Upgrading M15x CPU

I have an Alienware M15x (2009) model I am looking to upgrade my CPU from i3-330m to a compatible CPU giving a boost in performance for gaming, but am not sure if the card I am looking at will work. The specs of my system from Hwinfo are
Win 7 64 bit Home Premium
Intel Core i3-330M
CPU Code Name: Arrandale Trans. SV
CPU S-Spec: SLBMD
CPU Platform: Socket G1 (rPGA988A)
Thermal pwr says 25w for some reason but I know the machine runs 35w
Maximum DMI Link Speed: 2.5 GT/s
Current DMI Link Speed: 2.5 GT/s

MOBO:
Computer Brand Name: Alienware M15x
Motherboard Model: Alienware
Motherboard Chipset: Intel PM55 (IbexPeak-M)

The card I am looking at is
Brand- Intel i7 640M
MPN- CP80617004152AE
UPC- 7330381826030
Key Features
Clock Speed 2.8 GHz
CPU Socket Type- Socket G1
Multi-Core Technology- Dual-Core
Cache Memory
Level 1 Size 32 KB
Level 2 Size 256 KB
Level 3 Size 4 MB
Type Advanced Smart Cache
Expansion / Connectivity
Compatible Slots 1 x processor - PGA988 Socket
Other Features
Bus Speed DMI Speed - 2.5 GT/s
Manufacturing Process 32 nm
64-bit Computing Yes
Architecture Features Enhanced SpeedStep Technology, Hyper-Threading Technology, Idle State, Intel 64 Technology, Intel Fast Memory Access, Intel Flex Memory Access, Intel Turbo Boost Technology, Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel vPro Technology, Thermal Monitoring Technology
Platform Compatibility PC
Packaging Type 988-pin Micro FCPGA

 

you NEED a 920XM/940XM. Don't waste your money on anything else at this point.

 

Wont the 920xm/940xm create a bottleneck? I read on a benchmark thread that they can do that. Also anything beyond the 640m requires more power. I was hoping to do a cpu swap without having to upgrade the power.

 

they are the opposite of a bottleneck....that's the only CPU that can expand M15x potential. I had my overclocked to 3.4ghz 4 cores.

 

OK, can the current power structure and Mobo handle the extra wattage without having to swap other parts?

Forgive my ignorance. Thank you for letting me pick your brain. =-)

 

What is your GPU? 920xm is all good and well but your gpu is the thing that will give the biggest boost in games if it is something basic like your current cpu.

 

You can add a GTX 680M or 7970M/R9 M290X + a 920XM for around 350$ and have a really nice upgraded computer

 

I have ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5850.

 

very old GPU. a 7970M/680M is equal to more than two 5850s put together.

 

More like 3x faster

Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

 

your 980m must be like 10 of those lol

 

Hey OP if you live in the US I can sell you a 740QM for like $30

 

Actually I was a bit harsh on the 5850M. Both OCed I bet the 680M is more than twice as fast and maximum 2.5 times faster.

980M at stock as that is all the M15x has a chance to cool is probably around 4 times quicker than heavily OCed 5850M. With water cooling could be 5x faster

 

With the 5850, a 920/940xm will be well below the power limits of the stock 150W adapter. You should be fine.

If you decide to upgrade your graphics card to something that requires more power like all the ones mentioned, then you may want to think about upgrading your power supply to a 210 or 240W model.

 

Awesome Thank you all for your info.

 

Not necessarily! It depends how much you OC the 920xm and how efficient your chip is.

My leaky, hot, unstable but high OCing 920xm will routinely trip anything except a 210W or 240W adaptor.

 

So would you think a 820QM bottleneck a m290x? I'm debating on whether I want to upgrade to a 920xm or not because of the power draw.

I'm still on a 150w brick

 

I run my 940XM at 3.3ghz all the time, occasionally pumping it up to 3.4ghz if really necessary. That is a huge increase in clock speed over the 1.73ghz base clock of your 820QM.
I wouldn't get a m290x without upgrading the power brick anyway. Get a dell 210W PSU then you should have no problem running an overclocked 920/940XM and a m290x

 

Anything other than XM with the 1st generation is going to severely bottleneck any card since 7970M/680M generation of cards. Now even midrange cards will be bottlenecked.

I pump mine up to 3.7ghz and beyond and still the 980M at times is limited slightly in certain situations.

