Upgrading GPU on Alienware x51

Takka_Tikka · Dec 9, 2013

Hello. I bought my alienware x51 about a year ago and my current graphics card usually goes to about 75-85 c when playing Far Cry 3 on high settings. So I thought that for christmas i would wish me a new graphics card. The problem is. I heard that alienwares are hard to upgrade. So i need help for, what my psu can handle, which graphics cards would fit, etc.

My specs are:
8GB ram
Windows 7 home premium
intel core i5 2320 3ghz
nvidia geforce gtx 555
monitor is samsung syncmaster S27B350 and the native resolution is 1920x1080. Thanks in advance.

rolli59 · Dec 9, 2013

Is it one of these? http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51/pd

Takka_Tikka · Dec 9, 2013

Yes, that is the one.

rolli59 · Dec 9, 2013

OK then there is a problem because of the limited upgrade ability. Couple of previous solutions http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1799276/upgrading-alienware-x51-graphics-card.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1747216/upgrading-alienware-x51-gpu.html the second solution is the better one!

Takka_Tikka · Dec 9, 2013

So the solution is to buy a new case + power supply + graphics card, thats gonna get expensive, and i know nothing about pc's whatsoever.

rolli59 · Dec 9, 2013

It is possible to upgrade but you are limited with your PSU and heat inside the case. A card that exhausts all the heat out is necessary!
Based on this you probably can run GTX760 if you find the right card if you have the 330watt PSU. http://esports.alienwarearena.com/forums/topic/23248/hardware/x51-video-card-upgrade-what-works-/

Something like this http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp42761kr

Takka_Tikka · Dec 9, 2013

im gonna contact dell and find out what my motherboard and PSU is.

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Yes the PSU is a 330w and the motherboard is a h67 chipset made for the PC. I just want to be sure that the PSU can handle the new graphics card, and that the GPU fits where my gtx 555 sits.

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

You will to Physically check the dimensions of the card to see if it fits. According to the last link I posted somebody put in a GTX660Ti and it runs fine on the PSU recommendations for that card is 450watt PSU but 500watts for the GTX760 although but actually is closer to 330watts here measured at the wall for total system http://anandtech.com/show/7103/nvidia-geforce-gtx-760-review/16 so would be pushing it going with the GTX760.

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

I read about 760 vs 660 and there doesnt seem to be alot of difference, of course the 760 is better but not by alot, and i dont wanna risk getting a graphics card that wont work.

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

The GTX660 has been selling for good prices and would be a safe bet, just make sure it is designed to blow heat out of the case, not with a fancy open dual fan cooler.

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Uhm, i checked my graphic cards length and height on nvidias page, and it was : Height 11.115 CM and Lenght : 20.995.

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

rolli59 :

So do you mean that the GPU is only allowed to have 1 fan?

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

Basically cooler like this it will exhaust the heat inside the case! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127756
Like this it will blow all the heat out the back of the computer http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130826

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Ok, but what about the size of the graphics card, should i send a picture of what my pc looks like inside?

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

Just measure the length that will fit but if you have picture fine

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Its hard to measure when the graphic card is already in

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Doesnt seem like i can add pictures to this post, so i uploaded them to imgur: http://imgur.com/Ab5iGyh and http://imgur.com/wFsMmZN

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

Looks to me that the Card can take the full length behind that metal bracket, am I right?

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

I watch a video and i think i know where the card sits : http://imgur.com/r2DUzLy where the red circle is the "clicker" to get the card out (i think) and the black square is where i think the GPU is

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

The card is the green thing behind that long metal bracket!

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Yeah ok its bigger than what i drew

Takka_Tikka · Dec 10, 2013

Are you 100% sure its a 330w? Cause i looked on that black square thing hanging at the wire and it said "100-240v~4.4A"

rolli59 · Dec 10, 2013

That is input voltage! I can not read the PSU label since it is behind one of those plates!

Upgrading GPU on Alienware x51

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