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    Upgrading m17x R1 to R2, moving some parts

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Armin_Tanzarian, Apr 7, 2010.

  1. Armin_Tanzarian

    Armin_Tanzarian Notebook Consultant

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    OK, for a variety of reasons I may choose to purchase a m17x r2...with just 1 ATI card, minimal ram, minimal HD. I would like to then transfer from my current r1 all those higher end parts I paid for.

    I currently have dual crossfire, so I'd like to pull the secondary card and move it to the card slot in the new r2. It should already by flashed for slave status right? RAM, SSD, all easily swapped. Maybe even the Blu-Ray in my current for the DVD-R in the new system.

    So correct me if I'm wrong, but swapping the parts and all...this should be a 30 minute job and in the end I have a fully pumped up r2 and a cut down r1 in its place? No BIOS flashing or OS changes really required.

    I swap my QX9300 for the I7, the new revision, fixes a couple of glitches hopefully. And I still have my functional r1 on the side.

    Sound workable to anyone?

    Thanks!
     
    Armin_Tanzarian, Apr 7, 2010
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  2. SAUCE

    SAUCE ★ ★ ★

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    Yeah no problems adding your slave & crossfire cable to the R2.Blu Ray swap out & Gpu with the other things give yourself a good hour to do it.
     
    SAUCE, Apr 7, 2010
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  3. Armin_Tanzarian

    Armin_Tanzarian Notebook Consultant

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    Woohaa, thanks Sauce. Any other issues to be aware of?

    I'm looking at the front of the Blu-Ray and I don't see a face to pull it out, so I'm guessing its back-mounted. DVD-R the same on the R-2?
     
    Armin_Tanzarian, Apr 7, 2010
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  4. ThaDutchy

    ThaDutchy Notebook Evangelist

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    You can't swap the QX9300 for I7, unless you swap the Mobo aswell?
     
    ThaDutchy, Apr 7, 2010
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  5. SAUCE

    SAUCE ★ ★ ★

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    SAUCE, Apr 7, 2010
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  6. Armin_Tanzarian

    Armin_Tanzarian Notebook Consultant

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    Just to be clear, I don't intend to swap the CPU or MB. Just the ram, GPU, and SSD over to the newer bare-bones system.

    To keep my old system functional, I'll place the new excess parts into the old system so that it will be usable, just not my primary machine anymore.
     
    Armin_Tanzarian, Apr 7, 2010
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  7. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    Very doable, good idea in your situation
     
    mfractal, Apr 7, 2010
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  8. darkloki

    darkloki Notebook Deity

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    Yeah I have to replace a Drive on my R2 as well to Blu Ray, do you know of any quick guides to do this? I know how to do a drive install and it should be fairly easy, but slot load drives is something I've never done. the non slot loads are EXTREMELY easy.
     
    darkloki, Apr 7, 2010
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  9. Armin_Tanzarian

    Armin_Tanzarian Notebook Consultant

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    Not me Darkloki. I placed my order for the r2 and will let you know how it goes when I make the change. Shipping is a month out, but I'm hoping for sooner
     
    Armin_Tanzarian, Apr 7, 2010
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  10. trikster

    trikster Notebook Evangelist

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    I have heard that the keyboards are on backorder (read it in a thread here and heard it from a buddy who is getting a replacement for his M1730). Hopefully you get it soon. I like the idea of the swapping of parts, I wish I had the $$ to do that.
     
    trikster, Apr 7, 2010
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  11. Armin_Tanzarian

    Armin_Tanzarian Notebook Consultant

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    I love the m17x, but they seriously need to address their supply chain issues.

    I had major ordering problems for me original, and six months later nothing has been sorted out. Pah!
     
    Armin_Tanzarian, Apr 8, 2010
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  12. beelsr

    beelsr Notebook Consultant

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    beelsr, Apr 8, 2010
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  13. SAUCE

    SAUCE ★ ★ ★

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    SAUCE, Apr 8, 2010
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  14. beelsr

    beelsr Notebook Consultant

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    beelsr, Apr 8, 2010
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  15. ndudsz

    ndudsz Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, I switched the GPUs from my old to new. Went fine took about 15 minutes.
     
    ndudsz, Apr 9, 2010
    #15