Alienware M17X now with GTX 285M

The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

*NOTE: Also offered in SLI*

What about the 400M series? QQ

Last time I checked the GTX 285M's were GDDR3 but Dell has them listed up as GDDR5. Maybe it's a typo and now they're offering 400M series? :E

 

Only 1gb mem? I think it's the 285m.

 

Ahoy Mateys! Aye, judging by the coins to fetch this is indeed a 285M grog! Possibly extra stout (GDDR5).
By the Sea Devil, that boat (Dell) is slow moving...

Fair Winds!

 

Umm, just wondering, 285 isnt better than 5870 ? single of course

 

Hmmmm... DDR5 huh?

 

And also SLI . . .

 

Well, I thought the vmem was GDDR3 on the 285's. In any event, it certainly is a nice alternative for NV folks.

 

I'm an Nvidia fan myself but I'm most likely not going to pay more for a card(s) that's even slower than the 5870M (according to most benchmarks I've seen)

 

Why would it cost more if it performs lessor of ATI's?

 

Achilles, different die size, production costs, etc.

 

This intrigued me so I did some searching and found a couple of laptops advertising this Nvidia geforce gtx 285M with GDDR5: still seems strange with no results from Nvidia on a redesign of their 285M card.
Amazon.com: MSI GT660R-004 16-Inch Laptop - Black: Electronics

Clevo W860CU 3D, Asus G51JX-3D laptops announced with Nvidia 3D Vision | ZDNet

I'm still thinking typo's because I found no tech articles on this gpu. Plus I know Amazon is bad about typos in their descriptions.

A little brain candy for the evening and something to hunt down if you're bored. Personally I would wait even if they came out with 4xx series card, at least until I'm sure about power and heat being non-issues.

 

Then what M17X is this then? R1, R2 or R1+R2/2?

 

^^No biggie for Nvidia to switch the mem type (FX1800M in HP 8540w has GDDR5 instead of the "official" GDDR3). Whether or not it's worth the money is another question, indeed.

 

it's a $1800 laptop bone stock, I'm sure people won't mind a $50-75 green team fee. I wouldn't.

 

I just see this new and question is I have M17x for about 2 weeks and I have xfire 5870, can I call dell and ask SLI 285 replace my xfire?thanks

 

No, you will probably have to return the laptop with in the return period, and then order another.

I wouldn't do it since it seems like the ATI's are better performing GPU's anyways at this point.

 

Well I was going to ask this by creating a new thread but I think it is appropriate here. Will the m17x be able to use 480m in SLI??? If so Im thinking a m17x with one 285 might be in my near future. But the old Area 51 M17x will be sticking around

 

So it means we couldn't use this SLI on the same M.board with the Xfire one?

 

Contact support and see if they can arrange this. Worse case situation, return it, refund and then re-order. Shouldn't be an issue though - just explain to them you want the NV option instead. They want you to be satisfied so they should be willing to work with you. Ask for a supervisor if necessary. Be polite.

 

No, it just means Dell isn't going to exchange parts for you on your system.

If you want the new card, you will have to return the current system, and reorder.

 

I attempted exactly this and I didn't even have the laptop for 48hours. It's just impossible to get it for the online configurator price, or do a direct exhange and pay the difference, and then you get shoved in line with everyone else that has the cards on spare parts order. Returning the laptop is the only, and fastest option.

 

Achilles is right. It'd be much much easier to just return it and reorder. There are way too many factors involved in gpu swap. Esp. if it's one brand to another.

 

uhm first thanks all for the infors, so that's be a little bit complicated for that older card,and follow many benchmarks around so maybe waiting for another change to take the better one like GTX400 series or HD6870 maybe, just curious how that SLI work in game? wait some one review about that!

 

Isnt the GTX285 just an upclocked 280 based on the G92? The G92 had all those heat issues. Personally i'd stay away from it.

 

You guys know about the PSU being stretched thin and all. Well i was digging up info on the elusive GDDR5 on the 285M and totally failed but... I did find an interesting comparison on current consumption:
The specs of regular GTX 285M SLI w/ GDDR3 vs the 5870's crossfire.

2 Nvidia GTX 285M in SLI- current consumption: 150Watts
Single Nvidia GTX 285M - current consumption: 75Watts
2 ATI Radeon Mobility 5870 in Crossfire - current consumption: 120Watts
Single ATI Radeon Mobility 5870 - current consumption: 50Watts
Don't know whether the GDDR5 will cause any difference.
Source: Notebookcheck
Just thought I would throw that tidbit out there for discussion. They are going to have to get very creative or upgrade that PSU before they try the 4xx series of NVidia cards.
And yes I just read that it was based on the G92b core.

 

I'm willing to bet that the reason why they issued them with GDDR5 vmem is to satisfy those that want to go green with GDDR5 SLI in their R2's which also allows for more gpu upgrade options in the future for the R2. I think that it's a nice recovery for Dell/Alienware, and an option that I have been waiting for (just my 2 cents)

 

If it's really true that the 285M's are GDDR5 capable, then I wonder how many of us will switch to Nvidia now or purchase them later for that versatility that should have been offered in the first place. (Bios support for Nvidia cards )

 

I believe it's not about the $$$. It's about 285M is LESS powerful than 5870M. $75 is not a big issue for many folks here especially when you can have better driver support. But NOT being top-notch is unacceptable in Alienware forum

That's if 285M is less powerful, which is very likely.

