m14x no ATI/AMD :(

really? why's that?

Is the graphic card upgradeable like the m15x so that I could swap an ATI into her?

 

I think it is soldered onto the board. So i would say that you can't upgrade it.

 

also, from what I know about the ati switching technology there is a screen flickering effect with their version of discrete->integrated switching.

 

Yes, although Optimus'es problems are well known, so neither is perfect

Sad that a m17xr3 with a 6970M can get nearly the same battery life as a m14x w/ 555M

 

It's seriously soldered on?? I thought what separated Alienware from other brands was the upgrade-ability for performance. So now every new graphic card that comes out I need to buy a new laptop?....

So I annoyed as I would've bought one yesterday.

 

They do it to save space and optimize cooling. You can't expect compact notebooks like the m11x or m14x to be completely modular and upgradable. If you want that, look at a larger notebook.

 

Components get smaller, therefore I can expect that. I guess I just need to wait a few more years.

 

odd...

given the lifespan of cpus and how fast tech advances, along with gpus and memory, you will forever be waiting then.

i dont see many people using the 14x beyond 1 year, two max if they resort to it being an additional unit at home or school for backup....

 

What do you mean by that?

Are you implying that the M14x won't be able to play current games in 2+ years?

The GPU will be able to for sure.. Maybe not at max settings. With OC for sure.....

 

Granted it was in a slightly different class, but my Dell XPS Gen2 laptop was viable and able to play games at or near max settings in 1920x1200 for several years after I got it. Even after that, it was still an effective image workstation for me.

And I think we saw a lot more advancement in CPU's and GPU's from 2005-2011 than we will see from 2011-2017. We went from single core P4-derived CPU's to quad core sandy bridge, and from 90+ watt "mobile" GPU's to much more powerful cards that use half that much power and generate half as much heat.

I fully expect a high-end machine like the m14x to be powerful and useful for 3 years at the very least.

 

It's really a shame that Dell didn't go with AMD in graphics. Their offerings are just faster per watt. Apple going with AMD should give a hint to the industry. Hopefully next time around.

 

lmao...

the amd vs nvidia war will always be present. just remember, this is your opinion, and far from fact...