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

Just buy a real one from Dell. It's an expensive system, and it's not worth cheaping out on the power supply...well, not with any system, but certainly not with a high end one!

 

Glad I could help

Good luck with the search!

 

Bare in mind a "250GB" drive is really like 219GB, and then you'll want to leave 15-25% of it empty, so a "250GB" SSD is really 164-186GB.

Personally Crucial's M4 (and upcoming M500) and Intel's 320 are the only drives I'd seriously consider.

 

Thanks, good point. I noticed there are a couple of versions of the Crucial M4 250, and also that the Intel 240 costs a significant amount more than most 250s.

 

Just saw this on the AW website and thought I would share:

"For a limited time only, receive 10% off your PC and hardware upgrades."

This was for the M17x, I didn't check anything else.

I placed my order yesterday, should get my 1st AlienWare in about 2 weeks.

What do you think of my build?

Alienware M17X R4 with Soft Touch
3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3840QM (8MB Cache, up to 3.8GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
128GB mSATA + 750GB 7200 RPM
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 120Hz NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming and Video and Bluetooth 4.0
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Nebula Red with Soft Touch Finish with 3D Display
4 Year Warranty
4 Year Accidental Damage

The total came to $3,472.05 before taxes with free Next Business Day shipping.

 

Great rig! Welcome to the club :thumbsup:

Any good 3D games in mind?

 

Hello,

I've been a "build-my-own-desktop" kind of guy for about fifteen years but my next rig I'm going mobile. I've spent a lot of time learning me some stuff good, and I've got my preferred specs almost down.

Questions about an M17x model with the below specs:


1) Is there a real-world performance gain to be had in the 3740 of the 3630? I'm not trying to bring the price as low as possible but for me it comes down to wanting to spend my money where it will "do the most". 3 extra FPS in Battlefield is only marginally interesting to me, but a 15%-20% gain would seem to be worth it.

2) Can you still get a 7970 in the Alienware? The website makes it seem like you cannot...

3) Does Alienware sell No-OS systems? MSDN Dev subscription keeps me in OS licenses so I'd save the bucks if I can.


Processor: 3630 versus 3740
Memory: 16GB 1600 Mhz
Video Card: 7970m
Hard Drive: 256 GB SSD + 500 GB Secondary

 

In terms of SSD, buy one yourself if possibly its super easy to put one in the laptop, it doesn't void the warranty etc. but can be cheaper to buy aftermarket, the CPU and GPU are very expensive to buy aftermarket.

 

Thanks Dennis!

I thought about putting my own SSD in but it seems like the resale price from the vendors is pretty competitive.

To get a rep should I just call 'em up?

 

Hi,

I have decided to return my m17x and get a new one with an extended warranty included. Is $2000 ($1900 with a gift card) a decent deal for these components:

3630qm
7970m
8gb RAM
Killer 1103
500gb HDD
1080p screen
Two years of limited warranty and accidental damage

 

Seems like a pretty decent deal to me, you can always "shop around" with reps.

 

I just PMed you with the contact info for the rep I just order my M17x from. Good guy, gave me a good deal, very responsive also when I had a couple of questions after I placed the order.

 

So i go to school for video game design and play alot of games im new to the pc world i was always a console guy before but i want to start playing more games on my laptop when i get it these are the specs i am getting just wondering if they are good enough. Intel® Core™ i7-3630QM processor, 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz,750GB 7,200 RPM + 32GB mSATA Caching SSD, 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M im just wondering if i should upgrade more or will this be more then i need.

oh and also i will be running programs like autodesk maya and unreal engine.

 

I'm going to point out the obvious.

You want to get into PC gaming and you do video game design... The last thing you want to do is get the lowest option for GPU. I would get the 680M or the 7970M at least. 8GB of RAM is plenty, the CPU doesn't really matter (although I personally would choose at least the second lowest option), that hybrid hard drive is great

Just get a powerful graphics card you will not regret it it will blow all your gaming and game development needs out of the water and you'll love yourself for getting a great GPU. I highly recommend Nvidia, the 680M is insane.. but it is very expensive. The 7970M is also a beast GPU

 

I agree with LeoVainio that the speed of the graphics processor should be one of the highest-priority criteria.

