M17x R3 - Please Use This!

You're right, I meant less dithering in my original post. The M6500 doesn't have a proper working profile out of the box either, take a
look here: Dell M6500: A Precision Strike on Bling - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

Both of these systems share the same Samsung panel though I think the M6500 also has LG now. My original point stands, hardly anyone that buys an M17x is a photographer or cares about 100% color precision. We want less dithering, even if it is at the cost of color accuracy and that's what this panel delivers.

 

To be honest, and I'm not being personal, it almost sounds like you work for Dell... or Dell P/R -lolz.

"We want less dithering, even if it is at the cost of color accuracy and that's what this panel delivers."

I'm not even going to guess what that's supposed to mean. I've been gaming for far longer than I care to admit. If you were around, when the 2600 was in people's homes, you'd be close.

Secondly, dithering and color accuracy have nothing to do with one another!!! And in that same article, on the same page, it states: "Dell provides the ability to set the panel to NTSC, sRGB, or Adobe RGB color gamuts, but regardless of setting the calibrated results are off the charts."

So they give you that option in the display. They don't, in the M17x. THAT'S what I'm saying.

Look bro, I'm not a photographer. I work in motion picture. I'm not getting into all that. And I'm not saying I'm the guru on this or that. But I have a pretty good head on my shoulders. And when it comes to this stuff, we're not talking about 100% color accuracy. With this panel, we're not even talking about 90%. And when people pay top dollar for a mobile rig, >I< would think that they'd want the best (and that they'd want to be educated about what was going on). So I'm contributing what I can. If you want to keep trying to differentiate me (and apparently, photographers) from hard core gamers, go ahead. Keep telling them that 'we don't care about that'. I'm sure Dell loves it (and saves a lot of money in the process).

 

Integr8d, as someone who works with images all day (photos or motion, it doesn't matter), you're very sensitive to colours being show incorrectly. If something is meant to be a specific shade of red, you want to be shown that shade of red.

The "Average Joe" consumer out there doesn't care about image quality. They can look at a low-cost screen and a high-cost calibrated screen, and see very little difference between the two. If you don't know what you're looking for, you can't see it.

Alienware's computers are aimed at the "enthusiast" market, mainly gamers. Gamers don't really care about how accurate colours are on screen, they just want the computer to look good. And that's exactly what the M17x RGB-LED screen provides. It doesn't matter if the colours come out a little OTT - that just matches the rest of the system.

To be honest, anyone who wants a laptop for image editing needs to either (a) buy a laptop that's marketed towards professionals (i.e. the Precision range), or (b) buy an external monitor that's capable of being calibrated. For anyone else, the M17x's display is "good enough", and certainly better than the CCFL/WLED displays on the market.

I do empathise with you. I've done enough graphic design work that I care if the colour is slightly out. But Alienware just isn't the right brand to choose for high-accuracy imaging work. It's like buying a Jaguar and complaining that it doesn't handle off-road the same way that Range Rover does, even though they're made by the same company and cost around the same.

 

IF you are a movie buff than color accuracy is vary important and the M17x has a $150 blu-ray drive option most of the people who would spend the extra $150 for the blu-ray drive are also going to care about color accuracy.

 

There is only one laptop that possess the screen that is good enough(better than most decent monitors) for photowork. It's the HP 8740w and I can't think of anyting else.
And I hardly believe anyone serious about their work using a U2711 as their reference monitor.

 

If you're a movie buff then the colour representation on the M17x will be good enough. It's certainly as good as, if not better than, most of the LCD TV screens on the market.

And when you're watching a movie, it's not quite so critical if the colours are a little off. The relative levels between colours are still good, it's just that the brightness or saturation may be a little exaggerated. It's not like print proofing where you need to know that what you see on screen is exactly what you'll get on paper.

 

When would be seeing the R3 ?
this year or next
(would have been better if they had named it R2 D2 lol)

Thanks

 

can't ati colors be used to recalibrate the RGB led?


i used mine to set a profile on my m17 ccfl that mimic my friend's RGB led

 

I also wish they do something about the edge2edge screen. I want something matte for a change.

 

You know what is funny about this whole "screen issue" is that I always thought I was picky...

I mean really, I sold my xbox 360 and all my games because the visuals couldnt even touch that of my old gateway p7811fx.

Now with my m17x-r2 its even better looking and runs incredibly crisp and smooth. I get great FPS in all my games now and the screen, IMO, looks excellent.

And I am a movie buff...I would rather watch movies on blu ray player and my sharp aqaous tv with my Denon reciever and Paradigm speakers then EVER turn on a plain old TV show on some lame standard def TV without dolby true HD surround sound...and yet I feel I am not as pick as many of you in here...it boggles my mind!! I think this display looks great and the colors are great...not over vivid or bright.

