R2/3 :)
     
    zmarselle, Aug 25, 2011
    #1
  2. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    No you cant swap the r2/r3 into a r1 chassis, but you can order a new r2/r3 base from ebay and then swap the board over to that along with the rest of the computer.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 25, 2011
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  3. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

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    The R1 has ports that the R2/R3 doesn't have. You'd have to cut holes into the sides and do some serious rearranging and modifications to the battery bay.
     
    DeeVu, Aug 25, 2011
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  4. ErmCallum

    ErmCallum Notebook Enthusiast

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    This motherboard is designed for the r1, but it has a Core i7 640UM on board.
    Alienware M11x Motherboard Core i7 640UM KH7R7 0KH7R7 | eBay
     
    ErmCallum, Aug 26, 2011
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  5. zmarselle

    zmarselle Notebook Guru

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    Thanks to all for the quick responses, but are you sure of that? I would be willing to get the board if I was sure it will fit and work with no issues...
     
    zmarselle, Aug 26, 2011
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  6. ErmCallum

    ErmCallum Notebook Enthusiast

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    im not 100% sure, could be for r2. but if that is the case, you can contact the seller to check. I don't know anywhere you can buy the housing for the r2.
     
    ErmCallum, Aug 26, 2011
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  7. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    That board will fit, but the r1 never came with a i7, so they guy is being missleading. I am willing to bet its a c2d and not a i7.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 26, 2011
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  8. ErmCallum

    ErmCallum Notebook Enthusiast

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    ErmCallum, Aug 26, 2011
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  9. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    The base for the r1 part number is 022M8W, so the J6VM2 may be a r2 base... give me a little bit of time and I can find out for sure.

    EDIT, J6VM2 is also a r1 base.
    double edit, 7MFH0 is a r1 base only in silver.
    EDIT again, MWN5D is a r1 base code.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 26, 2011
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  10. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

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    No it will not fit. Do not try. The r2 hard drive has a different port than the r1. Furthermore the r2 has only an hdmi while the r1 has a VGA and hdmi.

    I have owned all three models and have opened them all up. The i7 board is designed specifically or the r2 chasis. The only board that has a chance of fitting is a r3 board in an r2.
     
    DeeVu, Aug 26, 2011
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  11. zmarselle

    zmarselle Notebook Guru

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    Damn ok, so there really is no way to upgrade other then rebuying/ doing one of the pin mods?

    I really dont want to rebuy because this was a gift, and I love it, but as its known it is showing its age, so I was looking to spend as little money as possible. I will not get a new machine because I can not find the reasons too. More like a luxury at this point.
     
    zmarselle, Aug 26, 2011
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  12. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

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    Unless you have some extreme modding skills and cutting abilities then those are your only options.
     
    DeeVu, Aug 26, 2011
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  13. zmarselle

    zmarselle Notebook Guru

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    Haha nope...not enough to even do the pin mod! To nervous..I could probably do the basic one that just gives the "real" 1.7 OC, but its not worth it to me. I would want to go for the full mod that would give around 2.0
     
    zmarselle, Aug 26, 2011
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  14. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    Even if you were to swap out the main board, you would have over 500$ invested in just getting the parts to make it all work right... and at that point the only things from your original r1 would be the screen, keyboard, wifi card and ram.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 26, 2011
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  15. zmarselle

    zmarselle Notebook Guru

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    Yea, but 500 < a new R3 haha. But yea, not worth it...I would have been willing to do it if it was as simple as buying the new board and screwing it in. Oh well. Maybe I will actually get around to doing the pin mod at some point..
     
    zmarselle, Aug 26, 2011
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  16. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

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    Sorry mate :) Good luck
     
    DeeVu, Aug 26, 2011
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  17. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    While yes, 500 bucks is less than a new r3 costs, you can sell your r1 for 6-700, then use that with the 500 to get a r3.

    r1's are fun little machines, I dont think I will ever swap out... at least untill the kill off optimus and bring back the manual switch.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 26, 2011
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  18. zmarselle

    zmarselle Notebook Guru

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    Oh dont get me wrong, I love myR1! I am just frustrated with some games..some with a processor speed much higher then I have run great (like homefront, 30+ on high settings), and some like STALKER Clear Sky stutter, a lot, no matter what settings I have.
     
    zmarselle, Aug 26, 2011
    #18