The only problem I see is that the Geforce/Radeon processors aren't very fast for Maya. For example, the Geforce GTX 680M scores only 13.5 (higher is better) for the SPECviewperf 11 - Maya 1920x1080 benchmark, whereas the Quadro K3000M scores a much higher 59.5. The Radeon HD 7970M isn't very fast in that benchmark, either, scoring just 14.1.

That's because the Quadro/FirePro/FireGL graphics processors have high-speed support in their video drivers for a graphics library called OpenGL, which is what Maya and various CAD programs use. The Geforce/Radeon processors, on the other hand, rely on Microsoft's much slower emulation of OpenGL within Windows.

On the other hand, the Geforce/Radeon graphics processors are faster than the Quadro/FirePro/FireGL processors at games and Unigine Heaven, because those programs instead use a graphics library called DirectX, which is supported well by Windows. The Geforce/Radeon processors are also much less expensive than the equivalent Quadro/FirePro/FireGL.

Here you can see a ranking of laptop graphics processors, sorted in order of decreasing 3DMark11 test results, which is an indicator of gaming performance:

Mobile Graphics Cards - Benchmark List - NotebookCheck.net Tech

Click on the individual processor names within that list to see their more detailed benchmarks for various programs. Overall, from what you've described so far, Geforce/Radeon are probably best for your situation. But you should check the benchmarks available for whatever programs you plan to use.

And here's an article that you might find useful:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-GeForce-GTX-680M-vs-Radeon-HD-7970M.77110.0.html

Good luck!

 

alright thank you guys for your help much appreciated

 

Any way to get a deal of any sort on an M17x right now?

If I order today I'd get:

2.4 or 2.7GHz i7 (I guess)
GTX 680
Blu Ray
Spare PSU
Default RAM, hard drive, etc.

 

Try talking to a rep, depends on your location, usually you will get at least 10% off list price, i got total diso of around 20+%.

Spare PSU (240W) I got from amazon for around £30-40

 

660m is a good card but if you really need something powerful then I'm giving my vote to the 680m as well.

 

Thanks! You had to call, right?

I am a MASTER at this LOL. I tried online, and get "upon checking, we have no discounts on Alienwares".

Success!

The price on this thing really is legitimately freaking me out lol

 

I was lucky and noticed a decent offer online with 10% off with the m17x having an automatic discount of £205. It depends on your timing, but a rep in the forum should be able to get similar prices, I didnt know about them until after I ordered .

View attachment 91783

View attachment 91784

 

Jup, agreed. Go for the 680m or 7970m the top competitor cards from Nvidia and Ari/Amd.
They are not 'a bit' faster then the first card under them, they are leagues ahead in performance.

If you're on a budget, take the 7970m. If you're not, then take the 680m into the equation.
Most stuff is easily upgradeable later on for alot cheaper then Dell charges you, even when not being a techie. Cpu and especially GPU are trickier, harder to obtain, expensive, and if not working out of the box will require quite some technical expertise.

 

I ordered on 2/27. You have to talk to different reps until you find one that is willing to get you the discount. My beast was supposed to cost over 4k... I was able to purchase through Dell's Member Purchase Program because my employer is well-known. You may try that route- asking if your employer qualifies for MPP- if not- if you are in school or university they can give you a discount for that. (Which the rep told me was the same as the MPP discount). At the time I ordered, Dell was doing this AWESOME discount on upgraded components. I got $600.00 off retail just for that- not including the MPP program. When all is said and done- I got 2 day shipping for free, a 5% back giftcard that will arrive after my laptop ships, and a $4,000+ dollar system for $3201.99 AFTER TAXES. (It was $2,999.97 or something before taxes!!!!)

My amazing representative was :

Regina Igharas
Email: [email protected]
1 (800) 569-3355 extension 2160085

I give her many gold stars for our conversation and the discounts she was magically able to apply!!

 

Thanks guys! Well, I had a decent deal I could have done through Dell, but at the last minute I noticed Costco got some M17x-R4s back in stock, and I went that route.

The only thing I really hate about the config is it doesn't include blu ray. Does anyone know of a good after market slot loading blu ray drive that'll work, from a reputable store?

The nearest I can tell is Panasonic has a drive that looks like it would be compatible, and they link to this "Digistore" place, which accepts Google Payments...

Panasonic Slim Blu-Ray Burner Slimline SATA (Slot Load) Drive-PAN-UJ-265A

Does that seem like it would work?

