Alienware m17x @ tigerdirect

My question is, how does the AMD 6870 compare to the GTX 560m in the Asus G74 (3gb memory 192bit card)? Also I know I have seen it on the forums but can I up grade this laptops video card to say a 6990 without issues (searched it, didnt find much)? If so should I go through dell for the parts? Only reason I asked is because I bought a Asus G53 and got burned finding out the video card is only a 128bit card and slower then the G74. Got it at a great price of $999.99. But I am considering putting up a little more money for the Alienware (I love the keyboard) . Here are the specs, is it worth it for $1499.99 (a little cheaper with employee discount) Thanks in advance.

Alienware M17x 17.3" Laptop Computer
Memory Type: DDR3
Memory Speed: PC3-10600
Memory Speed MHz: 1333MHz
Memory Slots (Total): 4
Total Memory Size: 8GB
Memory Slots (Available): 2
Memory Configuration: 4GB + 4GB
Display Type: WLED WideHD Display
Screen Size: 17.3"
Maximum Resolution: 1600 x 900
Processor Class: Core i7
Processor Brand: Intel
Processor Type: Quad-Core
Processor Speed: 2.20GHz
Processor Number: i7-2670QM

Lifestyle: Gaming
Desktop Replacement
Condition: New
Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Platform: Laptop
Capacity: 750GB
Drive Types: Hard Drive
Hard Drive Speed: 7200 RPM
Graphics Description: Dedicated Graphics
GPU/VPU: AMD Radeon HD 6870M
Video Memory: 1GB GDDR5 discrete graphics memory
Optical Drive: DVD Dual Layer Burner
Capacity: 9-in-1
Supplemental Drive Type: Media Reader
Audio Description: Integrated Audio
Audio Chipset: Waves MaxxAudio 3
USB Ports (Total): 1 - eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo
2 - USB 2.0
2 - USB 3.0
USB Ports Powered (Included In Total): 1 - eSATA/USB
LAN Ports: 1
Audio Out Jacks: 1 - Audio Out/SPDIF Shared
2 - Audio Out
Microphone Jacks: 1
VGA Ports: 1
HDMI Ports: 1 - HDMI 1.4 out
1 - HDMI 1.3 in
DisplayPorts: 1 - mini
Communications Description: Integrated LAN
Integrated Wireless LAN
Integrated Bluetooth
Interface Type: RJ-45 Ethernet Connector
Bluetooth™
Intel Ultimate N WiFi Link 6300 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology
Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Protocols: 802.11a
802.11g
802.11n
Bluetooth 3.0
Keyboard Type: AlienFX Illuminated Keyboard
Backlit Keyboard: Yes
Battery Type: 9-Cell Lithium-ion

Specification Notes: [4] To provide the most accurate specifications, the specifications listed are based upon the manufacturer's exact model specification as published in the manufacturer's product documentation.
Integrated Webcam: Yes
Webcam Resolution: 3.0MP

they also sell the M14x was thinking about getting this for the wife. How's this Alienware for $1299.99?

 

I hate that you're getting the lower res screen but it looks like a nice rig other than that. Take it from a G73JH owner, there is NO comparison between this machine and an Asus. It is superior in every way. The GPU in an m17X is not nerfed. That's not what Alienware is about.

If you are going to buy a 6990 anyway, you might consider buying the whole laptop from Dell. By the time you buy the card from eBay you can almost just buy the whole thing with it already in there. You can buy an accidental protection warranty from Dell and then the whole machine including the GPU is covered even if you accidentally break it yourself.

Otherwise, if you want to buy that one, a lot of people source their GPU from eBay. There are quite a few threads around with links to various cards from various vendors. It's a standard interface so I THINK the cards for some of the clevos, sagers, and of course Alienware will all work in that slot. You may also have to buy a bracket to mount the heat sink but those are readily available on eBay too. I have not done the upgrade myself because my machine is brand new but a lot of folks around here have done it. It's really easy to work on. You remove the bottom access panel and everything is right there. On an Asus you have to take the whole freaking thing apart which takes forty-five minutes if you know what you are doing and it's pretty darn easy to mess something up putting it back together.

Here is the card you would need as an example that I saw on eBay.

That's $1500 plus $450 and you still have a lower res screen. I got the one in my sig for $2136 and it's 3D. When you call and order from an EPP rep, they can discount the price a little further. Some people got better deals than me but my point is I got mine for almost what you would spend and I got a 2 year accidental warranty too. I also bought an extra power supply but I think that was added to the $2136... not included in that price. I paid for it separately.

