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    Hidevolution offers a more powerful CPU than Dell?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Sztrovacsek, Sep 20, 2011.

  1. Sztrovacsek

    Sztrovacsek Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm about to get a 14MX to replace my last desktop and I went to hidevolution's website as I've heard (and verified) they are more reasonable sending laptops to Europe.
    I found a strange thing. Alienware offers the i7 2860QM 2.5GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache) as their most powerful CPU while Hidevolution offers the i7 2960XM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache) for about 500 bucks more.

    Question #1 is if it worthwhile to get this more powerful CPU for this much (I plan to keep the laptop for a while, the last one I kept it for 4 years at work) and #2 how come an Alienware sells a more powerful CPU than Alienware itself?

    Thanks for all answers in advance

    sztrovacsek
     
    Sztrovacsek, Sep 20, 2011
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  2. Kantide

    Kantide Notebook Geek

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    If you plan to overclock, go for it. These things aren't the best on heat which is why IMO it's not worth it. The only real difference with the XM is the unlocked multiplier.
     
    Kantide, Sep 20, 2011
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  3. Sztrovacsek

    Sztrovacsek Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for your answer. I'm not really an overclocking guy so I doubt I would do that. Should I stick with the i7 2860QM ? How much faster is that than my 940MX (that I have in my 17MX)?
     
    Sztrovacsek, Sep 20, 2011
    #3
  4. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    940XM you mean? I'd say quite a bit, even a 2630QM is about on part with your 940XM.
     
    fred2028, Sep 20, 2011
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  5. Sztrovacsek

    Sztrovacsek Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, sorry that's what I meant.
    Would you save on the money or would you spend an extra $500 for the more expensive CPU? Would it worth the money? What are the differences between those CPUs (i7 2860QM vs 2960XM)?

    Thanks everyone
     
    Sztrovacsek, Sep 20, 2011
    #5
  6. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    I'd save the money. No games would ever need your CPU. Usually getting the top of the line hardware is a massive rip since they depreciate quickly.

    Main diff between 2860QM and 2960XM is that the XM has an unlocked multiplier for overclockability. I'd still go with the 2860QM or even a slower quad core.
     
    fred2028, Sep 20, 2011
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  7. Brabostaan

    Brabostaan Notebook Deity

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    There is NO BIOS support for a XM CPU in the M14x so NO OC ability. CPU will work but it will run turbo at 3.7. NO OC as in the M18x.

    Not worth the money!! Second thing is warrenty, if your CPU fails its not covered by the Dell warrenty.

    Best bang for buck is he 2760QM.
     
    Brabostaan, Sep 20, 2011
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  8. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Id recommend the 2760QM. Best price to performance ratio. The GPU in the m14x will bottleneck well before the CPU when you have any of the i7's in it.
     
    Gearsguy, Sep 20, 2011
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  9. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    Why the 2760? Is it very much better than the old 2720 which most people didn't get, and opted for the 2630 instead?
     
    /Drakk_, Sep 21, 2011
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  10. Sztrovacsek

    Sztrovacsek Notebook Enthusiast

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    Would you prefer the 2760QM over the 2860QM? If so, why?
     
    Sztrovacsek, Sep 21, 2011
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  11. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    The 2760 is just a replacement for the 2720. He obviously wants/needs a powerful CPU if he's considering the 2960XM, so the 2760 will do him just fine. The 2630 is probably best, but like I said. If he wants a powerful CPU, Id recommend the $150 2760QM before the $500 2960XM on a machine that many people complain doesnt have a very powerful GPU! (but imo has a pretty amazing GPU for the size)
     
    Gearsguy, Sep 21, 2011
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  12. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    Oh sorry, didn't realize this was the M14x forum (I open a bunch of threads at once and reply to all of them). I'd still go with the cheapest quad-core 2nd-gen i7 available, unless you have a good reason not to, such as video compression or editing. No gaming doesn't cont.
     
    fred2028, Sep 21, 2011
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  13. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Get the 2630qm. 2760qm is overkill really. As stated for gaming, GPU will be the limiting factor and not the CPU.
     
    HTWingNut, Sep 21, 2011
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  14. Caladdon

    Caladdon Notebook Evangelist

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    My point exactly.

    Gears - You say that the GPU will bottleneck before any of the i7 CPU's.
    Then why upgrade to but the lowliest i7 if thats the case.

    And even then, I have used i5's with this card and it still bottlenecks before the CPU does.

    Seems like a waste of money IMHO.
     
    Caladdon, Sep 22, 2011
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  15. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    I suppose for non GPU tasks. I wouldn't stay with just an i5 myself, really.
     
    /Drakk_, Sep 22, 2011
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  16. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    A dual core might limit you but 2630QM quad core is more than adequate especially with the 555m. The i7-2630QM is faster than most first gen desktop i7's, and those drive a GTX 580 desktop card just fine, heck SLI cards just fine.

    The 2630QM will never be your limited factor for games considering the GPU being used.
     
    HTWingNut, Sep 22, 2011
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  17. Sztrovacsek

    Sztrovacsek Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you guys. I would like to use it as my work desktop replacement with Photoshop, 3D MAX, Outlook running at the same time on 3 monitors. Your statement about the CPU would still stand?
     
    Sztrovacsek, Sep 22, 2011
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  18. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    3DMax might benefit more by the CPU, but you're talking about maybe 5% time improvement.
     
    HTWingNut, Sep 22, 2011
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  19. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    More CPU dependent tasks, and the option to better optimize apps that are built for 4 cores. I was talking about gaming really
     
    Gearsguy, Sep 22, 2011
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  20. Kantide

    Kantide Notebook Geek

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    Get the 2630QM and call it a day. It is more than sufficient for everything you state. The architecture of these chips is so efficient that clock speeds have really little to no effect especially when were only considering a few hundred mhz difference here. I find the performance of this chip pretty comparable to my desktop 2600k when clocked similarly.
     
    Kantide, Sep 23, 2011
    #20