Anyway the Costco config is $1699 for:

-Base i7...I was so tempted to upgrade to the 2.7GHz one or the 2.8GHz one with 8MB L3, but I guess really the base 2.4GHz one is supposed to be good enough.
-8GB RAM (I'll throw in another 16GB I already have. How cool is 4 DIMM slots in a notebook?)
-2 500GB hard drives (I'll replace at least one with a 512GB Crucial M4 I have)
-Geforce GTX 680m <-- woo hoo!
-1920x1080 screen-I'd have actually gone with the cheaper 1600x900 screen as 1920x1080 at 17" is pushing it for text/interface size for me, but it'll still work
-Windows 7 <-- this is the second most annoying thing about this config...I kind of need Windows 8 Pro, so I'm having to "waste" the copy I bought.
-DVD instead of blu ray boooo!

If I can get that DVD drive replaced, I'll be happy!

Need to search for that keyboard command to reboot with Optimus disabled too (reaaaaally like that you don't have to use Optimus on these!)

 

Welcome to the club! That sounds like a decent price (and let's face it, once we get these in our hands, we never worry again whether we paid $100 more or less. ) Mine just showed up and I have to head back out of town, so still need to figure it out. And glad you mentioned a way to disable Optimus - I'm trying to think of why I would want the 680M switched off, since I never use my notebook when it is not plugged in (I have a netbook and iPad for the plane - I doubt this monster would even fit on a pull down tray on a plane!

 

I just ordered my new laptop from a lady I have been dealing with for a while on other pcs and she always gave me a good deal. Here is what I got. Let me put it this way. This build is $2300 on the site. The REP's here would only take off $50. I called her, and this is what she sold me the laptop for WITH a 3 Year Onsite warranty!!! Upgraded to the 675m, and 1920x1080 display. I have a 256gb M4 SSD and 16gb Vengence memory ready to go in it from my other laptop I sold.

------

Quantity Item Number Description Unit Price
1
225-2945
Alienware M17X R4 with Soft Touch - Direct
$1192.04
1
319-1472
3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3630QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
$0.00
1
317-9739
6GB DDR3 at 1600MHz
$0.00
1
331-6912
English Keyboard, 101 Key, M17X R4
$0.00
1
320-3275
17.3-inch WideFHD1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
$0.00
1
320-9502
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M
$0.00
1
342-4414
500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
$0.00
1
331-6859
AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
$0.00
1
421-7439
Alienware Command Center Software, M17X
$0.00
1
421-5789
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
$0.00
1
318-2314
Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
$0.00
1
410-0548
Adobe Acrobat Reader
$0.00
1
318-2005
Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
$0.00
1
318-0424
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro Software
$0.00
1
430-4710
Intel 2230 Wireless-N
$0.00
1
331-7193
Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
$0.00
1
331-6865
Alienware Documentation
$0.00
1
331-6868
Placement, M17X R4
$0.00
1
331-6867
Shipping Material, M17X R4 - Black
$0.00
1
461-8389
NO VIRUS PROTECTION REQUESTED
$0.00
1
331-6909
Resource DVD, M17X R4
$0.00
1
331-8045
Windows 7 OS Label, Alienware Notebooks
$0.00
1
420-9691
DataSafe Local BackUp
$0.00
1
420-9956
PC Restore
$0.00
1
421-0092
DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
$0.00
1
421-3874
Camera Software 2.X, Factory Install
$0.00
1
421-4289
Dell Support Center Software 3.0
$0.00
1
421-7440
Quickset, M17X R4
$0.00
1
421-4047
Dell Digital Delivery Client
$0.00
1
421-9378
Windows 7 Browser Search for Alienware
$0.00
1
312-1334
90WHr 9-Cell Primary Battery
$0.00
1
421-8801
Microsoft Office Trial
$0.00
1
995-6093
Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Extended Year(s)
$0.00
1
995-6083
Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
$0.00
1
995-6143
In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis, Parts and Labor On-Site Response, 2 Year Extended
$334.00
1
995-6103
In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis, Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year
$0.00
1
950-3339
3 Year Limited Warranty
$0.00
1
421-1723
Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for Alienware
$0.00
1
993-8582
Warranty Support, 2 Year Extended
$15.00
1
994-3730
Warranty Support, Initial Year
$0.00
1
469-0500
No Wireless HD Selected
$0.00
1
331-1349
Standard Nameplate
$0.00
1
A5750525
Your Dell Advantage benefits have been applied and $1 discounted from your primary order.
$1.00
Item Sub Total $1542.04
Item Ship Charge $0.00
Item Tax $127.22
Item Total $1669.26

 

Never mind.