Edit: G92? I feel so old

Just kidding. Changes are always welcome.

 

I think they probably just released the 285m as a temporary solution for incoming FF14 release. That game just don't get along with ati.

 

Ahoy Matey! Them old ships sail fair 'n far, though Nvidia's'n ugly boat, fer lubbers! Arrrrh!
Weigh anchor!

 

I guarantee the G92 is NOT GDDR5....it is almost certainly a typo. The core is not designed to work with it. I would take dual 4870s or 5870s at this point over a OLD gpu (2+years now on the same core)

 

It would be a biggie for Nvidia to switch the memory type on the GTX 285M since the memory controller is not set up to support GDDR5. The FX1800M can do it because it's based on the 40nm GTS 335M/GT215 architecture which was Nvidia's first design to support GDDR5.

 

Ahoy, Sea Fox! If ye be telling the truth, then Dell 's false adver.. brrr.. tising again, an be walking the plank straight to Davy Jone's locker if nat the Sea Devil himself, Swabbies!

 

I just asked a dell representative for clarification on this and he swears up and down that it IS in fact DDR5.

I'm having a few issues with my new M17x and might make the switch to the NVIDIA card. If I do, when it arrives, I'll make sure to run GPU-Z for you guys so we can find out for sure.

 

Just like the Mobility HD4870s were GDDR5.

 

Exactly, they are not as smart as us....and will tell you what you want to hear if it sells a notebook.

 

Very true. Remember this is the same company that level 1 or teir 1 support calls are handled by a script. You have to be escalated quite a bit up the chain to speak with someone who understands what they are saying. I'm not bashing here, this is the honest truth. If you ever get on the phone with someone that talks tech, don't let them hang up, get their name, email.
Anyway, be careful believeing what a sales rep. says. My last sales rep said that there are some that are salaried and some that are commissioned. And he laughed when he said double check the facts if you get a commissioned sales rep. (I double checked his facts n numbers too. )
If someone does go this route because they love NVidia please do post results. I am soooo curious why they are stepping backwards unless.... they simply can't get the power they need for the 4xx cards. ( a little high quality thermal paste + a better PSU + tweaks to BIOS n such) and this version of M17X just might be able to handle em.

 

And again, this fiasco won't be confirmed till " one " of the NBR member gets it. lol... De Ja VU .......

 

It is not a fiasco. Unlike the 4870 where either memory can be used, the G92 core ONLY works with GDDR3

 

I have very, very, bad experience with nvidia in the pas.
I will never go bak to nv.

 

I want these cards and I am thinking about putting up a WTB for a R2 minus any GPU's but I want to make sure that it will handle the ne wbeasts.

I love AW even the new one that is just a shadow of its former self. Sager's are awesome but they have no soul.

 

I'm not an ATI or Nvidia fanboy, I just want to find something that I can push over 20K in Vantage, just for the numbers. But in order to do that, I'd need dell to support a bigger PSU regardless of the cards.

 

I am very surprised by the 285M SLI being more expensive than the 5870M XF.

It is going to be interesting to see the benchmark results of people who ordered that system.

With the latest Dell Beta and Vbios, I think it's fair to say that driver support is as good with ATI and Nvidia at least in terms of mobile support.

 

The GTX 285m actually usually beats the 5870 in games. It is really only in synthetics that the 5870 has the lead. Shows the effect of good drivers

 

Not really, it depends on which game and who's doing the review:

1. Tom's they're almost identical: Benchmark Results: Modern Warfare 2 And Crysis : AVADirect's W860CU: Mobility Radeon HD 5870 Vs. GeForce GTX 285M

2. Kobalt: ATi 5870M vs Nvidia GTX 285M Benchmarks for G860 and G870

5870m gets the lead in #2 but again by a slim margin. Both are nearly the same in DX 10 performance. But when you factor in OC'ing, 285M gets easily beaten.

 

There's also a comparison at portables4gamers.com that concluded that the GTX 285M SLi performs around the same as CFX 4870Ms.

Good news is that they're opening up support for nVidia cards in the R2 platform, increasing the likelyhood of GTX 4xxM offerings in SLi in the future.

 

I've decided I'm going to return my system and wait for a refresh. I have had much better luck with nVidia and their drivers in the past. The fact that Dell moderates which ATI drivers can be installed leaves me uneasy.

The option for the GTX 285M is a bit surprising now that most enthusiest manufacturers are now on the 400 series. Ultimately, my hope is that if I wait a few months until Q1 2011 Alienware will release a M17X R3 with the 400 series, Sandy Bridge and USB3 (let's hope)!

I typically am the first to tell people not to 'wait' for technology since it's a endless cycle. But honestly, it's just a few months away and if the above do in fact get added it should add a huge performance increase.

My boyfriend just purchased a M11x and I think I'll borrow that in the meantime!

 

My friend actually bit so he could play FF14 with it. I've ran the FF14 benchmark and ati is no good as usual(no xfire ). There are many games that favor nvidia over ati is the reason behind this refresh.

 

I really want to see the 4xx series rather than the old 2xx series update.

 

totally wrong...

FFXIV runs better in ATI than NV.....

5870 vs 285

It’s slightly unfair to compare the two cards in a way as the GTX 285M is basically an over clocked GTX 280M and as such is technically a year old. and the 5870 is brand new and I expect drivers to improve over the next couple of months