Alienware M17x R4 Pre-Order Configuration Questions... Ask HERE

I regret i didnt read this thread before placing my order. I ordered my m17x with 675m card.
right now, im considering calling dell to cancel my order and replace with 7970m.

 

If you want the better graphics card, then definitely get the 7970M... But then you'll probably do what I'm doing and regretting waiting for the 680M lmao.

 

Does the AW m17x r4 come with its own system recovery backup disks? Was thinking of buying this on xoticpc and if it does come with its own recovery then that's $15 I can use elsewhere.

Also, how does the 90GB OCZ Vertex 3 Sandforce Solid State Drive (Up to Sequential Read 550MB/s - Write 500MB/s - SATA 6GB/s) (SSD Serial-ATA III) $129
compare with the 60GB Intel 520 Series Solid State Drive (Up to Sequential Read 550MB/s - Write 475MB/s SSD2 Serial-ATA III) $149?

Why is the intel 520 more expensive?

 

Because its Intel if I were you I would go with the Samsung 830 64gb its about 100$ on new egg and the 830 series is a good ssd I'll edit in a link in a min for you to the site
Edit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147162

Sent From My Rooted EVO 3D

 

I just picked up one of these: Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) yesterday for $79.99 w/ a $10 rebate. I would shop around before spending that much. Especially for an OCZ. I have heard mixed reviews on them. If you can afford it, go for the Intel 520 or Samsung 830 series. Since I'm on a budget right now, I went with something that has the potential of being good, but also known to cause some people issues.

 

i take it the i7 3610qm is fine for gaming ? even with games like arma 2 etc where they are cpu bound ?

 

I am actually in the market to buying a new computer from XoticPc, AW m17x and sager's np9170 being the two in the running. The specs I've made for the AW m17x so far, are these upgrades from the site:

Display: 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
Thermal compound: IC Diamond Thermal Compound - GPU & CPU
Processor: AMD Radeon HD 7970M
Ram: 16GB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (4x4GB SODIMMS)
HD: 750GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s)
2HD: 120GB Intel 520 Series Solid State Drive
ODB: 6X Blu-Ray Reader + 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive
Wireless: Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 (3x3) w/3rd antenna
Operationg system cleaning: (2 reasons: 1. bloatware removal 2. they'll inadvertently see if the amd7970 processor works properly.
2012 PC Security Essentials Software
1 year adv. service plan + accidental damage.
total $2518

This is my build so far. There is room for improvement. Would like to get below 2500 USD.

Few Questions:

Why do the 2nd HD upgrades cost more than the HD?
What would you recommend to put in the SSD?
Would having the SSD in the 2nd HD conflict with anything? If so, is there a way to fix it where the SSD would work 1st? Could I switch the places of the HD and 2nd HD?
Since this will be a gaming (GW2, Skyrim)/movie/streaming laptop is having an SSD something that's necessary or could I just get two 500 gb 7200s instead?
Would I need so much gb (120 gb intel 520) or would I be well okay with a 60gb version?

 

Before I answer you questions I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell everyone else currently considering an M17x.

Look at thee M17x on this page.

The base model has a 3610QM, 750GB HDD, Killer Wireless, 7970m, 1080p 60Hz Display, and 8GB of RAM. That preconfigured setup costs $1850, an automatic savings of $200 and you can of course make upgrades. If you like it go to this thread and PM Rachid or Rev and they'll set you up with a rep who should be able to get you a discount (if not, PM me I have the names and extensions of several). For example, my rep got me 14% off my configuration in cash alone but she also got me a bunch of gift cards (more on that in a second). If you're a student and have a school email or know your school's Dell Member ID you get a $200 Dell Gift Card and if you sign up for Dell Advantage (it's a free program and you don't have to do anything) you get another 5% gift card (~$100) and free two-day shipping. It will very likely be much cheaper than from XoticPC with tax. The original promotion that I linked you to is only good until the 29th of this month though so order soon!

Also, why do you need 16GB of RAM? Are you doing really intensive photo editing? 6GB of RAM is enough for the vast majority of users and 8GB is more than even most hardcore gamers will ever use. Even if you do need the extra RAM, don't buy it from Dell, XoticPC or any other retailer. This config comes standard with 8GB of RAM and you can get another 8GB of a really good RAM for like $50.

Because it's an entirely new HD. When you're changing the primary you're just upgrading it, it isn't a completely new HD.

First of all, I don't recommend buying an SSD from Dell, XoticPC, etc. You're paying $175 for a 120GB SSD. You can get a 256GB Crucial M4 (one of the best SSDs on the market) for $199 (more than double the space for $25) with free shipping from Amazon and they're a breeze to install. As for what you should put on it, a clean instal of Windows 7 and the most important apps you use most frequently.

