The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Irrational's M17x R3

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011.

  1. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    ***Updated March 9 2:35PM EST***


    Hey all,

    I just got my R3 today. I will be posting a review and benchmarks tomorrow (3/9).

    Specs are: 2720 QM, 460M, 120 Hz

    I hope to provide feedback on whether I am happy with the 460M + 3D or not. I know allot of people are not sure about 3D vs 6970M.

    Benchmarks:

    3DMarks 06 (Out-of-Box)

    1st Run: 14407
    2nd Run: 14402




    I will post benchmarks for after I install 1666Mhz and after I install SSD. (They are in the mail)
     
    Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011
    #1
  2. Joebarchuck

    Joebarchuck Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    881
    Messages:
    2,246
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    What are your specs?
     
    Joebarchuck, Mar 8, 2011
    #2
  3. inap

    inap .........................

    Reputations:
    4,417
    Messages:
    7,827
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    206
    wow nice. congrats!!!
     
    inap, Mar 8, 2011
    #3
  4. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011
    #4
  5. Joebarchuck

    Joebarchuck Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    881
    Messages:
    2,246
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    This is already very fast. I would just get that and upgrade to a SATA III drive once their price goes down.
     
    Joebarchuck, Mar 8, 2011
    #5
  6. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    14,963
    Messages:
    5,671
    Likes Received:
    1,521
    Trophy Points:
    331
    katalin_2003, Mar 8, 2011
    #6
  7. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Just got a 14407 out of the box!
     
    Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011
    #7
  8. menengroth

    menengroth Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why is 3dmark06 so low? Is it just incapable of putting Sandy Bridge to proper use?
    I ask because I get higher than that on my R1!
     
    menengroth, Mar 8, 2011
    #8
  9. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    14k is standard for no overclocking 460M with sandy bridge.
     
    Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011
    #9
  10. Joebarchuck

    Joebarchuck Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    881
    Messages:
    2,246
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Your R1 has two cards, he only has 1 and out of the box, I actually doubt that you pull more than 14K
     
    Joebarchuck, Mar 8, 2011
    #10
  11. menengroth

    menengroth Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    cool, look forward to the review!

    [​IMG]
     
    menengroth, Mar 8, 2011
    #11
  12. Joebarchuck

    Joebarchuck Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    881
    Messages:
    2,246
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Hold on I meant at stock clocks...
     
    Joebarchuck, Mar 8, 2011
    #12
  13. menengroth

    menengroth Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm not psychic! =D
     
    menengroth, Mar 8, 2011
    #13
  14. Emm3

    Emm3 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    37
    Messages:
    530
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    congrats! and yes you can put scrolling on the edges of your touchpad. use alienfx options are there ;)
     
    Emm3, Mar 8, 2011
    #14
  15. OoksOo

    OoksOo Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    congrats! how did the 3d work for u?
     
    OoksOo, Mar 8, 2011
    #15
  16. darkloki

    darkloki Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    412
    Messages:
    1,829
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I want Pics :) of the PC, mine doesn't come in for a few more days end of the month :(
     
    darkloki, Mar 8, 2011
    #16
  17. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Having not tested it enough yet. Crysis 2 in 3D looked good. Portal has some ghosting... but it was still fun.

    I think I will end up using the 120 Hz more than the actual 3D. Atleast until more games are "3D Ready" like Crysis 2.

    I'll report more once I have done more testing.
     
    Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011
    #17
  18. txdk

    txdk Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    well not to bash the new R3 but i get 14328 in 3dmark06 with only one ati 5870m and 20141 with CF activated and this is with no overclock.

    I had the understanding that the new R3 would preform similarly to the R2.
     
    txdk, Mar 8, 2011
    #18
  19. darkloki

    darkloki Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    412
    Messages:
    1,829
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    81
    a 460 GPU is nothing to brag about, 3d you can brag about but the 460 isn't. The r3 with a 6970 should post up similar numbers. These alienwares are Highly customizable so you can't just figure one man's R3 speaks for all the R3's. I mean if you throw in a single 460 into your system I bet you'd get the same numbers.
     
    darkloki, Mar 8, 2011
    #19
  20. Ammo7

    Ammo7 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    149
    Messages:
    279
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    31
    how long did it take to get yours ? i just ordered mine on the 3rd
    thanks.
    2820QM , 460M 16GB ram 750GB HD.
     
    Ammo7, Mar 8, 2011
    #20
  21. Ammo7

    Ammo7 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    149
    Messages:
    279
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    31
    how long did it take to get yours ? i just ordered mine on the 3rd
    thanks.
    M17x R3 2780 QM, 460M 16GB ram 750GB HD.
     
    Ammo7, Mar 8, 2011
    #21
  22. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I ordered mine on 1/27 which was before the sandy bridge issue.
     
    Irrational23, Mar 8, 2011
    #22
  23. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

    Reputations:
    533
    Messages:
    1,394
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    But some of the reviews are making me second guess. Build quality-plastic vs. Aluminum-is this true. The smaller-and inch overall-screen. And only 1 GPU-will that really matter? Posted this in another thread too. Is it built well? Or is it all plastic?
     
    pmassey31545, Mar 9, 2011
    #23
  24. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    It feels a bit like plastic, whether it is or not. It is built well though... very sturdy.

    Main thing I do not like is the physical media buttons. They should be touch.
     
    Irrational23, Mar 9, 2011
    #24
  25. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

    Reputations:
    533
    Messages:
    1,394
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    So would you say stick with the R2 or go R3? I ask bc they are replacing my R2 with an R3. I may not want the R3.
     
    pmassey31545, Mar 9, 2011
    #25
  26. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    If they are replacing it with a 6970... I would switch.

    I never had a R2... so I can't actually tell you which one is better. R3 is well built... so besides the bragging rights... aluminum should not stop you from getting a new CPU and new GPU.
     
    Irrational23, Mar 9, 2011
    #26
  27. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

    Reputations:
    533
    Messages:
    1,394
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    This thing is built better than a safe. Like you could put a hasp on it and lock it up and people couldn't get in. The whole exterior is Aluminum pretty much-minus a few panels-ROCK SOLID!!! Is the bottom of the R3 plastic too? Or metal/Alu??
     
    pmassey31545, Mar 9, 2011
    #27
  28. Irrational23

    Irrational23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Whats more important to you? Indestructible laptop or faster and better CPU+GPU.
     
    Irrational23, Mar 9, 2011
    #28
  29. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    A lot of clevos have good build quality and they are plastic. Plastic isn't a bad thing if done right.

    I thought the 6970m was faster than the 460m.
     
    KipCoo, Mar 9, 2011
    #29
  30. Huuy

    Huuy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    40
    Messages:
    337
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If he uses Throttlestop, I think the 920XM is faster than the SB CPUs available. and the 6970M isn't that much faster than his dual 4870s, at least no worth $2000. Plus he would have to give up RGB.

    I say wait, unless you really "need" it, they may announce a dual 6970M machine.
     
    Huuy, Mar 9, 2011
    #30
  31. jujojujo_2003

    jujojujo_2003 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hows the 3d experience , the framerate in games with 3d??
     
    jujojujo_2003, Mar 9, 2011
    #31
  32. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

    Reputations:
    533
    Messages:
    1,394
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Points taken. Guess I'll just check it out and see.
     
    pmassey31545, Mar 9, 2011
    #32