upgrading your laptop

Is it possible if say at the CES in January that they have a refresh that includes a 120mhz screen. Is it possible to send in your machine to get upgraded? I understand this is all hypothetical, but does Alienware/Dell do this kind of thing generally? Any info is appreciated.

 

as far as what I have seen / experienced Dell Will sell and install upgrades for your computer, but the parts they will sell have to be defined as the proper replacement or upgraded part for your unit.

They may well sell you a part by using an internal dell part number, but if it is not identified as a part for your laptop it wil not be covered under the laptops existing warranty but rather the standard 30 - 90 day parts warranty

 

You could even change the display by yourself. Check out the service manual for your AW on the Dell site to see all the steps. However, it's not as simple as changing a CPU of GPU, but still, it's totally possible.

 

i wouldn't recommend doing that. unless you feel that your technical skills are reallllly good.

 

Well, it won't be harder than changing a CPU... and there will be less risk of an ESD damage. I don't think it's something which can't be done by oneself.

 

^^ The screen (the entire lid assembly) is fairly easy to replace, but if you need to remove the panel from the lid - some metal cutting/bending might be in order.

 

This is what i was assuming he was going to have to do.

 

Well, take a look in the service manual! No cutting or whatever needed, just a screwdriver and some care. The display panel (as part) comes with the glass in one piece, pretty cool.

 

thats IF you're replacing it with the same screen, with a new screen, it might be slightly different from any of its sides or thickness, so you will HAVE to adjust the screen house/lid to house the screen. It might even be possible that the new screen has a different connector as well, so you have to keep that in mind as well.

 

Yeah, right. Didn't think about this. But anyway, it's totally hypothetical, and anyway Dell will charge you a leg and an arm for a new screen...

 

Swapping panels is fairly easy - look here. Can you tell me which is the R1 and which is the R2 on the pic? Also, one screen is CCFL, another is RGB LED.

But, as Rehangohar said, the problem begins when you need to separate the screen from the glass and replace it with a different panel.

 

Fixed it for you Aikimox

 

So theoretically if I order a M17x wth cf5870 and then a month later the 460 or 470 sli is released for the system, I can call up Dell and have my cards swapped via part numbers? Then would I pay the difference (5870s-470s=$$) or full price?

Thanks guys

 

If you buy the cards from Dell, you'd definitely pay the full price and I'm not sure whether they'd swap it for you, but probably yes.

However, you can buy two 460/470 from somewhere else than dell. So you don't have to wait until there's a refresh on the M17x.

But when planing on buying 460/470 sli I wouln't order the M17x with 5870 sli... save some bucks!