No, but it's not a very smart move. The biggest advantage of an SSD is the enormously faster boot time which you wouldn't get if you put it in the second slot and didn't install the OS on it.

It's not necessary but it is definitely worth it.

Depends on how much stuff you want to put on it. I like to put all my things on SSD so I go for the biggest drive I can afford.

 

The only real bottleneck for gaming is the GPU. I don't think I've ever been limited by the CPU. Any Ivy bridge CPU is good enough for gaming IMO.

 

Hi guys, mew member here. Just one quick question, should i take the GTX675M of M17X-R4 or wait for another week for the new GTX680M? I am ordering from Dell Singapore and i can't choose the AMD Graphic Card for the type that i chose.

And also does it worth the money for upgrading to GTX680M? Im afraid that i have to add another 300 - 400$ for the Graphic Card upgrade.

Thank you

 

Don't get the 675, wait for the 680 if you can't choose the 7970.

 

if you go to alienware's website right now, it says the 680m is available right now for the m17x, and m18x. However when you click on build yours and get to the video card options it doesnt give you the 680m but only the 675m. Does anyone know why? when will they officially offer it, if its already showing up on their mainpage?

 

You have a pic showing that??

 

I saw it -- it was there briefly on the home page then disappeared. It was not available in configuration.

 

it is no longer in the site. I think they are going to release it by 1-2 days.
i happened to see it by myself

 

edit - nevermind: search function is my new best friend.

 

The 680M is there now, a nice little $350 upgrade over the 7970M.

 

Is that 200 over the 675m? Man they charge so much

Sent From My Rooted EVO 3D

 

For $350 extra, the only reason I would spend that much more is if it runs games 40-50% faster than the 7970M; something which it doesn't do ridiculous pricing once again lol. I'm absolutely satisfied with the 7970M, have no regrets about not waiting fot the GTX 680M. Personally, the only reason I would buy it if I absolutely wanted the performance and 3D, and had pockets as deep as the Marina Trench

Anyone else considering that option would be better off getting the M18x with dual 7970Ms for the $550 extra, instead of ONE gtx 680m. Nvidia, what are you doing?? ... sigh

 

Well the one thing is optumis for battery life but that and 100-300 points in 3mark11 but it does support directx 11.1 from what I have heard so eh depends on how u look at it maybe $250 but 350 *** ****

 

Good point but i think that the fact the iGPu now supports all the driectx features is a 'poision chalice'. Many games are detecting the chip as 'capable' and failing to switch over forcing users to Fn-F7, and reboot to use a game. MP3 seems to be having this issue...

 

Hey guys, I'm looking to pick up a M17x and I have a few questions that I'd love help with. And I'm totally noobing out, so forgive me if you can.

-First, and biggest - I play MMOs a lot. Not "hardcore", but definitely my hobby. SWTOR being my most recent obsession. I also want to play at maxed out settings. Will the 7970 be able to handle that without slow downs and lag in busy areas? Would the 680m be better suited?

-Second, (and is somewhat dependent on #1) I'm considering splurging and getting the 3D vision bundle. Not really for games so much as for movies. How well does it work? I know 3D is gimmicky, but I don't mind a good gimmick every now and again.

I'm moving overseas, and planning on selling my desktop (AMD X6 1090T, 8GB RAM, GTX465) and using this as its replacement as I might be back and forth a few times. I'd love the M18x, but it seems a bit too big to move...well, ever. I've looked into Sager, but I'm more comfortable buying from Dell and I like the Alienware design enough to pay a small premium for it.

 

I know there is a lot of love around here for the 7970m, I have one and all I can say is that if money is not the issue, go nvidia. There are still no functional drivers for the amd card. As a desktop replacement that never goes on your lap, it may be really nice. But since you always have it plugged in (the drivers leave you no choice), it is in no way a laptop. You cannot just go downstairs and work in Word for a while without the charger.

 

The 7970m is the best gpu for mobile out right now IMO eithtje price to proformance but the 7970m is good enough for just about any game you will throw at it as for the 3d only works on nvidia cards and if you want the same proformance as with just the 7970m your going to be getting a $400 screen upgrade from default and the 680m is $350 over the 7970m so if those are the only two things you upgrade everything else lowest then your looking at least $2700 for the computer that really all I can help you with

Sent From My Rooted EVO 3D

 

Are these specs worth it? Like with only 2GB of vRAM is 3D even worth getting? :

PROCESSOR 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.6GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit edit
MEMORY 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (2DIMMS) edit
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7,200 RPM SATA 3Gb/s edit
VIDEO CARD 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M edit
LCD PANEL 17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 120Hz NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW) edit
My Software & Accessories
COLOR Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish with 3D Display edit
ALIENFX COLOR Plasma Purple edit
WALLPAPER Alien Cyborg edit
My Accessories
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 2 Year Advanced Plan edit
SECURITY SOFTWARE No Anti-Virus Software Selected edit
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
Keyboard English Keyboard
Documentation Alienware Documentation
Shipping Material Shipping Material - Black
Additional Software Additional Software
Primary Battery 90WHr 9-Cell Primary Battery
Standard Nameplate Trigger Standard Nameplate
WIRELESS CARD Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video and Bluetooth 4.0
SOUND OPTIONS Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro Software
SYSTEM COLOR Alienware M17X R4 with Soft Touch
AUTOMATIC UPDATES Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
Adobe Reader Acrobat SW Adobe Acrobat X Reader

Thanks.

