Alienware M11x hardware upgrades?

Alienware M11x processor offers are only SU4100 and SU7300, I'm thinking on buying a SU4100 and then manually upgrade to a SU9600. My biggest concern is I like to use adobe photoshop and after effects (CS4), so I want reasonable photo and video enconding perfomance. On gaming I know I will be fine most of the time.

How much would you recommend this? (here is the comparison chart at Intel click)
They have very similar specs and heat may be the same as showing in the chart, but in real life what differences will I get in terms of the software I will use and temperature.

Also can the SU9600 be oc' because if the SU7300 can go to 1.6ghz and performance as well or better as this one I just simply will buy this one.

Nvidia 335m is a performance level but what about if later on what a to upgrade to a higher class like the Nvidia GTS 350m, can this be possible? as I understand its a discrete graphic.
I was just able to find the Nvidia 350m may use 28 watts ( source) but can't find better info somewhere else.

So how much compromised will the system be if I do a CPU, GPU or both upgrades? I really don't care about battery life as most of the time I have it with the power cord.

First post by the way, I tried to research as much as I can but need some opinions of what can be done if I'll like upgrade hardware on this laptop, waiting for the refresh is not an option, but if system doesn't accept any kind of upgrades then I will be forced to look for another laptop.

 

Chances are like most CULV laptops the chips are soldered onto the motherboard, meaning not only is the GPU not replaceable, but the cpu is not replaceable either.

CULV's are typically not as upgradeable as a regular notebook, so you may just want to go the notebook route.

 

So it doesn't matter if the processor says it isn't embedded? I thought a non embedded processor can be upgraded but can they opt to solder it anyways?

In any case, let me redefine my question, I want to photo and video encode, do you think a SU7300 will do some decent work at this?

 

Not to mention there is probably no BIOS support for those, nor will Dell update the BIOS to support these. Plus it would void your warranty. The SU7300 can only be oced by a yes/ no option, meaning you can't change how much it over clocks. But again lack of BIOS support will be the issue. When I get mine, I'm going to take it apart on day one and see if the cpu is soldered in, just out of curiosity. I wont actually change it. No plans to.

 

You can't. The CPU's are soldered to the board and you need expensive equipment to properly replace a BGA CPU. All ULV Intel CPU's are BGA, so they're all soldered to the board.

That's not what embedded means. It's a common misconception.

 

SU9600 is 1.6ghz


SU4100 or SU7300 is 1.3ghz or 1.729ghz overclocked (Bios selectable)

So we are all getting a better processor than SU9600 free with warranty intact.

Not sure what the point of this thread is?

 

To know if this laptop can handle hardware upgrades and get a worth improvement before waiting for an i core and know how well it performs at photo editing and video encoding with current processors.

SU9600 is the best of its series ( wikipedia), it has a 8x multiplier against a 6.5x on the SU4100 and SU7300, true they can go to 1.6 or 1.7ghz, but if the SU9600 (if it can be installed) can be oc' that may be better.

 

How so is SU9600 inferior to SU4100 and SU7300 ?

http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=33421

 

When I get the laptop, I'll take it apart and find the PLL, then maybe we can look into SetFSB or explore other OC options.

 

I can help with that if I get mine first. I'm all for pushing my tech to their max.

 

Sounds good, Mine wont be here for at least another month, but possibly two. EDD is 4 APR 2010

 

I think he just answered that because SU9600 has a frequency of 1.6ghz and a oc' SU7300 can go to 1.7ghz.

I don't think that a little more ghz is always better.

 

SU4100 is 2MB 1.3Ghz Cache 800 FSB O.C. 1.6Ghz
SU7300 is 3MB 1.3Ghz Cache 800 FSB O.C. 1.7Ghz

SU9600 is 3MB 1.6Ghz Cache 800 FSB O.C. 2.0 ??

So.....is it still inferior?

A little more ghz is always better.

 

They all have 800MHz FSB:
http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=43568,42791,37264,

SU4100 & SU7300 = 6.5 x 200 = 1300MHz
SU4100 & SU7300 OC = 6.5 x 266 = 1729MHz
SU9600 = 8 x 200 = 1600MHz
SU9600 = 8 x 266 = 2128MHz (highly unlikely successful)

 

I agree that more ghz has better results, but there're some that compare a oc' cpu(SU7300) with a non oc' cpu of higher class(SU9600). So what i mean is that a "more powerful cpu"(SU9600) non oc' can get to perform better than an oc' "less powerful cpu"(SU7300) of little more ghz, in this case IMO worth improved performance would be minimalistic. Now if we are talking about the same CPU non oc' and oc', I will sure what more ghz if possible.

 

I know you understand what I was trying to find out, I may end buying it before you get to look for that but let me know as soon as you know please, thanks.

 

RADEON 5770 has a lower TDP than the 335.

I am going to wait a few months to see if they do a i3 ULV and RADEON config.

Plus, I am quite happy to hear about other people having early adopter problems from now on, rather than myself.

 

Look, seriously, this laptop is 11.6" and if Alienware could have reasonabley done it they would have offered additional CPU upgrades, or Core I CPUs, or whatever other hardware upgrades people keep asking about being possible.

The Alienware brand is not afraid of pricetags, obviously. They will gladly sell you a $3000 laptop or higher even.

Other then RAM/HDD, if you are looking at this system thinking "I want to upgrade it" then its not the system for you.