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    Is M14x the laptop to have?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by V-Head, May 16, 2011.

  1. V-Head

    V-Head Newbie

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    Hey guys, im looking to get a new laptop. Something powerful, yet portable, not very heavy (max 3 Kg) and not over $3500...for that price is there a better laptop to get than a m14x? Ill be using the machine for some gaming, graphics design and programing. I'll be looking to replace the laptop in about 4 years. Any recommendations? Thanks.

    M14x
    Intel® Core™ i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache), Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz, Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter and VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit, Internal Bluetooth 3.0, 3.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M, 256GB SSD, 14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight, Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax, 8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Slot Load Optical Drive with Roxio Creator 2011, Soundblaster® X-Fi™ Hi Def Audio, Stealth Black, Microsoft® Office Professional 2010, McAfee® SecurityCenter – 36-Months
     
    V-Head, May 16, 2011
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  2. kirodawg

    kirodawg Notebook Enthusiast

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    You went and just maxed out everything didnt you lol. Try going to the "what notebook should I buy" forum on here and fill the post thing and see what people have to say.
     
    kirodawg, May 16, 2011
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  3. chris3145

    chris3145 Notebook Consultant

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    Get the stock m14x. I would recommend upgrading the screen, but not much else.
    It runs Crysis. There's not much more to say.

    All of the stock options are adequate. Your only potential bottleneck (and the only reason not to get the m14x, in my opinion) would be the graphics card. If you scroll down a bit on this page, you can see what sort of FPS you should expect from the games they've tried. NVIDIA GeForce GT555M. It can run any game out there at medium, and it can run a lot of games at high or better.
     
    chris3145, May 16, 2011
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  4. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes get the stock and only upgrade the proc and the ram if it is necessary, is graphic design = photoshop? If so just get the base model and upgrade the screen like chris said, because max out all specs is just not worth it, and I don't understand why you took the Wireless HD, will you use it? Do you know what is it?...
     
    Tsukurimashou, May 16, 2011
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  5. chris3145

    chris3145 Notebook Consultant

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    I hope he just copy/pasted that list from somewhere, and it's not what he's actually getting.
     
    chris3145, May 16, 2011
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  6. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    If you can sacrifice a little on the weight, the M17x R3 would be a much better buy for you. It's a little more powerful in the graphics department (a craptonne more if you select the 6970), and it offers native dual HDD support. It also has a better screen.
     
    Serephucus, May 16, 2011
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  7. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

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    The M17x IS NOT portable and he said 3kg max, the m17x is 4.4kg with 3D pannel and 4.25 without. it's 1.5kg more than the m14x. m17x is good if you don't have to carry it often.
     
    Tsukurimashou, May 16, 2011
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  8. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Portability is relative.

    I had an M17x-R1, and I found it very portable. On the other hand, some people find only the thinnest of netbooks comfortable to carry.

    The M17x R3 is a little over his weight requirements, but given that he has a budget of over double the cost of a stock M14x, I figured I'd at least mention it so he was informed of all options.

    In that vein, for $2,850, you could get a Sager NP8150, with the following:

    Intel Core i7 2820QM
    8GB DDR3
    NVIDIA GTX 485M
    15.6" 1920x1080 matte display
    120GB SSD
    750GB HDD
    Win7 Home Premium 64-bit
    3.01kg (I assume you can go that far over. ;))

    This would absolutely murder the M14x in performance. You could also save about $200 and get the 6970 instead, while keeping almost the same performance level.
     
    Serephucus, May 16, 2011
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  9. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

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    Damn, why alienware didn't put those config in their mid series, the new politic of little has low perf, bigger has high perf is just ridiculous, f*ck you dell, f*ck you. But anyway the alienware design is really better for me, even if it was at the same price as the m14x, I'll get the m14x because of the look, I know it's stupid but I'm in love with the design of alienware.
     
    Tsukurimashou, May 16, 2011
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  10. LxGST

    LxGST Notebook Consultant

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    My laptops almost gotten stolen several times because of "that look". Sager does have some advantages too, y'know.
     
    LxGST, May 16, 2011
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  11. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah, I'll have an alienware but I'll don't let it without surveillance, I'm not the type of guy that privileging the look at the expense of the perfs. But if I can get the two I'll get them.
    The sager are really performent but the look is really ugly, and I'll don't get an alienware to see people say "wow his PC is awesome I'm so jealous", I'll get it for me because I love the design.
     
    Tsukurimashou, May 16, 2011
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  12. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder..i've read loads of comments saying how hideous people think the design of AW laptops are. I don't mind it, but there are definitely more classy alternatives out there (read MBP or Samsung 9 Series :p) The AW certainly looks tougher though :)
     
    takeabyte, May 16, 2011
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