How's my Customization of the M17x (R2?)

Hey I'm newb at this but after some research, I decided to order this Alienware M17x Laptop

Hows the specs?!?!?
Space Black - Anodized Aluminum
Processor:
Intel Core i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
Memory:
6GB DDR3 at 1066MHz
Display Panel:
17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
Video Card:
CrossfireX 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5870
Hard Drive:
1TB Raid 1 (2x 500GB 7,200RPM HDDs)
Operating System:
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Optical Drive:
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Sound:
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Wireless:
Intel Ultimate N WiFi Link 6300 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology
Warranty:
3 Year Advanced Service Plan
Bluetooth:
Internal Wireless Bluetooth® 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate
OS Customization:
AlienGUIse Theme Manager with Breed Theme

Ordered/Processed/Confirmed: July 26, 2010... ETA: Aug 12, 2010

so whats the usual date or arrival? I'm near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

Order what you want. Why base it on others opinions. Get what you can afford. Not too sure on the 6GB of ram, I'm sure most if not all applications would use only 4GB.

My replacement was sent for building on July 15th. I should get it on the 28th.

 

Just wanted some opinion that I made the correct decision of going for this over my previous choice of the:
M15x
1080p (didn't make a difference over 900p?)
Intel i7 840QM
1GB Nvidia GTX260M (doesn't support Directx11, throttling problems, cost a lot)
8GB RAM (2x4GB DDR3) (too costly...over kill?)
500GB SATA II 7200RPM (too small)
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Burner (heard it used a cheap driver)
price wise...17x is more expensive by about $40 but has a better configuration and screen size. currently using Dell Inspiron 1721, a 17" laptop, so I can't adjust to downgrading to a smaller screen size.

 

You'll be fine with the system you configured. Enjoy and look forward to seeing your unboxing/first use thoughts! Congrats.

 

I was the same way Congrats on the system. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

While it is very doubtful that any single application will use all that memory, you always have a number of applications running even on a seemingly idle system. Having more RAM means that the system has to use the disk-based page file less often, which means better performance overall.

 

Nice build you will enjoy, and you put the spec's together.
build what you can afford if 6 gig ram is what you want then get it. with 6 means they will put a 2 and a 4 you can always buy another 4 aftermarket and have 8 what the hay. I like what you have chosen
.

 

well it gave me the option A of 6GB OR option B of 1x2GB and 1x4GB, both equal 6GB of RAM. I believe my friends said the option A: is 3x2GB, so 3slots...so later on I can upgrade it 3x4GB maybe? to equal 12GB when the 4GB decrease in price or when I need more RAM. LOL

 

Hi LigerZero

When it comes to 64 bit gaming RAM, good, better, best, is 4,6,8 Gb. When increasing from 3 Gb to 6 Gb the minimum, average and maximum frame rates all increase substantially when using 6GB of system memory. With the Crysis Warhead "All the Fury" scene there is a 200% increase in performance when upgrading from 3 Gb to 6 Gb


http://www.corsair.com/_appnotes/AN811_Gaming_Performance Analysis_6GB_vs_3GB.PDF

Report: 3GB vs 6GB RAM on Core i7 Benched

 

There are only 2 slots in the m17x NOT 3 so your configuration needs to be based on that 2 slots for ram.

 

Your computer is dual channel which means you have only two banks of ram. The most ram you can have is 8 Gb.

2+2
2+4
4+4

 

Hello Falconmachv, I understand more RAM equals better performance you'll have.

So is my configuration of the 6GB RAM just 1x 6GB?...I didn't select the 1x2gb+1x4gb.

 

I think our posts crossed, the answer to your question is

2+2 = 4
2+4 = 6 This is your configuration.
4+4 = 8

You can't have more than 8 Gb with these motherboards.

 

so what is this? a dell error? or is there no difference?

 

In the USA the i7 has the option of 4,6,8. In Canada you only have the option of 6,8. I think they have just placed a 6Gb where the 4Gb option use to be. It may be 3+3 but I am not sure. If you did buy 3+3 you would have the throw that in the garbage to upgrade to 4+4

 

yea, I saw that when I changed the Dell location to USA...but in the Canadian one, the upgrade to 6GB (1x2GB and 1x4GB) is +$0.00 more, so I doubt that's the case. Well I'll either chat online with dell in the morning or call them just to make sure. Cause if its the 4GB I have and 6GB is a free upgrade I'd change my order for sure.

Edit: misread you post...I'll still need to ask them about it. so it can't be 3x(2GB)?

 

I was not a aware of a 3+3 option. If there was it would be a poor choice as it could not be upgraded any further.