 

Hello my first time to the NBR forums, nice to have a section dedicated to brands.

I got the following quote today:
M17x R4 w/Intel 3720WM, 8 GB Dual DDR @1600mhz
2gb 680M Nvidia GTX GPU
17.3 inch Wide FHD 1920x1080 60hz WLED
Slot Loading DVD dual layer DVD burner
Intel 2230 Wireless N and blue tooth
Win 7 64bit Pro Sp1
750GB HD, second slot empty, no SSD or mSATA
all the battery, ac adaptor , cd's and stuff
no other software - virus, app or games
the web cam
9 cell prim. battery
4 year accidental coverage with in home service repairs (the regular 4 yr warranty with accidental coverage included)

$2386 before tax, $2593.10 after tax.

They said system normally is over $3200 and that is with my standard 2% through Dell's EPP.

The other questions are:
1) Someone who is not green (Nvidia) or red (ATI/AMD) committed, is going with the 7970m a better choice than the 680m. I understand the 680m had heat issues according to some posts. I know on reviews of the 7970m they dinged it for physx (which the cpu would have to do instead), they dinged for its "Eudoro" tech a less tuned version of Nvidia's Optimus. Both have tdp 100watts. Of course one is msrp $550 from the 660m. Past issues with drivers for AMD. AMD lacks CUDA but follows OpenCL and DirectCompute.

Uses for my computer - email, browsing, offline gaming, documents, spreadsheets, the usual fair for a desktop gamer wanting a desktop replacement laptop. Games, I probably won't play BF3 at the Ultra Highest Settings nor CODMW3 or Blackops 1/2. I want a gpu that will last me more than the first 6 months. So a game let say in 1 year will still post well above 30fps under load. Of course I know this is not a guarantee as no one knows what lies ahead in 1 year gaming time. I just don't want a GPU that can't handle todays games with some enhancements one year down the road.

I have already returned 2 M17x R4's so I know a little about them (first one was returned because they changed the profile requiring a return, the second one is because the ISO image isn't working correctly and other specific issues). Those issues have prevented me from being able to do any benchmarking.

After delivery additions will be a Seagate Momentus XT (the one with 8GB NAND flash, 32mb cache, Sata 3, and a 5 yr - yeah got one in a store versus 3 yr version on website).

2) They said they give me the extra ram 6 to 8 for $35, the OS home to pro for $35, base processor to 3720 free, free next day business shipping.

3) My old laptop was a Sony Vaio where they released only 1 version of GPU drivers, I had to go to Laptop 2 Go or Laptop Video 2 go (forgot which name), to get new drivers. So far dell/alienware has only released the non-beta WHQL 296.39 (even though on the site they say they are 296.16) all of this is based on the 660m/680m config. Nvidia has not released any non-beta drivers for any of the 600m series. I have never owned AMD but I have seen over the years they have issues with drivers, along with Nvidia "cheating" on benchmarks, games have issues and most games now ship with a retail tie on the box for Nvidia Way it was Meant to be Played (I know Nvidia gave money to the company for that promotion just like Played best on Alienware). Is there such a comparable website for AMD Mobile Laptop GPU's or I think they like to call them GCU's or something. Has anyone seen/heard/rumored anything that made you have any doubt as to whether you would get the 680m or 7970m (of course if money is no object, I am sure the 680m would get the nod).

Thank you for your time in reading this message and any time spent in responding (or taking a reading break)

TDB

 

C'mon man, this is misleading. The M17x is absolutely a "laptop" ... you can set it to power saving and work on word documents, browse the web, chat online, just fine. I get a few hours out of my battery if I turn down the screen backlight. You just can't really play intense games on the battery.

and being plugged in isn't really an issue anymore... there are plugs everywhere nowadays. They've got plugs at the airport, plugs at the starbucks, plugs at IHOP.. It's not nearly as big of a deal as you're making it out to be man.

 

Planning on ordering from XoticPc and they have an option that removes bloatware so was curious if this is something I should consider. Does the AW M17x have bloatware on it?

I was also wondering about this enduro that I've been reading about. Is this something that I'd have to disable when getting the 7970m? Fn + F7 and Restart was it?