Oh and to throw my hat into the debate a few pages back... the new vbios fixes ALL issues I know of with ATI Reference Drivers...so future driver support should not be an issue. I would encourage anyone to visit the forum and read up on it and get the VBios (if you are a little technically savvy...as it sounds you all are). It will really improve you m17x experience.

 

I'm also very happy with the RGB LED on the M17x, it's way better than many out there, crisp and vivid, with excellent brightness. I usually tend to worry more about brightness than color, there is always some type of color correction you can apply, but if it's simply too dim there's not much you can do. I feel this screen is great in both regards.

That being said, I'm looking forward to switchable graphics on the R3 more than anything else.. ok.. I'd lke SLI.. But who knows, R2 owners may be able to upgrade later as well..

Just my $.02

 

I like the display on my R2...

 

I actually prefer my colors to be more vivid than real. I can turn down the saturation a bit with the video driver if I need. That is far easier than turning up a dull and drab panel.

I also "used to be" in the matte camp. Then I got the U2711 and found that matte can be done badly. I'll take the M17x R3 with a glossy panel and be grateful. It's not the best, but side by side, the glossy is a better panel. Meaning I'll take what we have now in the RGB LED panel or a variation of that panel that is truly just glossy, not just a glossy cover to a matte panel.

 

Any news on when the m17x R3 will be out
this year or next ?
hoping it will have the Gtx 480 in Sli

Thanks

 

At best it would have 470m, depending on the power consumption. The 480m's just use too much power.

Even on Clevo's X7200, I'm wondering if there will be power issues... With a 300W PSU, subtract 100W for each 480M, 55 to 65W for an Extreme CPU, you have 35 to 45W left to power everything else.. Never mind any overclocking..

Joker's done calculations on the R2 that shows even the 240W units we have are actually not enough if you push everything to the max.. I'm all for the competition, more options are always good, but if they go the NV route it won't be the 480M's.

Edit: The X7200 uses a desktop cpu, which I had forgotten earlier.. 130W + 2x 100W for the GPU's.... how will that thing have enough power at all??!!

 

Thanks
for the info, good to know

 

I would be happy with either s single 480m or a Sli 460, 470 model

Give us USB 3 as well.

 

Good to know more people feel that way

 

Indeed! I'd actually love to have the 470m SLI option available. USB 3.0 should be a must as well. Add to that the ever so elusive switchable graphics and we have what I would consider to be a perfect system

Even if they wait for Sandy Bridge to incorporate USB 3.0 into the design we may still see Fermi for the R2's... Here's hoping

 

Sandy bridge is going to give us .4 more clockspeed which will help on CPU intensive games, current and future.

Be nice to have that, the 93wh battery, USB 3 and dual 470m/485m (485's will be lower power than the 480m). I figure the USB 3 is a given. Nearly every machine in 2011 will have it. And I'm sure Dell can read the tea leaves just like everyone else. Only question will be 470 sli or 487 sli, which will depend on power and time. 485m's might come out a bit later like the days of the 8700 sli when the 8800 was the real deal

 

Do you gents suppose I should wait on a purchase from the outlet with this news? I'm looking to buy a nicely-equipped model to use for the next several years... I can spend around $1700. If I can get the same machine in a few months for $1300, I'd much rather wait!

 

Show us what you are looking at Maximos and we'll let you know our recomendations to buy are not. Rule of thumb, any way you can save more than 20% on the sticker price you should take.

 

Here's one in my cart right now:


Base Alienware M17x R2 Laptop
Intel Core i7-720QM Quad Core Processor 1.6GHz (2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
Windows 7 Home Premium
320 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
4 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
Crossfire 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5870
Space Black
17 inch UltraSharp WUXGA (1920x1200) LCD Display
9 Cell Primary Battery


The only thing it's missing is the RGB LED screen. $1550 shipped and taxed. I'm not not in a rush.

 

Systems on the outlet with the RGB LED screen are usually clearly marked as having it. This one is not. Is the CCFL screen garbage? lol

I don't have a problem waiting, but how big is the difference?

 

night and day maximos. the CCFL has bleed all over and its really dim. not really alienware worthy

 

The RGB screen is amazing!! I forgot how good until I use my work laptop which is still a good £850 HP laptop. It does much a big difference. Also its great for blu-ray!!

 

Any timing and equipment news on the M17x-R3??
Would like to see Nvidia GTX470M SLI + USB3.0.

Any idea what these new Nvidia GTX5xx cards are - can't already be their nextgen cards - still must be Fermi based but whats new vs. the GTX4xx cards (which are still not available so what sense do these 5xx cards do???)

