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.

    R1 to R3 case swap

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Pme3214, May 30, 2012.

  1. Pme3214

    Pme3214 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Now I have an R1 currently and I've just ordered an R3, and the R3 will ship in about 3 days and it'll take a week to get here. My question is, could I swap the TOP monitor casing from the R3 to the R1 (and vice versa) with no problems??

    Reasons why, my R1 (black) and the R3 (red), I'll be giving the "red" laptop to my girlfriend. You all understand why :)

    Oh and also, does anyone know of where I could buy parts for the top monitor casing and bottom wrist rests?
     
    Pme3214, May 30, 2012
    #1
  2. 79cj7

    79cj7 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'm not sure but I don't think you can remove the red casing from the screen. Could be wrong.
     
    79cj7, May 30, 2012
    #2
  3. Rishwin

    Rishwin Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    215
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have no idea what a "top monitor" is, but no you can not change the case between models nor are the pieces interchangeable. They simply will not fit - The R1 mobo will not fit in the R3 case, R3 mobo will not fit in the R1 case.

    Additionally, the screens for both units use different hinge designs, so the screen from one will not fit on another. Also the lid assembly is a single part and has a single part number, so it's not very easy to get into and warranty won't cover any damage.

    I say leave it - I have a black R1 & red R3 and tbh they would look ridiculous if i swapped the lids for them especially when the rest of the chassis is still going to be another color.
     
    Rishwin, May 30, 2012
    #3
  4. Pme3214

    Pme3214 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Understandable and question answered, what about just getting spare parts to switch the casings out all together? I'd figured people have done these cosmetic swaps already. Shouldn't be an issue correct?
     
    Pme3214, May 31, 2012
    #4
  5. Rishwin

    Rishwin Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    215
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The chassis is one solid piece of what i assume to be magnesium, and the plastic panels are also just one solid piece attached to that. Now the problem is that the R1 has a VGA port while the R3 doesn't, so because of that the plastic ports at the side simply do not match up between the models. Things are at different places, spacings are different, if you were to try and cut holes to make it fit you'd may aswell just remove the entire side.

    On the left side, this is the R1 layout - VGA, USB, Ethernet, HDMI, Display Port, SD Cards, Firewire.

    On the left side, this is the R3 layout - Display Port, HDMI, USB, Ethernet, SD Cards, Firewire.

    On the right side they are identical, but on the left side none of it matches up so none of the ports match up and the motherboards don't match up because all of the supporting hardware for those ports have moved too.

    You can do a swap between cases of the same models, but not between different models.
     
    Rishwin, May 31, 2012
    #5
  6. Pme3214

    Pme3214 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Appreciate it Rishwin, guess I'm going to have to go custom on the the cases haha. Maybe a pearl white on the R3?
     
    Pme3214, Jun 1, 2012
    #6
  7. Rishwin

    Rishwin Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    215
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Rishwin, Jun 1, 2012
    #7
  8. amd098

    amd098 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    280
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    31
    if its red, why not just dye the case black instead?
     
    amd098, Jun 3, 2012
    #8