 

Yes you do have to restart it to keep it on the 7970m only. Though you did buy an alienware for a reason , that being gaming so it really should only have the 7970m and not that intel crap because it just creates endless problems for everyone. I keep mine on the dedicated card to keep things simple and because im running modded 12.5 drivers with OC. Also there is no bloatware installed unless they think command center or audio software is bloatware...

 

Okay, so my ASUS G73JH has been pretty much a dud the last two years, being down more than up. Which leaves 2/3 gaming capable notebooks and 3 gamers - now that the whole family games. Right now we share the notebooks, but this is obviously a pretty craptacular solution when we all want to play the same game together.

Given the base current 'sale' config Alienware M17X R4 (7970, 8GB, killer-N), the ability to negotiate with Dell, and that its' a business expense (lol). This might be what I get. Well, with a Samsung 830 256Gb SSD purchased from where ever, and a 1 year accidental coverage from Dell added in.

Questions:

1) Do the third party Alienware sellers negotiate? If so, any recs?

2) Heat. I game with lappy on my lap. Generally propped up with the back of it resting below my knees and the front on my chest as I lounge on the couch (if that is confusing... Think a 'V' with the notebook resting in the V. Issues? Note I can do this just fine with the G73 (when it works) and either our HP Dv7ts.

3) Noise. I may complain about a lot with my dud G73, but it does have the noise factor right. How (much) louder is the Dell if anyone knows?

4) keyboard flex and feel (I know subjective) between the G73 and M17X R4?

 

I owned a G73SW-BST6 and G53-XN1 in 2011 and I must say that the alienware keyboards are much better for gaming than the chiclet style that the G73 and 53 use although they work just fine as well. As far as flex the alienware takes the cake because im typing on it now and there is absolutely no flex where as the G73 would have a little due to the fact that you could easily remove the keyboard. The alienware M17x-r4 probably is the same as or a little bit quieter than a G73. also heat is a non issue with the M17x-R4 as my OC'ed 7970m never gets over 70 C. Overall you can do all the same things that you did with the G73 with the M17x-R4 or M14x.

 

Hello, I've been looking around for a high performance notebook, and I think I am going order one of these, so I have some questions.

First, this is what it basically looks like:

Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3610QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.3GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (2DIMMS)
750GB 7,200 RPM SATA 3Gb/s
2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 7970M
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
My Software & Accessories
Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
Quasar Blue
My Accessories
1 Year Basic Plan
No Anti-Virus Software Selected
Also Includes
English Keyboard
Alienware Documentation
Shipping Material - Black
Additional Software
90WHr 9-Cell Primary Battery
Standard Nameplate
Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video and Bluetooth 4.0
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro Software
Alienware M17X R4 with Soft Touch
Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
Adobe Acrobat X Reader

Q1: I was just thinking of getting the standard 750gb HDD and eventually pick up a decent size SDD down the road,or would it be worth getting the 750gb HDD + the 32gb caching SDD? Would it be worth the extra $75?

Q2: This one had been bothering me the most, the processor. I know that the 3610QM has plenty of power for gaming and other applications, but the 3720QM is very tempting. I know I could spend the $150 on something different and the performance is only about 8% better. The one thing that I wonder the most is how much power will the 3720QM use compared to the 3610QM. I found this: Review Intel Ivy Bridge Quad-Core Processors - Notebookcheck.net Reviews ,but I'm having trouble applying that to the real world situation. Basically, if it pulls too much power unplugged during web browsing, word, etc..., I'll go 3610QM. I appreciate any other opinions.

Q3: Battery life and before you say anything, wait. What is it like when say web browsing with lights off, moderate screen brightness and I assume you can completely turn the dedicated GPU off, even if you have to go through BIOS? The only reason I ask is because I have seen different numbers from around 3 hrs to 4 hrs, but they never stated all of the conditions.

Q4) Referring the back to question 3. Is it possible to completely shut down the dedicated GPU . Coming from a desktop and not as tech savvy as I would like to be, I know neither much about Optimums, or more importantly AMD's Enduro. I know that Enduro doesn't function as well as Optimums, and there is away to keep you dedicated GPU always running.

I'll also appreciate any questions you want to ask me.

Thanks ahead,

CryoBolt

Also, would extended warranty or accident protection be worth it? Usually it is just a waste. Although the one year of accident protection isn't too bad for $50.

 

In terms of bloatware, unlike it Dell cousins, the Alienware came with zero bloatware (as a previous poster mentioned you count Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash or Alienware Control Center or Alienware FX or Alienware Respawn.) I went to the uninstall location to figure to have to remove a ton of programs and I was surprised with how clean it was of bloatware.

Heat issues have been noted on the M17x R4 with thermal testing showing that there are some issues, but in most cases unless you have super sensitive skin and of course for safety reasons, you can put it on your lap and you won't get an instant sunburn, but don't leave it there for long.

