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    Alienware Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Speedy Gonzalez, Jun 5, 2011.

  1. Speedy Gonzalez

    Speedy Gonzalez Xtreme Notebook Speeder!

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    There is not much mods we can do to the M18X but i want to protect my palmrest so i covered with carbon fiber vinyl if some body do a different mod please post here :)

    [​IMG]
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  2. jt-3

    jt-3 Notebook Consultant

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    That looks pretty sweet. Where'd you get it? How hard was it to install?
     
  3. Simplified

    Simplified The Most Awesome

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    That looks really awesome!
    Is it a skin you put on the palmrest?
     
  4. Speedy Gonzalez

    Speedy Gonzalez Xtreme Notebook Speeder!

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    from here CFWrap | Best Carbon Fiber Farbic Trim Wrap DIY in the World! , is kind of hard you have to remove the palmrest to do it properly
     
  5. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    That's pretty cool, Speedy :D
    Any marks on the screen or is it thin?
     
  6. avatar1973

    avatar1973 Notebook Enthusiast

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    That looks really good. How long did it take to do?
     
  7. Quadzilla

    Quadzilla The eye is watching you

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    Great work Speedy, it looks fantastic ;).
     
  8. SOS4DELL

    SOS4DELL A Notebook Philosopher

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    Speedy you're #1!!! What a delicate work! What a finish! My sincere admiration. You have very, but real very, good hands. Did you take a video of the process? It can be a "hit"!
    ( Whish I could learn this 'trick'... my experience with rubber covers are not so good. We have here several Logitech mouses which have that rubber cover and loose it after a while)
     
  9. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

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    owowowwo that looks amazing : o
     
  10. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

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    Awesome job! Dell should hire you into their design team oles!

    Cheers. :)
     
  11. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Great Job, Speedy! How does the skin feel to touch compared to the rubber finish?
     
  12. Speedy Gonzalez

    Speedy Gonzalez Xtreme Notebook Speeder!

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    No marks on the screen because the rubber bumpers are doing complete contact with the vinyl :)

    couple hours but it was the first time i work with this material :D

    I didn't record a video lol but it's simple all you need to do is remove the palmrest and touchpad then install the vinyl you need a hair drier for the curve parts on the front :)

    Call me crazy but i can't stop rubbing my hand over and over on my palmrest :D :eek: the texture is real nice and is not sticky like the stock finish and the good thing is if you don't like it is reversible :)
     
  13. Seblock

    Seblock Notebook Consultant

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    Oh man. I believe this glossy back will perfectly combine with the back light LED make the system extremely gorgeous. Thanks for the creation.

    P/s but do you think it would damage the palmrest rubber finish when we take it off?
     
  14. SOS4DELL

    SOS4DELL A Notebook Philosopher

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    ...and, could it 'help' Dellienware, providing excuses to avoid our warranty if we need it? ( some of us are very dependent of the full warranty)
     
  15. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Once upon a time 2 years ago a contracted dell tech came over and worked on my laptop. They had to replace the motherboard and the tech was actually asked what condition the laptop is in. I'm pretty sure most of the time they are nice about repairs but do get suspicious on some repairs.
     
  16. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Then why not wait for parts to show up and get a spare(casing, palmrest, whatever you want to customise) ? ;)
     
  17. avatar1973

    avatar1973 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the information. Have you had any experience doing a mod similar to this before?

    Once again - great job!
     
  18. SOS4DELL

    SOS4DELL A Notebook Philosopher

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    Actually you read my thoughs. I was waiting for Speedy answers since he actually HAVE a lot of experience... ;)
     
  19. kapros2011

    kapros2011 Notebook Enthusiast

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    i want it !!!!
     
  20. inap

    inap .........................

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    another awesome job man!!! loving it +rep
     
  21. Speedy Gonzalez

    Speedy Gonzalez Xtreme Notebook Speeder!

