upgrade Alienware 17 R1 Refurbishment/Upgrade

[AtomSnakes343]

Hi all. I've got an old Alienware 17 R1 built in mid 2014 and bought early 2015. The original specs were a 500 or so GB HDD, an i7-4700MQ, 16GB of 1600Mhz RAM, and a GTX 880M. This computer holds sentimental value for me and I very much admire its reliability and upgradeability. Even after a decade, no part has failed and it can still open and work just fine - despite the inside being dirty, dusty, and a melon incident a few years ago where yours truly accidentally left a melon on a paper plate on it for two days. Even then, whilst it did leak and caused shadows on my screen the computer still runs fine.

I had an issue where the computer wouldn't boot up or POST some years ago, though I'm not sure if it was before or after the melon incident. I think it was before? I dug around inside found out the top RAM sticks' pins were corroded; the DIMM slots themselves are fine. I took one of the sticks out and also had to take the other one out, and from then on I've had no problems other than the keyboard and mousepad failing.

So here's where I am right now: I've disassembled practically the entire thing; taken out the battery, HDD, ODD, CPU, GPU, heatsinks and fans, the Wi-Fi card, the speakers, and the entire upper palmrest-keyboard-mousepad assembly in addition to the screen. The computer is really dirty due to age; not much of the melon stuff got inside, though there is some white corrosion and oxidation(?) on the actual metallic parts of the chassis itself plus some green corrosion on the ethernet/LAN port. Considering its age, the melon incident, and the fact that it wasn't used and I let it gather dust....it's in damn good shape. Boots to the OS fine, can do stuff...just throttled to hell and back.

I intend to send what remains to some specialist that can clean the chassis, inspect the motherboard - maybe give it an ultrasonic bath and repair anything they find - and change the CMOS battery. All the parts that I've mentioned I removed will be replaced with new ones, with the exception of the ODD. Here's what I'm thinking/what my general plan is:

1. Clean everything and repair the motherboard if needed via an expert
2. Change the CMOS battery
3. Install 32GB of DDR3L-2133 RAM.
4. Install an mSATA SSD for the OS, plus two 2.5 SATA SSDs for storage.
5. Install an i7-4940MX
6. Install an RTX 2070 MXM from Eurocom
7. See if I can get Eurocom to flash me a compatible vBIOS, modify my heatsink, and install proper thermal pads
8. Install new cooling for the CPU and GPU: liquid metal, new fans, and undervolt both
9. Install either a 1080p 120Hz display or a 4k 60Hz display; but, tbh, I can get away with the former for the internal display and the latter being an external one. I've heard you can maybe mod the motherboard to support a 1440p 165Hz or 4k 120Hz display
10. Install new antennae and an AX210 via mini-PCIe to M.2 adapter
11. Install a new palmrest (mousepad included) and keyboard
12. Enable UEFI and Secure Boot, then install Windows 11 via Rufus (damn you Microsoft for retiring Windows 10!!)
13. Install an OEM battery and pair it with a 330W power unit

My questions are these:
1. How much should the CPU and GPU be undervolted by?
2. Is that display mod I mentioned possible?
3. If I get the RTX 2070 and flash a correct vBIOS, mod the heatsink, etc., do I still have to screw around with the motherboard's BIOS too much? Will just updating it to the latest version and maybe unlocking it do? I ask because I've heard this is a pain and risky; if I brick the thing, I've little clue on how to fix it. Perhaps I could ask the pros to do it?
4. If I have INF modded drivers, I can still use NVIDIA's software to update my drivers normally - right? Or do I have to do it manually each time?
5. I've heard a lot about people doing GTX 1070 MXM mods and such, but I've found fewer resources on the RTX 2070. I do remember seeing some people doing it somewhere, but I have some difficulty finding it; maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. I know I've seen people attempt and even succeed in putting monster 4080s and such inside (lmfao), so there you go.
6. Is it possible to install a more modern keyboard, like from an R2 or R3, or should I just use OEM?
7. Is there any chance I could get better fans? I mean, even clean OEM ones with new/unused bearings would be much better than what I have now - especially paired with the clean chassis, brand heatsink for the GPU, liquid metal, and undervoting - but I just want to see what my options are.
8. I just want to make sure the 2014 R1 can handle 2133MHz of DDR3L RAM, as mine came with 1600MHz and I've heard some conflicting reports.
9. Is there any more modern speaker I can install, or do I just get the OEM Klipsch? Those were always quite good IMO and I preferred them over anything else I had at the time, but the actual audio drivers have disintegrated by this point.
10. Any ideas for other upgrades? Lol

I'm relatively new to all of this, so I apologize if my questions sound dumb or uninformed - though I suppose I AM coming here to get informed, lol.  As I said, this computer holds great sentimental value to me and I still respect its reliability and modularity to this day. I do believe it can remain a solid machine even a decade later. I also just need a hobby/something to keep my mind occupied and stimulated, and will probably have to at least learn some programming and computer stuff for my own personal/technical education, so I'm just also really interested in the process and learning.

Any help would be appreciated. I've also posted the exact same post on the Dell forums.

[Jerryzago]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 

I use daily an Alienware 17 R1 for my day to day work. It sure is a Beast, even by today standards, as long you upgrade its original parts.

