6970 now avaliable for M17xR3!

AMD 6970 have finally surfaced in UK's alienware website!
only a matter of time before it comes to the US and other websites!!! WOOT!!!!

Alienware M17x Laptop Product Details | Dell UK

 

Just checked. No 6970 on AU site yet.
However, I did find something new. Dell has increased the price from $3398 to $3698!!!!!

Why? Why? Why?

 

Also it have Powerxpress (Similar to Nvidia optimus although optimus is not available with the 3D R3)

Best thing also is that it doesn't need Computer reset to switch the GPU, People tested the technology with 6870 and battery was like this

Intel GPU battery +5hours
AMD 6870 Battery 3hours (6970m consume more power so it will be less maybe 2hours battery?)

It will be hilarious if Dell decided to disconnect R2 to replace it with M18x, R3 users will beat 5870 CF in many games and offer similair performance

6970m doing better than 5870 in CF in Starcraft 2/left 4 dead/half life and identical in Metro 18/Fr cry 2,
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html

Dell should update R2 bios and offer 6970 or it will be obsolete

 

Wish I knew when/if the 485m would be available. Ever since I heard about the great reviews of the 3D on this machine, I've started looking into 3D games. Some look pretty darn good. But I can't give up the big-time power of the 6970 for 3D. The 6970 would probably extend the practical life of my laptop by almost a year.

 

same as 5870 CF? thats alot of horsepower for one card!

 

Even if GTX485m was available are you willing to pay 300-400$ more for the same performance? Unless Nvidia Pricecut GTX485m i don't see it being popular plus Dell is not offering yet so who knows it might not be available anytime soon if ever

 

I would of gone and bought the R3 today if it supported 6970 + 3D panel, but unfortunately not

The R2 ofcourse will become obsolete -.- UK outlet calls it the M17X classic ( well used to last time i checked ), its the previous revision for the next revision to surpass and leave in it's dust.

 

The 6970 added 200uk to price which is $318 over the 460.

 

Pound =/= $

m17x R3 = 1499$ in the US website
m17x R3 = 1699 POUND in the UK store
1699 pound = 2700$ (Now you know why many people rather import from US)

6970m already available from Eurocom for a little less than 100$, i expect dell to charge 200$ more for it max if not less.

 

I assume that ppl who already bought their R3 can add the 6970 later on

 

Very cool I can't wait!!!! Yes people with r3 can upgrade anytime they wish.

 

Can't wait to try these out in the R2. Thats what I'm lookin forward too. Maybe a set from Clevo.

 

Yeh that would be awesome. Can't wait to try some new GPUs in the R2s.
Hope they work though, in regards to bios support.

It'd be so awesome if I could chuck in a couple of 485m's into the R2. Or even 1 would be quite nice.

Cheers.

 

I'm not sure if the R2 will be able to handle the extra power consumption of the 6970 crossfire.

It's funny, last month I looked on Dell Outlet and there weren't any M17X R2 available. Now there are 56 R2 machines on the Outlet and the number is growing every day.

 

So if the 6970 is $318 more from the 460 how much the 485 will be ? $600 lol

 

It depends on the price difference and whether there will continue to be discounts for getting the 3D. I'd probably pay $200 more for the 485m, not sure about $300. Doubtful at $400.

 

Speedy your laptop is $5k what you worried about...GTX 470 sli and i know for a fact that you will be throwing in a pair of gtx 485 into your next setup

 

Damn Dell always overpricing their cards.

IMO, they won't price the 485M that high. Making the other card's prices inflated, it'll pay off for the 485M because 70% of the consumers that buy the r3 will get the cheaper more overpriced cards. So perhap's they'll underprice it 100-200 dollars so that people may actually consider the 485M...

edit: I'm guessing 2PM for it to show on the US website.

 

Well i worry for another people

 

yeah that maybe true but any way expensive or not the people will consider the 485 because is 2 times faster than the 460 and for the 3D stuff too

 

ROFLMAO....i love it

 

Who cares about r2 it is old and will be forgotten soon ! That's the way with the computer industry. This is great news for the r3. IMO buying the 460 Is still is a smart choice if you want the 3d and/or 120hz as there surely will be a more powerful nvidia offering soon and replacing the gpu will be much cheaper than upgrading to 120hz

 

6970M is ~400$ 200 uk pounds is 100-150$ as far as Dell is concerned and if I read the situation correctly, 485M won't be offered

 

Who cares about the R2? I will take a shot at this; people with the R2. The R3 has some new features (mainly HDMI in and USB 3) but it lost some of the features that are very attractive with the R2 (RGB, build, cooling). With the r2 be ancient one day? Sure. That is, as you say, the computer industry. But the notebooks of today are more upgradable and users are EXPECTING upgradable options. Give me 940XM unlocked with 6970 CF over a SB single card 6970 in that tight case design anyday. Personal opinion only. But if the 460M was reportedly maybe having heating issues (which can be inherent to a new design) then a 6970 may be months out of this new design.


Anyways, anyone have an educated guess as to whether or not the R2 could handle the cards? The card layout look like they would fit however it seems to predicate on a VBios update which I don't think would occur initially. However, maybe down the line it could be released?

