X51 R2 Upgrading video card

[Critter]

I currently own a x51 R2 and I'm running a Radeon R9 200 series in it, I am wanting to upgrade to the Geforce GTX 980. Will the power supply I have in it handle it, or is there something else I need to buy and can the computer stay cool with that kind of upgrade? Anything will help thanks yall.

Also I was wondering if it was possible to install a ssd instead

 

[sk.empyre]

While it's not officially supported, I have seen several youtube videos of people opening up the X51 and taking out the small FRONT intake fan for the GTX 970 and 980 cards to fit. Please keep in mind that this will all be at your own risk. I recommend you do plenty of research before you go through with it. I personally do not own an Alienware X51 (yet) but I will be putting my GTX 970 inside of it. Try looking through several youtube videos of people working with reference styled 970's and 980's.

Recommended videos for research:

Alienware X51 R2 Power Board & OcUK GTX 970 Upgrade Impressions [Irishlad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJvFbfEfJh0

Alienware X51 OcUK GTX 970 Sleeping Dogs Benchmark Ultra Settings [Irishlad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ygN9vQzdk

Alienware X51 OcUK GTX 970 Heaven Benchmark "Overclocked" [Irishlad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnQWk0HNTl0

How to install a GTX 970 SC in an Alienware X51 [MGTech] (9.5 inches)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVi9puLG00A

Best of luck.

- sk.Empyre

 

[KillerBee33]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td-WFKU1mwU
http://www.alienowners.com/threads/so-i-flashed-980s-bios-in-x51-r2.7017/
Not much else .

 

[KillerBee33]

Heat will be a problem but a Custom Fan helps alot, you can use BIOS like me to change it or Afterburner

 

[Critter]

Thanks for the replies, I noticed a lot of people went with the SC versions, is that to consume less power?

The memory supported is DDR3 also right?

 

[KillerBee33]

Dont waste money on SC just flash it yourself.You will have to remove front fan to fit 10.5" reference card, had'em both 970 then 980 , depending on your gaming needs they are both weak. A good gaming rig these days is 2X980 Ti's , look it up

 

[Critter]

thanks for all the help killerbee, I have been keeping up with people who have gotten 980s recently and some are having shut down issues because their card is just pulling too much power, is there a suggestion for the specific card I should get? As for a good gaming rig, I understand top of the line are pushing ti's which I considered getting but id just have to buy an all new pc for that and I don't think my wife will allow that

 

[KillerBee33]

Personally have no shut downs and i'm clocket @ 1506Mhz and 1.243 Voltage with 110% unlocked Power Limit.
Honestly don't see much of a difference 980 from 970 so, if you paranoid get the Reference 970
This is the card i have now its NVIDIA vendor and i bought it in Best Buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-...lack/9855141.p?id=1219441205886&skuId=9855141
This is what it looks like on full load

 

[KillerBee33]

This is what my current BIOS looks like , you can see the fan settings and the clocks
One on the left is the FACTORY BIOS, one on the right is CUSTOM

I'm more than sure you can clock 970 to the same values with no issues.