Discussion about Alienware Core 2 Duo/Quad era - Aera-51 m17X, M17 and M17X - CPU/GPU/display upgrade option

[TheQuentincc]

Hi, I'm looking into buying a M17 R1 (not M17x) with a QX9300 and a HD3870 (or two, it's unclear). I was wondering what was the best GPU working, is there any trouble with recent card and their vbios ? my goal is something like a GTX980M or maybe a Pascal card...

Can I fit this laptop an RGB display (which should use eDP to LVDS iirc) ? Is there an eDP connector or solder pad present on the board ? 

Thanks you all 😉

[Maxware79]

I have zero experience with this old one but I would say that you have no chance at a Maxwell or Pascal card based on the restrictions that later models had. 

 

There aren't too many people who'd still have one of these laptops laying around so it may be hard to find good information. 

[ssj92]

On 6/9/2022 at 12:31 AM, TheQuentincc said:

Hi, I'm looking into buying a M17 R1 (not M17x) with a QX9300 and a HD3870 (or two, it's unclear). I was wondering what was the best GPU working, is there any trouble with recent card and their vbios ? my goal is something like a GTX980M or maybe a Pascal card...

Can I fit this laptop an RGB display (which should use eDP to LVDS iirc) ? Is there an eDP connector or solder pad present on the board ? 

Thanks you all 😉

It's M17x the Core 2 Quad (Extreme) models before R2. They can be upgraded to the nice RGB display. However, GPU upgrade wise, you won't get far. As far as I remember (and looking at nbr achieve) we didn't even get 69xxM AMD GPU or 460M nVidia working (from my search). 5870M CF is fastest config for the M17x. 

 

You would be way better off getting an R2 which can do 8970M crossfire. Or M18xR2 which can do 980M SLI or any modern GPU in Optimus. 

 

 

Then again looking at this: https://www.nbrchive.net/xfa/alienware-17-and-m17x.1079/M17X R1 and K3000M/ 

 

K3000M and 680m may work? 

[TheQuentincc]

There is two model of Core 2 generation as far as I can tell. The original M17 which is the crossfire version and is running a PM45 chipset while the M17x "R1" is the SLI version which is running a 730i chipset.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Alienware-M17-Gaming-Notebook.14089.0.html

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Alienware-M17x-Gaming-Notebook.18781.0.html

 

The M17 is only using dGPU for the display while the M17x R1 does come with a switchable graphics thanks to the onboard 9400M, that might get an important role in compability.

My goal was to OC some C2D I have laying around and it looks like the M17X "R1" have the option in bios while the M17 doesn't... even though the M17 looks like it could be unlocked...

I prefer the M17 chunky design/chassis over the M17x line-up and I'm not interested in the Nehalem architecture 😕

[ssj92]

It looks like it is using the older MXM module. The newer 3.0b MXM module will not fit so you won't be able to use any modern gpu. You can always try OC using software as well if BIOS doesn't allow it. 

[TheQuentincc]

Indeed your right, I didn't saw that, thanks.

[StripeySnake]

I'd suggest M17x R2. Cpu can go up to 940XM, which means turbo and hyperthreading. It also can have a very pretty RGBLED display, and GPU can be upgraded to 770m with expresscard sound card. Additionally, I'm looking at putting together a guide for p4000 installation, which after a bit of testing I did, may very well work. 

[Maxware79]

@TheQuentincc if you're still looking to buy one of these, I think there is a guy on our Discord server looking to sell one. It has an X9000 and SLI 9800GT.

 

https://discord.gg/83k5W8eS

 

[TheQuentincc]

On 6/14/2022 at 7:28 PM, StripeySnake said:

I'd suggest M17x R2. Cpu can go up to 940XM, which means turbo and hyperthreading. It also can have a very pretty RGBLED display, and GPU can be upgraded to 770m with expresscard sound card. Additionally, I'm looking at putting together a guide for p4000 installation, which after a bit of testing I did, may very well work. 

I'm not looking into a R2 because I want a C2D/C2Q one. If I was caring about performance I would have upgraded my R4 😉

Furthermore it's my least prefered generation of Intel CPU ever haha.

On 6/16/2022 at 5:33 AM, Maxware79 said:

@TheQuentincc if you're still looking to buy one of these, I think there is a guy on our Discord server looking to sell one. It has an X9000 and SLI 9800GT.

 

https://discord.gg/83k5W8eS

 

I just contacted him.

That made me realise there was a third version on Alienware running C2D/C2Q (by order of realease) : 

- Alienware Area 51 M17X, using a GM965 chipset, usually 8800M GTX SLI and limited to FSB800, only dual core unless you BSEL mod a quad... not standard MXM, presumably switchable graphics since it's a chipset with graphics integrated (not sure) 

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Test-Alienware-Area-51-m17x-Notebook.11348.0.html

- Alienware M17, using a PM45 chipset, usually HD 3870 X2 crossfire, can run any Socket P CPU, not standard MXM

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Alienware-M17-Gaming-Notebook.14089.0.html

- Alienware M17X (non Area 51) using a 730i Nvidia chipset (usually GTX280M SLI and "switchable graphics", can run any Socket P CPU, standard MXM)

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Alienware-M17x-Gaming-Notebook.18781.0.html