New Member! My Alienware Collection

[KOVAH_ehT]

Hello everyone. I just joined and would like to share my collection, current projects, and eventually share some of the work that I've done to try and help document and preserve these machines. 

I currently own the domain "alienarchive.net" and plan on hosting my own page documenting the history of Alienware, Dell XPS, and other weird old computing hardware.

 

Here is part of my current collection of machines, including but not limited to, AW18R1, M18X R2, M17X R4, M14X R2, M11X R3, M11X R1. Along with some legacy models such as Area51 M9750, Area51 M9700, and Sentia. In addition to various Backpacks and bags.

 

I currently have one fully functional example of each model of laptop specified above with the exception of M17X R4 which is currently waiting for parts to come in. Currently I have an excess of 1 functioning M14X R2 with spare parts to build 2 more that I just haven't gotten around to yet, 2 functioning M11X R3s and 2 functioning/1 for parts M11X R1, and one additional for parts M9700. 

 

When I was growing up the first computer I ever owned is actually the M11X R1 in the top right corner, I thought it was the coolest little thing in the world, I think that's why I have so many M11X's, but I always wanted to get the big one, M18X.

 

Over the years I've collected all of these machines working on collecting various firmware, drivers, installation/setup media, various documentation, schematics, and performance modifications. 

I currently have some files up on archive.org found here.

 

My current project entails the work of these 3 machines, AW18R1, M18X R2, and M17X R4. I just recently acquired the 18R1 full spec along with an Aetina GTX 1080 MXM Card. My M17X originally had a LVDS display and a 7970m and M18X had dual 7970m's. Last year I got hold of a Quadro P4000 MXM that I replaced the M18X's 7970m's with in addition to one of "cicichen594's" full copper GPU Heatsinks and ran with that for a while. Now I have an AW18R1 that came from the factory with dual 980m's, 32gb of RAM, and an I7-4940MX.

Basically, the M18X is getting the dual 980m's, M17X will be getting the P4000, and AW18R1 will be getting my new N3M1080 from Aetina.

 

Some of you may not know that the N3M1080 is not quite the same size as a standard full height MXM card, it is slightly taller which necessitated the above modification, in addition to the card requiring external power through a connector on the top right. The card, being taller than normal, collides with connector "LTRON" the left side lighting connector. I wanted to maintain the fancy lighting because that's one of the main points of an Alienware machine so the connector had to be relocated. You might also notice that PQ703 has blown up, It was like that when I got the machine... The machine works fine without the MOSFET but I don't plan on stressing the machine till I replace it.

I am currently waiting for my Buffer Mod FX2280 MXM to M.2 NVMe adapters to come in from China currently. I ordered two but I only need one so that might be up for grabs soon. 

My plan is for the extra power for the 1080 to come from the FX2280, and to reuse the heatsink space where GPU2 would be to be used for additional cooling for either the CPU and or GPU. 

The cicichen594 full copper GPU heatsink I have does fit both the M18X and 18R1 but the OEM heatsink on the 18R1 is slightly longer and deeper and provides more surface area overall. I didn't take any photos during the heatsink modification but just know that the heatsink finstack from the OEM AW18 GPU1 heatsink is now attached to the custom full copper GPU coldplate.

 

While I am waiting for my FX2280s I am playing around with the AW18R1 BIOS, just poking around it, updating oproms and such.

 

 

[Reciever]

Welcome to the Forums! 

 

Used to modify the heck out of my Ranger when I had it, was a lot of fun!

[Clamibot]

I love seeing people being passionate about the things they love and enjoy. This is quite the collection you have!

 

I used to be super into alienware laptops as a kid and it was my dream to own one. I finally got an Alienware 17 R1/M17X R5 when I was in high school and really enjoyed it. I upgraded the GPU to a GTX 1060 and I still use it to this day alongside my Clevo X170. The old Alienwares were built to last!

 

My most favorite backpack ever is my Alienware Vindicator backpack I got in 2015. I've used the crap out of it and the rubberized face is peeling off, and my mom snapped one of the zippers by accident since the rubberized zipper tips have become quite brittle, but the rest of the backpack itself is still in really good shape.

[KOVAH_ehT]

Yea I currently have 2 of the Mobile Edge Orion M17X backpacks, one I bought off Amazon brand new, and the other one was bought used off ebay. The listing had it as the backpack for the M18X which is super rare and hard to distinguish between so I bought it and it turned out to just be a M17X backpack.
Now when traveling I just jam my M18X into one of them, it does barely fit, and I can usually fit everything else I need into both backpacks so I just bring the two.