E1705 Motherboard Upgrade

Ok, heres the deal.

I got a free used E1705 with the integrated video card. I am wanting to upgrade to a video card I can actualy play games with. So I know I need another motherboard also, my question, is which one (part number) do I need.

I have found a TM282 and a DF047 that do not have integrated video and support OEM ATI and NVIDIA cards.

What I basicaly need is somebody to tell me which motherboard I need to buy to make my E1705 do what im looking for.

Thanks!

 

Good luck! Not a desk top! Do you or anyone actually think there is an after market? I do not want to discourage you but have major doubts at this point. Like I said, Good luck!

 

You need to get a motherboard (probably off eBay) made (or pulled from) an E1705. These are all custom parts, and you have to get something EXACT. And if it isn't made by or sold by Dell (made by as in made by Dell but sold on eBay) it will not work.

Powerpack is right, this isn't a desktop. Try to find a mobo off eBay!

 

I'm actually curious if you could use a board from an XPS 1710 or a Precision M6300 as they all use pretty much the same chassis... anyone have any thoughts on the complications there?

 

The XPS might not work, because there was a different (and more powerful) cooling solution that they used to accommodate GPUs more powerful than the 7900GS (the most powerful GPU available for the 1705). At least I think the cooling solutions were different.

I do not have a reference, but I seem to remember someone trying to use an XPS motherboard or an XPS-pulled 7900GTX and use it in a 1705 and it did not go so well. Play it safe and stick with 1705 parts only.

Same applies to the precision model, mostly because erring on the side of caution is definitely better than wasting a few $$$ on a part that will not work.

 

Allow me to clarify. When I say after market, I simply mean parts from the used market (like ebay). And I have been able to identify 3 different motherboards from the E1705, one with integrated video, and 2 with discrete video, and im trying to find somebody with a E1705 who has a part number on their MoBo, so I can be sure and get the right one of the two. From all my searching, any of the video cards that were original options on the E1705 will work on either of the two boards, so im not even sure what the difference is, thats what im trying to figure out.

Thanks!

 

Not sure about the difference between the boards. They might be different revisions. I'll try to look into it later, but no guarantees on an answer.

As for the GPU though, just make sure its pulled from another Dell machine. MXM or similar tech does not work, and I'd hate to see you waste money.

If a single port or internal component layout is different between the two models, I can guarantee you it would not work. That's why I'm worried about the XPS board working because I thought there was a different layout on the cooling solution.

If EVERYTHING lines up the same, it might be possible. Though I cannot say if anyone has actually tried it before!

Oh, and if you want someone to look up a part number on their computer without having to crack it open...download CPU-Z and go to the "Main Board" tab in there. It should ID a model number for the motherboard.

 

As a side note, does anybody have any idea what the biggest vid I can put in is? I know the 7900GS is compatable and came OEM with the E1705, but what about the 7900 GTX, its the same form factor, fits the M1710, which has vid cards that are cross compatable with the E1705.

Thanks.

 

7900GS will work. I cannot say about the GTX though, because I'm not 100% sure if the cooling solutions are identical. If they are, you might need to update BIOS or something on the E1705 to work with the GTX though...not sure.

You might want to try to find pictures of both cards (with coolers attached) and compare. Not to mention find someone (not me!) that actually has this notebook and not just worked on them sometimes.

The 7900GS is a monster, even by today's standard if you ask me. Even if that is all you are "stuck" with, that is an incredible card.

 

The only thing with the 7900GTX is the extra heat pipe, which, the E1705 ironically has provisions for, its just missing a fan and the vents are blocked off, but it has the same contours and space for it.

I know this is a doable project, because aside from the maybe on the GTX, everything else is from other E1705's, im just swapping internal components, the MBO and adding a discrete video card. Im probably just going to use the GS, I just need to make sure the DF047 motherboard is what I want. (Im 99% positive its the MBO I need.)

 

If it is missing a fan and the vent is not there, do not use the GTX. You'll have heating problems. Try to find someone with that motherboard revision and find out, and ask the seller to confirm it will work with the E1705.

 

OK, so the 7900GTX is possible, but you need the XPS 130w power supply and the 9 cell battery to make it work, so, thats out. 7900gs it is!

If anybody has the info for the motherboard I would be very thankful!

Thanks.

 

Good luck revrenhex! PM me if you need anything else!

 

UPDATE!!!

I got my parts in, swapped my motherboard and added the video card, and found a couple of issues.

1. The model with integrated video is missing the VGA fan, and you NEED it to keep it cool. So i had to purchase it separate.

2. The MBO I purchased was used off eBay and had water damage, and after 24 hours of tinkering, I could not make it work reliably, so I contacted the seller and am in the process of swapping it with him.

3. The VGA cooling vents on the integrated video mother board base are filled in, and must be dremmled out to allow air flow.

Other than those problems, it was perfect and It did run for about 6 hours and allow me to play games on it, before the MBO died....again.

I would say if you purchased the laptop it wouldn't be a costworthy upgrade, as it has cost me 450. But I got the lappy for free if I could fix it, so for 450, Ive got a dual core gamer. Not bad in my book.

Thanks for the help!

 

Ok, its been a long time in the works, but its finally done. I got shafted on 2 different eBay auctions for motherboards (Unopened from dell! - and it had water damage), etc etc. Once I finally got those resolved and got a working motherboard from a 3rd eBayer. I got my case drilled out, purchased a VGA fan, installed the motherboard, 7900GS, chip, ram etc etc and

BAM!!

A working E1705 with discrete video. Thanks for everybody's help!!!

 

Now you need to get the dual pipe and drop the 7950GTX if you can find it cheap enough. I'm still looking; not paying $400 for a pulled unit off ebay without knowing a bit of background on the source. You can also drop in a T7400 socket M but the prices are still stupid new.

 

I know its 5 months later, but what did you do with your integrated vidoe mb? I have a XPS 9400 with a dead board and I'm looking for a replacement.

if you happen to read this let me know
thanks
J

 

Hey.

Sorry but I sold that bad boy on eBay to recoup some of my cost of the upgrade!


But as an update, many months later and its still gaming like a champ!

 

So I'ma necro this thread with a question.

I have the E1705/9400 Inspiron with the onboard Intel 945 Chipset. The motherboard model is Dell 0FF049. Is that the same one you had or is mine even ****tier than your free one? If it is the same one, I am gonna look into replace it the same way you did yours and hopefully get something.

I tried a 7900 GTX a while back but my mobo couldn't supply enough power to it. Thought I installed it wrong and by the time I realized it was DOA it was too late to send it back

So with the money I'll be getting for my B-day and X-mas I was gonna invest into this. I've been checking out the prices of the Dell DF047 and at $230.00 with a warranty that's a pretty good deal.

So... yeah do you remember if your mobo in your E1705 was the 0FF049?

 

Although Im not 100% sure, that does sound right. I do believe that is the motherboad I had. I was able to put that 7900GS in mine after the DF047 motherboard swap, and it runs everything I have every tried to play on it. CoD4, Fear, Crysis, UT3, etc etc. The only thing I had to do in terms of the case is dremel out the openings behind the vid card vent. Ohh, and buy a fan for the vid card. They can be purchased from dell's website for under $10. From what I understand, the 7900GTX will run on that board, you just have to buy the beefier power supply (the one thats bigger than the 90w, the one that comes with the XPS system).

Hope that helps!