Alienware x51 R2: video card upgrade

Hi, 

We have never tested this GPU on the Alienware X51 R2 system, so we cannot confirm if it will work properly. We recommend you try searching on several support forums (like Notebook Review and Alienware Arena), some users may already tried this upgrade and posted their results. 

If you have the 330 psu you can upgrade to the GTX 1060 very easily without modding, also check if you have an Ivy Bridge processor. Make sure you buy a GTX 1060 with a reference type of blower, with only 1 fan and exhaust like the 960, you can use the PNY or Zotac edition of that card with reference fan , if you want better card quality build, the Nvidia FE (Founder Edition) is better.

Just Plug and Play.

Were you ever able to test this and upgrade your video card?  Does the card fit in the same slot?

1060 isnt an issue with a 330 watt  adapter .. the 1070  will run  (depending on size)  and some even have a 1080 with minor mods, running in the X51 R3 .. 

i had a 1070 in my X51 R3 for a bit , needed a dual 6 pin to 8 pin  power adaptor  so something to be aware of for the video card..  even a mini 1070 would be a nice upgrade eventually removed it and built a more powerfull rig.. 

video card length  not to exceed 9.5 inches length ..  and i believe 4.375 ish width  but i got a 4.4 inch wide and double slot to fit carefully , otherwise slight mods..  front fan removal etc.. will be required(possibly)

So the 1060 is plug and play no mods needed or messing around with slot?  thank you btw for the information

shouldn't,  the 970 fits straight up without any mods so and was offered in the R3  version ..

the power requirements are roughly the same  between the 960 and 1060 so power wont be a problem with your current adapter either .. just see which power connection you have on the 1060 and if it needs the dual 6 pin to 8 pin adapter cable  as your system only has dual 6 pins..

also if you have issues with it posting, update bios, with your original card,  i hate recommending this as it can fail and brick the motherboard. but from my understanding this bios issue was only an issue with earlier version of the X51 R1 ..  but just be aware you *MIGHT* have to update bios to current revision if it already isn't ..

otherwise its fairly simple but remember the video card is on an adapter board with a riser card to change the card to be parallel with the motherboard, this entire assembly needs be removed then card form that assembly, fairly simple and straight forward tho..  youtube many video's on the subject..

Hey

If there is nothing wrong with your Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 i would recommend that u don't replace it, you wouldnt gain very much at all instead of replacing it i would overclock your 960 getting more out of it but with expense of life of the card then replace later date.

960 to a 1060?  huge improvements brother.. i went from a 970 to a 1070.. and the difference was night and day  the 960-1060 real world is about 30~% improvment  at a minimum over the 960 ..  which puts it just below a 980 ....

i was talking more in cost than anything of course i know there is an improvement but depending on the build u might get that 30% better on overclocking if u won that silicon lottery that is. i personally wait as long as i can before buying 500 video card if u got the money of course, i thought he was asking in such a way cost was involved no offense intended

no offense taken ...    but a 1060 can be had for under 300 cnd  so its not a big leap.. i picked up my 1070 onsale shipped  shortly after release for under 500 cnd .. but  remember the X51 is like a Xbox.. small tiny and crammed with a fairly large video card ,  overclocking generates more heat ..  which it might not be able to remove that added heat  and cause stability issues..  or worst..