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    Alienware M17-R1

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by mjkalafut, Dec 31, 2014.

  1. mjkalafut

    mjkalafut Newbie

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    I am looking for some help and advice, I know computers and never done anything like this before and want to try it. I bought an M17-R1 bare bones laptop and want to build it. I have so many questions as to what to get because I don't want to get something that I think will work and then turn out not to work. So i figured that I would ask you guys first. The only thing the laptop does not come with is an operating system, hard drive, memory and a wifi card. So here is what I am asking:

    Video Card: it comes with a Dual ATI HD3870 512MB Video Card CrossFire

    Processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme Mobile QX9300 OEM 2.53Ghz 12MB 1066FSB SLB5J? I did some research and found out that this is probably the only processor I can use. Yes or no. If no then which one can I get?

    Hard Drive: ? (not sure)

    Wifi Card: ? (not sure)

    Memory: ? (not sure) I know that the max is 8gb

    Again any help is greatly appreciated
     
    mjkalafut, Dec 31, 2014
    #1
  2. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    Hi with the R1, you will be limited to Dual 5870M CF for GPU and QX9300 will be the best CPU.. RAM limit is 8 or 16GB and HDD well you have 2 bays so you can get up to 2 9.5mm 2.5" HDD..

    Wifi card would be some intel one, get the 6300 which is good.. You should be able to upgrade screen to 1920x1200 RGBLED screen but I'm not sure about this

    Otherwise, more ambitious upgrade would be to replace the motherboard with a R2 one which can be done, get a i7-920XM CPU and dual 7970M CF GPU..
     
    TomJGX, Jan 1, 2015
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