6970M on M17X R3 by July? Should I wait?

I didn't see any discussions on this yet but I was talking with a Dell EPP representative and asked him about the AMD 6970M graphics card upgrade. He said it was scheduled to be available by July. I'm not sure if that is credible information or he just pulled a month out of thin air.

If that's true, should I wait on the 6970M? No one seems to be thrilled with the 6870M or the 460M currently available. I'm reluctant to buy a machine with an older processor since the Sandy Bridge seems to be testing well and the R3 is about $1000 less than an M17X classic or other top of the line machine (at least with my configurations).

My current laptop has a 8600M GT graphics card (core duo 2.4ghz) and probably won't be able to play many new games. I really want to get it upgraded now but I can wait a little longer I guess.

 

I think he pulled one out of thin air on you to try and get your sale. Most are dissapointed but the 460gtx is a decent card. I think if you have gotten by with a 8600gt all these years you will be more than happy with the 460.

 

My Dell rep told me it will also come with magical powers, cure cancer and help make the world a better place. All that for $999.95. (+tax where applies)

 

I still think there's a good chance the 6970M will be available within the next 6 months even if the guy was lying to me. Still, I guess if you're always waiting on the next best thing, you'll never buy anything. These companies are really good at staggering their upgrades to achieve maximum profits.

 

SOLD x3

gd10cl

 

100% agree with that statement....I reckon Dell will want to sell as many units with 460m as possible, THEN offer an alternative.....its all money money money folks....it reall isnt about providiing potential buyers with ALL options at the time of release...they will gradually milk the current R3 gpu spec for all its worth, then release an update....

At least thats what I would do to make even MORE money lol - doesnt make business sense to give all the options all at once!

 

The 480M was supposed to hit the M17xR2 last September but it never happened. Even if it's planned, if it doesn't get past the testing stages it may never happen.

 

I think you are right and I'm almost in the same boat. I ordered my r3 with every intention to return it and wait for the 6970 but a few things have changed for me over the last week...

One is that the gtx 460 isn't bad. I've come to the realization that it can do more than what I usually need my lappy to do. If it does I'll probably be happy and keep it.

If they do wait 6 months, 6 months later there will be ivybridge. That is supposed to an even bigger jump. Then we're waiting a year... It never ends !

I'm thinking I may like the 3d vision nvidia is pushing. The 6970 may not be compatible. The 485 was not shown in ANY leaked photos so who knows when that may show.

I've never really upgraded a laptop before but in a years time the ivybridge should drop right in and with a gpu upgrade it could be a whole new machine

 

The thing is that the 460M will play WOW at full resolution but it won't play Metro 2033 or even things like GTA 4 at full resolution.

I am torn with this. I am ready to order but the better graphics card is definitely something I want.

I doubt though they wait until June to release a better graphics option. Remember that Alienware tends to be a Flagship brand and they are not doing so with a 460M.

 

I agree with you too that with the current options They know most people are like and waiting for something better. I do play wow which I think that's why you mentioned it and the 460 can do just that. I realized when I need to get serious I'm on my desktop anyways and the 460 will do just fine while I'm at work.

I was really dissapointed my r2 with 5870 Xfire couldn't play wow at max resolution without stuttering and dropping to 10-20 fps with noone else around except mobs and trees but my CPU was the i740. The 2820 sb I configured my r3 with stomps it so hard it mashes it into the floor for the ants to eat. It even beats my r2 setup in benchmarks based in leaked info (14,5k vs 16k 3dm06) although from everything I read and ear the CPU is a big part of that score.

 

I play WOW with all settings at max except shadow at medium with both my R1 and my R2. If you cannot play it at max it means you have something wrong either with one of your card or maybe something overloads your PC. That game should run at max no questions asked.

I get on average 40 FPS on my R1 (QX9300 with 4870 XF) and 60 FPS in Dalaran under rush hour with my R2 most often 80 FPS in RAIDS.

 

My r2 was new with nothing installed except wow. The frames were disappointing to say the least. I don't think I saw 80fps unless aimed at the sky. I heard wow only used 1 gpu and my CPU was slow so i guess it was a surprise to see low frame rates. My 3G mark scores were normal so I think everything was working.

 

Then I am not sure why. In any case since Cataclysm there is no way you are under 60 to 80 FPS. The graphics engine was greatly upgraded and is much faster than before. My brother uses my R1 and I just checked before writing this post. He is at 75 FPS in Stormwind with a lot of people being there. I checked his settings, everything is on max settings except shadows which is on the setting in between low and medium. Hope that helps.

All of that to say that one 460M should run WOW at max settings.

 

I was actually willing to compromise with the 460 I dont mind turning a few settings lower if it helps keep frames high. I know a 6970 or 485 would probably laugh at wow. I do remember turning shadows to low or off and the distance etc to high which really did help. Problem was frames were high when looking at nothing or flying but on the ground fighting when frames dropped low I saw the stuttering everyone talks about with Xfire and the 5870s. That was like the turning point when I decided it was going back lol.

 

Can i ask if you have returned your R2 simply on the basis of performance of one game????

 

Pretty much. But the r3 had alot to do with it too, as well as realizing I should have opted for the 920xm. So there were a few reasons.

 

Very weird why your having fps problems :/ we have the exact same configuration and I can play maxed with max AA and never drop under 45 fps under huge intense fights... Something must be odd about your laptop

 

Well, if the m17x-r2 is too slow for you, there are only 2 options left:

a) Clevo high end laptop,
b) Desktop computer, with something better than single 5850/5870 card.