 

The 7970m isn't available when I got mine directly from Dell. Not sure how you guys are getting that one.

 

Did you just configure on the website or did you ask a rep on the phone or email? I found that certain website configurations limited your options, but the sales rep I talked to could configure it any way I wanted.

 

I went by the website and gave the rep what I wanted. I actually tried to change my order and now she says I can't because it's in production to see if I can get the 680. They said if I changed it I would lose my discount now and won't be able to get it back. Whatever. The 675 will work for now as I have a big desktop I use for gaming primary. This is for when I am on the road.

 

wolfpup the m17x from costco for 1699 is this the r4 as the picture on the web site shows an older model looking at the lid. a misprint i assume. can you please verify. as i am looking to buy one . thanks

 

Pro2k- You're right. The lid on the CostCo one appears to be from an R2 - unless they are using an old stock image. I would definitely want to see the box. Ask the salesperson at CostCo to show you the box. The side of the box should list all specs including whether or not the laptop is an R2, R3, or R4. (From the pic it appears to be an R2 based on the vents at the bottom of the lid. This could also explain their low prices.) Hope this helps! I don't have a CostCo here, so I'm assuming there is a salesperson you can talk to. If not, just look at the box!

 

Just a warning to those of you ordering a system with a HDD with a mSATA cache drive: at least a couple of us who have recently received our systems have found that the mSata drive was installed, but it was not set up for caching. We had to go through a number of steps to set it up (there's a thread below that describes how you can tell it is not set up correctly and how to fix the problem: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/711329-caching-drive-problem-need-help.html)

 

Main difference between Killer 1103 wi-fi card and stock wi-fi card ? I will only play online gaming.

 

The only thing I see with it is the ability to prioritise traffic on your machine. You can make things like torrents have less bandwidth to improve other internet connections. It is also supposed to be better for on-line gaming as I read that it can improve your connection IF you are in contention on your LAN. Can't verify as I'm the only user . If you were using the machine in a dorm or hotel for on-line gaming I would definitely say go for it, since it's not that expensive (dell gave me mine as a freebie upgrade ).

I've used both and not noticed any functional difference, but it's nice to be able to see bandwidth by application in the killer manager.

HTH

 

So I just pulled the trigger on an m17x. I read some reviews where they said the RAID was not set up properly. I got the 512gb of SSD ram which the only option they had was as a RAID so how can I check when my system comes if they set it up properly or not?

 

Hi, It will be 2 x 256 ssd drives in a single RAID array. This means that you will see only one large drive and not two - if it is configured correctly.

The problem has been that a couple of people that have ordered a mechanical HD with a SSD cache (which needs RAID to work) were not configured as a cache. The cache drive should not be visible if it is working - but it was and had to be fixed

 

I'm looking at purchasing, just checking a few things.

The only way to disable optimus with a 680m is to order the 120hz 3d panel.

It is worth getting 3 years warranty and accidental cover.

The bad pixel policy for replacement screen is basically if you have 1 bright pixel or at least 2 dead pixels.

Would prefer a matte screen, but all the reviews here about the 120hz 3d screen seem to be very good.

The sound output for headphones is good.

keyboard doesn't have ghosting issues.

The killer 1103 works fine in windows 8

 

So basically when I get my laptop I should open up the my computer screen and see if for the hardrive it shows one big hard drive has 512 gb? And if it shows up like that, then it is set up correctly?

Also I'm wondering is an m17x too big to put on your lap when laying in bed with? I can do that fine with a 15 inch macbook pro and the m17 is only 1.8 inches wider so I was just wondering if anyone does this with theirs.

 

Just to clarify, you don't mean opening up the actual LCD, do you?

I imagine that using it on your lap would be unpleasant.