Simply get a 920xm and a 210W brick. The brick isn't that expensive. I picked 2 up recently and each was USD 30. The shipping to Europe cost nearly the same.

 

What's the model number for 210/240W brick?

 

Dell 210W Power Supply Model PA-7E

 

This: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Del...358826?hash=item33b219ab6a:g:hUkAAOSwCQNWfZi5

 

Yes this is the correct model.

Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

 

Thanks!

 

I got that same one. It's weird but the BIOS reads it as 230W.

 

I presumed you've pulled the pin on it as it doesn't change the battery anyway?

 

lol...not yet...just not brave enough . I'm looking for another right angle adapter and I'll pull the plug on that one. Just can't seem to find one in Europe.

EDIT: My 210W adapter charges the battery

 

When you say pull the pin, do you literally mean removing the grounding pin with a pair of pliers?

 

Fear not! Just get it done. I pulled mine off quite forcefully, it came off and still works perfectly. Just do it, its over in a second
No point keeping centre pin in on this adapter as it can't charge battery anyway

 

Yeah he means the center pin, but it's not a ground, it's used to communicate data between the adapter and the motherboard.

 

yes exactly but it won't just pull off, I had to snap it off by wiggling slightly

 

Alright, thanks for that. I have a right-angle adapter so I'll give it a shot.

 

Exactly that. A small pair of hobby pliers at that.

I modded my cooler some more. Removed another 5 struts on the intake. Hard to believe cooler master put 20 struts orginally. With 5 structural integrity is still perfect.



Cleaned up the rough ends too. Next up to mod the feet to give it slightly more clearance for increased airflow

This is a great cooler once modded. Really quiet and compact. The 200mm fan puts out a decent amount of air and importantly cools everything with the guts exposed.

Plastic and metal very soft and easy to mod too. Cheap too.

Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

 

I had a try to work on 330W with center pin not touched. It works pretty the same as 210W with removed center pin, and no bios indication as well. 920xm x25 + 6990m with slight OC - had no any clock drops.

 

Yeah the 330w is decent. However whether you pull pin or not it WILL cut out at 240W usage. Tested that out myself.

You would have to do an ID chip mod to allow all 330W to be accessible outside of a M18x. Not an easy task.

And wow it seems everyone is online atm!!

Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

 

210W adapter is enough for 920xm/970m overclocking right?

 

thats alot of power

 

At gaming loads my 940XM @ 3.4Ghz and my 680M @1.05v draws just under 200W and considering the 210W brick uses quality Delta components, it should easily be able to handle up to 240W before tripping or cutting out. I think the cooling system would give out before I exceed the power delivery of the 210W brick.

 

My old 210W adaptor tripped at around 245W at the wall.

In order to use more power than 240W you either need to OV the cpu which I used to or run a 880M or 980M gpu which I now do.

If you intend to push things to the limit then you will need 2x 210W adaptors and link them together.

Sent from my SM-A500FU using Tapatalk

 

Good to know.

I received my mail from china today, it's supposed to contain a usb3 expresscard but I literally got sent nothing but a styrofoam sheet.

 

that is not goodd mate, where did u order from .Anyway of getting your money back, possibly a mistake

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381514778647?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

ah its ebay just use paypal and clame back, guy has great feedback im sure its just been an oversight have u contacted him

 

I went from an I3 to a I7 Q840 no problems, just runs 8c hotter. Also put in a Firepro m6000 blueboard China shipped. $90 m6000new and $50 Q840used= Pretty fast notebook on a cheap budget.

 

Nice upgrade mate youll need ot overclock that card. Its a beast

 

How much watt does a 920xm+oc without OV draw? 65w?

 

I answered this question recently in another thread. My 940XM at 3.4Ghz can draw in excess of 110W all by itself.

 

Must've missed that.
I'll keep the power consumption in mind.

 

Hi
I am new to this forum. The question is regarding an upgrading of m17x r2 with dual hd4870m. I am planning to upgrade the gpu to gtx 680m 4gb. Will this upgrade be successful.
My current spec is:
I7 820qm
8gb 1333mhz ram
2 x 500gb 7200rpm hard drives
1900x 1200 ccfl display
240w adaptor
I ordered the gpu (god 680m) from ebay for usd275.
Is there a better upgrade apart from gpu to this laptop.
Please help

 

You might want to post this on the m17 forum, since the M15x only supports one GPU.

Best,

J