Upgrading options for Alienware M17X

Question

It's been over four years now that I have this laptop with me and has been doing okay, Heating issues and fan wise has always been a problem. Now, the time has come to upgrade my old heep to a newer and much stronger processor with better RAM and Video card. I have below info of my laptop. What would I need to get to upgrade this laptop to breath new air? Thank you very much for your help in advance.

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: M17x
BIOS: Ver A07 1.00PARTTBLZ
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9000 @ 2.00GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 5886MB RAM
Page File: 3290MB used, 8479MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: NVxx
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0618&SUBSYS_02A11028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 3692 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1005 MB
Shared Memory: 2687 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: SEC5443
Native Mode: 1920 x 1200(p) (59.964Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.5738 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.5738
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/28/2010 10:51:00, 12340328 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4558-11CF-F265-AD221CC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0618
SubSys ID: 0x02A11028
Revision ID: 0x00A2

ejn63 · Answer

The CPU and video chip are still quite capable - if the system is running a conventional hard drive, the single best upgrade would be a solid state drive.

BrianM87 · Answer

I have a SSD in the system. I want to upgrade for better gaming performance and allow high end graphics to be run on my computer. That is my main reason why I wish to upgrade for a better video card and RAM as well to run games on. I was able to run good games for the past four years however, I  always had an issue with the quality for some reason

ejn63 · Answer

Your system will take up to 8G of RAM max - it does not support more.

The Core 2 Quad 9000 places the model as either an M17x R1 or R2. There are some slightly faster Core 2 CPUs you can use, but unless the price is very low, the boost won't be worth the cost.

Be careful with the Core 2 Quad - there are models such as the Q9300 that look similar to yours but are desktop CPUs (they draw 95W, not the 45W the mobile versions do). The mobile versions over 9100 are designated QX9300 (the QX9300 is NOT the same CPU as the Q9300!).

The lateer M17xR2 started the use of the Core i CPUs, which your mainboard won't take. The mainboard in the R2 is different from the R1.

As for video cards, there's an m280, but I'll leave it to someone more versed in video upgrades to tell you whether the cards from the later -R2, -R3 or -R4 will work in your R1.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Upgrading options for Alienware M17X

Was this post helpful?