Looking to buy a M17xR3

All,

I’m looking at purchasing an Alieware M17x with the following specifics:

CPU: i7 2630QM
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR3
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M
Hard Drive: 320GB 7,200RPM HDD
Display: 17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
Wireless Card: Intel® Advanced N + WiMAX 6250
DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

I have a few questions ask to help me decide between the M17x and the Dell XPS 17:

At some point I plan to add a second hard drive. Can I add one with having to have some type of RAID configuration?


Is there an advantage in having the Intel® Advanced N + WiMAX 6250 card over the Wireless 802.11 g/n card from a standpoint of connecting to my wireless N router at home? Also, what would the advantages of having the Wi-MAX 6250 option?

I’ve read reports that the display for Alienware laptops has a glare. Any truth to that? If so, is it a negative?

I read that Alienware changed their case design from metal to a composite material. If so, is the composite material seemed sturdy and durable?

Is heat distribution integrated well into the design of the case? I as this because I have a work HP laptop where the heat outtake vents are next to the USB ports on each side and at time the case of USB drives became warm.

Is keyboard flex minimum?

I normally use a laptop 3 to 4 years before looking to replace it. Are Alienware durable laptops in general?

Any other insight on the M17x would be appreciated,

sms1295

 

1. Yes you can add a 2nd hard drive without setting them in RAID. You can adjust this in the bios

2. The standard wireless card uses only 1 antenna the 6250 uses 2 antennas and has wimax built in which is a type of 4g wireless service provided by sprint among other companies but it is not widely available its basically cell phone internet. the 6300 card has 3 antennas and is the best. More antennas allow it to hold a wireless signal better and at longer distances since it can hold on to a weaker signal better. They also seem to give faster transfer speeds then the cheap single antenna cards

3. Yes the display is a clear plastic layer not an anti matte. There are reflections on it with bright lights and sunlight. But glare type screens give nicer brighter colors. So its up to you if you think the brighter colors are worth the reflections you get but there is no other option anyways.

4. The case is no longer all metal but everything I've read on it seems to say that people say its very sturdy still.

5. From what I have read it seems temperatures are very good for a laptop of this power. Wont burn your lap or anything like that.

6. The bottom left of the keyboard seems to have significant flex because the ram slots are there. There was a video of it on youtube it looked pretty bad. But the owner says normal typing is not effected but the flex did look bad when he pushed hard.

7. Alienware laptops for the most part are very durable. Though they have been plagued by poor hinges such as the m11x hinges and the old area 51 m15. But dell as agreed to repair the m11x hinges even if u don't have a warranty and they said it has been fixed for the m11x r3 so it's pretty safe to assume the m17x r3 hinges are OK.

If you are not going for a 3d bundle you are much much much better off getting a 6970m not the 460m. Even the 6870m is about the same speed so no point in spending the extra 75 just get the 6870 if you cant afford the 6970 no reason to go with nvidia if you aren't getting the 3d its a hotter less efficient not as good card period.

Also the 2720qm upgrade is a very worthy upgrade. Benchmarks have shown a nice leap in performance worthy of the +150. It also natively supports 1600Mhz ram and has a few added instructions the budget 2630 doesn't have. You really should consider that upgrade its worth it. the 2820 isn't worth it tho.

If you plan on upgrading to dual hard drives your best bet would be to get a nice 80 or 120 or 160 or 240 GB SSD (depending on how many applications and games you want to load on the ssd besides the OS ofc) The new crucial c400 drives look to be amazing and come in 64 128 256 and 512GB sizes (100, 200, 400, 800 respectively in prices). Then you can just keep the 320GB if that's enough space for all your other data or upgrade to any other 9.5mm drive. Currently 750GB is the largest 2.5" 9.5mm height drive but they just made singe platter slim 500GB drives so 9.5mm 1TB drives should be out very soon. With 1.5TB 12.7mm height drives to follow but the 12mm ones wont fit in the m17x r3

 

Thank you laststop311 for your remarks. They were very informative.

I'm not going for the 3D bundle, so you are saying that the AMD Radeon™ HD 6870M would be better option (6970 is out of my price range).

Is the display at 1920 X 1080 still better than the 1600 X 900 with the 6870 video card.

Thanks again,

sms1295

 

The 6970 is lightyears ahead of the 6870. You need to get it, if price is an issue i would downgrade other things first. The 6970 is the most important piece of hardware on the laptop as far as performance goes.

 

Should get the 6970 if you have no intrest in 3d. Great performance.

Downgrade your wireless card maybe and talk on the phone with your specs and you will get a better deal.


2720 is a better buy and worth the upgrade with it's preformace/support for higher ram.


Most important is you should buy it by phone and get a better deal. 2720qm/6970 are worth it compared to other features.

 

I agree with the others, you should try to get the 6970M. If you can't afford it you can always haggle with Alienware. I know two people who got the 6970M upgrade for free after haggling.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/456885-aw-dell-ordering-advice-how-save.html

 

All,

The one area I'm struggling with is the video card. I was thinking of the GTX 460M, but it was suggested that I go with the 6870 or 6970. I'm not a hard core gamer and is what I willing the laptop for:

E-mail & Web Surfing
Blu-Ray/DVD viewing
Video Editing and creating DVDs
Games include: TW Golf series, Call of Duty Series, and I'm getting into Civilization V.

Which would be the better option for what I'm looking to do?

Thanks,

 

While the games will play just fine on the 6870m but get 6970m to future proof your purchase