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graphics and processor upgrade for m17xr1
hi i have a geforce 9800m gt graphics card on my lap top. i was woundering if that is a good graphics card. i was also woundering on what graphics card i can upgrade to. does my computer have two graphics card slots? i also would like to upgrade to a intel 7 processor on my lap top. i have a intel 2 processor. i was also woundering if i can upgrade my computer in general. id also would like to know how much they cost together.
thanks in advance.
DELL-Chris M
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54.9K Posts
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January 25th, 2013 09:00
musclerocker,
Yes, the M17x-R1 can do dual left and right GPUs. The Dell validated GPUs are =
96RJ4 Nvidia GTX260m
4WGVV Nvidia GTX260m Secondary Graphics Card (includes SLI cable)
G51FX Ati Radeon HD4870XT
NHCHW Ati Radeon HD4870XT (includes CFX cable)
X648M Nvidia GTX280m
X203R Nvidia GTX280m Secondary Graphics Card (includes SLI cable)
These are the Dell validated CPUs =
THRY8 Intel P8600 Penryn, 2.40GHz, 3MB
MD0CH Intel P8700 Penryn, 2.53GHz, 3MB
FK4Y7 Intel Q9000 Penryn, 2.00GHz, 6MB
1RDTG Intel Q9100 Penryn, 2.26GHz, 12MB
W22RP Intel QX9300 Penryn, 2.53GHz, 12MB
KFRHH Intel T9550 Penryn, 2.66GHz, 6MB
2DPM7 Intel T9600 Penryn, 2.80GHz, 6MB
3CTTK Intel T9800 Penryn, 2.93GHz, 6MB
P9KWW Intel i7-740QM, 1.73GHz, 6MB
WX1DT Intel i7-840QM Clarksfield, 1.86GHz, 8MB, B1
NTMDX Intel i7-940XM Clarksfield, 2.13GHz, 8MB, B1
I do not have prices. Call Dell Spare Parts 1-800-357-3355 and ask for prices and availability. Provide to them the part number listed above. Or do a search here.
AndrewSi
901 Posts
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January 25th, 2013 09:00
Hello, the first generation i7 processors will not work on a M17x with a intel Core 2 chipset, the fastest processor you can fit directly into the motherboard you have will be a intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
They are still pretty expensive, even on ebay the still get $500+ for a Q9300
Go for a Q9100 or Q9000 - You can pick them up for around $100 on ebay, they are 4 core CPU's and still reasonably fast, and there are heaps of instruction on the net on how to repast your own CPU
Dont bother with the GTX260 or even the GTX280 (which is just an overclocked 260) or the ATI 4870's - They are way to old now and only have GDDR3 Graphics and dont support Direct X 11
Go for a pair of ATI 5870's, they will prob cost you around $350-$400 a pair on ebay including the heatsink and crossfire cable, they are still fast, have GDDR5 Graphics and most important support directX 11 so you can play current games without conflict/hassles
If you do decide to use ATI 5870 cards (And yes, they do work find in a M17x R1, I've done it before on at least 5 machines) you need to remember this one important rule.
DO NOT press function and F7 to switch to intergrated graphics while on battery power, if you do this while you have 5870's installed the computer will try to write a nvdia VBIOS over the top of your ATI 5870's and cause problems
musclerocker
3 Posts
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January 26th, 2013 16:00
so would NTMDX Intel i7-940XM Clarksfield, 2.13GHz, 8MB, B1 fit on my lap top? and X203R Nvidia GTX280m Secondary Graphics Card (includes SLI cable) why would i need a cable with a graphics card?
AndrewSi
901 Posts
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January 26th, 2013 19:00
If you have a Dell Alienware M17x (Everyone calls them M17xR1, but that term is incorrect) then a i7 processor will not fit, you do not have the correct motherboard, if you want to put a i7 940XM processor in your laptop, you will have to replace the motherboard with a Alienware M17xR2 motherboard
There is not a large amount of different between the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 extreme series and the first i7 series, the i7 series has turbo boost that increases the CPU speed under load, but only on two of the four processors. The Q9000 series can actually outperform some of the lower and middrange first generation i7 series.