Few bits to upgrade

[Minimansam]

Hey all I have had the alienware x51 r3 for a while with the following specs
Technical Specifications

• Processor: 6th Gen Intel i3 6100 @ 3.70GHz
• Memory: 8GB DDR4 @ 2133MHz
• Storage: 1TB Serial ATA
• Graphics: Intel HD 530 Onboard & NVIDIA GeForce 745.
• Power: External 240W Alienware Power Block

I was looking to upgrade to a gtx 960 and Samsung 850 500gb ssd and I know I need the 330w powerbank for the 960 any other advice or other recommendations have about 400ish budget thanks.

 

[Minimansam]

Anyone ?

 

[ExRayTed]

The 6gb GTX1060 or RX580 would be a better bet

 

[varkanoid]

The 6gb GTX1060 or RX580 would be a better bet

They might not fit and it does not have the power. The X51 r3 is more style/design over functionality its in a very small thin case and does not have a great deal of upgrade potential.
The best route is to try and find a blower type GTX 960 as this is what the highest card this PC is designed for. It does suggest you might get a GTX 970 to fit but it needs to be the short stubby one.
You also have a problem with the external 330W power supply as you simply can not fit an ATX supply and will this not be enough for a RX580 (500W+?) or GTX1060 (400W+?)
I would scour the 2nd hand market to see if you can find a GTX 960 blower type or a short length GTX 970. Anything else including custom cooled cards probably wont fit.

 

[Minimansam]

I got the gtx 1060 sc it is only about 7 inches and same wattage needed as the 960 that the uprated models have in them

 

[The Only Beardy]

Yer, the 1060 6gb itx is tiny, looks ridiculous in my massive tower case

 

[Minimansam]

I'm getting the ssd and I want to take out the hdd I have an windows usb and my product key when I install windows to it do I have to reinstall the alien ware stuff on it .if I do do I just go on the alien website thanks

 

[varkanoid]

Just migrate your HDD to your SSD saves all the hassle of reinstalling everthing unless you are one of the fresh windows install brigade.