 

I am pretty sure he is the only one that had 20 FPS with an R2 with Crossfire 5870 for the game WOW. Since you returned your laptop we won't ever know but it was ill for sure. It's not a good representation of what the R2 is capable of.

 

Clevo is saying Feb./March release. Heck they've already reviewed a 15" Clevo, with i7-740QM and 6970M. Look at how that thing destroys the 460M.

July would be insane. Surely Dell/AW wouldn't wait that long, unless they're having problems on the engineering side.

The rep maybe just wanted you to buy now so they told you a timeframe for which you wouldn't wait.

 

How can you be so certain of this without seeing a benchmark/using this actual system match? I realize that the 460 has been tested but not with this new SB system using those two programs. While they may be greatly GPU dependent, the proof is in the pudding. Even if you are betting correctly, turning the settings down a notch or two to play full resolution is a small sacrifice.

http://www.notebookjournal.de/storage/show/image/image4d3019d71537c

 

Well those are great numbers and also it shows that the 460M is quite some card much better than the 5870M in all games benchmarked.

Why but why won't they release the 485M...

 

If the Clevo just had a full glass display.. I'd see Clevo on my credit card statement lol.

 

They're both nice cards, but 'much better' is not accurate. They're comparable.

 

All I know is I want the card with the highest numbers attached to it! ATI Mobility 7487564, or the Nvidia 7985874M Either one will work for me

 

LOL, good luck with that card DR650 that Nvida looks like a rebadge of the 7900 series to me, but must be a lot better because of the bigger number lol.

 

actually i think it was shown on the Japanese page (i think)

 

A lot of posts suggest that, despite concerns, the 460 is a very good card ('lower high-range' - I checked and confirmed this)

With this in mind, would an R3 with the 460m + 2820QM be likely to show much inferiority to an R2 with 940XM + CrossFire HD 5870, when playing games such as WOW or Guild Wars 2 (GW2 release pending, I know)?

 

The 460m is a good mid-upper range card, but it's never going to get even close to a Xfire 5870 level of performance. Xfire 5870 is overkill for most games though unless you have to have 100+ fps in everything. The cpu's in those two rigs should be close enough that you won't notice though.

 

If wow only uses 1 gpu I'd like to see the comparison indeed. I will have both systems in my hand soon so I'll be able to run those exact setups and see the difference. If the 920xm doesn't show it's worth the $1000 over the r3 I got I think we know which one is going back !

 

Would very much like to see the results of that.

 

The only way you might notice a difference between the 2820qm and the 920xm is with changing the multipliers and tdp/tdc settings with Throttlestop. Heads up what we've seen the 2820qm will actually take the higher performance crown.

 

Cheers. So the 460 is unlikely to 'get even close to a Xfire 5870 level of performance'. Fair enough; pretty much expected a good deal of inferiority there.

However, on today's most demanding games, would a difference likely be evident to the user?

 

The 460m will run close in games that can't utilize the second card in an Xfire setup, but any game that can use Xfire will show quite a difference between the two. And yes if Xfire can be used there's going to be a large deal of difference, especially on a 120hz screen.

 

Thanks for the views. Rep +1

 

A pity that the 120Hz screen and Xfire do not appear together as options...

 

I would imagine now that they're becoming more common someone could find a 120hz screen to swap into the R2, but the likelihood of finding one that's 120hz+RGB is very unlikely

 

Given a choice of the two (120Hz WLED or RGB), which do you think would be the one to go for?

 

It all depends on what you want

RGB: a better picture, especially in color vibrance/contrast

120hz: a little smoother, and has 3D capabilities, also no tearing over 60fps in some games

Personally I would love an RGB but I'm not quite as picky on vibrance/contrast as some people are. I can tell you one thing though if you ever go with a quality RGB screen you'll have a very very hard time going back.

 

I can second that. Wouldnt swap my rgbled for 3d even if it was an upgrade option on the r2....colours etc just "pop" unlike any other laptop screen ive experienced. Which is why I dont understand that it isnt an option on the R3, I mean, same dimensions etc....you would think it would have been an option....

 

yeah i just experience the M17x rgb screen for the first time and wow its truly is amazing, don't think i can ever go back to a regular screen.

 

If I had to guess the reason why it's not an option is Dell is trying to move toward what the industry says the "future" is which is 3D. I'm guessing that a RGB 120hz 3D capable screen either A)doesn't exist -or- B)would cost too much to actually use. Alienware/Dell for some reason has shown a want to move with the general public which still thinks 3D is more than just a passing fad, it's smart on their part as it will make them more $$$ in the long run but really screws the enthusiasts in the long run. Welcome to capitalism at it's best

 

Still, the smart move would have been to include the rgbled as its not exactly difficult to include as an option...that way, Dell would have made the R3 more appealing to both enthusiast and those who want 3d. Problem sorted....i think the old proverb of "putting all your eggs in one basket" could apply to a degree....roughly tranaslated as "we are going all out on 3d - if your not interested in it - tough"

I fail to see that it would have cost Dell a huge amount to offer it as an option....just like the R2, if you want it, you pay for it and I am sure hundreds more would have loved to see it available.

Who knows, maybe later on, they "may" introduce it....

 

Ohhhhh my gooooooood, lol, that's hilarious, yeah, dell rep tell you all kinds of crap.