Processor's and RAM help?

Hello, for the Alienware M17 (aka the Whitebook).
If I went with just two cores for now (don't have the money at the moment for the quad) could I upgrade it later? What would I have to go through to upgrade it? buy and install? Or the motherboard is different when you go with 2core's from the start?
Also, since Alienware is charing 100dollars per GB of RAM, I was going to upgrade it myself.
I'm shooting for 3GB RAM. And if I go with 2GB when I buy it, where would I buy the extra 1GB? It would be cheaper right? (I think I might have to buy a 2GB stick because I think it's two 1GB sodimms instead of 1 2GB sodimm)
But someone correct me and help me out on that?
Thank's.

 

For the quads, I'm not sure. They use the same PM45 chipset as the duals, but require a different pin-out. This would be something you'd have to ask an experienced alienware tech, one who knows what they are talking about.

For mem, you can buy 4GB of DDR3 with decent latencies for about $130. If you choose to only do 2GB, make sure you do 2x1024 modules, else you'll take a huge memory performance hit.

 

If Alienware is currently not offering an option for a Quad, it is unlikely you'll be able to upgrade to one....

Reasons: No BIOS Support; Requires better/larger heat-sink; Requires a revised motherboard.

Crucial's DDR3 RAM is good and cheap. If you want to upgrade to 3GB or 4GB later yourself, go for 2GB (single module)....


Hey emike09, performance hit ?

 

AW offer quad on the m17

 

I think he is referring to running RAM in dual channel.

To be honest, I would not recommend two 1GB sticks. Dual channel offers an insignificant increase in performance. NEGLIGIBLE.

You are better off with you one 2GB stick as it will be much cheaper to buy one 2GB stick to max out your RAM whereas with two 1GB sticks you will need to toss both!

 

Alienware offers Quadcores in the list of processors when you're customizing your system. I just don't have the money to buy one right now. And was wondering if I went with just the two core (P8600) If I could buy a Quadcore later on in the future.

And this is how it goes for RAM when customizing.
2GB (two 1GB sticks) , included in price.
3GB (one 2GB stick and one 1GB stick), for 100dollars more.
4GB (two 2GB sticks) for 200dollars more.

So thats paying 100dollars per GB of RAM, which is really stupid it in my eyes.

So I want to go with the 2GB that's included in the price (it IS 2x 1GB sticks), and upgrade it to 3GB myself later. Would that mean all I would have to do is buy one 2GB stick and pop replace one of the 1GB sticks already in it (equaling 3GBs, 1x 2GB stick, 1x 1GB stick). Or that wouldn't work?

 

That would work. With upgrading the processor, it would be at least $700 on the street, but the memory AW sells for $200 is a bit overpriced as well.

 

Which did you mean would work? just popping in a QuadCore in the future? Or buying a 2GB stick of ram and popping it in with one of the 1GB it already comes with installed?
Also, can you give me a link to RAM that is compatible with it? Like the exact one? If thats not to much to ask.
And you mean 700dollars on the street to buy a Quadcore right?

 

Both should work. However I would ask alienware about the quad core being compatible with a chipset using the p8600.
the exact compatible RAM would be:
1066mhz or 1333mhz 204 Pin DDR3 RAM for laptops.
and the quad core would be around $700, maybe more.

 

Do you think they'd change the chipset in the systems when they put the options?
Like say someone orders a M17 with a P8600.
And someone else orders it with a Quad core.
Think they'd change the chipset as well?
The 1GB stick's it would come with are 1066mhz, so that means go with that one right? Or could i have a 2GB 1333mhz stick with a 1GB 1066mhz stick?
Also what brand of RAM would you prefer? (know nothing about it, but from tutorials. it seems really easy to install yourself so just need to know what brand, where to buy, etc)

Also thanks for the help.

 

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT25664BC1067

Will that work if I just took out one of the 1GB sticks and put that one in its slot, and that's all i'd have to do to have 3GB RAM? Or it's not that simple?

 

Also since I am on a budget.
Is the T9400 Processor even worth the extra $150dollars over the P8600?
And how is the WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD screen on 17" laptops? If I bought the 1920-1200 I would probably have to lower the resolution anyway to read the text and stuff on the screen right? so it only comes in handy with gaming, correct? To view it better? How much better would it be though?.
Thats also a 200dollar upgrade.
So the P8600 combined with 3870s in crossfire, I should be able to run any game on the market and be future proof for awhile, I hope?

Thank you.