CryoBolt
It is always cheaper to buy third party parts like hard drive, memory, etc. Just remember that as you add beyond that basic level you are still paying for the base part and then a premium for deviating from that. I went out and got a Momentus XT on sale with a 5 yr warranty (don't buy it from Seagate store - over $250 and only a 3yr warranty). Just remember they will not provide support to any parts that they didn't sell you or install for you. If your part damages the system, they also can void your warranty as any part that you install by yourself wasn't certified by Dell and installed by a certified Dell tech and hence you held liable instead. You can get a standard SSD which will not demand that much more juice, and you can get a decent SSD for about $1 a gig.

In regards to the CPU, haggle. Make sure you look at other providers/makers and tell Alienware/Dell sales about their comp and if necessary have an order you can show them that beats theirs and that you will switch to and they will give you a slightly better deal, some have got the cpu upgrade for free, others for only $10 - 50 dollars more.

In terms of battery life the simplest way to think of this is, the more you have going, at their fullest potential, the less that "stated" value of battery life goes out the door. That power statement is when running under the most power saving method on everything possible - only using what is absolutely needed. Remember that bluetooth adapter will suck on power, even if not being used, you have to disable it to save power, same with the Killer or Intel Centrino wireless card, if not using shut it down as it draws power (the killer does more than the intel part for obvious reason). If you can stick to the Intel iGPU while on the web, not running other apps in the back, etc then you should probably figure you might get about 65% to 80% of whatever they say (that is based on experience, reviews, etc). Remember they want to make their battery sound great and long lasting so they test it under less than realistic conditions, at least they can say they weren't lying, they just "omitted" what was on or off.

Honestly your Q4 is hard to answer as I have seen reviews/testers and forum messages that say you can't totally turn off the GPU and others that say you can. I would think if you switch to just wanting the Intel iGPU to be on, then you would think that since you have to reset the computer to bring the Nvidia/AMD part back online, would mean they are shut down with only Intel's 4000 iGPU running.

Warranty - Everyone swears they are a waste. However it is like taking a risk or gamble. Do you double down with 19 with the dealer showing a 10? I have always got a warranty on tech gear, as you could always get a part that doesn't last as long and the repair cost can be high that it will make you question whether to repair or buy a newer, faster more powerful laptop/desktop computer or tech item. However you could also get a good tech item (my Sony Vaio had issues 6 months after the 4 yr ext. warranty expired and now at 4 yrs since that warranty expired the problems simply don't make since to fix but instead invest in the newest tech) that outlast any warranty you can buy. In most cases you will have problems either right away or at the end of their free warranty with the product. Adding at least 1 yr can't hurt. If you can afford it pop for the 2, 3 or even 4. Just remember that in 4 years your laptop will feel like a flinstone car versus the nice Lam. driving by you.

Also if you have renters or house insurance inquire about the computers - desktop/laptop coverage. You might be able to get coverage there instead. There are also third parties that provide "accidental" coverage, just all depends on what you think could happen. Trust me I never thought I would ever knock my first laptop off a desk, well I was using it in the hospital while a patient, and I turned around and my left hand knocked the laptop right off the little table they give you to eat and stuff and it took a chunk out the corner of the laptop (and IBM Thinkpad not Lenovo) and the hard drive failed within a few minutes after with a nasty clicking sound - cost of new hard drive and I was back up.)




fenris_12345


In regards to negotiating with the 3rd parties, nope. Dell/Alienware have already made the deals on the parts, then marked them up with room to negotiate with you and still make a profit. You can't contact Intel or Nvidia to lower the price.

If however you are referring to 3rd parties selling Alienwares, be aware that these are pre-configured, meaning their price is pretty much set in stone, unless that store is willing to get your business. I don't know where you are from, but here in the Western US, Costco sells Dell's and you get the model that is configured in the store and you pay that price. Best Buy has one or two Alienware models, but trust me you would be better getting a self-configured one from Alienware on the phone do not solely take the web price as the only price you will get.

In terms of the keyboard and area around it, it is probably one of the best keyboards I have seen short of an expensive Logitech, Corsair, Microsoft Keyboard on a laptop (okay maybe not beyond the $30-40 range) but I have typed on it for 30 days now and the feel and cushion is really nice (I am sure they are using a dome versus mechanical switch keyboard) but everything feels right and best of all I didn't have many issues with bumping the mouse area.

In regards to putting on your lap, get a laptop cooling mat, they range from $19 to about $40 and plug right into your usb port (sometimes with a bypass as well so you don't lose that port) and it doesn't really add that much weight or burden (I have the targus laptop chill mat msrp $39 seen on sale as low as $19) and it is so nice to use, it is nicely padded on the bottom, plus you keep the laptop off a flat surface and you have two quiet fans blowing air onto your laptop.



