hey i'm looking to find out if anyone has already gone through this process or is IN the process of upgrading from the gtx 260m to the gtx 460m that alienware has recently started offering for new M15x laptops.


i know the upgrade is possible. i currently reside in saudi arabia and i got a quote from the dell/alienware distributor here. it comes out to approximately $560. that's a LOT more than when i spoke to alienware in the US. they quoted me around $400+ (i forgot to write it down so i don't remember). alienware US also mentioned that all one has to do is order the part, and it would be delivered to the customer. it would then be up to the customer to install it. which is fine with me.


over here, they say it takes 5 weeks for delivery AND that they would install it for me. however, i don't trust them whatsoever. they're not as capable as techs would be elsewhere. i'm proficient enough to do it on my own. oh and that the part would be coming from the netherlands. hmmm...

I reccomend you to order the video from the U.S and then install the video card by yourself. It is not so hard, actually is easy. In Dell support site is a section where you can download a Service Manual and teach how to replace and upgrade hardware of your laptop.

Here the link where you can download the manual:  http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/M15x/en/index.htm

Call Dell Support to make sure you can upgrade. ^^

Otherway i think the ATI 5850 is better :P

hey thanks for the replies guys. i had thought about it and figured that's the way to go (order it in the US and install it myself). i'll just have it sent to a friend and he/she can send it to me or i'll time it so that when i'm in the states i can go pick it up at my friend's place. that's if i can wait that long haha. oh and yeah i spoke to both dell and alienware tech support. they confirmed it. actually dell tech support pawned me off to alienware tech support who then confirmed it.

so you're saying the ATI 5850 is better than the GTX 460M even though it's newer (and supposedly more powerful and all)?. i guess it boils down to personal preference.

thanks for the service manual link by the way, i appreciate it.

Wow, you can actually upgrade? The last time I emailed a tech I got no response. I asked him for a quote and he didn't send me back a reply. Which sucks for him, since I was going to buy it under his name so the tech would get a percentage of the sale.

yeah you can upgrade. you can even switch out from the nvidia to ATI if you want. loads of people have done it. and vice versa. i was just curious so that when i need the power, i'd go for the upgrade. i think i'm going to hold off on it for now. i'm curious to know if the m15x will get an ATI video card upgrade (wishful thinking perhaps?). but yeah i spoke directly with alienware staff on this one. not to mention the local distributor here for dell also confirmed it by giving me a quote. mind you the quote was a lot higher than i originally posted. it's like $600+. they like to rip people off in this part of the world. sigh. it's no wonder i want to leave and haul ass back to canada. that's besides the point.

beemir said: hey thanks for the replies guys. i had thought about it and figured that's the way to go (order it in the US and install it myself). i'll just have it sent to a friend and he/she can send it to me or i'll time it so that when i'm in the states i can go pick it up at my friend's place. that's if i can wait that long haha. oh and yeah i spoke to both dell and alienware tech support. they confirmed it. actually dell tech support pawned me off to alienware tech support who then confirmed it.

so you're saying the ATI 5850 is better than the GTX 460M even though it's newer (and supposedly more powerful and all)?. i guess it boils down to personal preference.

thanks for the service manual link by the way, i appreciate it.

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Well the 5850 is better than the 260m but is almost the same thing with the 460m thats why nvidia has the 460 to equal de power of the 5850 that kick the ass of the 260.lol