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    if you remove carefully with a hair dryer there is no way you can damage the finish and if some glue is left you can use alcohol to remove it

    No because they can't see the machine and the techs don't care and even if you have to send it to DELL you can just remove it and it will get back to normal :)
    they usually don't care about that i have techs who left all the parts with me and they comeback next day to pick them up :D

    Thanks, this is the first job like this i try, here is some of my past paint jobs :D
    [​IMG]

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    and this is the matte screen mod i still working on that i may cover the bezel with vinyl
    [​IMG]

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
    [​IMG]

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
     
  22. Speedy Gonzalez

    Speedy Gonzalez Xtreme Notebook Speeder!

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    Thanks inap and all you guys ;)
     
  23. Zero989

    Zero989 Notebook Virtuoso

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    damn speedy, thats some amazing work. i was thinking about a glossy orange paint theme just like the old VoodooPC notebooks. mmmm
     
  24. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Which i own :cool: :D hope some day i'll finally finish mine :rolleyes: (LCD lid pending..)
     
  25. SOS4DELL

    SOS4DELL A Notebook Philosopher

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    Which I may say ARE AWESOME!!! (even if I saw them for second time). :D
     
  26. Speedy Gonzalez

    Speedy Gonzalez Xtreme Notebook Speeder!

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  27. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Wish I could touch the surface to compare it to the rubber before I pay them 50$ for experiments. The stock palmrest surface feels pretty good to me and it's not even a rubber, you can't easily scratch it but the grease stains are easily cleaned with wipes, so I dunno... Are there any less textured (and maybe paintable?) vinyl wraps out there?
     
  28. inap

    inap .........................

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    yea there are paintable and printable vinyls that you can use to wrap. i used a white printable vinyl for my wrap.
     
  29. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Any links to good sellers, M8?
     
  30. inap

    inap .........................

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    i get most of my stuff from here:

    FELLERS, the World's Largest Wrap Supply Company

    you have to open an account with them, request a catalog.. they have alot of great stuff.

    btw what do you guy think about this color combination, too tacky???
     

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  31. MartinReyes

    MartinReyes Notebook Consultant

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    Are you a Boston Celtics fan by any chance? :)
     
  32. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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  33. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    I personally love how they go together :D
    Except the Celtics part :rolleyes:
     
  34. Ponzu

    Ponzu Notebook Geek

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    is there like replacement parts of, for example palmrest and outer shell that is made already and for sale
     
  35. TheMacs

    TheMacs Notebook Consultant

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    Anyone know if anyone else has tried re-anodizing the body?
     
  36. SOS4DELL

    SOS4DELL A Notebook Philosopher

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    Yeah! that's the idea: if we can get (buy) a made on-request palmrest already covered with carbon-fiber... with the cover in diagonal, horizontal or vertical... It can be great! ;)
     
  37. Podunks

    Podunks Notebook Consultant

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    I cant find any online but ill def be looking!!
     
  38. SOS4DELL

    SOS4DELL A Notebook Philosopher

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    You wouldn't find any... just from the mighty hands of the mighty mouse (SpeedyGonzales)... If someone can pay, maybe (just maybe), he can do it for him/she... :D That's the final frontier of 'cosmetics'
     
  39. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Give it time there will be parts available soon online.
    here's the list of the M18x parts numbers:
    Bottom Plastic
    13PC8 Bottom Base, Black
    1988J Bottom Base, Red
    J6NT3 Assembly, Keyboard, Frame
    JM0N0 Assembly, Bottom Door, Black
    N6JR7 Assembly, Door, LCD Cover, Hand Grip

    Cables and Cords
    0R215 Power Cord 15A, 125V, 10FT
    436V8 Assembly, Bluetooth Cable
    5120P Power Cord, 6FT
    5FG2Y I/O Board Cable
    67GPX Power Button Cable
    GG7V9 Media, Daughter Board, Cable
    JT0HD LOGO Board Cable
    KFR5C NumberLock Board Cable
    K8 ODD Cable
    7VKT9 ODD Bracket W/Cable
    9JP9M HDD FPC Cable
    KFNTK HDD Bracket W/Cable