Please!!!!!
My Question or Need for Assistance - My specs and the issue below

The 7970m concerns me which is why I have asked. Reviews of the chip has shown that the Eudoro tech is behind Optimus in smoothness. Even with the Nvidia 660m model I had to restart the computer to make a Nvidia only or Intel only choice. I also noted in reviews that stated that the power saving app tried to run many GPU intensive apps with the iGPU (GPU integrated on the CPU) and not the 7970m. They also currently have the "where is the driver - don't look at us, ask who built your laptop" driver issue. Also I heard that careful binning that AMD has actually been able to push their desktop 7970 higher.

I am also concerned about whether I will see any differences in games especially with those with "Way to be played" (which I do know or at understand is part marketing hype paid for by Nvidia). I know AMD lacks PhysX which affects very few titles and so the chores are past off to the CPU.

That is why I was really hoping over the weekend I would have seen more responses as to whether I should go with the 680m and its high price tag, or trust AMD. I have NEVER trusted AMD for anything but their 386 processor and certainly not graphics. So I am looking for those who can truly state the safety of going with the slightly lower cost 7970m or pour the cash into that 680m, without the "fanboy" mentality that almost every post I have seen anywhere devolves to, green versus red, they suck we rule, no you suck we rule back and forth without any serious discussion.

 

Alright so I've spent months researching about the Alienware laptops, about all the BIOS and OC mumbo jumbo and benchmarks etc... Now I will be getting either an M17x R4 or and M18x R2 in mid-July. I know what configurations I want but wanted to ask the community here a few questions. I read these forums a lot and there are many helpful people here so I thought your opinions would be my best bet to getting my dream system.

Basically...

3D Vision 2 + 120Hz screen vs. Dual GPU

--- The m17x R4 configuration:
i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (8MB Cache, up to 3.7GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 120Hz NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle
Kingston HyperX 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1866MHz
Crucial M4 (C400) SATA3 6Gb/s 512GB SSD - (BOOT DRIVE)
750GB Hybrid Drive (Seagate Momentus XT) - (STORAGE)
Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO
Price: $3,834.00

--- The m18x R2 configuration:
i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (8MB Cache, up to 3.7GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
Dual 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M - SLI® Enabled
Kingston HyperX 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1866MHz
Crucial M4 (C400) SATA3 6Gb/s 512GB SSD - (BOOT DRIVE)
750GB Hybrid Drive (Seagate Momentus XT) - (STORAGE)
Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO
Price: $4,359.00 (will have to reduce it a bit)

So they are identical, except 2 graphics cards vs. a single one

Q1: This will be my first Alienware and I want it to be future-proof. The GTX 680m should be able to run all games on Ultra, but I don't want to jeopardize framerates for 3D Vision. A single 680m will not run most games at 120fps to even make the most out of the 120hz screen. So should I just get the m18x with SLI and not risk some future-proofing and max out framerates... or should I get the m17x, and enjoy 120hz and 3D (and a bit less weight)

Q2: How good is the 3D vision really? The last thing I would want to do is throw away a sick SLI setup, then pretty much never use the 3D anyways. Legit opinions would really help here, as I would love to play mostly single player games and stuff in 3D... and for multiplayer games and some classics like Cod4 promod the 120hz screen would be awesome. Honest opinions... worth losing SLI?

Q3: Which system would you recommend? I would love both, but in buying a computer of this caliber I would hate to make the wrong decision. Basically insane graphics and framerate of SLI vs. awesome 3D Vision 2 and 120hz refresh rate.

Any and all replies would be HIGHLY appreciated

 

A tough decision - but a nice place to be

just remember some of this is purely subjective.

Q1, your not going to jeopardise frame rates for 3D. If it slows it dowm to the point it becomes noticeable (below 35-40 for me) then you can just turn it off. It only hits the FPS when active and in use. I bought a SLI MX18 first but found that getting 3D was a pain needing a miniport to DVI connector and a compatible monitor. SLI will not double your FPS, just improve it in games that are supported. I built a quad sli plus separate physics card rig. Only any use for benchmarking - games could not even make it break a sweat!

Q2. I LOVE the 3D. It works great for my eyes and is a real conversation piece with the lads. I bought a second set of glasses to show it off . You're not going to notice much difference between 120mhz and 60mhz. many games do not even support 120 and switch to 50/60 mhz output even if the game itself is hitting 100 FPS plus. It's in windows where I can just about see a more 'stable' picture. Worth loosing SLI though? Was for me.

Q3, no reccomendation, you've built two great systems there, and I went for 3D over SLI but I'm sure you will be happy with either.

 

Does AW come with its own overclocking? Or is that an option that I should get when ordering? (I've never done something like overclocking so if I were to get it I'd rather a professional do it than me.)

