Calling All Dell XPS M1730 Owners & Upgraders

Question

My XPS M1730 is about 4-5 years old - depending on when I actually purchased it - and I'm wondering if I can try breathing new life into the system for another 2-3 years. Based on what I've seen here's what I can do:

Max out the RAM
Upgrade the video card
Upgrade the processor

The biggest concern I have now is processor & video card selection, but I'll comment on memory based on Dell feedback:

Memory: I spoke with Dell a few times this year and each time asked about the maximum RAM, they claim it can support 8GB. I pointed out to them that the Dell online manual <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> says 4GB, as does the Intel PM965 datasheet, but each time they double checked & assured me that 8GB was supported.

Can anyone confirm whether or not 8GB works in the M1730?

Processor: I've got a T7700 so I dove into the Dell online manual to see what my options were. It says it supports both Core 2 Duo's and 45nm Core 2 Duo's with 800MHz & 1066MHz FSB's and a maximum L2 Cache of 6MB. However the Intel PM965 datasheet says 800MHz FSB.

Which document prevails?
Any issues with going with a X9100?
Any issues with going with the newer T9900?
Anyone tried a quad? :)

Video Card: I've got an 8700M GT and the upgraded cards easily start at $600 and up to nearly $1000 for the 9800M GTX.

Will a 9800M GT be sufficient for Crysis, Star Craft II and similar?
Will there be a noticeable difference between 9800M GT and 9800M GTX?

I'm hoping to call upon the experience of the community to get feedback on these questions above.

The last question is probably the most obvious: Should I even be doing this?

Lets face it, even if I spent $900 on the video card & CPU, I doubt that'll be enough for a suitable replacement gaming laptop.
I'm so disappointed with the M1730 that I won't even consider an Alienware. I would almost rather spend more money with another company (Falcon Northwest, Digital Storm, Sager Notebooks to name a few) with an untarnished reputation then try my hand with Dell again.
Of course the flip side is that there's such a premium for gaming laptops that I really can't justify the cost anymore since I don't play as much. I'm more of a casual gamer but I like my games to play at the default resolution (1920x1200) on high settings and run like a hot knife through room temperature butter.

My main goal of this post here is to address the processor and video card questions above. While I am very much interested in hearing about whether or not upgrading the machine is wise, I just don't want it to be a long drawn-out 8 page discussion!

ieee488 · Answer

$600 - $1000 for a video card on a 4-5 year old system????? Uh, no, I wouldn't.

Phylum · Answer

Its well understood that spending so much for a video card is not the ideal situation. I cringe everytime I think about it - I'd rather pick up a couple of EVGA GeForce GTX 580 3072MB's.

So I ask you: What's the alternative? Is there laptop out there thats good enough for Crysis on high settings and StarCraft II on ultra for the same $1000 price?

ieee488 · Answer

Sorry. I don't play serious computer games. You should compare new against upgrade. Almost 99% of the time, it doesn't make $ sense.

Phylum · Answer

With laptops one usually does not have the luxury of upgrading video cards - I figured it might be worth spending a few hundred bucks to get me to where I'd like to be for the next year or two.  I've heard of processor swaps in the past but this'll be my first attempt - should be interesting.

Phylum · Answer

No other comments on this?

intel72 · Answer

if you did not got that info yet, xps m1730 can run 8 gb memory 800mhz , it can run intel extreme x9000 up to 3.4ghz, 8700m gt can support crysis and other latest games,best video card is 9800m gtx

Apache51 · Answer

Great question: I am currently wondering the same thing. I'm surprised there is not a bigger audience for this upgrade. If you have made a decision or any headway please feel free to update. I'm trying to decide wether or not to sell and build a desktop or build a desktop and just keep the 1730 around for a side project. On a side note, are you totally against going to a desktop? The Dell xps 8500 series seems pretty nice to me and they are reasonably priced at $800. I've been trying to decide between a build or just buying that

Tuzi · Answer

I got the same laptop.

My m1730 runs with 8gb elpida ram, got x9000 in it, and you can buy 9800m gtx from a german seller on ebay around $200.

Btw, the speed difference between the gt and the gtx is not so much, around 10% max.

But, to be fair, the only difference between the 8800 and the 9800 line is the physix... it's been built in the 9800 series... and exclude this, the _only_ difference between the 8800gtx, and the 9800gtx is a few (16 if my memory don't cheat me) shader unit:)

And for overclocking your cpu... never use the option that you can find in the bios. Use the program called "throttlestop". light-years better... you can overclock the x9000 to 3.4ghz (stable), with vid 1.25, and multiplier of 17... my one is stable at 3.6ghz. without the scary cpu cooler fan noise:)

hope this helps.

silverlimo · Answer

Very helpful. Thanks.

Rick Iverson · Answer

My M1730 video card failed. I sent it in for repair, and the repair center reports 8700M are not available ANYWHERE. He also reports a suitable replacement might be the 8800M with 512MB, there is some risk in the motherboard may not accept it. I do not play game, just productivity applications. Any suggestions?

V/r

Iverson

silverlimo · Answer

You can get it on ebay with very reasonable price. I bought 3 "NEW Dell nVidia 9800M GTX
2GB Laptop Video Card CN-0K650M 0K650M K650M" on ebay, and replaced all my
8700Ms. I have 3 XPS M1730. So I'm going to sell 8700M on ebay too.

alexislc90 · Answer

Saludos desde México. Con las tarjetas 9800 gtx hubo alguna diferencia en los juegos? que tal su experiencia en rendimiento? que juegos pudo correr con la 9800m gtx?

Le traduciré el texto con google traductor:

Greetings from Mexico. With cards 9800 gtx was any difference in games? such experience in performance? games that could run with the 9800M GTX?

I translate with google translator the text:

olivia.sanz001 · Answer

i have a m1730 and fear my video card is failing. can you tell me if you fixed yours and what you ended up doing? thank you, Olivia

alexislc90 · Answer

Saludos! en que esta fallando su tarjeta? Greetings ! failing to present your card ?

silverlimo · Answer

I have 3 XPS 1730 too, I did exactly the same upgrades you did, replaced all video cards, 8 rams & 1 TB SSD.

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Calling All Dell XPS M1730 Owners & Upgraders

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