Need Graphics Card Upgrade m15x

Question

Hi all, I have got an old Alienware M15x i7 Q840 (1.86Ghz) with 8GB RAM. I dont play computer games any more and just use the PC for movies and for work. (I'm a Business Analyst and work with very large spreadsheets / data tables / VB / SQL etc.)

I just got a new monitor to make working from home a bit easier as it is great for multi tasking and has a very high resolution. (Dell UltraSharp U3415W 34-Inch Curved LED.) Problem is that the graphics card on this machine ***. (NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M) I have two questions, 1. Is there a graphics card I could throw in there that would allow me to get the full resolution from my monitor (3440 x 1440) and how hard would it be to install? I am pretty handy and have swapped parts out before but my experience there is relatively limited when it comes to laptops.)

2nd question - which is another option if I can find a good deal, is: Are there any sites or companies that I can pay to custom build a tower PC for me? I dont want to spend an arm and a leg and like I said, I do not play video games any more.. but I am, what you'd call a "power user" due to the large data I work with... so would want to get a solid setup for home use. I've been wanting to build my own the time has not been available to do that yet so thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone had any suggestions for me.

Side Notes: I got a very good deal on a Samsung SSD 850 PRO 256GB (Also have a Seagate 4GB Fast HDD Portable Drive that I use for all my storage)

Appreciate any input or help thrown my way regarding these 2 questions! Thanks!

Game7a1 · Accepted Answer

What people mean by Clevo/Dell versions is the vBIOS of the card has to be either from Dell or from Clevo. If you get one from MSI, it won't work. MXM is just the form factor, and most 7970ms are in MXM.

That link you have should be fine.

Guttmann1983 · Answer

Those are all 6-$700+ gpus arent they? Not sure I would get enough bang for my buck there, right?

No options for USB Video Cards? That may be a dead end for me as well because I installed a startech usb3 express card and iti barely functions... tried different drivers and trouble shooting for 8-9 hours and eventually gave up.

Game7a1 · Answer

1. Out of the validated Alienware-tested GPUs (Best being GTX 460m / HD 5850m), you may not get 3440x1440 with them. However, some people in the community have tested and said that the HD 7870m / Friepro 6000m and HD 7970m are plug-and-play, and they should be able to output the resolution you want. (Note: If needed, you can upgrade the amount of RAM you have to 16 GB.)

2. Hmm... if you mean workstation computer or just a PC with powerful consumer components?

Guttmann1983 · Answer

And 2nd question - I guess really I just mean a pc with powerful consumer components. I just dont need any addons for gaming or want any bloatware.

Game7a1 · Answer

No, they're cheaper than that. The high price for mobile GPUs are usually those that are recent (like the GTX 980m).

An HD 7970m can be found for under $300 on ebay. A Firepro m6000 can be found for under $100 on ebay (there really aren't that many places to buy mobile GPUs).

As for your other question, you could opt to take whatever parts you buy to a local tech shop and pay them to build it for you. That is, if they do that.

Guttmann1983 · Answer

Ah, I see. So out of those which would you suggest? Would they both give me the full use of my resolution/pixels of the new monitor and are they just plug and play? Sorry for multiple qs.. just trying to boil it down to 1.

Game7a1 · Answer

As I said earlier about them, yes.

If you aren't gaming, the m6000 should suit you well. It's also a workstation mobile card.

If you do want to do some gaming in the future (a re-interest in gaming), the HD 7970m should suit you well.

MooresCode · Answer

Hi!

New to the forums.. I'm also looking into upgrading my GPU, but I'm a massive noob in the upgrading department and could use some help. Have an Alienware m15x (laptop from 2010). Specs:

Alienware M15x MLK : Base Cosmic Black
N11W1501 1 S
Processor : Intel Core i7 740QM (1.73 Ghz,6MB,4C) 1 S
Display : 15.6in Wide HD+ (1600 x 900) WLED 1 S
Memory : 4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel 1 S -- This has been upgraded to 8GB (2x4GB) last year
Power Supply : Alienware 150W AC Adapter 1 S
Power Cord : European 220V 1 S
Graphics : 1GB ATI Mobility RADEON HD 5850

After reading a lot of different forums I've pretty much concluded that a HD 7970 is what I'm going for. My question is what "version" of the HD 7970 fits/works with my laptop? Keep reading about CLEVO/MXM/Dell "versions" and feel a bit confused here. Also, because I live in Norway, and I'm able to find any norwegian retailers that sell this card, it's looking like my only choice is to order from ebay (com/co.uk). This means I will have to pay an additional ca. 20% (of the cost of the card) customs fee just to get it over the border so I REALLY don't want to buy the a "wrong vesion" and have to buy a second card later..This brings me to my second question. Will the GPU in the following link work with my laptop?:

Appreciate any help I can get on this matter :)

MooresCode · Answer

Thanks for clearing that up for me, GAME7A1 :) Will be fun to see how much of a difference the upgrade will be.

In addition to the GPU I'm also thinking of upgrading my CPU to a Intel i7-920XM (as the cost for a 940xm isn't worth the slight improvement), and maybe upping my RAM to 16GB (as I've recently read that, even though the mobo states it only supports up to 8GB, people have have gotten their systems to recognize 16GB (Genetics last post here: , as well as at NotebookReview: )

Will be putting in an order for the parts in a few days, plus delivery time, so as soon as everything is put together and working I'll try to remember to post my results here ;)

Again, thanks for the input :)

Locked Topics – Alienware General

Need Graphics Card Upgrade m15x

Was this post helpful?