I have an Alienware M15x (2009) model I am looking to upgrade my CPU from i3-330m to a compatible CPU giving a boost in performance for gaming, but am not sure if the card I am looking at will work. The specs of my system from Hwinfo are
Win 7 64 bit Home Premium
Intel Core i3-330M
CPU Code Name: Arrandale Trans. SV
CPU S-Spec: SLBMD
CPU Platform: Socket G1 (rPGA988A)
Thermal pwr says 25w for some reason but I know the machine runs 35w
Maximum DMI Link Speed: 2.5 GT/s
Current DMI Link Speed: 2.5 GT/s
MOBO:
Computer Brand Name: Alienware M15x
Motherboard Model: Alienware
Motherboard Chipset: Intel PM55 (IbexPeak-M)
The card I am looking at is
Brand- Intel i7 640M
MPN- CP80617004152AE
UPC- 7330381826030
Key Features
Clock Speed 2.8 GHz
CPU Socket Type- Socket G1
Multi-Core Technology- Dual-Core
Cache Memory
Level 1 Size 32 KB
Level 2 Size 256 KB
Level 3 Size 4 MB
Type Advanced Smart Cache
Expansion / Connectivity
Compatible Slots 1 x processor - PGA988 Socket
Other Features
Bus Speed DMI Speed - 2.5 GT/s
Manufacturing Process 32 nm
64-bit Computing Yes
Architecture Features Enhanced SpeedStep Technology, Hyper-Threading Technology, Idle State, Intel 64 Technology, Intel Fast Memory Access, Intel Flex Memory Access, Intel Turbo Boost Technology, Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel vPro Technology, Thermal Monitoring Technology
Platform Compatibility PC
Packaging Type 988-pin Micro FCPGA
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you NEED a 920XM/940XM. Don't waste your money on anything else at this point.
deadsmiley likes this. -
Wont the 920xm/940xm create a bottleneck? I read on a benchmark thread that they can do that. Also anything beyond the 640m requires more power. I was hoping to do a cpu swap without having to upgrade the power.
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OK, can the current power structure and Mobo handle the extra wattage without having to swap other parts?
Forgive my ignorance. Thank you for letting me pick your brain. =-) -
King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
What is your GPU? 920xm is all good and well but your gpu is the thing that will give the biggest boost in games if it is something basic like your current cpu.
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You can add a GTX 680M or 7970M/R9 M290X + a 920XM for around 350$ and have a really nice upgraded computer
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I have ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5850.
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
More like 3x faster
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your 980m must be like 10 of those lol
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Hey OP if you live in the US I can sell you a 740QM for like $30
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
Actually I was a bit harsh on the 5850M. Both OCed I bet the 680M is more than twice as fast and maximum 2.5 times faster.
980M at stock as that is all the M15x has a chance to cool is probably around 4 times quicker than heavily OCed 5850M. With water cooling could be 5x faster -
If you decide to upgrade your graphics card to something that requires more power like all the ones mentioned, then you may want to think about upgrading your power supply to a 210 or 240W model.XxBansheexX likes this. -
Awesome Thank you all for your info.
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
My leaky, hot, unstable but high OCing 920xm will routinely trip anything except a 210W or 240W adaptor. -
So would you think a 820QM bottleneck a m290x? I'm debating on whether I want to upgrade to a 920xm or not because of the power draw.
I'm still on a 150w brick -
fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
I wouldn't get a m290x without upgrading the power brick anyway. Get a dell 210W PSU then you should have no problem running an overclocked 920/940XM and a m290x -
King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
Anything other than XM with the 1st generation is going to severely bottleneck any card since 7970M/680M generation of cards. Now even midrange cards will be bottlenecked.
I pump mine up to 3.7ghz and beyond and still the 980M at times is limited slightly in certain situations.
Simply get a 920xm and a 210W brick. The brick isn't that expensive. I picked 2 up recently and each was USD 30. The shipping to Europe cost nearly the same. -
What's the model number for 210/240W brick?
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fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
Dell 210W Power Supply Model PA-7E
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
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Thanks! -
I got that same one. It's weird but the BIOS reads it as 230W.
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fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
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EDIT: My 210W adapter charges the batteryLast edited: Feb 27, 2016 -
When you say pull the pin, do you literally mean removing the grounding pin with a pair of pliers?
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fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
No point keeping centre pin in on this adapter as it can't charge battery anyway -
Yeah he means the center pin, but it's not a ground, it's used to communicate data between the adapter and the motherboard.
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fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
Hobgoblinpie likes this. -
Alright, thanks for that. I have a right-angle adapter so I'll give it a shot.
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
Exactly that. A small pair of hobby pliers at that.
I modded my cooler some more. Removed another 5 struts on the intake. Hard to believe cooler master put 20 struts orginally. With 5 structural integrity is still perfect.
Cleaned up the rough ends too. Next up to mod the feet to give it slightly more clearance for increased airflow
This is a great cooler once modded. Really quiet and compact. The 200mm fan puts out a decent amount of air and importantly cools everything with the guts exposed.
Plastic and metal very soft and easy to mod too. Cheap too.
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I had a try to work on 330W with center pin not touched. It works pretty the same as 210W with removed center pin, and no bios indication as well. 920xm x25 + 6990m with slight OC - had no any clock drops.
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
Yeah the 330w is decent. However whether you pull pin or not it WILL cut out at 240W usage. Tested that out myself.
You would have to do an ID chip mod to allow all 330W to be accessible outside of a M18x. Not an easy task.
And wow it seems everyone is online atm!!
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210W adapter is enough for 920xm/970m overclocking right?
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thats alot of power
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fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
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King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast
In order to use more power than 240W you either need to OV the cpu which I used to or run a 880M or 980M gpu which I now do.
If you intend to push things to the limit then you will need 2x 210W adaptors and link them together.
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Good to know.
I received my mail from china today, it's supposed to contain a usb3 expresscard but I literally got sent nothing but a styrofoam sheet. -
that is not goodd mate, where did u order from .Anyway of getting your money back, possibly a mistake
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ah its ebay just use paypal and clame back, guy has great feedback im sure its just been an oversight have u contacted him
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I went from an I3 to a I7 Q840 no problems, just runs 8c hotter. Also put in a Firepro m6000 blueboard China shipped. $90 m6000new and $50 Q840used= Pretty fast notebook on a cheap budget.
Last edited: Mar 7, 2016 -
Nice upgrade mate youll need ot overclock that card. Its a beast
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How much watt does a 920xm+oc without OV draw? 65w?
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fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic
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I'll keep the power consumption in mind. -
Hi
I am new to this forum. The question is regarding an upgrading of m17x r2 with dual hd4870m. I am planning to upgrade the gpu to gtx 680m 4gb. Will this upgrade be successful.
My current spec is:
I7 820qm
8gb 1333mhz ram
2 x 500gb 7200rpm hard drives
1900x 1200 ccfl display
240w adaptor
I ordered the gpu (god 680m) from ebay for usd275.
Is there a better upgrade apart from gpu to this laptop.
Please help -
You might want to post this on the m17 forum, since the M15x only supports one GPU.
Best,
Jdeadsmiley likes this.
Upgrading M15x CPU
Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by XxBansheexX, Feb 17, 2016.