 

agree...
instead of 3 + 3 gb,you should get 4 + 2 gb so that you can change your 2 gb later with the 4 gb ram...

and in my opinion, 2 x 500 gb HDD its too hot...
how about Downgrade it to 2 x 320 Gb HDD raid 0, and when SSD price is getting cheaper, you can change one of the 320 GB HDD with the SSD...
so you can have 320 gb HDD with 256 gb SSD (or perhaps later get the 320 GB hdd with 500 SSD)...

 

im not sure if its a 3+3 as i'll be asking dell in about 12hrs. as for the hdd, the options are to upgrade and get bigger or to upgrade and get smaller in ssd...the 1tb in raid 0 (2x500gb 7200rpm) or in raid 1 (2x500gb 7200rpm) are standard. ssd are pretty expensive atm.

 

Note that going with RAM sticks of different sizes (4GB+2GB) will cause your machine to not work in true dual channel mode, which could very well hamper performance.

And by the way, I haven't heard of any 3GB RAM sticks yet, so 3GB+3GB is highly unlikely. Perhaps one of the options you have is 1066MHz memory while the other is 1333MHz memory.

 

If you are tempted by SSD, just buy one 500gb HDD and then go pick a SSD from another source. (or go with 2xHDD now and change in future when prices drop further)

And there is no such thing as a 3gb stick. Only 2 and 4 and combinations of those.

Any way, you will have a great system! Grats

 

thanks im just talking to dell and they said its two slots 1x2gb 1x4gb, both at DDR3. they also said my order was on hold because the payment wasn't confirmed?? and asked me to cancel my order and re-order with the sales rep on the phone.

how long does payment confirmation take?

 

I can almost guarantee that the first option is for 6GB (2+4) of DDR3-1066, the second for 6GB (2+4) of DDR3-1333, and the third for 8GB (4+4) of DDR3-1333.

If you're using one of the i7 720/740/820/840/920/940 processors, you'll get a small speed increase from the DDR3-1333 RAM. The i3, i5 and the other i7 processors are limited to 1066 memory speed, and will work with the faster memory even if they don't use it's full speed capabilities.

 

When you place an order with sales the orders are often placed on hold until the 'verification department' varifies that you actaully placed the order and not someone else. This is to protect both Dell and yourself. You must call in ask for the customer service and confirm the order before it moves to production.

The 1066 vs 1333 is a good point. For a while they did offer a free upgrade to 1333. I thought they had discontinued this option but maybe they still have it. Either way tell them you want 1333 or no deal. In my opinion it is worth canceling and reordering for this. 1333 was the desktop gaming standard 6 months ago, 1066 was the standard a year ago.

Once an order is in the system you can't change it only cancel it. They usually ship early.

Good luck with your order, PM me anytime.

 

Ow...
But i have my system that way ( 4 gb + 2 gb)...
and system doing well...
and perform well..

But i dont know for sure...
but its really perform well in my system...

 

does it make a huge difference if i have the RAM at 1066 instead of 1333...just cuz its pain contacting dell to keep canceling and reordering it...i have like 30prints of reciepts now...wasted sooo much paper.

I believe someone else suggested that the 1333 is only the 4gb and 2gb is of something else?
and just as i sent dell a support pm on facebook...i get a call 5mins after about verifying the purchase.

Edit: i just called dell again...they said the one i chose is 6gb ddr3 at 1066mhz (one slot) and the other one is 6gb ddr3 at 1033mhz (2slots)...i thought 1x6gb slots don't exist? or is it that the rep doesn't knows anything and he's just bs-ing me?

 

An 6GB notebook stick would be incredibly expensive. I very much doubt it is one. It's likely 4+2 @1066MHz vs. 4+2 @1333MHz.

 

The capacity of RAM modules is in powers of 2. Looking back to the days of 486's, you had 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, etc. These days the capacities are higher, but still powers of 2: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB (1024MB), 2GB (2048MB), 4GB (4096MB), 8GB (8192MB), etc.

This is why you almost certainly won't get a 3GB or 6GB stick of memory. Anyone who's got any real computer experience will tell you this. The Dell reps are just drones who read from a script, and you can never trust what they tell you.

 

LOL i finally received my laptop...well actually i had to go pick it up cause i was sleeping when they tried to deliver it T^T...oh well, time to get at it...lets start off with my first impression, very nice...a box within a box within another box wrapped in an enigma lmao but seriously they do a pretty fine job packaging the laptops and including the thick and long manual, the alienware hat and mouse pad...the laptop is nice too XD

after i started the system read through all the intro nonsense and finally tried out the blu-ray drive...its pretty amazing besides some minor issues, the one people talk about mostly, like the flexing in the keyboard, the horrible touch pad...it is pretty bad...u can barely feel any difference between the pad the outer part...the touch sensitive buttons are nice..they do work when i push them.

the screen is AMAZING!!! i'm in love with it