Help...Alienware R4

Ok I couldn't help seeing the thread about ASUS and then upgrading to Alienware. I had three, but stopped when one took an 8.1 and was touch screen then stopped responding to touch, I called support and the idiot told me they did not have that model in touch screen when I bought it at best buy as a Touch screen unit when ot was one of three offered. I also built an MSI based Computer in a clear lexan case about ten years ago...It was a little rough with a slightly diagonal cut but I will add a pic for kicks...


I am not really a Gamer just have been around computers since the Trash 80 and Commodore 64 and DOS before the web was invented, I also took electronic education engineering in Tech school when I was 21 a long time ago...to say the least. I did build two websites, and I use my computers a lot.

I just bought yep Alienware R4 and here are the specs I want to max out the Memory and want the best even if I have to remove what is in it to get the most out of what I have I also would like to upgrade or add HDs, so treat me as newbie and help me find the way please...I noticed that (had to laugh a bit at the Pic but) I see that the Prophet is sporting over 5000 post and uses Kurt Russel as avatar...

Please see second page...edited for clarity for all...
Mark

 

Oh thats great the site even named me a newbie, I feel at home already...lol

Thats enough here...
Mark

 

Guess I cant add pic from my laptop..

 

2960xm and 780m

it's an r3 and not an r4, you don't have the 3xxx series cpu. how did you get the 660m though? was is stock or you upgraded it yourself?

 

This is confirmed I bought another one and will sell the first one since Now I am dealing with this...
Processor: Intel i7 3820qm @ 2.7GHz boost to 3.7 GHz
Graphics: Nvidea GTX 675M
Storage: 2x 256GB SSDs in RAID 0 for 512GB
RAM: 32GB DDR3 1600MHz
Screen: 1920x1080 60HZ

 

I have to go to work at 6 in morning Ill be back and any help is appreciated...

Mark

 

Continue to Second page...
Mark

 

You should have at least two HDD slots and one mSATA slot as well as support for 32GB of RAM at I think 2133MHz and your best CPU would be the i7-3940XM. The best GPU that works 100% is the 780M and the 980M can be used with some serious elbow grease (will likely need to remain at stock; will not work very well).

 

I just bought one with 32 Gigs last night for 1000 flat. I will list the specs.

When you comment on the hard drives can you explain max size please? and I believe Solid state is the best from what I am seeing can you break it down or show me an easy way to know which drive would go where and how much is the max? for best Functioning?

Here are the New specs for the new computer (used) the other I may keep upgrade or sell not sure yet...
Alienware M17x r4

Windows 10 as well as Microsoft Office Ultimate 2013.

Processor: Intel i7 3820qm @ 2.7GHz boost to 3.7 GHz
Graphics: Nvidea GTX 675M
Storage: 2x 256GB SSDs in RAID 0 for 512GB
RAM: 32GB DDR3 1600MHz
Screen: 1920x1080 60HZ glossy screen

Edited for clarity I am stoked about the Blue ray Burner installed...hey gotta be happy about this one...


1x Blu-Ray reader/writer drive
1x eSata port
1x S/P DIF port No idea what this means in english..lol

Keep in mind I will be running software such as any game on the system to try it out and when bored, but mostly used for Autocad-Dreamweaver-Photoshop and such...
Im not a big gamer guy, just like massive programs, that seem to eat all memory available...lol
Last question is what kind of boot time can I expect? Just curious...
Thanks guys I am evolving slowly but I will get it...
Mark

 

Ok I see three outputs that can be used for external monitors That is correct right so I could actually have a swordfish thing going one with four monitors including the Laptop display? So how did they connect 6 in the movie?
Thats crazy anyhow wow, Im cant wait to get the computer....

 

Here is another question, would you consider this statement correct?
I ask since this is the one that is coming with mine...lol

This laptop is running on the integrated intel 4000 gpu but I assure you any other r4 with a 675m or 680m will be near the end of its lifespan as these are troublesome cards

If the above statement is true then what is reasonably effective given the new (used ) computer specs price relative for my use?

 

You're asking a whole lot of questions in a LOT of posts but you're not really asking anything.

You need to be very clear and ask us exactly what you want to know, without all the extra stuff.

If you want to know "can I use this GPU" then ask that. If you want to know "how much is this worth" then give the relevant specs (CPU, HDD, RAM, wear & tear, etc) and ask. Don't give me a rundown from a page that builds up information and has a lot of worthless stuff like "no TV tuner" or "intel core™ i7-xxxxQM 3.5GHz @3.5GHz" etc. Don't need to know all that.

And consolidate your posts.

 

If you have an R3 max upgrade is 2960XM + 780M/880M or if it's an R4 which is confirmed, you can put a 3940XM + 970M/980M.. See my upgrade thread in my signature about upgrading to 970M...

 

Ok here it is broken down, I was excited and new to this massive amount of expansion available...
Here is what I will be working with as starting point.
Processor: Intel i7 3820qm
Graphics: Nvidea GTX 675M
Storage: 2x 256GB SSDs in RAID 0 for 512GB
RAM: 32GB DDR3 1600MHz

So first Question is like what I see.
If it has two drives of SSD in RAID (which I dont understand verses Non RAID) then how large can they be, can they both be upgraded to 1 TB each? Im not trying to spend 30000 for a 4T..lol

Next is do you guys know of issues with the GTX675M going bad? if so what is a not so costly upgrade that I could do myself? if needed or when needed.