 

I agree with you. But its an obvious fact that most r2 owners need to express their feelings IN r3 threads . I think it should be done in r2 threads. I'm not sure I can speak for anyone else but as a r3 buyer I don't care about hearing why the r2 us this and that. Just my .02

 

i find that if i change to a 6970 now, i will 1, future proof my m17xr3, and 2, the 6970 will also be covered under my 2 year complete cover as well. as opposed to 30 days if you buy the 6970 as a stand alone unit.

 

Whoa... Ok.. lets think here... If the Nvidia 460GTXm fits in both the R3 and the m15x, Will the 6870 and the 6970 fit the m15x as well? If so it could be the smallest version of the powerhouse assuming Dell will let you order the 6970?

StevenX

 

Yes because you could get same performance and 3D which is not available with the 6970M.

 

I believe you are right. The 485M will not be offered at least in the near future. Proof of that well, no one ever mentioned it not even the chinese site which seems to have been right on the whole line.

 

Well, I think it can handle 1 card but not 6970M in a crossfire setup.

 

Faster than I expected Oh snap.

 

As soon as it appears on the US site, I am ordering. I am a bit sad about not being able to get 3D because after I saw Mandrake's comment I changed from thinking it was a toy to a cool app but it's ok, I'll have to do without. Power is more important to me than 3D.

 

the 6970M is supposed to have AMD HD3D stereoscopic technology... I wonder if they will find a way to support it?

 

Well the site states that 3D requires an Nvidia graphic card.

 

I just called Dell and they won't let me order the 6970M over the phone. It's not yet in their system. Let's hope it will become available today. What's that with UK first now these days...

 

I wonder how many canceled orders Dell is about to get hit with.

 

so is it possible for the current 460m+120hz screen users to upgrade to the 6970M later in the future?

 

My guess would be anybody that doesn't have their heart set on 3D is gonna think about cancelling, I'm gonna wait for mine to come in and if I don't like the 3D mine will be going back in favor of the battery life and 6970m.

 

Anyone else notice that the 460 states "with Optimus technology" and that you can still order the 3d bundle LCD? hmmm.

 

I wonder when they'll make the 6970m available for us folks here in Canada.
Seems to be quite an awesome upgrade since it seems to outbench the GTX 480 by avg of +30%. And that's not even paired up with Sandybridge. Anything more would probably be the GTX485 but god knows how much they'll tax on for that? And the difference from that doesn't seem quite as significant as the upgrade to 6970M.
Check out review and generic + game benches here:
Review AMD Radeon HD 6970M Graphics Card - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Dammit I already have a m11x r1 and a PC with i7 920 & the aging but still adequate HD4870. Trying to think of excuses to justify purchasing an m17x r3.

Well my computer HAS been acting up since I installed a OCZ Vertex 2 SSD in it. Stupid Logitech MX bluetooth mouse lags and jumps when whenever I get into heavy downloading and slightly more resource intensive operations. Darn thing even lags while it's loading YouTube videos, although it speeds up after downloading is done and is just viewing the video. Online searches to fix have so far proven pointless even after updating graphics and mouse drivers. Maybe I can sell that and just live with a r3 lol

 

the base system showed up on our site 5 or 6 days after UK, so probably a similar time line.



Considering the graphics switching for AMD seems quite easy, and I don't care about 3D, I'll cancel/return mine if they won't send out a new card for upgrade price (if I even have my system by then - alienware sales just told me it shipped 8 years ago. I actually had to remind them the system became available on the 10th, lol).

 

because we pay A LOT more for it than you guys do?

 

The only catch is 120hz and 3d. People who want pure power now may feel like theyre so glad they waited but nvidia may pop a 560m or 480/485 down the road and those with 3d and 120hz will have a ton of power and really enjoy 3d and the high frames with the 120hz. At least that's the dilemma I'm having.

 

I agree with you but then I was question whether or not I would actually use 3D after the initial "cool" aspect of it.

Is this something I will use in the next few years while gaming. Well I am pretty sure the answer is no.

 

The R3 with 460GTX or 6970M is 240W.

 

Yup the PSU coming with my R3 is the same 240w Delta PSU that comes with the R2. And the listing for 6970 info states 75-100 watts so I think there would still be a possibility there.

 

Well this was what i was waiting for. The moment it hits the US website, I'm in!

 

I agree with you on the 3d perspective but what about 120hz? THAT is something you will be staring at every second you use the machine. If the gtx460 can play games at 60 fps or close you are no better off with a more powerful card if the screen is 60 hz. Catch my point? 80fps on a 60 hz screen may show tearing meanwhile the guy with a 460 and a few settings lowered may be over 60 fps and experiencing epic smoothness. People forget settings like aa etc can be turned down with minimal perception because a notebook screen is fairly small.

 

Do you guys think that an eventual upgrade for us R-2 owners towards a single hd6970 vs CF hd5870 will be worth? (if compatibility it is not an issue of course)

 

Just curious.. "I'm in" as in you're jumpin on the bandwagon and buying one? What of your current lappy? Sell? Is there even a decent market for used AW laptops and do they hold their value?

Cause I am seriously considering the R3 as well but as my earlier post says, just can't justify it. However if it sells for decent price after like a yr of use then it's more like a rental and might be the extra push for me to take out my wallet lol