 

Depends on the processor you go for. Mine (see sig) comes with 3 pre-sets in the BIOS that take care of all the settings for you (as well as being able to set them myself within limits). I believe the level 3 is as high as the CPU allows but an after-market extreme CPU is wide open for you to play with 'silly' clock speeds.

Graphic OC'in is totally down to what card you go for but you're on your own for methods.

 

woops, forgot to add that. I'd most likely be going for the amd 7970m. Mostly I thought that AW would have its own software that would be part of the package but from what you've said it doesn't seem the case.

 

Correct - well not on the laptops that I know of, desktops might be differeent.

Choice of the moment on the GPU but you might like to hold out and see the benches of the 680m. Unless the extra cash is a big player in your decision. It looks like a lot extra cash for not-a-lot-of-extra performance, but only time will tell

Both OEM's are supported with 3rd party overclocking software but are quite different in methods and abilities. I only use 'The green Team' but from what I read here they have better driver support. I can't say it's great myself, just OK but you'll need to research the Radeon or maybe someone else will give their experiences...

 

quick question I am looking to purchase an m17x with the following options:

3720
6gb
120htz 3d screen bundle
gtx 680m
500gb hard drive
DVD burner
intel wifi 6250
and 3 yeard advanced warranty

all for 2,800 shipped, including tax, just want to know if that is a good price for the specs?

 

I'd go for the 8 or 16gb ram.

Yea its a bit about the money but mostly its about timing. I'd like to order my laptop by the 4th of July at the latest. And from what I see so far the gtx 680m is still on pre-order at XoticPc. In all honesty if its not glitchy like the 7970 with that whole enduro thing I'd pay the extra bit for it.

 

From what I read from notebookcheck.net and understand, the Enduro software kinda sucks compared to Optimums. Optimums still has some hiccups, but not as bad. Although you can basically override Enduro for better performance. For me anyways, I cant imagine spending an extra $300 some dollars for a bit more performance and software that is just a bit less annoying, oh I guess you can run phyx on it instead of your cpu (I think).

One question, how is AMD's driver support for its GPUs? Haven't heard much and I have never used one their GPUs.

 

I have also seen on NBC that the 680m buys you usually a 1-7% increase in most benchmarks. Sometimes the Amd wins by a few % points. I think under SLI versions of the 680m and 7970m, the 680m is in fourth and the Amd is in 6th place, the 660m was listed as 46th place, but since I am not getting that chip I haven't checked to see if there has been any adjustments.

In regards to 3D it still is really limited to the talk at the cooler in the office type stage. For some people they have had great experiences with it. Others either have a good experience and/or vision related issues (headaches, eyes hurting). Right now while it seems like 3D is catching on it still has proven to be the deciding factor in purchase descisions and remember this really only applies to games.

Also remember the general rule about fps, is that the human eye usually cannot perceive performance difference anywhere above 32-35 fps (officially I think it is 29.4 fps or just 30fps). The benefit of those extra fps's is that as the game gets into an intense battle with bullets flying, bad guys filling up your screen and all the fireworks you and the computer enemy create it starts to eat away at your fps. You want your card to stay above about 35fps under heavy activity on the screen. Any lower and you start to notice skips, lag or ghosting. SLI will usually give you about 40-50% more frames than a single card would.

The 680m is available from Alienware for sure since Friday, but they are stating a lead time (building) of 16 days.

Please can someone help me on my questions about the AMD 7970m and Nvidia 680m

From last post:
The 7970m concerns me which is why I have asked. Reviews of the chip has shown that the Eudoro tech is behind Optimus in smoothness. Even with the Nvidia 660m model I had to restart the computer to make a Nvidia only or Intel only choice. I also noted in reviews that stated that the power saving app tried to run many GPU intensive apps with the iGPU (GPU integrated on the CPU) and not the 7970m. They also currently have the "where is the driver - don't look at us, ask who built your laptop" driver issue. Also I heard that careful binning that AMD has actually been able to push their desktop 7970 higher.

I am also concerned about whether I will see any differences in games especially with those with "Way to be played" (which I do know or at understand is part marketing hype paid for by Nvidia). I know AMD lacks PhysX which affects very few titles and so the chores are past off to the CPU.

That is why I was really hoping over the weekend I would have seen more responses as to whether I should go with the 680m and its high price tag, or trust AMD. I have NEVER trusted AMD for anything but their 386 processor and certainly not graphics. So I am looking for those who can truly state the safety of going with the slightly lower cost 7970m or pour the cash into that 680m, without the "fanboy" mentality that almost every post I have seen anywhere devolves to, green versus red, they suck we rule, no you suck we rule back and forth without any serious discussion.