Thx

 

RGB LED is an amazing screen - and by far the best one I ever used. Get it, and I'm sure you will be posting thank you to us later.

I'm not sure if this is the best comparison but here it is due to "interesting" choice of backgrounds:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...sion/333840-m4400-wuxga-vs-wuxga-rgb-led.html

 

thanks darkened.

I agree, the difference is profound

Might as well wait it out then... how agonizing! What are the chances the right one will even show up at the right price?!

 

The 5xx cards out now are for desktops only for laptop they will be out in another 6 months & then we see then in laptop by the end of next year

the GTX4xxx M cards out now are for Laptops

 

when I see such a thread I smile

I am still waiting for a M17x R2 battery fix
I am still waiting for a M17x R2 Bios SSD Fix

 

I don't want to beat a dead horse but I must say Integr8d should be welcome to talk about display. I'm myself thinking me being picky with visual and for me RGB LED is cool but I'm always eager to learn to find out what I'm missing because lacking of knowdge.

I remember the day when I was playing music with my band. I thought iBud + iPhone = audiogasm lol. Until I got to the U.S and find out how good sound supposed to be.

It seems he disappeared from NBR tho

 

He's welcome to express an idea. But to preach that a screen that is widely hailed as beautiful to work with as being bad, or that said people don't have good taste in screens isn't quite how to go about expressing that opinion.

Furthermore, the 8740 has a good screen for his tastes. The RGBLED suits the userbase of the M17x quite well. And people basically expressed that in replies. I'm hopeful he's just off a few days working in the real world and doing all usual real life stuff. He isn't disliked I think, only disagreed with by a large userbase.

So have hope. There are many screen discussions to be had. Just wait till the first OLED screens start to show up.

 

I see what he is saying - the colors aren't perfect. There is some red bleeding and so on. But... how many laptops have a better display? There is only one that I know of, an HP business class laptop 8740 that costs over $3300 before taxes, so easily 50% more than the classic m17x in crossfire setup with RGB LED screen.

While the screen certainly isn't perfect, for someone looking that high color precision and whatnot it's probably a better idea to buy a specialized, expensive, screen. There are CERTAINLY better, professional screens. But have fun dishing those amounts of money so your colors on the screen will look "just right". Seriously....

Unbelievable... someone complaining about this screen. I wonder how picky he is about other things in life.

 

Just a few cents from someone who has both screens:

M17X RGB LED is the best TN screen for gaming, IMHO.

1. It can be calibrated to eliminate the oversaturation of colors (the thing by itself isn't necessarily bad for AW enthusiasts as it nicely fits the surreal AW style with flashing lights and in-your-face looks. Games might even look better with the screaming colors, - a matter of opinion of course)

2. It doesn't stress the W-budget of the system, leaving more room for stable OC'ing than the IPS screen in HP 8740w, which is about 10-15W more power hungry.

3. It doesn't suffer from input lag and is perfect for any kind of gaming. The IPS panel isn't the best choice for certain games.

4. Incredible brightness.


The IPS has its own bonuses.

1. Perfect viewing angles.

2. It has the best color reproduction available for laptops, AFAIK.

3. With all its incredible specs, it's probably the only laptop screen which can be used for commercial color-critical work.


Bottom line - I wish we could have a screen combining the best of the two worlds. But at this point it's clear what's the best gaming laptop screen....

 

BUMP!
Any new updates or news on R3?

 

Not that i found, I'm really trying to figure out if i should wait for the r3 or just buy the r2. The thing is i bought my r1 about 2 months before the r2 was released and it really pissed me off.

The things im interested in seeing is if it will actually have 3d gaming?

What are the real advantages to sandy bridge.

And how are the 470's and the new 6870 actually going to perform against the current option.


Then ultimately how will either the r2 or r3 stack up against my r1?

Just for back from a 6 month "vacation" in the military and i got a lot of research i got to catch up on.

 

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum. I'm also interested in the m17x R2 but may wait for the R3. I'll keep in touch.
On a different note. I have a question for Joker. How did you get your m17x for only $1800? I have a currently configured m17x very identical to your specs priced at 2600 shipped. However, that's also after over $800 worth of discount.

 

If I were you, I would wait. You already have R1, and R3 is just around the corner. You've already made the mistake of buying just before the revision, don't make the same one again. For me though. I'm torn between getting a good deal on R2 or waiting for R3 and miss out on the deal. I've waited years and I don't really need a gaming laptop right now, but my configuration is at over $800 bucks off. I've also tried twice to have someone on the chat lower the price, but no luck. I might try a third time yet. Anyway, I'd say just wait. New proc, new gpu, maybe usb 3.0, and definitely a better battery. It'll be worth it. Having said that makes me want to wait more myself.

