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: 

 

 

 

[DylSki]

10 hours ago, ssj92 said:

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: 

 

 

 

Thank you so much! 
 

regarding the Alienware light text not working would simply swapping over mine from the original display fix this? Or is it a bit more complicated that that? 
 

thanks again for all the help so far, machine is arriving today, unfortunately I didn’t see until earlier the gpu fan & heatsink looks to be missing, it was stated as no gpu detected. Now need to try and find both parts which aren’t over priced 😬

 

will be also installing the bios you have made, providing the battery isn’t dead haha. 

[DylSki]

15 hours ago, SuperMG said:

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. 

Hi! How much were you thinking for the display out of curiosity? I do want to covert this one to Nebula red just like my m15x 

 

Also, do you have a spare heatsink & gpu fan by any chance? 

 

i’m UK based if that helps 🙂 

[SuperMG]

1 hour ago, DylSki said:

Hi! How much were you thinking for the display out of curiosity? I do want to covert this one to Nebula red just like my m15x 

 

Also, do you have a spare heatsink & gpu fan by any chance? 

 

i’m UK based if that helps 🙂 

It's on ebay, I have the whole red nebula set, a working keyboard, a R4 GPU 100W heatsink. Ok for UK, it can be a bit expensive because it's outside of the Schengen.

 

Yes I think you can swap for yours LED. I never tried that. I got the whole laptop used and complete. All the parts are working.

[DylSki]

1 hour ago, SuperMG said:

It's on ebay, I have the whole red nebula set, a working keyboard, a R4 GPU 100W heatsink. Ok for UK, it can be a bit expensive because it's outside of the Schengen.

 

Yes I think you can swap for yours LED. I never tried that. I got the whole laptop used and complete. All the parts are working.

Awesome, do you have a link so I can check out the display please? Thank you 

[SuperMG]

1 hour ago, DylSki said:

Awesome, do you have a link so I can check out the display please? Thank you 

You can search on ebay and message me. Just type Alienware M17X R4 FHD 120Hz screen.

 

Edit: someone is interested into buying the whole laptop

 

Edited 7 hours ago by SuperMG

[DylSki]

1 hour ago, SuperMG said:

You can search on ebay and message me. Just type Alienware M17X R4 FHD 120Hz screen.

 

Edit: someone is interested into buying the whole laptop

 

Ah okay no worries, was hoping to maybe get the heatsink and fan of you. Thank you anyway. 

[SuperMG]

1 hour ago, DylSki said:

Ah okay no worries, was hoping to maybe get the heatsink and fan of you. Thank you anyway. 

If you can buy the fan (CPU or GPU?) + heatsink screen assembly + the bottom case today, sure why not. I also have the RTX 3000 MXM, could do it for 130€ alone.

 

Buyer wants to pay 430€ in the next week for the whole R4 I was about to strip. Let me know

[DylSki]

Machine arrived.

 

removed palm rest coating.

 

thankfully it has the GPU fan & heat sink, even the gpu is there, GTX 560M 

 

sadly a 1600 x 900 display, it’s absolutely mint which is the only plus lol. 

 

battery working but I suspect it has hardly any capacity being the original. 

 

windows doesn’t detect the 560m nor does bios. Going to test with some working cards.

 

the previous owner took one of the hdd caddy’s and both interposers so I had to pay £16 for a interposer including next day special delivery so I can actually boot from a ssd. 
 

currently booted windows 10 ltsc with a usb 3 drive lol. 

going to continue with testing and throw some ram in it, next week I’ll be buying some parts. 

 

[DylSki]

Oh here’s a photo btw. I don’t think this one has a nvme slot on the board either unfortunately. Would have been killer to have one. 

[DylSki]

Display info (image isn’t showing for me so will put the info here just incase) 

 

AU B173RW01 V2

P/N N04GM

 

battery info (yet to do a full charge cycle , may improve over time)

wear level 77.7% 

full charge capacity 20040 mWh