    DVD-ROMs
    1HC8F 8x DVD+/-RW HLDS
    M5F6V 8X DVD+/-RW PLDS
    P94GT 6x DVD+/-RW/BD-ROM HLDS

    HDD
    PVGPX 256GB SSD-S3, 2.5", Liteon Vangogh
    4K2C3 256GB SSD-S2, 2.5", Samsung PM810
    R6KNT 750GB S2-P11-4KE, 7.2K, 2.5", Seagate Desaru
    65X3D 500GB, S2, 7.2K, 2.5",P11, ANAK
    23NXF 320GB S2-P11, 7.2K, 2.5", Samsung MP4
    34C6N 320GB S2-P11, 7.2K, 2.5", 4KE, 7MM, Seagate Julius
    J1CM4 320GB SATA2-P11, 7.2K, 2.5", Western Digital MX320-1
    PPHPX 320GB S2-P11, 7.2K, 2.5", Toshiba


    Heatsinks, Fans
    0TYGV Heat Sink, VGA, Left
    HD9NJ Heat Sink, CPU, Qual Core, XE
    P0DG8 FAN, Graphic Card, Master, LF
    X4KPF Heat Sink, CPU, Qual Core
    XHW5W FAN, Graphic Card, Slave, Right
    Y8T9Y Heat Sink, VGA, 6970, Left

    Keyboards and Mice
    9M46F Keyboard

    LCD Plastics, Covers
    J1C2G LCD Cover, Red
    122RP LCD Cover, Black
    99FWD LCD Hinge w/Cap, Left
    615Y8 LCD Hinge w/Cap, Right
    8NW7M LVDS Cable
    PYVWX Camera / Array Mic Module

    LCD/Display
    8075V LCD, W/PMMA+Frame+Bracket+WLAN Antenna
    DNF7J LCD, W/PMMA+Frame+Bracket+WLAN & DMC Antenna

    Memory
    FYHV1 4GB, 1600MHZ, 512X64, 8K, 204
    0X23C 2GB, 1600MHZ, 256X64, 8K, 204
    Y7W7C 2GB, 1600MHZ, 256X64, 8, 200, XMP
    YR6MN 8GB, 1333MHZ, 1024X64, 8, 204
    X830D 4GB, 1333MHZ, 512X64, 8K, 204
    PX72C 4GB, 1333MHZ, 512X64, 8K, 204
    560NY 2GB, 1333MHZ, 256X64, 8K, 204
    F073F 2GB, 1333MHZ,256X64,8K,204
    V1RX3 2GB, 1333MHZ, 256X64, 8K, 204

    Miscellaneous Hardware
    0JDJY Power Button LED Board (w/ Cable)
    4R02P PWA, Daugter Board, Media
    FMG89 PWA, Daugter Board, Numlock
    98X52 PWA, LED Logo Board, W/Cable
    HR8KV PWA, Power Button Button
    TPK3N PWA, I/O Board W/Cable
    D0N00 Coin Battery, W/Cable
    F1RJC Thermal PAD, PSX, Qual/Dual Core CPU
    HV240 Touchpad LED Board w/Cable
    K26CW Speaker LED Board, W/Cable
    W2TRW Touchpad Button w/Bracket

    Motherboards
    61J35 Motherboard w/ Thermal Pad, Qual Core,(Contain MB C9XMR+Thermal Pad F1RJC)
    C9XMR MotherBoard, order and dispatch Service Kit 61J35

    Palmrests
    H1KWK Palmrest, W/Touch Pad

    Power Source
    FCPW3 Battery, 97W HR,12 Cells, SIMPLO
    V48RM Battery, 97W HR,12 Cells, SANYO
    J211H AC Adapter, 240W, 3Pin, Delta
    J938H AC Adapter, 240W, 3Pin, Flextronics
    XM3C3 AC Adapter, 330W, 3Pin, Delta

    Processor Modules
    06335 Alcohol Swap for Cleaning Pad
    27TV3 i7-2920XM 2.5GHz, 4C, Sandy Bridge, D2
    DYP1X i7-2920XM w/Thermal Pad 2.5GHz, 4C (Contain CPU 27TV3+Thermal Pad F1RJC)
    2VKDW i7-2820QM 2.3GHz, 4C, Sandy Bridge, D2
    F1FF1 i7-2820QM w/Thermal Pad 2.30GHz, 4C (Contain CPU 2VKDW+Thermal Pad F1RJC)
    KN579 i7-2720QM 2.2GHz, 6MB, Sandy Bridge
    P18YD i7-2720QM w/Thermal Pad 2.2GHz, 4C (Contain CPU KN579+Thermal Pad F1RJC)
    7YPMV i7-2630M 2.0GHz, 4C
    M4Y6F i7-2630QM w/Thermal Pad 2.0GHz, 4C (Contain CPU 7YPMV+Thermal Pad F1RJC)
    RTRCG FAN, CPU
    6MGMN Back Plate, CPU

    Software
    40DV6 W7HP64
    DW6RN W7HP64
    446JR W7P64
    JR7NY W7P64
    DYHHR W7U64
    TMCCD W7U64
    JF3V7 Resource DVD
    VD2HY Adobe Standard ver 10 (ver. X), Card w serial product key
    CTTHN Adobe Elements 8
    W7NRW Adobe Premier Elements 8
    797D0 Microsoft Office 2010 Professional
    N99X6 Microsoft Office 2010, Home & Student
    WR1P7 Microsoft Office 2010, Home & Business
    94JT2 PowerDVD 9.5.1
    R4DW2 PowerDVD 3D 9.6
    5G9T8 Roxio Creator 2011
    CYYW9 McAfee Platinum
    T1WKW Fast Access Facial Recognition 3.0
    WC3YD Dell Webcam Central 2.0

    Speakers
    P8HYR Speaker, Subwoofer
    VVN5Y Speaker, L+R

    Video Card (VGA)
    V9XKH AMD Blackcomb XT HD6970
    29NC1 AMD Blackcomb XT HD6970 Right Heat Sink
    RYVMN AMD CFX (CrossFireX) cable
    VDV04 Nvidia M460m N11e-GS
    5DWH3 Nvidia M460m N11e-GS Right Heat Sink
    GDMRG Nvidia SLI Cable

    Wireless
    2GGYM Intel Link 6200 WiFi Half Mini Card
    4W00N Intel Link 6300 WLAN WiFi Half Mini Card
    G9M5X 375 Foxconn Bluetooth module (Does not include cable)
    WJCJD 375 Liteon Bluetooth Module (Does not include cable)
    YWXT1 SiBeam Antenna Cable<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
     
  40. kunekaden

    kunekaden Notebook Deity

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    looks like an xbox imo!
     
  41. kenny27

    kenny27 Notebook Deity

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    i looked into it but never ended up doing it
    here is a link if any ones interested
    its for paintball guns but the same principals apply
     
  42. inap

    inap .........................

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    work in progress but still would like to share
    [​IMG]
     
  43. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

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    :D :eek: WOW man! :eek:

    Awesome stuffs. I've always wanted a green ALIEN!
    Keep us posted! :p

    Cheers. :)
     
  44. skygunner27

    skygunner27 A Genuine Child of Zion

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    Your green mod + green AlienFX is gonna look SICK!!!
    + 1 REP!!
     
  45. MartinReyes

    MartinReyes Notebook Consultant

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    I'm leaning towards painting my case too. How difficult is it to get the shell separated from the rest of the laptop?
     
  46. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    follow the online manual and it's fairly easy but takes time. Just be careful and no rush.

    @Inap,

    Awesome job, very sick :)
    +1 rep
     
  47. MartinReyes

    MartinReyes Notebook Consultant

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    Does Dell sell the shell separate from the laptops? It might be nice to have several I can swap out every now and then.
     
  48. MartinReyes

    MartinReyes Notebook Consultant

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    Say that 10 times fast - I dare you.
     
  49. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

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    Freaking awesome. But, does that void the warranty????
     
  50. inap

    inap .........................

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    ummm its a spare case, and i don't plan on telling dell about it ;)
     
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