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    Is my MX15 upgradable?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Visionero, Oct 22, 2011.

  1. Visionero

    Visionero Newbie

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    M15x


    CPU: i5 540m @2.53GHz
    GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850
    RAM: 8GB DDR3 1333MHz


    i really want to upgrade my CPU and GPU but not sure what i can put in it that will still be functional for my m15x without tweeking anything.
     
    Visionero, Oct 22, 2011
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  2. dutchess63

    dutchess63 Notebook Consultant

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    About all parts in M15x are modulair and thus upgradeable.

    ! its the nr1 REASON for smart people to go with M15x !


    READ the forum posts and have your choice from that easy,
    or you can just adopt to my hardware, recommended :)
     
    dutchess63, Oct 22, 2011
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  3. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

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    Your CPU options: i7-720qm, 820qm, 920xm, 940xm.
    As for your gpu options: Nvidia: gtx 460m or 560m. Amd: 5870m, 6970m, 6990m.

    Both CPU and gpu listed in ascending order.
     
    khetik, Oct 22, 2011
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  4. roliath

    roliath Notebook Consultant

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    heh, nice post.
     
    roliath, Oct 22, 2011
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  5. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    But don't forget the mighty 5850M.
     
    The Revelator, Oct 22, 2011
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  6. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

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    He's got 5850m :p
     
    khetik, Oct 23, 2011
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  7. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    LOL. You're right. But in that case, the 460M, 560M and even the 5870M are not really upgrades. He'd have to go with a 6970M or 6990M.
     
    The Revelator, Oct 23, 2011
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  8. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

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    Stop making me look bad, lol

    Side note- didn't know if the OP keeps cpu/gpu stock or does indeed overclock, so i went ahead and listed em all :D
     
    khetik, Oct 23, 2011
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  9. Koolg223

    Koolg223 Notebook Consultant

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    I'll sell you an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 for a fair price. It's a pretty nice upgrade
     
    Koolg223, Oct 23, 2011
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  10. Koolg223

    Koolg223 Notebook Consultant

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    I also could get an i7 620m
     
    Koolg223, Oct 23, 2011
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  11. Koolg223

    Koolg223 Notebook Consultant

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    Also, as far as GPU upgrades go, I think the 5870 is your best bet, since the 6970 and 6990 will probably cook your computer. Like I said, it's a good upgrade, go to notebook check and compare, it will increase performance in a lot of games by a good margin. Also I happen to have one that I could sell you for a very fair price.
     
    Koolg223, Oct 23, 2011
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  12. Ldmoose

    Ldmoose Notebook Consultant

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    The 5870m isn't an upgrade from the 5850m assuming the OP overclocks their GPU. You're supposed to be here to help others, not to spread false information so you can make some money, take this to the marketplace.

    IMO temperatures with a 6970m/6990m are easily manageable. Those are the only worthwhile upgrades when coming from a 5850m too. The i7 620m is just a higher clocked dual core, I wouldn't consider it a good upgrade from an i5. An ES or QS 920xm/940xm will be make great upgrades, they're fairly cheap on eBay too.
     
    Ldmoose, Oct 23, 2011
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  13. Koolg223

    Koolg223 Notebook Consultant

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    That isn't false information at all... Take a look at any benchmarks. It's not fair to say if you want to overclock than that can make up the difference. Overclocking shortens part's life span and is less stable, not to mention that the 5870 could also be overclocked. I'm just saying, having looked at some benchmarks on Notebookcheck, the 5870 provides a substantial boost in performance without large heat increases and is worth considering. It's also an inexpensive upgrade, especially after you sell the old 5850.
     
    Koolg223, Oct 23, 2011
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  14. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Not true, the 5850m is essentially the same card as the 5870m, only lower clocked. When it comes to the M15x the 5850m beats most 5870m in benchmarking and overclocking capabilities.
    Of course you can have bad luck and get a card which doesn't clock as high as others, but I haven't seen a 5850m which wasn't capable to go significantly beyond 5870m stock levels...

    An upgrade from a Dell 5850m to a 5870m is definitely not worth a single penny, unless the card can't overclock at all.
     
    svl7, Oct 23, 2011
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  15. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Yes, benchmarks. If you compare the benchmark scores for the 5870M to those for the 5850M in the M15x, you will see that the 5850M's consistently outperform the 5870M's, a number of which are Clevo cards. http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...5x-benchmark-thread-part-2-a.html#post6781257. These scores present a much more accurate measure of the relevant performances of the two cards in the M15x, as opposed to the haphazard compilation or averaging of scores from very different platforms using a broad range of CPU's and resolutions under differing conditions reflected on Notebookcheck.

    What Ldmoose says is true in every particular. He is also correct that promoting and selling is for the Marketplace, not the forum.

    Edit: And svl7 too. +Rep.
     
    The Revelator, Oct 23, 2011
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  16. Koolg223

    Koolg223 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah thanks guys, I think I get it by now... I just have a GPU that I need to sell and a guy that looked like he might need it. I don't need like four people to tell me the same thing... By the way, to OP, I may still sell the 620m, but I've already got a lot of offers for it, if you have any interest do ask.
     
    Koolg223, Oct 23, 2011
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  17. Ldmoose

    Ldmoose Notebook Consultant

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    Koolg is asking a good price for the 620m
     
    Ldmoose, Oct 24, 2011
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  18. Visionero

    Visionero Newbie

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    Thanks guys, just finished buying ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 6970m and i7 920XM , hope these upgrades are worth it!
     
    Visionero, Oct 25, 2011
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  19. dutchess63

    dutchess63 Notebook Consultant

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    Well you can always switch :D
     
    dutchess63, Oct 25, 2011
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  20. TheHighlightGuy

    TheHighlightGuy Notebook Consultant

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    You'll love the 920xm! Make sure to read this guide if you plan on overclocking it :D
     
    TheHighlightGuy, Oct 25, 2011
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  21. HazenXIII

    HazenXIII Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can someone link me to a website that has notebook video cards for the M15x? I've tried looking on Newegg but couldn't find any... or am I doing something wrong?
     
    HazenXIII, Oct 26, 2011
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  22. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

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    khetik, Oct 26, 2011
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