upgrading alienware x51

[Mrducklumps1]

I bought an Alienware x51 for $405.00 on eBay (still need power supply, but getting that for Christmas) but I was curios to what mini itx motherboard I could buy (preferably 1150) Haswell mini itx but can it fit and most of all will I get the software like alienfx and the other stuff? on this motherboard/harddrive not sure were the certain software is stored. thank you in advanced for your help.

and most of all will it work?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132039

[Kayn]

I think that Alienware has a custom motherboard that only fits in their cases, so I don't think that you can change it but I could be wrong.

[nsyedhasan]

I would say think of the X51 as a laptop. There aren't many upgrade option to it unless you go to Dell themselves.

[Tmh85]

I'm pretty sure you would have to reinstall windows if you replace motherboard, especially since it will be an OEM copy of windows preinstalled on the x51. I believe that motherboard will fit but i'm not sure how that tall thing that sticks out of the motherboard will fit in the small X51 case.

[X1XNobleX1X]

I bought an Alienware x51 for $405.00 on eBay (still need power supply, but getting that for Christmas) but I was curios to what mini itx motherboard I could buy (preferably 1150) Haswell mini itx but can it fit and most of all will I get the software like alienfx and the other stuff? on this motherboard/harddrive not sure were the certain software is stored. thank you in advanced for your help.

and most of all will it work?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132039

You can easily upgrade your storage and memory but if you're thinking of upgrading your motherboard don't bother, as you can see in this video it's a lot of work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghMsLZcd0Qc

[atom608]

Oh god why did you buy a allienware?

[legend8887]

I'm ashamed to admit that I bought an Alienware as well.

[Mrducklumps1]

I would say think of the X51 as a laptop. There aren't many upgrade option to it unless you go to Dell themselves.

well you can upgrade the GpU,ram hard drive and cpu but you cant overclock the CPU I went on dell forums that since there is a 330w power supply I cant have some big beefy graphics card the max I can put in there is a gtx 760 or 670 which is fine enough for me but you can put a 680 in the case with the fact that you have to have an external power supply. the storage im going to put a 2tb +8gb of ssd hybrid drive im preaty sure that will work. and maybey upgrade to 16gb or ram in a year or two.

[Mrducklumps1]

thank you guys for all this information I just got into pc gaming I've been a console person my whole life and then I took a step back and was like oh sh*t am I stupid this stuff looks amazing and no other person started this track besides linus I watched his first videos about 3 years ago and now I can school my friends in debating what platform is more dominant(pc). for this x51 project though (which is my first gaming computer) I don't know how long it will take but hopefuly one of thede days there will be a motherboard that is updated for my project and I will put that mobo in the x51 but that will probably be awhile I also figured out that there would need to be and exteral power supply or if I could find a very small 400w or 500w power supply to cramp inside the x51 because the x51has no 24 pin but every other mini itx motherboard has them so im sh*t out of luck there but I really don't need some beefy computer like sli 780's or something just a simple 1 760/670 1 monitor/TV  an 60fps on what ever im playing on but when I get enough money after my x51 I will buy an ultimate rig but that's a long time from now (4-5 years)so yeah thanks for al your help guys.

[Mrducklumps1]

Oh god why did you buy a allienware?

because it was very cheap, id rather buy it over a PS4 or xbone

[Mrducklumps1]

I'm ashamed to admit that I bought an Alienware as well.

there not bad its just that dells sells them for a very high price but if you find one on a good deal you can bring it to lan party's while everybody else is clunking around there massive heavy case. and the horsepower in it is great for the money (the one I bought that is)

[Mrducklumps1]

I'm pretty sure you would have to reinstall windows if you replace motherboard, especially since it will be an OEM copy of windows preinstalled on the x51. I believe that motherboard will fit but i'm not sure how that tall thing that sticks out of the motherboard will fit in the small X51 case.

I've got windows 8 boot drive on a flash drive so I think it will be fine but I don't this I will be upgrading mobo for awhile though because when I watched RAY2kay it looked like a pain.

[firest0rm]

because it was very cheap, id rather buy it over a PS4 or xbone

they are definitly NOT cheap and probalby weaker then the PS4 and Xbone when it comes to the 400USD X51...

[Mrducklumps1]

they are definitly NOT cheap and probalby weaker then the PS4 and Xbone when it comes to the 400USD X51...

im packing an i5 with a 660ti (getting a 760) for $405.00 on ebay come at me bro lets see the ps4/Xbone play minesweeper biatch.

[firest0rm]

the 400 usd x51 edition usually come with a i3 and a GTX645

[Mrducklumps1]

the 400 usd x51 edition usually come with a i3 and a GTX645

ya I know but I bought mine very cheaply on ebay