And the original question
1) Someone who is not green (Nvidia) or red (ATI/AMD) committed, is going with the 7970m a better choice than the 680m. I understand the 680m had heat issues according to some posts. I know on reviews of the 7970m they dinged it for physx (which the cpu would have to do instead), they dinged for its "Eudoro" tech a less tuned version of Nvidia's Optimus. Both have tdp 100watts. Of course one is msrp $550 from the 660m. Past issues with drivers for AMD. AMD lacks CUDA but follows OpenCL and DirectCompute.

Uses for my computer - email, browsing, offline gaming, documents, spreadsheets, the usual fair for a desktop gamer wanting a desktop replacement laptop. Games, I probably won't play BF3 at the Ultra Highest Settings nor CODMW3 or Blackops 1/2. I want a gpu that will last me more than the first 6 months. So a game let say in 1 year will still post well above 30fps under load. Of course I know this is not a guarantee as no one knows what lies ahead in 1 year gaming time. I just don't want a GPU that can't handle todays games with some enhancements one year down the road.

Thank you for answering.

 

Thank you very much for the prompt reply

However I wasn't talking about jeopardising frame rates while 3D is on. Mainly my point was that if I choose the 3D option... I'll only be left with a single GPU, instead of SLI.. which would significantly reduce framerates in some titles, future-proofing, and some demanding games wouldn't be exactly smooth at Ultra level.

I might be biased as with my research I've been so dead set on the M18x SLI... that the thought of switching out a GPU for 3D Vision is hindering my logic but would you consider it a worthy tradeoff

 

I'm about to purchase an M17X R4 and was looking for a little configuration advice from experienced users.

I am getting a 680m with the 3d display (I know the 3d is gimmicky, but I enjoy it).

1. As far as a processor goes, should I stay with the 3610 QM or upgrade to the 3820 QM? The upgrade cost is $350. I'm willing to pay it if it it will boost performance (I mainly play Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, with some FPSs).

2. For RAM, should I stick with the 8GB of 1600mhz, or upgrade to 16 GB?

3. As I will pretty much only use this laptop for gaming and movies, is there any reason to upgrade above Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit?

4. Is it worth upgrading to a HDD with the 32GB SSD Cache?

I'd like to choose whatever options that will keep me in good shape for up to 3 years if possible. I don;t mind spending on the upgrades, but I don't want to spend unnecessarily if performance won't be improved.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

does anybody know if the panasonic UJ 240 slot load blu ray burner will fit in the alienware m17x r4?

 

1. I would say stick with the 3610. The 3820 will definitely be more powerful but you mention the only things you'll be doing is gaming and movies, you won't need the extra power really.

2. For Ram, 8gb is more than enough. Movie watching will also be fine with that amount. If you were going to get into photo editing, video, graphic design work I'd recommend getting more. Also not a bad idea to get more if you're wanting to futureproof a bit.

3. Home premium will be perfectly fine for you. Pro adds some additional security and networking features, not something that you particularly have to have. Ultimate allows the use of language packs and encryption. Also not necessary.

4. If you have to have the storage space of a mechanical HDD the caching drives do offer some pretty cool performance enhancements. You won't see as much increase as you would with a pure SSD solution, but it will definitely be faster than a traditional HDD.

 

As far as RAM goes, I would recommend going with the bare minimum that Dell sells. Upgrading yourself after you buy the computer will be much more affordable.

 

Here's a possible build I'm considering for a gaming laptop but I've a question about the Ram.

Alienware M17x
- 17.3" (60Hz) WideFHD WLED (1920x1080) Super Clear Glare-Type Screen (SKU - A1R604)
- 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU – X2N300)
- IC Diamond Thermal Compound - GPU & CPU
- AMD Radeon HD 7970M (2048MB) GDDR5 DX11 (SKU - A3R701)
- 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (4x4GB SODIMM) (SKU – X4N199)
- No mSATA SSD Drive
- 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Default (SKU - X5R205)
- 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) (SKU - A6R203)
- Slot Load - 6X Blu-Ray Reader + 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive
- Internal 9-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo)
- Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 (3x3) (Includes 3rd Antenna) (SKU - X8R053)
- Integrated Digital Video Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- YES - Redline Boost™ Overclock My System (Operating System Required) (XPC Service)
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Pre-Installed + Drivers & Utilities Disk


Now how big of a difference is there between:


- 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (4x4GB SODIMM)

Vs.

16GB Kingston HyperX DDR3 1866MHz CL11 Dual Channel Memory (4x4GB SODIMMS)

 

Having used both technologies, I chose the 3D display over the SLI. I never got much in games out of SLI. Never 'significant' and that was with quad sli+physx. The 675 I have is good enough for all the current crop of games.

If you really want the best of both worlds it is available, just not in a portable factor. Get the MX18, buy a 3D vision kit and get a lightboost external monitor (must be connected to the display miniport via a DVI converter). You can also just use a 3D tv over the HDMI but this has a lower resolution and as I've never tried it I can't comment on how well it works.