 

yea its not to hard to upgrade these machines down the road. I bought mine with a 460m and regular hard drive and just installed a 6990m and an SSD. I haven't seen the g74 yet, but I like my m17x in just about every way over the g73 my friends has, and we bought them at around the same time.

 

I mean no offense but your friend was a big dummy like me. I should've bought an Alienware when I plunked down that money on the G73JH. I didn't know what I was missing until this laptop arrived on my doorstep a couple weeks ago.

 

same story happened to me last summer, bought a g53sw, immediately sold it to buy m17x best decision ever!

 

ya I am a little sad about the lower resolution screen. But I suppose in the future If i really want to I can always replace it with the 1080p. Limited funds stop me from buying from dell. On a Plus side The warranty from Tiger direct lets me bring the laptop back to the store if there's an issue. so many damn choices when buying a gaming laptop.

 

Hey, I've been there. I would definitely go for the one at work and not the Asus if it were me. Like you said, you can always upgrade it yourself later. It's very easy to do. In the meantime, an i7 2670 and HD6870m is still a rocking laptop! With the lower res screen your FPS will just be that much higher.

 

asus makes decent machines, I just label them in a class below sagers and alienwares due to their mediocre graphics cards.

 

I'd say in for a penny in for a pound. The most price effective time to get the good video card and screen is at purchase. Get a 6990m or 580m and a 1080p screen. Patience is hard to come by but, if you can wait, there will be a big difference.

Keep your eyes open for sales and deals. Takes alot of self restraint though

 

I had an Asus G74SX with the GTX 560M while my M17x R3 with 6870M was sent to Dell Depot for warranty repair.

The GTX 560M may be slightly better than the 6870M from what I've read. However, keep in mind the Asus G74SX has a higher res 1920x1080 screen than my M17x R3 with a 1600x900 screen. The higher res screen would mean that the GTX 560M would have to work harder.

How is the difference in resolutions compared between the two? Honestly, I really didn't notice much of a difference. I may not be much of a video afficionado I guess. hehe

In my preference, I'd take the 1600x900 screen w/ 6870M in the M17x R3 (that is upgradeable) over the 1920x1080 screen with the GTX 560M in the Asus G74SX (that is not upgradeable).

 

I had a G74SX with the 460m and it was a decent computer, it worked out of the box and I didn't have to "fix" anything on it. That said, it died after 6 months, motherboard and one of the hard drives both failed.......and when I called ASUS I was told that since I'd brought it to Afghanistan and that's where it failed, it wasn't covered.

If you can get the Alienware and IF it works when you get it then it's definitely a good deal.......but in my experience that's a big IF.

 

I do beat up on the Asus machines more than they deserve. The machine works for the most part. They cut corners on some things where Clevo and Alienware don't. They are also much cheaper at the same time which is why I bought one. However, I had horrendous touchpad problems that I had to resolve by disassembling the laptop and removing some foil and tape that was interfering with the EMF field the pad uses to sense your finger. My keyboard would drop/miss/ignore keystrokes for over a year until they finally came out with a BIOS fix to resolve it. The first one I bought died after two days and I had to have it replaced. The second one (the one I still have) has been sent in twice over two years for motherboard replacement. On top of that, repasting the GPU is like a two hour job with a pair of tweezers and a big lighted magnifying glass.

The G73SW and G74 series are excellent from what I can tell although a lot of them have GPUs that are nerfed. Some of them have a lower bandwidth bus depending on which one you buy. I got mine for $1400 and the Alienware I wanted at the time was over $2000. In hindsight, I wish I had gotten the Alienware.

I should probably stop pouncing on Asus every time it comes up. They were good to me and they did eventually fix all the problems in addition to repairing it on RMA twice with very little fussing.

Ain't that a kick in the head. A man is out defending his country and can't get a warranty repair on his laptop because he took it to work with him.

 

Ehh, it's not just ASUS, the Alienware I just bought (that was shipped here to Afghanistan mind you) showed up with what appears to be a defective hard drive, and Dell won't send a replacement out here either.........it's not just ASUS. Dell didn't tell me it wasn't covered under warranty, only that I have to wait until I get home in 31 days before I can fix it and use it.

 

wow lots of really good info here. I think im gonna give the alienware a test drive. Gonna bring in a External hard drive with some games to work and give it a run LOL. while im at it i think i'll test the M14x too. my wife really love that model.

 

*tear* welcome to the alienware family