Area 51 m17x R1 General questions

Ok, so I'm new to posting here, but have been reading as much as I can. A few years ago I came across this Laptop, and it's primary goal is to replace my Dell D530. It's coming to the end if it's life, and without xp pro support, it's time to move on.

Anyway, rebuilding the 17x barebones from the ground up.
-New F17 motherboard, questionable on -the old as I wasn't able to test it.
-New daughter boards
- half size pci cards: the Dell M17 R4 wirelesss card,(1103 killer) and a 2GB turbo memory NAND Flash module.
- 2 1TB slim WD Solid state drives.
- 8GB ram

Still waiting on x9000 processor to get here, and I'm having the hardest time getting a better set of GPU's.

Also, does anyone remember where the coax connector goes? I checked all the daughter boards, mobo, and the only place I see it able to connect was the Wi-Fi card, but then I have 3 antennae coming from the LCD.. I'm kind of lost there.

Any help on GPU upgrades?
I realize she's an old beast, but still a viable laptop for a lot of modern games.

Thanks!

 

You will probably get some better answers in the 17x forum. Most of the discussion in here is around the pre-dell Alienware systems

 

It is the pre-dell m17 IIRC, I'm going off what the case says. "Alienware Corp m17x -R1."

There isn't a service tag, or anything like that comes on a dell, just a Windows Vista home sticker, and the built for plate on the bottom.

 

So I figured out the CATV port, I need tv tuner pcie card, which never came with it.

That being said, laptop is 80% back together, Palm rest, hinge panel and screen back on. Just waiting on processor and a new GPU fan. Not feeling like taking the top apart again any time soon.

Still looking for video cards. Will a card with no HE tab run correctly?

 

Ah the "Dell M17 R4 wirelesss card,(1103 killer)" you listed threw me off and made it sound like a newer Dell unit.

The card should work if it's VBIOS is compatible with your computer's BIOS. This is VERY much trial / error even with same model cards as an Alienware VBIOS MXM card may work while one with an ASUS VBIOS may or may not. If you are not a fan of buying / reselling multiple cards on ebay your best bet is to track one down that matches what originally came with the unit. You can't just throw in any card like a regular desktop PCI-E card.

If you want to avoid eBay ZTronics sells a HD3870 though prices may be less on eBay. The ATI cards are known to be more reliable than the Nvidia cards. It may not be the highest performing card out there but it should be reliable. I am sure you are not trying to run Metal Gear 5 on this older laptop

http://www.ztronics.com/parts-by-br...ility-radeon-hd-3870-512mb-slave-mxm-iii.html

 

Haha, I could have worded that a bit differently. It was a mini card, but with an expander, it for perfectly.

I was looking at the 3870. About $100 for the pair, not including the sli cable . But I'll how these cards I have now holding up. Shouldn't much before the parts are here to finish the ok girl.

 

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.