Alienware M17xR2 Exchange for R3?

Guys looking for a little help. I got in on the 25% off coupon special in outlet and got an R2 with the specs below:

Alienware M17xR2
Core i5 520
4GB Ram
320GB HD
ATI 5870 1GB
1920x1200 RGBLED

Now the problem was fans rattling on GPU and CPU...system smelled like a smokers system with the fans having tobacco build up on them dark orange tar like dust...yuck! And the biggest complaint of all was it came with a 1440 x 900 screen...

Long Story short is Dell did replace the screen after 3 weeks and over 40 hours on the phone with them...parts not being delievered....service calls cancelled after I took the day off work, parts being sent back, and then parts on back order...just trust me it's been a horrible ordeal. Now the screen is fixed but the laptop now will not power off and you have to pull the battery to both shut it down and if the computer goes to sleep you have to pull the battery to get it to come on. This was after the screen was replaced...don't ask me why that would change a thing but it did. Also I've been in IT many years so i've already reloaded Windows just in case something was weird and it still has the same issue.

So Dell after 2 weeks more has offered me the following system to replace it...My question is it worth it losing the RGBLED...I have the M18x and the screen is ok but it's far from RGBLED, but the system specs are really so much better than the R2.

So here is the replacement system:

Alienware M17xR3
Core i7 2630
16GB Memory
750x2 Raid 0 HD
ATI 6970 2GB
BluRay Combo
Killer Nic Wireless N
1920x1080 WLED 60HZ

So is it worth it? Can anyone please chime in who has seen both systems or has an R3? What are the big difference in the 2? From the R2 to the R3? It seems like a good deal but I'd like first hand information from the community if it's available and if you don't mind commenting.

Thanks for the help.

 

i would take that and if you don't like it, then you can always sell it. you can also roll the dice again and buy another rgb r2 at the outlet. getting an outlet plus 20% off deal on an r3 is sweet. dell compensated you well. good luck

 

Personally I would take it. It's quite a bit more powerful than your current setup. From what I've heard, the 1920x1080 screen on the r3 is still nice (just no RGB screen). Like cccplus said, you could always sell it for more than you paid for the r2 and make a profit.

 

Yeah I guess I could do that, but I'm not much for profit mongering...nothing against it but I've never been "that guy". I guess I was just iffy about the screen on the R3. Thanks for the reply's. Keep them coming if you don't mind. I'd love to hear from someone who has seen both and could compare...also I think I'm leaning more towards the i7. My m18x has the 2720 and I love it...it's a beast...but man games look so deep and rich on the RGBLED...decisions...decisions....

 

wasnt there someone on the forums that managed to mod a rgb led screen on a m17x r3 ?

i7 > i5 anytime tho ;p

havnt actualy got to see the rgb led screen, but tbh better performance vs shiner screen i would go for performance but then again u already got a m18x

the r3 is better value compared to that r2 tho

 

someone did mod a B>RGLED screen onto the R3.

 

I never experienced rgb before my m17x and all I can say is I wouldn't want to go back

It's sad they got rid of the options

 

It would really depend on what you paid for your R2. But I am assuming the R2 you got was really cheap, because its specs were kinda weak. Now the R3 they are giving is excellent, so I would be very happy, especially if you paid $1300 or less for it (which you should have with a 20% off coupon).

So in short, yes get that R3.

 

I dont think thats a new system. The 6970m isnt offered for a while now, so it might be a outlet/returned system.

Ask Dell if it a new build.

 

yea look at this thread [GUIDE] Swapping Stock M17x-R3 LCD w/ 90% NTSC Color Gamut "B+RGLED" LCD

 

I'd definitely take that exchange. Gen 2 Core i7 sandy bridge vs a gen 1 core i5? 6970 vs 5870? Blue ray? 16 gigs? You must of worked hard over those 40 hrs to get this