Mine came with 16GB with 1600MHz speed, an I7 4710MQ CPU and an 880M GTX GPU. Also it has the LVDS 60Hz Full HD panel and very slow SHDD that took almost 3 minutes to boot to OS.

 

Mine is now upgraded to an I7 4930MX @ 4.0GHz on all cores, unlocked BIOS a14+, a PNY Quadro RTX 3000 (equivalent to 2070) and two samsung SSDs.

 

I will try to help you as much as I can.

 

About your plans.

 

1) You could dismantle the whole laptop and clean it with isopropl alchohol. The chassis could be wiped with a microfiber cloth also.

2) Changing the CMOS can only be done with the motherboard out. Do that beacuse the battery will surely be depleted.

3) You can install higher speed memmory, but it is unsure that the system can actually run it. I am also in the market for some G.Skill Ripjaws at 1866MHz.

4) The mSata port is using SATA II transfer speeds and is a pain in the ass to remove it, so i stayed away from that. You can install two SSDs into the main slots, and maybe remove the optical drive and put a third one in there.

5) You can go for either 4930mx or 4940mx. The performace gain is marginal.

6) I have no info about this GPU. I went with a PNY one, that doesn't require any modification at all. Bolts right up to the stock cooler.

7) No info on that, sorry.

8 ) If you are comfortable with liquid metal, do go ahead. Though CPU and GPU will require a barrier when the laptop is placed into a bag or tilted onto a cooling pad, because it tends to leak. I prefered PTM 7950 for this matter and is excellent. Undervolting the CPU isn't an option even from the advanced BIOS meny. GPU undervolting will requre a modded vBIOS witch is also unoptainable. Each GPU needs to be modifided specificly for undervolting. E.X. I had an undervolted BIOS for my 980m and it never worked.

9)  There was a 17 model with 3D capabilities that had a Full HD 120Hz panel. That also had a diffenet connector to the board. But GPU choises were limited (at that time) because you couldn't upgrade it past a 960M. Even a 980M wouldn't display anything. With the 120Hz panel the PEG GPU needs to drive the sceen.

10) I have installed an AX210 WiFi card to the mPcie port and works like a charm. No adapters are needed.

11) I have no knowedge that other keyboards or palmrests will fit or work.

12) A GPU higher than 980M will need UEFI bios to post. Secure boot is not needed, and since you will need modifided Gpu drivers, avoid secure boot.

13) OEM batterys are not to be found anywhare. Mine also doesn't have a battery. Though my expirience with aftermarket batteries, BMS is the first to die, rather than the cells themselfs. I also use a 330watt PSU. I have two, since I used two for my Alienware M18x R2 with the 3920xm and Dual 980M Sli. It needed 600Watt at full load with my dual PSU mod.

 

About your questions.

 

1) No info in undervolting. If you succed doing it so, it is a trial and error procedure.

2) Answered above.

3) Answered above

4) Everytime you need to update the frivers, modded ones will be needed. NVinstall app will be your best friend.

5) Almost avery GPU higher than 1070 will requre modifications. With the exception of PNY Quadro RTX 3000. You can order a custom GPU from ebay. A guy in china sells custom ones with superb quality.

6) No info on the keyboard. I repaired mine by replacing the missing keys. I have is as a desktop replacement with an external keyboard and mouse.

7) Clean your fans and test them. If they are able to cool your laptop, then leave them be.

8 ) like I mentioned, the faster Ram will boot, but the extra speed will not be able to be used by the system. I will test it myself and see if I have better results.

9) You can install custom speakers to the stock casing ones. I am trying to do it for my M18x R2 because the stock ones keeps tearing the membrane and sound like crap.

10) We are all open to ideas!

 

 

Hope I helped you.

[AtomSnakes343]

Thanks, @Jerryzago! Just to confirm, when you talk about the guy in China who sells custom GPUs, you mean he sells custom GPU heatsinks - right? If so, can you tell me where to find him or provide a link? Is it the guy who sells the 5-pipe heatsink? Because that looks interesting. Is it worth it? Mine came with 3 pipes.

 

Also, where could I find custom speakers?

[Jerryzago]

Yes. I meant GPU heatsinks.

 

Here is an ad from him on ebay. Contact him from there.

 

https://ebay.us/m/snDk9W

 

Yes, he also sells the 5 heatpipe one for 1070s that has 100watt rating.

 

My RTX 3000 is looking fine with the stock heatsink and fan.

 

For the speakers, I source them from AliExpress. You can measure the speaker casings, lookup their characteristics (wattage, Omh, etc) and either swap the stock ones, print maybe new ones or DIY a solution. 

 

There is a post here in the Alienware 18 that a user swaps the stock speakers to higher quality ones.

[Eban]

3 hours ago, AtomSnakes343 said:

Thanks, @Jerryzago! Just to confirm, when you talk about the guy in China who sells custom GPUs, you mean he sells custom GPU heatsinks - right? If so, can you tell me where to find him or provide a link? Is it the guy who sells the 5-pipe heatsink? Because that looks interesting. Is it worth it? Mine came with 3 pipes.

 

Also, where could I find custom speakers?

 

 

I and several other would highly recommend this for whatever speakers you use

 

 

[Jerryzago]

29 minutes ago, Eban said:

 

 

I and several other would highly recommend this for whatever speakers you use

 

 

Thank you for the info. I will try this in my Alienware 17 and see results.