The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    m14x Future upgrade?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by iKrypt, Jul 27, 2011.

  1. iKrypt

    iKrypt Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So i can't afford it right now but i would really like to get some extra perks on my m14x. Like a SSD

    But I'm not too certain as to what can actually be UPGRADED.
    If someone with an m14x would be so kind as to tell me what i can upgrade on my Laptop MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I would be grateful.

    Mainly i just want a better Hard Drive. Nothing else matters to me.
     
  2. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Wifi, Ram, Hard Drive, add a second hard drive....pretty much it.
     
  3. iKrypt

    iKrypt Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
  4. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    570
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Wifi, RAM, HDD, WirelessHD Transmitter, Bluetooth, and CPU can all be changed off the top of my head
     
  5. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
  6. elracing21

    elracing21 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5

    The CPU is actually upgradeable? Why is it that the GPU isn't?
     
  7. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm pretty sure the CPU is soldered in....I could be totally worn tho.
     
  8. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The GPU can't be upgraded because it's actually built into the motherboard, it's not a separate hardware component. I guess when they come out with a R2 m14x you could technically replace the whole motherboard GPU and all....I have no idea if that would realistically work lol.
     
  9. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    570
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I believe in the manual it said the CPU was user replacable
     
  10. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ok mr. Smarty and your manual! Jk lol, I hope it is user replaceable so I can get one down the road. Not that it's a big deal, but any i7 in a m14x is crazy fast.
     
  11. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

    Reputations:
    285
    Messages:
    1,477
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    56
    If it is true, I want my M14x to have the i7 2920XM :yes:
     
  12. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

    Reputations:
    623
    Messages:
    725
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    The CPU is definitely user replaceable, I've dismantled mine already. The GPU is not upgradeable, it is soldered directly to the motherboard.
     
  13. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

    Reputations:
    285
    Messages:
    1,477
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Can you provide a How-To guide? Because it would be very nice if I can do it too and save $.

    EDIT: Nvm, I just found your thread, cool thanks. + rep :)
     
  14. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So the CPU can be user replaced...here's hoping Ivy Bridge will have the same sockets.
     
  15. Striker1530

    Striker1530 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I don't know about u but I would much sooner be able to change the gpu than the CPU
     
  16. BruteLeo

    BruteLeo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    im glad i didn't get the m14x now that i know it doesn't have a mxm socket. Hopefully its something that will be in the next revision, possibly drop the dvd-rom drive add mxm socket and a seperate fan for gpu maybe gtx 580m, then offer a usb 3 external dvd/blu-ray for it. Add a 120hz lcd with 3D and that would be a nice package.
     
  17. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    570
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Built in microwave sounds good to me
     
  18. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

    Reputations:
    623
    Messages:
    725
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    It's called the M17x. Seriously though, you want to put a 580m in a 14" form factor laptop? The CPU in this one already reaches 90C+ just running 3dMark06...
     
  19. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    3,210
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    131
    I hope it can drop in Ivy Bridge CPU :D
     
  20. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

    Reputations:
    623
    Messages:
    725
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Assuming the socket and chipset are compatible, and Dell provides a microcode update..

    Hopefully it will be like the Penryn series where it was possible. :)
     
  21. BruteLeo

    BruteLeo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I think the issue of cpu overheating is because its too close to the gpu and it shares the heat sink and fan. I have no issues of my cpu over heating in my m17xr3 probably because there on opposite sides of the motherboard and have there own heat sinks and fans. To me seems like a design flaw.
     
  22. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

    Reputations:
    623
    Messages:
    725
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I for one wouldn't have minded beefier cooling at the expense of the optical drive. I'm probably going to swap it out for a hard drive anyway. I still love this machine though!
     
  23. set128

    set128 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I highly suggest you to move away from the intel wireless card and upgrade to a killer 1102 or killer 1102 wireless card.
    The gaming experience on the intel 6250 with wimax had a lot of lags during gaming and had a slower speed on my router.
    Moving to the killer wifi had a significant impact on both wifi speed and game lag. It's basically going from very bad to excellent.
     
  24. CASteinman

    CASteinman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    20
    Messages:
    117
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30


    Add a swiss army knife to the case and an au pair to operate it for me and I'm sold!
     
  25. nbellowe

    nbellowe Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    47
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Anyone tried to upgrade to the killer networks card?
     
  26. ComputerMD82

    ComputerMD82 NX-74205

    Reputations:
    623
    Messages:
    725
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    A few people have here already I think. I just ordered mine from eBay yesterday, I'll post before and after results when I get it.
     
  27. XxAlbertoxX

    XxAlbertoxX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ^ LOL.

    Haha, 14" laptop with i7 and gtx580m LOL that thing would melt
     
  28. XxAlbertoxX

    XxAlbertoxX Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'll be ordering the m14x with i7 2820,900p, 3gb nvidia, 1600mhz 6gb ddr3, and killern in the end of the week or next week and I'll let you guys know.

    I'll post a thread benchmarking some games on it's native res via fraps and stuff about the killer n. just send me a pm