Upgrading WI-FI Card

Kazalor · 02-07-2012, 12:37 AM

Hey, I just wanted to post asking if upgrading to a Killer N1103 would be hard? I have upgraded GPU, CPU, and RAM in the m15x, so I know the system, but I have no idea how to upgrade the wi-fi card. And also, which of these would work? Thanks
killer n1103 | eBay

Fersknen · 02-07-2012, 06:39 AM

As far as I know the 1103 fits fine. The WI-FI module is located beneath the keyboard, so I think you need to take the system apart quite extensively to get to it.

I'm not sure if it's accessible by the removing the media buttons and then they keyboard.

King of Interns · 02-07-2012, 09:09 AM

not too hard to do, any half size mini pci wi fi card should work I guess..

Simply remove battery then remove the screws where the battery was. Should be 4. Not sure if all are needed but I just took em all out.

Then flip it over and open the screen and gently prise up the piece of plastic above the keyboard. No need to totally remove it as I found I could insert screwdriver to remove the 3 screws holding the keyboard in without doing so. Flip keyboard towards you without unplugging it and rest it on the palmrest upside down. Voila you have access to wi-fi

Reverse process to re-assemble which should be a piece of cake if you did it the shortcut way like me

Fersknen · 02-07-2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King of Interns

Simply remove battery then remove the screws where the battery was. Should be 4. Not sure if all are needed but I just took em all out.

I'm 99% certain that only the two screws furthest apart need to be removed. There are only two nobs in the media control board thingy, so I assume that the other two screws secure something else. I removed all four as well, but made this observation when I put it back together.

Kazalor · 02-07-2012, 09:44 AM

Is there a video I could refer to? I couldn't really find it on the M15x Disassembly.

King of Interns · 02-07-2012, 09:46 AM

Alienware M15x Teardown 1 of 3 **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video) - YouTube

M15x teardown part 1. Truly useful considering this machine has to be the most user unfriendly machine I have owned concerning the wifi and dvd drive. One has to think what were they thinking burying these two essential components so deep into the chassis.

Fersknen I think the inner most two screws are for the screen?

Fersknen · 02-07-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King of Interns

Fersknen I think the inner most two screws are for the screen?

Either way, it's only two of them... Plastic roulette!

Mexic00ls · 02-07-2012, 12:46 PM

Yeah but before i do the hardware i remove the software, and its the screws marked with an "I", the other 2 are marked "H" for the lcd hinge

Kazalor · 02-07-2012, 01:24 PM

So I'm confused, is the WLAN different from wifi? What's the WPAN? It looks easy if the killer n1103 replaces the card that is attached by the 3 connectors. But if it's different, where exactly is it? And do you have to take out the plastic piece above the keyboard or touch any of that stuff?

dutchess63 · 02-07-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazalor

So I'm confused, is the WLAN different from wifi? What's the WPAN? It looks easy if the killer n1103 replaces the card that is attached by the 3 connectors. But if it's different, where exactly is it? And do you have to take out the plastic piece above the keyboard or touch any of that stuff?

WLAN = wifi (mini pci chip under ur keyboard on the right side)
WPAN = bluetooth (mini pci also but on the left side)

watch the teardown videos how to get there easy