1. Yes. That is the only way to disable Optimus.
2. If you can get a good deal on the extended coverage, yes.
3. Dead pixel coverage: No comment.
4. 120 Hz screen quality: No comment.
5. Output with Headphones: I have read no complaints. The MSI GT60/GT70 might be better in this regard.
6. Keyboard rollover: All laptop keyboards I know of have ghosting. That includes the MSI "anti-ghosting" keyboard. I don't think it is an egregious error; the Clevos should have much worse ghosting.
8. Killer 1103 in Windows 8: I have read complaints. In a few days, I can tell you if I have issues.

 

On windows the "mycomputer" tab and then system properties. And I don't think it would be so bad. I measured my current laptop and it is 14.1 inches wide. The m17x is 16 inches wide, I don't see how 2 inches would make THAT big a difference.

 

Yes, just check you only have one drive and you're set. If you see 2 x 256 drives then it has not been set up correctly.

As for the lap use, I do this most of the time. Originally I used the Targus 17" lap pad that dell sold with the machine. A nice soft underside, light and easy to move with the machine AND a little extra cooling. You could just use a piece of hardboard and prop the back but you have to be careful of blocking the fan intakes/ The weight can become an issue after some time so I got one of those bed tables for food

 

I see. If I was laying with it I would only be watching movies or doing internet surfing no game playing in that position. It would get hot from just that? I'm going to cancel my order if that is the case lol. Plus the laptop is only like 10 pounds is that really that big a problem?

 

1. There are ways to disable optimus by using an unlocked BIOS and selecting only the D-GPU and I have read that the latest Dell BIOS's have this in but I havn't checked. I would have thought that all you'd need to do is disable the intel in device manager but since nobody does it this way it causes problems. Any machine with the 120hz display will have the intel video disabled. I know people are saying it works much better now and they are happy, I just prefer not to have it at all. This is a gaming rig and not going with me on long journeys using the battery. You get around 2.5 hours instead of 5 plus with optimus.

2. I'd say yes for the extended waranty, if it goes very bad on you they are very good, even replacing with a later model (as I got) if needed .

3. Don't know the bad pixel policy

4. I also would prefer a non-reflective screen as it annoys the heck out of me but from what I read the trade off is in clarity and contrast - so I plump for the better looking display and just get used to the reflections .

5. Sound through headphones is good but far better with something like the Corsair 1500 USB with Dolby headphone (tm). I've recommended these to a few people that have been pleased with them.

6. There are ghosting issues but I couldn't tell you the combinations just that some RPG players have come across it.

7. Just read a thread that had issue with the killer and windows 8. That guy said that using V9 instead of the latest V10 driver cleared it up.

HTH

 

You will be fine, I did this for the longest time when I first got it BUT you must use some sort of board to stop your clothing blocking the intakes. It does not get too hot when not gaming but even my 430 will burn my legs!

The weight only becomes an issue after a few hours for me (wimp)

 

1. I would prefer not to use an unlocked bios if i can help it, but would be more than happy with the 120hz display. I know with the latest bios with dell precision m6700 you can disable the igpu, havent seen confirmation for this on the m17x r4 (official bios)

2. agree

3. httx://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=DSN_60EC97300BA883BBE040AE0AB8E10ED0 was the info I came acroos for bad pixel policy

4. agree

5. I have a pair of Ultrasone DJ1 (rebranded ultrasone hfi 580), if the sound is bad I would probably get a fiio dac e7/e10

6. Just really bothered about fps games, so basically wasd combinations with other keys

7. Have read the same post as you, hopefully they will get the latest drivers working at some point, but v9 is fine for me. Would have been fine with a intel 6300 though

Thanks for everyones feedback.

 

What is a 430? So the intakes on the bottom keep it from overheating even from regular use? What kind of crappy cooling does it have that I don't have this issue with a mac or hp? Or any other laptop for that matter.

 

Dell Latitude 430 12" business laptop.

It's not crappy cooling just it needs a lot. You'll be drawing ~150W plus during gaming, other lesser powered laptops will not get as hot. In low power mode it should just hum along without even hearing the fans.

I think it is a bit of a design fault that they did not include those little folding legs you see on some laptops. Propping up the rear (or getting a cooling pad) is often needed during extended gaming sessions

 

Umm MAC's get super hot. Mine did when I was playing a game on it and I actually couldn't keep it on my lap any more or it would burn me. Yeah, they get hot.

 

Waittttt. I am not talking about gaming. I'm not going to game with this on my lap lol. I was wondering if it gets hot to the point it will burn my legs if I was just watching movies online or youtube, or reading the forums.