The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Whats the M15X Max spec upgrades?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Haramdar, Apr 21, 2012.

  1. Haramdar

    Haramdar Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hey everyone I'm new to the forums, and have read tons so far!
    My question:

    What are the max specs that you can diy on an M15X?
    CPU, RAM, GPU, anything else?

    Thanks in advance! :D

    Hmmm no bites...

    I mainly am curious as to how high I can take the ram, and what cpu and gpu could be swapped in without having to do any extensive fiddling with the heatsinks or bios, etc.

    Again, thanks for any responses.
     
    Haramdar, Apr 21, 2012
    #1
  2. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    14,963
    Messages:
    5,671
    Likes Received:
    1,521
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Hello and welcome to NBR.

    There are numerous threads in the M15x subforum about different upgrades, you can also take a look at the first post of the Owner's Lounge for important links.

    In short, the best parts you can put in your M15x are:

    CPU: Intel i7 920xm or 940xm. There's only 133Mhz difference between the 920xm and the 940xm and both are unlocked chips.

    RAM: As of today you can fit two sticks of 8Gb each @1333Mhz

    GPU: The M15x supports quite a bunch of graphic cards. Just take a look at the first post of the owner's lounge and take your pick. It was also recently confirmed by one of our members, Table21, that the new AMD mobility 7970 functions in the M15x.
     
    katalin_2003, Apr 21, 2012
    #2
  3. otosan

    otosan Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    otosan, Apr 21, 2012
    #3
  4. Haramdar

    Haramdar Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks for the replies! I will def do some more digging around! So much to learn!
     
    Haramdar, Apr 21, 2012
    #4
  5. CluckyTaco

    CluckyTaco Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    You can also upgrade your wireless card, add extra USB 3.0 ports, and if you are really upto it upgrade your lcd as well.
     
    CluckyTaco, Apr 22, 2012
    #5
  6. Haramdar

    Haramdar Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Def going to look into upgrading my wireless card! Maybe a Killer 1103 ( or 1203 when it comes out ).
     
    Haramdar, Apr 22, 2012
    #6
  7. ASCI_Blue

    ASCI_Blue Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    are there any good, reliable links as to where to get the nice LCD? I'll neither confirm nor deny that I am physically able to switch out the screen and have been wondering if it's really worth doing.
     
    ASCI_Blue, Apr 22, 2012
    #7
  8. CluckyTaco

    CluckyTaco Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    CluckyTaco, Apr 22, 2012
    #8
  9. iujona

    iujona Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I also have a m15x in need of upgrade. Currently it has i7 820QM and GTX 280M..

    Can I upgrade to 940XM and 7970M..?
    Where is the best place to buy these upgrades?
    Thanks

    Noob question but what are the best/easiest upgrades. Currently have 820QM CPU and GTX 260M. Thx. Would a 7970 be overkill?
     
    iujona, Apr 23, 2012
    #9
  10. tetsussaiga

    tetsussaiga Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    563
    Messages:
    381
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Best upgrade for you would be GPU.. eBay or other forum members.

    And there is no such thing as 'overkill' on NBR :D
     
    tetsussaiga, Apr 23, 2012
    #10
  11. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,527
    Messages:
    4,112
    Likes Received:
    449
    Trophy Points:
    151
    get the 7970, a member with an AW M17x has confirmed with hacked together drivers performance is the same as 580/675 in SLI but with better LOWEST framerates. its a beast

    and was mentioned a user has it in an m15 as well
     
    KCETech1, Apr 23, 2012
    #11
  12. iujona

    iujona Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I want to try the 7970 and maybe the 920XM CPU..that would be a laptop nearly as fast as my desktop. Where can I find the 7970...?
     
    iujona, Apr 24, 2012
    #12
  13. otosan

    otosan Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    contact upgradeyourlaptop @ebay, he will start shipping the card 4th may...
     
    otosan, Apr 24, 2012
    #13
  14. iujona

    iujona Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Great thanks will rep
     
    iujona, Apr 24, 2012
    #14