 

Buying just before a revision really isnt such a bad idea either. Usually there are uber discounts to be had, and the system is tried and tested with most of the long running bugs squished. The next revision is at best 20% faster at possibly more than 20% extra cost. I bought a m9750 at the end of its product cycle and it lasted me 3 good years. It still runs great!

 

It is exactly what you've stated. When you know more and know the difference between what is good and bad it's EXTREMELY difficult to want something less. Take your headphones for example. 95% of us wouldn't consider headphones an investment, but it is.

This is no different for screen quality. I don't use anything but my 3007's and this laptop. What I find funny about this discussion is that most of us probably never use the quality of the screen for any worthwhile reasons. It's just there and we're more than fine just knowing this. Whether we know that we're really using it is totally different.

In addition, with all the the avocation to select the RGB screen as a requirement I'm stunned to see the NBR community act in such a way. I think the RGB screen is just ok, too overly bright for my taste but it isn't by all means the best. I can understand why some would argue til death over this but again until you seen and worked with really good screens the conversation is not going anywhere. The thread about the HP screen is a good example with good photos (sorry, I don't have the link).

Seriously though, my work often times have to adhere to strict standards (financial industry) and I don't even bring my work home. The design difficulty part of a financial card machine isn't the hardware/software, it's all the work trying to ensure color is accurate and can be maintained.

We are enthusiasts and while we do want the best there are times when we just don't know enough, don't use it enough even if we have it and more sadly don't appreciate enough to begin with or after having it. I'm still trying to convince my nephews about sound quality and the differences between good devices and headphones. You don't know how much of a pain this has been over the years More info is always good though, imo.

The best example of how sad a user can be is me. I bought my M17xR2 to play FF14 but since left and now just playing my very old 2D Hereos of Might and Magic 3 Complete game. This game runs well already on my other Dell laptops. Why did I pay so much for a laptop when I'm not using it for more than regular office apps. Well, I like knowing that I have the capability there when my nephews play games on it hahahah And before acquiring the laptop the NBR strongly advocated that I get the RGB screen above all else (something I didn't know about even after doing research, apparently mostly on R1). That is something I'm thankful for since I do value screen quality above everything, even if I know I just have it

 

M1730 - I bought at end of life. It was end of life because Dell was bleeding money from replacing them.
The best suggestion is read and talk to owners who can give you first hand experience and form your own opinion from that.
I had read from a few people that they would buy an M1730 but didnt own one so I bought mine. Dumb idea.
I didnt know this forum existed until it caught fire.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...t-charging-r2-owners-test-bios-available.html

 

Anyone know if the R3 will have switchable graphics?

 

I don't think that a 60hz screen is even "good" for gaming

 

First, we're talking about notebook screens.

Second, would you prefer an immature 3D?

 

Actually there are 3 or 4 notebooks with 120hz screen already so... I don't really got your point.

And since 120HZ has nothing with the 3D (except for the fact that 3D Vision needs 120hz to work).

The point is that with a standard 60HZ screen you aren't able to see more than 60 frames per second what is quite inadequate for any fast paced FPS.

So yeah, i would prefer a 120HZ (or "3D Screen" if you prefer to call it that way lol) .

 

That's exactly my point, you have Asus'es, a Clevo/Sager and probably couple more with those 120hz screens (advertised as true 3D, lol). Have you checked their resolution and image quality lately? That's why I call it "immature 3D" - it's not exactly 3D and also pathetic quality. If you prefer gaming on a 768P screen with poor color reproduction, - up to you.

 

Color reproduction aren't important for gaming IMO , but being able to see more than 60 fps is MUST-HAVE .

High resolution?, I like this to my job (programmer) but for gaming I prefer the old 1024x768 with my black bars on the sides.

Color?, doesn't matters while I can see people.

But I can't play with 60HZ.

Of course this comes from a competitive gamer, i have been playing games on the lowest quality my entire life just because i find it less distracting.

Gaming is about performance not beautiful colors IMHO

 

Well, if the only games you play are FPS, I can totally understand. Was playing AA2.x on lowest settings and 1024x768. Those clan wars were just perfect.

Though I never had a problem with 60hz (even in UT), but I take your word for it (since I never tried a true 120hz screen) that there's a noticeable difference for a competitive gamer.
On the other hand, take my word for it, most gamers do care about graphics in games (otherwise we would be still playing shooters on calculators) and would appreciate higher res, wide gamut and color depth. After trying RGB led I can't go back to WLED or CCFL. Heck, it's a challenge to leave my IPS for any other screen...


Also, looks like there's a new decent 120hz screen available for lappies - Asus G73JW-3DE. 1080p and matte!