Need help upgrading GPU

Hey everyone. So i have decided that it is type to upgrade my Alienware M15x , but i need a little help on how to get this process moving. Like for example where should i buy the upgraded GPU and what not.

My current system specs are
Windows 7 Premium
Intel i7 Q 720 @ 1.60GHz
4gb of RAM
Nvidia GTX 260M

Any help would be really appreciated!

 

CPU - You will need to upgrade it, I have a 740, and well it does work very well and seems to keep the GFX card happy in a few occasions I can tell it wasn't keeping up like it should. For 100-200 US dollars you can snag a Core i7 920XM and if you get lucky a 940XM for a bit more. These processors have a bit more cache and speed, the biggest gain is they are unlocked to overclock which is what keeps these system still up at the top.

GPU - You have lots of options. If on a stupid tight budget find a 5850/5870... Throw a bit extra and you can find a 7970M or a 680M which were the top dogs until recently. Throw a bit more money and you can throw in a 970M or 980M... You also have many other cards in between like the AMD 6XXX series, 8790m (R9 290?) and other Nvidia's. Budget being your biggest factor here, so chime in with what you want too do and what you got to spend and we can direct you more clearly.

Ram - Upgrade.... 8GB is cheap and enough, but if you can get more, go for it.

Your power supply (the brick otherwise known as) is something you'll need to likely upgrade should you go down a more aggressive upgrade path. They're cheap. The idea here is to provide enough juice for the components. For example if you have a i7 920XM and a 7970M, you'll want a 210w-240W power supply, as the original is only 150w.

 

Like UP said, It's all about budget, and what you plan on using your M15x for.

Above all of those upgrades UP mentioned, consider an SSD first. It'll impact your performance notably more than most of the other upgrades.

You can buy most parts on Amazon, such as the RAM, SSD, PSU... CPU and GPU can be found eBay. nVidia gtx 970m and 980m can be found on RJTech, pricey but could be worth it if you plan on maintaining your m15x over the next couple of years..

It should also be noted, explore other options. For the cost of a full workover of your m15x you could build a pretty okay desktop. Depends on your computer lifestyle.

 

I'd say that the priority should be the video card and the SSD.

 

I would get the 920/940XM from ebay and a 970M from RJTech for $450... A new 240W PSU will be needed... I would get 16GB RAM and a SSD too... However everything adds up.. I would sell this and get something like the Sager NP8651 or NP9752... It will cost slightly more but more futureproof... Putting money into such a stock 15x is a waste of time and money..

 

You have a point Tom however it might be worthwhile to upgrade this beast afterall.

If dx12 api is all the rage and really cuts the need for ipc then it might be worth sinking a grand in it. In a year we will see how good everything looks with win 10 and dx12.

With a new gpu, ssd, ram, OS and overhauled internal cooling I plan to make this thing fly. I don't need an XM though.....

 

Yes it might cost the same as a modern machine but the build quality? Wow not much out there to compare right! The reliability, toughness etc

It's a consumer trend every new gen is made cheaper and cheaper and lasts less and less!

 

Agreed. Besides, as little sense as it may seem, I have a easier time purchasing components than I do a whole system now and day's. With all the new crap being BGA and not even overclockable. To heck with new.... Desktops aren't an option for me.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. After reading what you all have said, and how much upgrading you guys think this thing need, i am probably just going to sell this thing and either get a new desktop or get a new laptop. I have been looking at a website called ibuypower.com . Has anyone ever done any purchasing from this company? If so how are they?

If so maybe someone could help me out with a build? Looking to spend about 1,100 to 1,200, but an operating system will have to be included in that price. An Office as well.

 

Here is a build suggestion for you. This should last 2-3 years before you need to upgrade. You don't need the overclockable processor if you don't want. i5 4590 and a H81 motherboard would work fine as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.24 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define S ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($56.08 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1085.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-10 13:34 EDT-0400

 

I would personally get the MX100 SSD + i7-4790K... GPU wise, the Asus Strix is perfect...

 

This thread is hugely helpful thanks for all the info, i am trying to get my M15 backup for few months now, the only issue is the GPU i never did a GPU upgrade before , i am looking for a high end but strictly easy to install just plug and play card , can i go with 680M ?

 

7970M is the most friendly plug and play but it does need an undervolted vBIOS. GTX 680M will require driver tweaking and svl7's custom vBIOS to achieve 3d clocks.

 

BUUT it will be able to run at 950mhz at an undervolt and remain cool enough to game on stock cooling