New Alienware m15x user, interested in upgrading

Hi guys..

Have just purchased an Alienware m15x from gumtree and although its already pretty good, I realise it could do with some upgrading. I've had a look through this and a couple of other forums, but what I really need is some up to date information.

I've cut and paste in the laptops spec below.. My hope is to get it running even better for gaming, works ok with most games, but the fps could certainly do with improving.

As such what would be the best way of speeding it up?, new gpu, added ram?.. New hard drive, an SSD one?

Basically just need a point in the right direction

I'm based in East Sussex, UK

Thanks in advance

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
(7600.win7_gdr.120830-0334)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: M15x
BIOS: Ver A09 1.00
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 820 @ 1.73GHz
(8 CPUs), ~1.7GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4084MB RAM
Page File: 2253MB used, 5913MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 260M
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0618&SUBSYS_02A21028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 2791 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1005 MB
Shared Memory: 1786 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 392.0 GB
Total Space: 476.8 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: ST9500420AS ATA Device

Drive: D:
Model: Optiarc DVDRWBD BC-5600S ATA Device
Driver:

 

Best options in terms of upgrades depends on what you want to use the laptop for.
Cpu - 920xm
Gpu - 7970m
Ram - 8gb 1333mhz (max is 16gb)
Ssd - either Crucial M4 or the Samsung 830 (840 comin out soon)
Could also look into a 240watt adapter

 

If money is no issue I vote for the 680 over the 7970 just cause it'll perform properly. If AMD came out with descent drivers than I would say get the 7970 just cause of the price.

 

I'm looking to spend about £200 on the gpu, so was thinking the gtx 670m, and about £150 on the SSD, so not sure?

And memory upto the maximum 16gb

 

Just found the Samsung 830 (basic kit) on amazon for £130, should I go for this?

 

Don't get 16gb ram unless you have a 920 or 940xm. I don't believe the lower first generation mobile i7s support 8gb modules.

Can't comment on British prices but in the states a 256gb 830 can be had on sales for 160-170

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

Wow people please give some insight on things that will actually work with the M15x properly...
-M15x supports 16 Gb of ram with all quad core CPU's. (i7 720qm and up to my knowledge.) I have 2x8gb=16G of corsair ram running perfectly on my M15x with the 720qm. 1333 ram is cheaper than 1600 and the M15x can only run at 1333 anyways.
-940xm and 920xm seem to cost around the same on ebay for QS models (qualification sample) and are the fastest and only unlocked processors that work with the M15x.
-M15x Sata bus is only Sata2 300mbps so any SSD above 300 M/s read speed is a waste but still very nice to have.
-svl7 is a god when it comes to GPUs and the M15x. His posts all state that Nvidia Gpus above the 660m (570m and 580m are above 660m performance) are all too power hungry and take major vbios modification to work properly in the M15x. AMD cards however can be undervolted to work extremely well with the M15x GPU power limits of 75W TDP. Everyone is upgrading to the 7970m and flashing a .95 or .975 vbios to make it 100% stable in these laptops. 6970m and 6990m are also great choices however also are tough to get the power tweaking just right.
-Long story short go with the 7970m if you can afford it and a 10 minute flash process makes it plug&play!

i hope this helps. i have been upgrading the M15x I bought months ago and i love it. By far the coolest and best learning experience I've had on a PC so far! All I want now is the 1080p RGB LCD screen and I'll have my dream laptop!

 

Hey get a caddy and install your existing HDD as a secondary, your ssd will be your primary boot with OS and install your programs and profiles on the secondary. It's a huge boost and you'll get space for programs also. The installation is not too difficult if you can follow the tear down videos in you tube. Takes 30 mins max. About the 240w, get it if you can, extensive gaming with upgraded hardware makes the old one (150w) very hot very quickly. About the 16gb ram if it's a killer deal get it else go for 8gb and spend your money elsewhere (thermal paste etc.). You don't really need it unless you multi task like crazy with heavy load apps like photoshop, maya, etc

 

Dont forget how cheap ram is. Your upgrading to futureproof and or catch up to speed. 16g will soon be the standard. I'd spend 35$ there before spending 35$ more on something like a bluray drive.
I'm running the 150w power supply and I havent had an issues yet. it does get quite warm though thats for sure.

 

Well I meant that instead of a 16gb ram he could go for a bigger ssd, anyways the prices are a killer these days I bought my 8 gig for 79 on newegg a couple of years ago. That was a deal then. And the 240w is more cool and helps in stablity if you're oc'ing.

 

Thanks guys that's really helpful!

Any suggestion as to where I might be able to pick up the 7970m, ideally in the UK?

So no real need to change my CPU at the moment?

 

Have a look on ebay for the 7970M. Or have a look on the NBR marketplace. Often there are cards for sale. New and used.

The 820qm is an adequate processor for most tasks. However on some rare occasions it might become the bottleneck in gaming. A good example is BF3 this game sometimes requires more than the 820qm can provide. So while your graphics card would be plenty potent enough certain slowdowns might happen. Future titles I imagine will become increasingly cpu stressing so again check the marketplace and ebay for a good deal on a 920xm. The 940xm is the same chip basically so unless you can get it the same price just get a 920xm. Both can be unlocked to the same potential with Throttlestop.

 

Found one on eBay for £330.. If I wanted to spend a little less, what might I got for instead which would work without much hassle?

 

is the NVIDIA GTX 660M (Kepler); 1.0GB DDR5; MXM 3.0b Module a good card?

 

hey guys, I just joined the m15x club too! So far I am loving it. It's a nice laptop and it comes with 920xm oem which is pretty awesome, but the gtx 260m is a little lacking. I hope to be able to change the video card after saving up a decent amount. Meanwhile I want to upgrade to 16gb like mentioned here. Though I am wondering which one on newegg should I be buying? I know DDR3 1600 won't run at full speed so I am looking at 1333, but then there are 3 sections suchs as DDR3 1333 with 10600, 10660 and 10666.. what are those and which one does the m15x support?

Also do you guys know if more memory would help in mobile? I know 8gb in desktop is really enough because how much faster they are. But for lap tops, are 8gb enough? I am mainly playing D3 for now and might move to mmo later on.

Thanks,

 

Lee77uk: I replied to your thread on overclockers forums too...

Don't bother with any other GPU other than the 7970m, there is no point, 7970m wipes the floor with all of them, (bar the 680m) but that's expensive.