Need Help choosing m14x vs XPS 15z vs Vaio SA

So i need a new laptop mostly for CAD, 3D modeling and Photoshop.. maybe some light gaming and i have this 3 not so similar notebooks.
(not living in US therefore the high prices, but it's not really an issue).

Vaio SA - core i5-2410M 2.30ghz / 6GB / 13" 1600x900 / 1GB AMD Radeon 6630m / <1" thick and 3.6 pounds. $1599

XPS 15z - core i7-2620m 2.30ghz / 6GB / 15" FHD / 2GB Nvidia GT525m / <1" and 5.54 pounds $2000

M14x - core i7-2630QM 2.00ghz / 8GB / 14" 1600x900 / 1.5GB Nvidia GT555m / 1.49" thick and 6.45 pounds $2450

I know they're pretty diferent notebooks but they're the only ones i can get or i'd buy based on looks and perfomance, but feel free to make any sugestion

 

What is your budget? You could import a M17x R3 from the US.

 

i guess $2500 would be the top budget.. and im not looking for a desktop replacement so 15" would be the max screen size

 

not to make any "promotion" but i got my m14x from hidevolution! with the $1200 bucks you are gonna save you could get the 2820 or even the 2920x (if you really need it) + an SSD, they ship everywhere take a look

 

You might as well consider other resellers...like the one mentioned above...several people seem to go that route....i went directly with dell but then i am from the us.........so seriously find out from others about resellers who ship all across and save some dough......i am not sure if a m14x is actually worth investing 2400.....since i got mine at 1199

 

2820QM is waste of money. 2920XM is even more waste of money. Remember there is NO BIOS support for the 2920XM so NO overclocking like in the M18x.

For gaming I would still go with the M17x R3 with a FHD screen and 6990m. Rest stock, upgrade yourself. Do NOT buy SSD's from Dell they are overpriced and if I'm correct SATA2. Every component upgraded by a re-seller and not offered by Dell is not covered by the Dell warrenty. The M18x is a gaming powerhouse but its BIG and pricy so no option here.

Since you are going to use it for some light gaming the XPS15 will do, NOT the XPS15z. You could config. a XPS15z and see what it costs in your country.

 

didnt knew that, ill keep my mouth shut

 

Basically, the dell xps is a professional/business style laptop, designed to compete with the macbook pro 15. The Sony vaio is more like the macbook pro 13, the 1 gig video card would be decent, but probably only on medium game settings, the alienware m14x is a gaming laptop. Besides the specs for each laptop, you'd want to factor in the portability, battery life, graphics, etc. The m14x wins in graphics, loses in portability and battery life. The Vaio S wins in portability and battery life, the specs are decent, but loses when compared to the others. The XPS is a compromise between both. Better than the vaio in performance, has good battery life, but not so bulky as the m14x, but you'll lose on performance. If you're not gaming, the m14x can be too much to carry around, just too much un-needed weight that you wont be using. But if you do value the best graphics out of the three, then its a winner. The xps or vaio seems like the right choice for you since you wont be doing much gaming.

 

ok thanks for the reply's.. but i have some doubts.

1) i know CAD uses CPU and it's better to have a quad one or are duals (i5-2410/i7-2620) enough?

2) 3D modeling i guess relys on the GPU so i'd be better to have the gt555m, but the other 2 are just ok..

i know i should be looking for dell's latitude or precisons but they're just no my cup of tea. really appreciate the feedback