Final M14x Ordering Questions

I am going to be ordering my M14x soon (in the next two weeks), just making sure these are some good specs (I want to have pretty much everything maxed out besides the processor and getting 8gb from Newegg).

Software & Services
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Intel® Core™ i7 2720QM 2.2GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
1.5GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™ technology
500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax
Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter
8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Slot Load Optical Drive
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Internal Bluetooth 3.0
My Software & Accessories
Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
Mars Red
Steam and Portal™ Factory Installed
My Accessories
1 Year Basic Plan
Also Includes
Adobe Acrobat X Reader
None
Automatic Updates: Critical Updates Only
Alienware M14X 150W A/C Adapter
Hinge Up WLAN + DMC - BLACK
Standard Nameplate

This setup is $1593 with NO DISCOUNTS at all, what do you guys think I could get it down to? I am going to call in, I have never done this so give me some pointers please!

 

Once they tell you the final price say "Ouch, that's a little bit out of my budget..." or something like that. Or get it configured to how you want it leaving off one upgrade. When they tell you the price say "For that price I would want *insert upgrade here* included..." Stuff like that. If you don't get a good enough deal, hang up and try again!

 

Looks good. Most people here keep the 1.5gig nvidia card like you did and some even go as far as saying that the cpu upgrade isn't it worth it for the video card is a bottleneck in gaming... but that all depends on your general usage of the laptop. I'd definitely call and order as the sales reps can be helpful on possible discounts. Good luck!

 

yea from what I understand the 3gig card is completely pointless?

 

anyone else?? should i wait for the m14x r2??

 

No. Probably won't be out until 2012.

 

Oh ok gotcha, just wanna make sure I am getting the best thing possible...alright well I will stick with those specs i put up and call a sales rep in the next 2 weeks, so for sure the 3gb video card is pointless??

 

Yes.

10char

 

If you want to get the laptop down a little in price, odds are the 2720 isn't going to add much, so you could probably drop that back to the 2630. What are you going to be using this for?

 

people keep saying that, but I would rather pay the extra just in case and to future proof it a little more I guess...using it for gaming, standard things like word, music, movies, etc, engineering programs (maybe, not for sure), maybe some photoshop

 

Also, what ram should I get, the Kingston Hyper X 1600 8gb is sold out ((

 

Wait for it to get back in stock or you could go for the 1866 if you don't mind spending the extra $$ (you probably won't notice the performance difference).

It's not like the laptop is going to come in the minute you order it anyways, so I would just wait.

 

Future-proofing is a marketing gimmick. Pretty sure in the future, they'll already have processors that run twice as fast as these sandy bridges. Look at the previous generation. You're already getting something fast and I'm pretty sure the extra 200 to 400mhz clock speed increase isn't going to matter much in the long run.

 

yea, true, well hopefully I can get this thing to last 3-4 years...if you guys really think the 2720 isn't worth it I will get the 2630

 

I would say it is not worth it for the speed difference. I think the only thing that justifies the 2720QM over the 2630QM is the extra instructions, which 95% of people will not use.

 

what do you mean by the extra instructions?

 

If you are asking this question, it probably won't affect you.

2720QM

2630QM

Go to "Advanced Technologies" at the bottom and compare the differences.

 

Yea it looks like the three things the 2630 doesn't have that the 2720 does is just security things that would be useless to me...and I can't imagine performance between the two are much different

 

400mhz... Isn't that an Intel Pentium 2 processor back in the day?

 

Alright well I think I figured out all the things I need, probably will go with the 2630, still a little iffy on it though

 

ONE LAST THING, I would like to put a small like 80gb SSD in it a long with the harddrive thats coming stock on the m14x, what size SSD do I need etc to fit in?

Edit: I may just get a 128gb ssd and replace the HD...anyone know any coupon codes or ways to save money on the m14x?? the more I save the bigger the SSD

Also, is the Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter worth it?

 

I think all SSD have the same size. And for me the wirelessHD isn't worth it but it's just my opinion.

 

If you want to use your laptop to stream to your TV wireless it is worth it. If not, it isn't.

2.5" SSD

 

See, after reading a couple posts on here that seem to say that the processor temperatures are pretty high...I'm wondering if maybe it is worth it to get the faster processor and underclock it slightly?

 

$150 for maybe 1-2*C difference in temps? Hardly worth it.

Much better solution would be to get the 2630QM and turn off turbo. Or set max CPU performance to 75 or 80%, etc.

 

I just put my order in this week for the M14x. I really pushed my rep to get me the best deal. My ending price before tax was $1394. With tax it was $1488. Here are my specs I got.

Software & Services
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Intel® Core™ i7 2720QM 2.2GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
6GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
1.5GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™ technology
750GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6205 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology
8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Slot Load Optical Drive
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Internal Bluetooth 3.0
My Software & Accessories
Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
Mars Red
Steam and Portal™ Factory Installed
My Accessories
1 Year Basic Plan
Also Includes
Adobe Acrobat X Reader
None
Automatic Updates: Critical Updates Only
Alienware M14X 150W A/C Adapter
Hinge Up WLAN + DMC - BLACK
Standard Nameplate

Now I wanted the upgrade process due to the extra features it provided. Just so you know, the 2630 doesn't provide support for 1600mhz ram. I also will use the VT-d technology, and I also find that I like extra security. (The VT-d and Security I dont really understand but I do use VM's alot) Plus the extra processing power was nice. But this is just based on my wants/needs. I will use the laptop for gaming/school/work and as you have mentioned I want it to last for a long time.

I also feel the wireless NIC was was worth it. From reading reviews it can offer alot better speeds and range.

What I found with the reps it just pushing them. It took me about 3 days to finall place my order. On the day I did order the rep finally said he found a promo code for the build above. I didn't need the bigger HD or the extra ram but it was cheaper than what I could work out. So I got the rep to find a promo for this build and then also just take an additional $50 because I needed a new backpack. I also got freeshipping.

Oh and I also bought $1500 in gift cards (five $300 cards) to take advantage of the $50 promo card they sent. I was able to combine the $300 ones and then buy excessories; backpack, mouse, crysis 2, and headphones with the gift card.

My key advise is to make it work for you! Thats why it took 3 days to order it and I also went through the hastle of gift cards!

Good luck!

 

I forgot to mention that I did buy a 180gig OCR vertex 2 that I will be installing. I got this for around $270 from neweggbusiness.

 

I am going to be ordering the base m14x...4gb of ram, 2630QM but I will get the 900p screen, trying to save as much money as possible

 

This is what I'm doing; I'll most likely upgrade memory (for whatever reason) later on from newegg. It's crazy how much Dell tries to charge for upgrades like that.