About to buy, last minute feedback?

Well, today's the day, I'm buying my M17x R3 on the US site in a few hours and just wanted to get some last minute feedback on the build. I was thinking, for about 500 dollars extra I can get an M18x with dual 6990's which is a beast of a build, but then to get an SSD, RAM, etc, would just be way too much. It also wouldn't come with the 120hz screen, so there really wasn't much of a point.

Here's the build:

Processor:
Intel® Core™ i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache) I72820Q 1 [317-6115] 2
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit AW71HPE 1 [420-9691][420-9956][421-0092][421-5789] 11
Memory:
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS) 4G2D 1 [317-6116] 3
Video Card:
2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M 6990M 1 [320-2795] 6
Hard Drive:
320GB 7,200RPM HDD 320G 1 [342-2218] 8
Display Panel:
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED WFHD60 1 [320-1933] 5
Wireless:
Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video KW1130N 1 [430-4330] 19
Optical Drives:
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW) BDCOM 1 [318-0396][421-4541][421-4550] 16
Sound:
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio IHD51 1 [318-0424] 17
System Color:
Alienware M17x, Soft Touch Stealth Black VBLK 1 [225-0536] 1
AlienFX:
Quasar Blue BLU 1 [313-8792][421-4655] 10
A/C Adapter:
Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter 240W 1 [331-1347] 4
Adobe Reader Acrobat SW:
Adobe Acrobat Reader ADOBER 1 [410-1883] 15
Standard Nameplate Trigger:
Standard Nameplate SPLATE 1 [331-1349] 748
Service:
1 Year Basic Plan S1OS 1 [421-1721][939-0320][939-0340][950-3337][950-9797][994-3730] 29

This all comes to $1,947.45 AUD
I assume after tax and shipping it will total $2,365.507 AUD

After purchase, I'm planning to add Kingston HyperX 1866mhz RAM, a Western Digital 1 TB Scorpio Blue HDD, an SSD, maybe a new Mushkin, and maybe in the future a new 120hz screen replacement.

Comments?

 

If you are on a "budget" get the 2720QM.

Config looks very good.

DO NOT order throug the site, call or chat with a rep. You will get some discount, save's you money.

 

Agree 2820qm offers nothing that the 2720qm does not and its barely faster. Get memory and/or ssd afterwards. Dell charges too much.

 

The thing is, they offer the 15% off discount on $2399 or more, if I downgrade the processor, it changes to 10% discount, and it actually costs more, If I get it just over $2399, I only save 50 dollars by downgrading the processor, and I get a useless HDD upgrade.

I would LOVE to try haggle with them, although, living in Australia, I can't phone them. They seem quite sure that they cant add any further discount on the already discounted price, in all the tens of times I've spoken to them on the sales chat.

 

Upgrade something else I got mine to exactly $2399 before I added the bluray and had the 2720qm although I had two 750GB drives (only using one).

 

Hmm, I might give that a try, although I feel like I'm getting a huge hit when downgrading that much I was originally dying for the 2920, but realized it would be a waste.

Is there some way I could call the reps from Australia? Do you think they would further discount it?

 

2920 has advantage over 2820 because the multipliers are unlocked but it costs a ton (CPU is $1k alone off the internet) more and may not be much you can do without the m18x.

2720 is 400-500Mhz difference in turbo versus 100Mhz for 2820. If there is nothing else you want I would keep it though. With the discount its almost like they are paying you to upgrade. If you order from Australia probably no 15% and the base prices would be higher.

 

Ye, I realized, I would most likely never come to a CPU bottleneck with the 2820 anyway.. so there really wasn't any point.

Also, I'm majorly terrified that after the massive process of getting it to Australia, it might have something wrong with it, in build quality etc. It would be cheaper to buy a new laptop that get it shipped back and forth for a replacement Would I be able to send it to the Australian branch for repairs if such a situation were to arise?

 

Just checked Australia website its $2499 AUD base and no 15% promotion.

 

Ye, I save around 1000 or more from US, even with postage etc.

 

Maybe a bit less I went through the config the base model includes 1080p and a few other options we have to choose as upgrades like the 750GB drive. Base is 6GB??

 

Haha, just the 15% off saves me on shipping and half of taxes. I doubt I can get much off from the Australian branch anyway.

EDIT: Could someone please comment on global warranty? If I buy it from US and something is wrong with it, can I send it to Dell Australia? I don't want to start a new thread

 

You cant order from the US site since you live in Australia. Are you buying it from a reseller??

Warrenty is valid, just need to fill in a tag transfer form and done.

 

I'm using MyUS as a package redirection service.

 

Smart move...so you still get the discount ordering this way....interesting.

 

Don't forget the awesome AUD against the USD

 

Never mind....

 

Damn just checked the Australian site. They asking about 3500 AUD for that config. Then its alot cheaper from the US.

 

But maybe they actually put it together properly