Desktop PCs?? (Laptop Alternative)

I just wanted to get a gauge on how many people own self-built pcs in addition to your M17x. What are the specs? Which do you use more? I ask because I'm looking into building a desktop of my own and I'm just curious if other people have done the same

 

I don't have a gaming desktop, but I'm not too sure if I'd get one now. Don't think i need one, since I don't game too much + there's more than enough computing power in my new laptop. It depends if you use your computer in one place, and whether or not you use it as an all-in-one. Because I watch all my tv shows/movies lying down in bed, and I need it to be portable for now, I don't see myself building a desktop for a few years. It all depends on what you want in a computer. If you really, just keep it in one place - go for a desktop. If not, and you want / like the benifits of having a laptop, I'd advise you to get the next alienware m17x r5 / sager / clevo with the next gen haswell intel cpu's + the 8970m / gtx 780m since they'll be fine. Clevo's new 17" laptop is cheaper than the m18x and supports sli.

So before you do anything, since for now your laptop seems fine, if you were looking to get another laptop, you should wait until the next gen cpu / gpu's come out. If you simply want a fast gaming pc, and you have the space / don't need to move it around, go for it.... Just bear in mind that it's practically stuck in one place - you can't just pick it up in one piece and take it with you that easily
Desktop gaming is great, and much cheaper, but the current 7970m / gtx680m is so powerful, the next generation will be even faster + an sli of either of those will be great, although a gaming desktop is far more powerful.

 

Dont have a gaming desktop. do have a custom video rendering station and a more normal desktop for photo work and remote access server.

but I dont game on the m17x either .....

 

I built mine, but I do sim racing - doesn't work too well with a laptop.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c382/svoshark/IMG_0378.jpg

 

Ditto with KCETech1. I have/built a custom desktop, but it was so that my Dad and sister will use that instead of my laptops. Here are its specs:

Case: Cooler Master ATX Mid-Tower
CPU: Intel i3-540 3.06 GHz
Motherboard: Biostar TH55B HD Intel H55 chipset
RAM: 4GB DDR3-1333 value ram
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6570
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Professional (it was a gift)
HDDs: Two Samsung 500GB, one for OS, one for storage (not a RAID array)

Combined with the peripherals from our previous desktop (Dell ST2210 LCD monitor with speaker bar, Microsoft Keyboard 3000, Microsoft Wireless Mouse 4000, Kodak ESP 9 Printer), the whole kit & caboodle cost about $1000.

Other than general purpose computing, it gets used for two things. One, it decodes DVDs and Blu-Rays we buy so my m17x can turn them into mp4 files. Two, it plays said mp4s on our 47" HDTV, since a Blu-Ray surround sound system was crazy expensive. Good system for what we need it for, and I didn't have to take a bank loan out to pay for it.

PS: SVOShark, that is an AWESOME setup you got there!

 

The thing is I already use my m17x like a desktop, so I guess the next move is to build my own. I'm thinking a couple of 680s i5 3570k, 16 gb of quad channel ram, 850 watt power supply, 128gb boot drive 1tb storage drive. something like that won't even run me more than 2k when a brand new m18x or something on the same level would run me probably 4k+ to even get close to that kind of performance. It's a toss up since I like being able to move around with my computer, but for the money idk :/

 

I'm jealous!! Nice system dude!