My idea for Dell users looking to upgrade

Hi, I've just joined the forum and have an idea that I wanted some advice with. My laptop is a dell inspiron 15r, it has the 5521
base, intel i7 3537u (boosts to 3.1), 8gb ddr3. The on board intel hd 4000 and a dedicated amd raedon hd 8730m with 2gb ddr3.

So after realising I want a more powerful graphics card I began my research onto upgrading it. Before anyone says I may as well build a desktop or buy a new laptop the I agree but that isn't why I'm making this thread. It's to see if what I want to do is possible and to try and achieve it.

My first idea was to replace the 8730m with something more powerful within the amd mobile chip range. Like the r9 m290 but I don't think I'd be able to get hold of one that fits my laptops frame or whether It will be compatible.

My second idea would be to make an egpu but my laptop doesn't an an epcie... It has one pcie and I'm pretty sure that's taken up with the intel wireless card... So my next idea was to install a small pci express adapter to turn the one slot into two and then wire a connector out through one of the USB holes and have a connector for the wireless and the egpu that way.

My question is are these ideas do able? Will I be able to split the pcie port? My idea would be to use something like this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-additional-sata-iii-3-ports-your-laptop.html

Is this even gpu compatible?

I've been around computers for a long time but like everyone I'm still learning so be gentle

Thanks in advance!

 

I was thinking I could cut a channel from the bottom of the mpcie slot and use an adapter like this:

http://www.hwtools.net/ExtenderBoard/P11S-P11F.html

This seems to be the best bet with the space limitation.

 

I don't have a 15r so fwiw, but the first thing to check is to see if the GPU is soldered or socketed. If it's socketed MXM then you have a shot (though bios white/black list might be an issue) if soldered then nevermind. Also are you referring to a mini-pci? I'm not familiar with an epci? While what you are thinking might be possible - a mini-pci's bandwidth probably won't be good enough for video. You might be able to make all of the physical connections but it may end up performing very poorly - like sticking a PCIE graphics card into a PCI card on your desktop - sure it fits and heck it might even work but if it ends up being slow - what's the point?

 

BTW - the only reason I brought up the bandwidth issue is that before they only used it for wireless / bluetooth cards - not even disk storage (I think it went from mini-pci to msata to m2). If it isn't fast enough for disk storage, I doubt it will be sufficient for video which would be much more bandwith intensive.

 

Its a pci express, sorry I meant external pci when I put epci. As in there's no slot in the side. Here's the slot

I'm hoping I can cut a small slot underneath and sit the connector at the slot, then when I want to connect the egpu I can just plug it in. The major issue is I want to keep my internal wireless network card or maybe move it but need some sort of adapter so that I can split the pcie. Is that even possible to turn one port into 2 but have it extended?

Thanks for the reply btw! There doesn't seem to be much interested in modifying or upgrading on this forum so far? It's mostly just people looking at the same old laptops and companies...

 

the idea was to make a small unit containing a psu and a gpu in the smallest possible case I can make, like a portable booster. They have existed for a while but are only now being taken on by manufactures but they are restricted to being used on their own products, hence why people make egpu's.



Msi are making one: http://www.digitalversus.com/laptop...ltrabook-with-bulky-external-dock-n36105.html



Far too bulky and limited to one laptop....



Dell/Alienware are doing the same:



http://www.dell.com/content/product...amp;cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&sku=452-BBRG



Also bulky and limited to one of their laptops...



I want this mainly for portability and also gaming/benchmarking if I decide to take the egpu box with me. Consoles don't interest me anymore and aren't really that portable hence this idea. I'm hoping to use an nvidia card and utilise the Optimus functionality so I can use the laptop screen keeping it portable. I was think my egpu will be this size:



http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H V3.2.html



Quite big but still smaller than the offerings above!



The only issue I'm facing ATM is literally that I have one internal pcie slot which is utilised by the wireless cars. I need to split that and relocate the wireless card. It may fit on top of the antenna but I've no idea tbh. Then I will feed the other split cable out the back somewhere but it needs to be discrete so I will make it flush with the rear. Only problem with that is the battery pack is in the way....



I know this is a massive pain but it's really interesting at the same time! I think its about time a laptop had desktop power, even though it won't be able to use all its capability due to the speed limitation of the pcie port....

 

Alienware 13

 

Anything by companies are a major rip off. Would rather build it. Also it only works on that ONE laptop and its huge....

Look its a brick:

Not impressed.

Tbh I'm disappointed with this forum. No one has the guts to build anything anymore, they just buy things. Sad times.

 

So I need some help with this as I'm still at the researching stage. I've looked on the he tools site and decided I want the v2 box as its portable and that the card I'll be going for will be a gtx 970. Probably the palit as its clock is 1.2ghz

The issue I'm having is that the case to the laptop is a nice tight fit so I will need to cut the case... The question I have is can I use the port on the motherboard that a USB is utilising ATM:



Here's the full board and on the right is the extra USB:



I think its a 5 pin connection on the motherboard which connects to a USB board?

I was wondering if I could remove that. Widen the hole for the USB and use that as I connecter with some kind of 5 pin to pcie conversion? If not then I will have to use the existing pcie at the back and tbh I can't see an easy way to route it as the battery is in the way. Unless I go straight down and cut out a slot out the bottom of the case....

Any ideas?