I also thought there were three bays inside for HD storage is that incorrect with only two and then I could use a SATA connected external say at 7200?

Just copy and paste whichever one you want to answer any help is appreciated as I evolve to the next level...
Thanks for replying also...

 

I cleaned up the entire thread and Now I have calmed down until I receive the Computers...lol
Thanks again.
Mark

 

The GTX 675M is a rebranded GTX 580M which are known to be failure prone cards. The GTX 680M and 780M have been great cards, no widespread failures, and great overclockers.

 

Okay. With a 3820QM, you have a M17x R4. Good.

1 - You can RAID two 1TB drives if you want. Should not be a problem. You do not need to raid them; you can keep them separated.
2 - As Raidriar said, most of those cards haven't lasted till now. I didn't know them to be personally failure prone, but a 970M would be a fantastic upgrade for you, and should only cost in the vicinity of $400 or so. It will be more than three times as powerful than your 675M, I think. You can get a card here: http://rjtech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30307
3 - I do not know if there are three HDD slots, sorry. I know that four SATA connections exist. What I do NOT know is if it is:
2 x HDD, 1 x mSATA, 1 x ODD
or
3 x HDD, 1 x ODD

If there is an eSATA slot and you have a drive supporting it, you can use that. If there is none, regular external USB 2 or USB 3 drives can be connected as you wish.

 

Wow thanks...I got to say that after the last thread I posted..First and foremost someone who understands where I am at...Thanks again for the Help.
I had planned after reading a bit, I almost gave up on this thread actually I did...and after the last one I put up I was headed to sleep and heard the bing of an email thanks.

So I am going to buy 2 1TB drives I found them for 379 each and figure with a ten yr warranty they should be sufficient for a while since My 1T is at 85-90% right now I can still use it as external drive...

The Vid I will keep up with the link If im not getting banned...lol for the last post I made...
So if mine fails I know exactly what to buy thanks, in fat Ill save it now.
I had done a search of what was suggested but then started seeing similar cards and not knowing the configuration of the hard piece and slots and such had no idea which one would work and gave up since I also started reading all about what T+RAID stood for and how it all works...its a lot to digest and Im working a lot plus now im online with you guys...

ok sorry..lol
Here is what you said about the Drives...
2 x HDD, 1 x mSATA, 1 x ODD
or
3 x HDD, 1 x ODD
I will ASSUME again, last time bit me...
2 Hard drives plus 1 mSATA which I assume is inside case? also?
1xODD outside the box?
Told ya Im green here, I promise I can install and take things apart..lol
and even get them back together with only a few extra parts..lol
Once I understand what I am talking about.
Thanks again for the welcome and help.

 

This is one of if not the most helpful forum I've ever seen, ever. You just need to be clear and ask what you mean. A whole lot of beating around the bush doesn't do anything but leave people confused as to what you really want to know.

If there is 2 HDD + 1 mSATA, you could get another SSD if you wished, but you're limited here to 512GB unless you get the 840 Evo (which aren't the best of drives).
The ODD should be a slot-load drive, and internal. You shoulddd be able to remove it and put in another HDD, but I am unsure as to how it works and more importantly, unsure as to whether or not the connector for that slot runs at SATA 3 or SATA 2.

 

Do you need more storage? You can get a 1TB mSATA SSD or put a 1TB/2TB HDD in the optical disk bay... You'll need a caddy to do that..

The 675M is an ok card but it's a rebagged 580M which could go bad anytime.. If you want to upgrade the GPU, you can get a 970M for like $450 from RJTech in US (It is a Clevo card, when you buy it, tell them you need NVIDIA heatsink screws too)... You should be able to use your 675M heatsink.. You have 32GB RAM so no point upgrading that..

 

I just learned what the mSATA was...I know I know. Mini...
Thats how bad it is, So i really did not know how to ask the correct Questions, and yes the site is helping now with you guys...
Ok in regards to the drive comment by
I am purchasing right now ...675
2 Mushkin MKNSSDRE1TB drives for also now looking into the Vid Card you suggested with the advice also about heat sink...

Now this is what I call helping thanks a lot guys...
Thanks again...

 

Put a 1TB/2TB HDD in the optical disk bay you mean the DVD Blue ray Burner Bay?

Im looking into that Board for Graphics now...Thanks for the help.
I will keep the Other thread going and keep them both much simpler now.
Thanks again

 

Im bouncing to here now http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/lets-start-here.775868/#post-10001958

 

You're doing the "posting too many posts" thing again man.

 

Actually I was kinda closing this one thats why I put the link up, from my first day to now there has been a vast improvement of help received as well as my getting better on my post size, I did not want to jump back and forth...
but I still appreciate everyone's help I think I have a handle on it now...
I am not saying I can build the best computer but I should have a pretty mack daddy set up in storage and functions...
Then I will do as you guys advised and upgrade to the better Graphics card, which you were also helping me with...

Question: It is possible to upgrade to 3D with a new vid card correct? and then which one of these would you recommend?
Mark

 

You can only upgrade to 3D if you have the eDP connector on the motherboard as the 120Hz screen requires that.

 

Ok then I would assume this would also require a new screen?
I guess thats a bit much for me to attempt...lpl