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I bought a Dell Inspiron 3 yrs ago and got the accidental breakage warranty. Since then, I've had the system replaced for free 2 or 3 times, each time getting a better and better machine. My current upgrade (given because I was getting electric shocks from the Studio they gave me) is an Alienware m17x. This is a sweet rig, and I'm really enjoying it.

This laptop has the 2.4GHz, 3MB Cache, P8600 processor in it. Is it possible to upgrade to the CPU to the Quad Q9100 just by swapping the processors? It also has the GTX 260M video card - is it possible for me to upgrade to the dual GTX 280M cards?

I don't think I would upgrade now, I'm just curious how expandable this machine really is.

Edit
My motherboard details are as follows:
North Bridge: NVIDIA nForce 730i Revision B1
South Bridge: NVIDIA nForce 730i Revision B1
CPU Socket: Socket P (478)

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not too familiar with Alienware laptops, but Dell machines usually don't upgrade very well (they'd rather sell you a new machine :), identify your mainboard with SIW and post some more details please. gtopala.com/download/siw.exe – Molly7244 Dec 23 '09 at 17:23
@Molly - which is actually a reasonable approach. I mean, once you start upgrading your mb, cpu, hdd ... in the end all you've got left is the casing .. in which case you might as well buy a new package alltogether. – ldigas Dec 23 '09 at 17:45
ok Molly, I added my info. – Nathan DeWitt Dec 23 '09 at 21:51
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Looks like the thermal design power for your processor is 25W. For the Q9100 it's 45W. I'd say your biggest obstacle is the additional heat burden. Looks like they shipped a quad core version of the m17x. If you're lucky they used the same processor cooling solution in both types, but I wouldn't count on it. If not, maybe you can order the beefier cooler as a replacement part. Keep in mind that's probably a warranty voiding operation.

As to GPU upgrade, it probably depends on whether you've got a discrete video card. If so, you might be able to go to at least a single GTX 280M, if you can get your hands on the parts. As to dual 280s, dunno. That might be a completely different motherboard when ordered in that configuration. One way to find out for sure, tears your down, but again, depending on the amount of disassembly, that's another warranty voiding procedure.

Unless you're comfortable tearing a laptop down and voiding any warranty you might have, this is probably all moot.

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I definitely wouldn't do it until my warranty ran out in 8 months, if I did it at all. I currently have the GTX 260M discrete card in here. – Nathan DeWitt Dec 23 '09 at 22:02
Have an empty slot for another video card? If not, unless the models shipped with 'dual 280s' had a two GPU/one card solution (like the GTX 295), the best you can probably hope for is an upgrade to a single GTX 280M. Either way, the GPU cooling system might need an upgrade, too. – Mark Johnson Dec 23 '09 at 22:19
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