Alienware 17xr3 Help Me Choose Please

hey guys, i have saved my money up and about to join the Alien crew, but first things first i need people to help me choose, so let me know your oppiononon my set ups, o btw im getting 3D though,since it comes with a better screen also if you think i should get something instead thats better let me know...i have money so dont just say thats a waste of money..because if you had the money why not buy the best they have... just i guess need to know which SSD is better samsung or both ordered though hidevolution both systems $5300 -$5400 and has anyone else bought from these guys? what other stuff did you buy or get thrown in??
o and another thing the security software can anyone help on what i should get??
Option 1

Alienware M17x R3 3D Custom Built to Order

-System Color Soft Touch Stealth Black
-Processor Intel® Core™ i7 2960XM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache) with IC Diamond thermal compound
-Thermal Paste - Lower temps and extend life of system!IC Diamond on CPU + GPU -
-Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
-Video Card 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M
LCD Panel 17.3-inch WideFHD 1920x1080 120Hz WLED w/ NVIDIA 3D
-Memory Kingston HyperX 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1866MHz (4DIMMS) - 1866MHz not supported on 2630QM
-Hard Drive 256GB SSD - Samsung Solid State Drive
-2nd Hard Drive Bay 500GB Hybrid Drive (Seagate Momentus XT) -
-Internal Optical/3rd HDD BaySlot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
-Battery Options 85 WHr 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery Power Adapter240 Watt 3 Prong AC Adapter with 6 ft Power Cord (will ...
-Wireless Cards Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video
-WirelessHD VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit with Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter
-Bluetooth 3.0
-Warranty and Service (Dell warranties are valid worldwide with service tag transfer request)4 Year Advanced Service Plan (adds Accidental damage protection)
-Office SoftwareMicrosoft® Office Home and Business 2010 Security Software


OPTION 2

Alienware M17x R3 3D Custom Built to Order
-System ColorSoft Touch Stealth Black
-Processor Intel® Core™ i7 2960XM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache) with IC Diamond thermal compound
-Thermal Paste - Lower temps and extend life of system!IC Diamond on CPU + GPU
-Operating SystemGenuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
-Video Card 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M
-LCD Panel17.3-inch WideFHD 1920x1080 120Hz WLED w/ NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle Additional 3D GlassesNone - 1 Pair included
-Memory Kingston HyperX 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1866MHz (4DIMMS) - 1866MHz not supported on 2630QM
-Hard Drive Crucial M4 (C400) SATA3 6Gb/s 256GB SSD
-2nd Hard Drive Bay 750GB 7200RPM HDD
-internal Optical/3rd HDD BaySlot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW-
-Power Adapter240 Watt 3 Prong AC Adapter with 6 ft Power Cord (will work worldwide, includes FREE plug adapter for those without "U.S. style" outlets)
-Wireless Cards Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video
-WirelessHD VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit with Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter
-Bluetooth 3.0 Included
-Warranty and Service (Dell warranties are valid worldwide with service tag transfer request)4 Year Advanced Service Plan (adds Accidental damage protection)
-Office SoftwareMicrosoft® Office Home and Business 2010
-Security Software None

 

What are you using the laptop for (other than gaming)?
Are you going to be overclocking?

Dunno if you noticed, but the second build has a 750GB mechanical drive, where-as the first one has a 500GB hybrid.

 

Yes I do realize that... I will be using it for gaming and also using it for djing... Also alot of media... What do you think?? There both the same price and I didn't know which one was better...

 

I put option 2, because option one has a hybrid 500GB which is a new technology. New tech means new problems without solutions. People are already having trouble I believe with those hybrids. I think it is a shame you decide to buy your RAM with them (at least go check the price online... dell will not give you your money's worth when it comes to ram.) For the RAM well if you do DJs, videos and photo editing, then sure why da hell not, again just do a quick research on how to get it cheaper elsewhere and faster. Dell gave me 4GB of 1600Mhz Hunday RAM with a terrible CAS freq and timing apparently, give your money away to the right people.

As for the hard drives... Dell seems to have LOOOOOOOOTS of problems with them. Its one thing to waste a lot of money on unnecessary hardware, but when it comes to hard drives.... if they fail.... you loose irreplacable data (personal pictures, music, videos with friends, important documents etc etc...) So get your Hard drives elsewhere as well, cause odds are they will last longer.

Also... looking on the internet... I have NO IDEA where you get that CPU from :l

 

2960xm is part of the Sandy bridge refresh. Its turboed to 3.7ghz vs the 2920xm at 3.5ghz turbo, that is all. HIDevolution offers it because they are not dell

 

Got it, I was just wondering why it wouldn't show up on the dell website.

 

my quick scan of those shows the only difference to be the 500GB hybrid vs the 750 standard?

I'd go with the 750 since you already have the 256GB SSD for your apps, the second drive is just for documents and media... with the way the hybrid drive works you wont see any improvement on a media drive, in fact, it will probably be slower than the 750 since it's got lower areal density.

Hybrid is only helpful on a boot drive when you dont have the option of a ssd.

I am speaking from experience as someone who has an m17 with a SSD and the 750 drive as well as another (older) laptop with room for only 1 drive in which I have the 500GB hybrid.

 

Thanks heaps guys I am getting it from hidevolution, I can't be bothered farting around pulling it apart and putting in
Other stuff but I will consider it what websites are there? But over all good set up?? Should last me a few years??

 

O btw does anyone know which ones better -Hard Drive Crucial M4 (C400) SATA3 6Gb/s 256GB SSD it looks plastic against the -Hard Drive 256GB SSD - Samsung Solid State Drive

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "it looks plastic" but the samsung drive is essentially a full generation behind the M4/intel 510/vertex3 drives.

tl;dr: crucial is better.

 

Gotta agree with Darth, crucial is by far the better drive. Just look at the reviews on newegg. Crucial M4 is supposed to be the best SSD on the market. I don't see any reason for the hybrid drive on top of the SSD... as media doesn't play back any faster than a hdd can read and a 256 should be plenty for windows+your favorite games. I'd go with the SSD and the regular 750 drive.

 

okay thanks heaps then i am settled.. i meant by plastic that the samsung is made from stainless steel and the crucial looks plastic...