Alienware alpha upgrade graphics theory

[andrew.neubauer0409]

Hi everyone,

 

I plan on giving my brother my alienware alpha since his little gateway (yeah...its ancient...ran windows 2000 or 98...can't remember) that my parents gave him finally died 2 or 3 days ago. Now the alpha is decent for the games like League of Legends, CSGO, DOTA 2 and other similar things. But he also wants to play other games that this computer can't handle really well without downgrading the resolution.

 

So what I was thinking was using something like the EXP GDC Beast Laptop External Independent Video Card Dock from bang good and upgrading that way since I can't find a solid answer on the compatibility between the alienware graphics amplifier and the Alpha.

 

So do you think this is a good idea...or should I look for something else?

[Syntaxvgm]

ummmm...sure it's the alpha? Isn't that the steam machine? 

[Kyuubixchidori]

Hi everyone,

 

I plan on giving my brother my alienware alpha since his little gateway (yeah...its ancient...ran windows 2000 or 98...can't remember) that my parents gave him finally died 2 or 3 days ago. Now the alpha is decent for the games like League of Legends, CSGO, DOTA 2 and other similar things. But he also wants to play other games that this computer can't handle really well without downgrading the resolution.

 

So what I was thinking was using something like the EXP GDC Beast Laptop External Independent Video Card Dock from bang good and upgrading that way since I can't find a solid answer on the compatibility between the alienware graphics amplifier and the Alpha.

 

So do you think this is a good idea...or should I look for something else?

I actually looked heavily into this. The Alpha should be able to play nearly any game near high-ultra. its the same as a 750ti, so if you have a decent CPU and up the ram to 8 gigs it should be good.

 

 

that being said, it also has the PCI based wifi, so you could use the same thing for external gpus on laptops. that was my original plan when they hit 350$, instead I got a real desktop. actually regret it lol

[PineappleHolidays]

The alpha is a steam machine esque pc

 

 

Do not upgrade using a Egpu, you will run in to problems

 

If you really want, you can run it off the wifi or mini pcie port, but that's cumbersome and risky for someone who doesn't know much about pc's like your bro

[Syntaxvgm]

I actually looked heavily into this. The Alpha should be able to play nearly any game near high-ultra. its the same as a 750ti, so if you have a decent CPU and up the ram to 8 gigs it should be good.

 

 

that being said, it also has the PCI based wifi, so you could use the same thing for external gpus on laptops. that was my original plan when they hit 350$, instead I got a real desktop. actually regret it lol

 

 

The alpha is a steam machine esque pc

 

 

Do not upgrade using a Egpu, you will run in to problems

 

If you really want, you can run it off the wifi or mini pcie port, but that's cumbersome and risky for someone who doesn't know much about pc's like your bro

I think OP is referring to an old aliewnare machine that's not the alpha. 

[andrew.neubauer0409]

I have the generation that ran windows 8.1 (now 10). It has the i3 processor (which I plan on upgrading) and I already put 8gb's of ram and upgraded the slow laptop drive to a faster hybrid drive.

[Kyuubixchidori]

I think OP is referring to an old aliewnare machine that's not the alpha. 

 

 

I plan on giving my brother my alienware alpha 

 

 

I have the generation that ran windows 8.1 (now 10). It has the i3 processor (which I plan on upgrading) and I already put 8gb's of ram and upgraded the slow laptop drive to a faster hybrid drive.

give it a SSD. could overclock it. Hard time believing it struggles in games. but havent used it myself so

[PineappleHolidays]

I have the generation that ran windows 8.1 (now 10). It has the i3 processor (which I plan on upgrading) and I already put 8gb's of ram and upgraded the slow laptop drive to a faster hybrid drive.

So it's the i3 and 760 model ?

 

GPU model is kind of important when you're considering a GPU upgrade

[andrew.neubauer0409]

So it's the i3 and 760 model ?

 

GPU model is kind of important when you're considering a GPU upgrade

Yeah...once I figured out if this worked or not I was gonna look into what card I should get him. Suggestions? I was thinking a 290 or a NVidia equivalent.

[andrew.neubauer0409]

 

 

give it a SSD. could overclock it. Hard time believing it struggles in games. but havent used it myself so

 

I haven't had issues with it per say but I want to give him something better than what I had initially. The original stock hdd sucked balls, having only 4gb of ram sucked also. So yeah after those upgrades it runs skyrim with quite a few mods with DSR enabled to 1440p at 60fps.

[Kyuubixchidori]

So it's the i3 and 760 model ?

 

GPU model is kind of important when you're considering a GPU upgrade

its a modded mobile cheap, equal to a 750ti

I haven't had issues with it per say but I want to give him something better than what I had initially. The original stock hdd sucked balls, having only 4gb of ram sucked also. So yeah after those upgrades it runs skyrim with quite a few mods with DSR enable to 1440p at 60fps quite well.

then try the external laptop gpu thing. should work just fine. make a build guide of sorts on it. or a review

[PineappleHolidays]

I haven't had issues with it per say but I want to give him something better than what I had initially. The original stock hdd sucked balls, having only 4gb of ram sucked also. So yeah after those upgrades it runs skyrim with quite a few mods with DSR enable to 1440p at 60fps quite well.

Wait, then why do you want to upgrade it ? 

 

If you want to, I would either get a R9 390 or whatever else your budget allows