Did I do okay with this outlet config?

I was originally planning to get an Asus G74sx. I of course wanted the M17x, but the price was just a bit more than I was wanting to spend. However, using the outlet and coupon, I found one in my price range.

I know the 460M is the previous gen, but hoping the processor and solid state will help compensate somewhat. Please let me know what you think, I am hoping this was a good buy!

$1655 (with coupon from outlet)

Alienware M17x R3 Laptop
Processor: Intel Core i7 2820QM 2.3GHz
256 GB Solid State Drive Ultra Performance
16 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz (4 DIMMs)
Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
1.5 GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M
17.3 inch Wide FHD (1920 x 1080 60Hz) WLED Display

 

460m would be a deal breaker for me

 

gfx over ssd n stuff

ssd after market arnt that expensive and well gfx is alot more expensive

 

Hmm, should I cancel it? I prefer Nvidia, so would the 560m perform significantly better?

 

The 560M would perform slightly better. I would also suggest trying to get stock RAM (4GB) and maybe knock it down to the 2720QM as the difference between the two is tiny, manifesting only in bench scores in physics tests.
GFX above all else, they are hard to replace and very expensive after market wise. The RAM is very cheap to come by and SSDs are becoming cheaper.

Good luck

 

560m is about 20% faster, comparing to 460m only clocks are higher everything else remains the same. decision is up to you

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M 3dmark vantage/06 7988.6/14858.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 6763.2/13111.5

 

The thing is that brand new with only the 2630qm, 4GB RAM, no solid state, and the 560m, it's still about $330 more expensive. So, that is why it seems like it was a good deal, and that the 560m would not preform better enough to justify paying more for slower processor, less ram, no solid state. Thoughts?

 

maybe patience is the key here

wait till a better deal shows up

ur gonna regret gettin one with the 460gtx when u wanna play bf3 or other games

if ur into mw3 well seeing it hasnt changed anything at all gfx wise over mw2 ur fine

 

If youre not a hardcore gamer the 460m/560m will do fine.

 

Most of the time I will be using the laptop for grad school and work. While I love to game, I simply don't have a ton of time for it anymore. I guess I could be considered more of a casual gamer than hardcore. I want to have a semi-portable machine that I can do work on, but also game when I have the time. I do want to play BF3, but I really can't see how $450 (even more after upgrading other things) would be worth the ~13% performance gain.

 

get 6970m cf. nothing less

 

Patience lad..... don't let you regret your choice at the end of this year when most of hardcore games released.....

 

the outlet is all about patience, maybe a better hardware package for about the same price without a ssd will show up.

ssd is more for the hardcore lot and its cheaper to add that yourself at a later stage if u wish, gettin a decent base hardware package is where its at everything else is optional and easy to upgrade later.

the 460m is gonna have a rough time working the newer games, even tho your fairly casual give it a wee bit more time and there might be a better deal to be had.

 

"Haters goinna hate" I guess.

This has previously been hashed out many times by reasonable, no axe to grind, AMD v. Nvidia, or purchases to justify people on this forum.

The 460m plays everything well with perhaps the exeption of two games at ultra settings. Heaven forbid you bump down AA from 16x to 8x or the like. I was an alpha player/tester for BF3 and had NO ISSUES with the graphics.

The above 3dmark 06 numbers are not accurate by the way (see my sig). Also, if you very easily OC your 460 you can outperform a stock 560 in a stable fashion.

I'd grab that excellent set up and stop putting off your life waiting for the next best deal. There will always be a better card and more demanding game next month.

 

don't bother with the 560m...every 460m will overclock to faster than 560m speeds. Spec wise, the 460m and 560m are identical meaning they have the same number of nvidia cores. The 560m is just clocked a little higher stock for stock

i have a 460m in my Asus G73 and clocked @ 800mhz core, 1600mhz Shaders, 1480mhz DDR5, the thing runs cold.

 

i agree...

As an owner of a 460m OC'ed to faster than 560m speeds, i can tell you all right now that this card is not enough if you want to play games at native 1920x1080 resolution.

Currently playing The witcher 2 at high with AA BUT at 1600x1024 resolution. I played Metro 2033 at high details with AA but at 1400 res. SO it will work, but you will have to make compromises

 

If your happy with the choice run with it. Ram and SSD are always cheaper to do it yourself if you dont mind spending the time on it.

Some like AMD others like Nvidia.

Personally I would of held out for for a cheaper configuration. Just my opinion.

 

Your configuration is maxed out except for the GPU. If you consider that you could upgrade the GPU later then it isn't a bad deal. However most of us would have gotten a better GPU and lower RAM, CPU, SSD, etc. That does not mean your choice was bad. I personally would not want such a laptop, but that is just me.

1) You said you prefer Nvidia. If so, considering a 580m at the outlet is pretty much impossible to come by, the 460m is really your only choice, so it isn't a bad choice. The 460m is a fine GPU and will play most games at max settings at playable frame rates. Exceptions being Crysis, Metro 2033, etc.

2) You could upgrade to a 580m at a later date.

Returning or keeping is up to you.