Just picked up a M17X R3 for £66 - Best upgrades that can be done?

[DylSki]

Hi all,

 

snagged a pretty clean M17X R3 for £66

 

after maxing out my M15X, this will be my new project.

 

im looking for insight regarding the best hardware which can be installed on this machine.

 

apparently some of these were optioned with a 120hz display? If so does anyone know the part numbers so I could try and source a close replacement even if it isn’t the 3D one, 120hz would be sweet.

 

thank you. 

[ssj92]

1 hour ago, DylSki said:

Hi all,

 

snagged a pretty clean M17X R3 for £66

 

after maxing out my M15X, this will be my new project.

 

im looking for insight regarding the best hardware which can be installed on this machine.

 

apparently some of these were optioned with a 120hz display? If so does anyone know the part numbers so I could try and source a close replacement even if it isn’t the 3D one, 120hz would be sweet.

 

thank you. 

You'll be happy to know I just released a BIOS mod for this that allows up to 980M/M5000M to work in LVDS PEG mode or P5000 in eDP 120hz PEG mode. (up to RTX 5000 is working on the next version I will release). 

 

In SG mode you are limited to DX11 so most GPUs will work but be stuck in DX11. 

 

Also my BIOS let's you OC 2920XM/2960XM to your hearts content straight in the BIOS. 

[DylSki]

5 hours ago, ssj92 said:

You'll be happy to know I just released a BIOS mod for this that allows up to 980M/M5000M to work in LVDS PEG mode or P5000 in eDP 120hz PEG mode. (up to RTX 5000 is working on the next version I will release). 

 

In SG mode you are limited to DX11 so most GPUs will work but be stuck in DX11. 

 

Also my BIOS let's you OC 2920XM/2960XM to your hearts content straight in the BIOS. 

Lovely stuff! Excited to try the overclocking via bios, modifying turbo multipliers on the 940x was very finicky for me when using throttle stop on the M15X 

 

in terms of gpus for gaming the 980m would be the best choice in terms of cards? 
 

I do have my 970m in the m15x which I’ll probably pull out for the time being until I buy another from china. 

[ssj92]

7 hours ago, DylSki said:

Lovely stuff! Excited to try the overclocking via bios, modifying turbo multipliers on the 940x was very finicky for me when using throttle stop on the M15X 

 

in terms of gpus for gaming the 980m would be the best choice in terms of cards? 
 

I do have my 970m in the m15x which I’ll probably pull out for the time being until I buy another from china. 

I highly recommend finding the 120hz 3D panel because it’s much higher quality and you can use better GPUs such as P5000/P4000 or even RTX 3000-5000. Right now I’m working on getting 4090 to work. 
 

I can easily do 4.0Ghz on my 2920XM without any additional voltage. 
 

p5000 will give you 2x performance of 980M in games. 

[SuperMG]

25 minutes ago, ssj92 said:

I highly recommend finding the 120hz 3D panel because it’s much higher quality and you can use better GPUs such as P5000/P4000 or even RTX 3000-5000. Right now I’m working on getting 4090 to work. 
 

I can easily do 4.0Ghz on my 2920XM without any additional voltage. 
 

p5000 will give you 2x performance of 980M in games. 

@DylSkiI sell that if you want.

 

It's the whole assembly + it's red nebula, doesn't have the 3D emitter though. 

 

Today I came back and I stripped apart a m17x R4 I had because no one wants to buy it.

 

The assembly is compatible with R3 because it's the LGD02C5 screen.

[ssj92]

3 hours ago, SuperMG said:

@DylSkiI sell that if you want.

 

It's the whole assembly + it's red nebula, doesn't have the 3D emitter though. 

 

Today I came back and I stripped apart a m17x R4 I had because no one wants to buy it.

 

The assembly is compatible with R3 because it's the LGD02C5 screen.

Only thing to note, the “Alienware” text isn’t compatible. R3/R4 use different cable for the AW text. Everything else is compatible. 

[DylSki]

19 hours ago, ssj92 said:

I highly recommend finding the 120hz 3D panel because it’s much higher quality and you can use better GPUs such as P5000/P4000 or even RTX 3000-5000. Right now I’m working on getting 4090 to work. 
 

I can easily do 4.0Ghz on my 2920XM without any additional voltage. 
 

p5000 will give you 2x performance of 980M in games. 

Do you potentially know part numbers for the 1080p panels? Even if it’s a non edp panel. 
 

I fear finding all the things for the 3d panel to work will be hard, not too sure what exactly I’ll need parts wise either. 

[SuperMG]

58 minutes ago, DylSki said:

Do you potentially know part numbers for the 1080p panels? Even if it’s a non edp panel. 
 

I fear finding all the things for the 3d panel to work will be hard, not too sure what exactly I’ll need parts wise either. 

I have them. Correct screen 50 pins and correct cables for webcam and eDP. No 3D emitter for it. 3D functionality doesn't work for Maxwell and above. 

[ssj92]

4 hours ago, DylSki said:

Do you potentially know part numbers for the 1080p panels? Even if it’s a non edp panel. 
 

I fear finding all the things for the 3d panel to work will be hard, not too sure what exactly I’ll need parts wise either. 

If you don't mind the "Alienware" text light working, it sounds like @SuperMG has a R4 120hz assembly you could potentially buy. 

 

Part list:

 

3d 120hz eDP cable: 4GWC0 

C30PY 17.3 3D panel
XX7CM 3D LCD Emitter
WWKT6 3D LCD Emitter Cable
N7VXD Alienware Logo Cable
 

Full R3 Parts list: