M17x-R2 - out with HD5870

the one thing that would be awesome is if alienware managed to squeeze out a 256-bit width gddr5 crossfire 5870 system when no one else does

 

Well, alienware only build notebooks, not design graphics cards, they can only buy and use whatever graphics card ATI/Nvidia made so having their own 256bit is not possible.

 

they can't get ati to specifically make them 256bit crossfire cards when ati puts out at least more then one version of their 5870

 

comin soon comin soon comin soon ... blah blah blah lol

btw i think we all made joker feel bad. i mean he was just helpin us, not tryin to fool us... he has some seriously helpful inputs in this forum and i dont think we should blame/make jokes just cause 5/5 didnt happen. he is still a cool dude

 

I don't know the guy, that said I don't think anyone made him feel bad.

 

Agree. I suppose he's at the mercy of whatever his contacts tell him. I can understand him not wanting to divulge information again as by his own admission there's still no guarantee that those dates will be correct. It avoids the blame game at any rate.

I do have to chuckle at over 150 pages of speculation and people updating their sigs with 5870CF though.

It all boils down to this: If you can/want to wait, then wait. If not, purchase now and don't wait. In the case of those needing to confirm details for replacement systems, delay as long as you can but if it's your deadline - that's unfortunately just the way the cookie crumbles and it's no one's fault.

Personally, while I want a flashy new toy to replace my dated XPS m1710, I don't need it this very moment. The only reason I've held out is because the 5870CF option was just 'around the corner.' I can continue to be patient.

 

Totally, but we do have some 4870CF using members who are almost off of the 30-day return/cancellation policy or are being pressured by reps to finalize replacement orders etc. I can understand their impatience and their need to know specific dates.

 

Hi Guys!

I wasn't even aware there was a wait for 5870 CF!!! I just ordered mine with 4870 before 5870 was available. But the specs have been upgraded to 5870 when i last checked with dell.

I dun really need CF as most my work is for 3D modeling and rendering where cpu, ram and hdd is most important. Was considering the Dell Precision, but i only get the quadro 2800 and wxga (1440x900) for my budget. Better off with M17x RGB LED wuxga (1920x1200) and the fastest mobile gaming card available...

I'm into my first week of the long wait... Sigh.. I've already memorized the user manual and service manual and every hardware glitch others faced. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best-as they say...

 

Nice, it seems that with international orders at least, Dell is on it's last batch of single 4870's and it's probably a matter of time until their "allotted pairs" of 4870's are sold off. If this is the case then soon there should only be the option for single or dual 5870's.

 

Mandrake the A04 bios is for R1 not R2. so how did you get an R2 with A04 bios on it?

if there will be a new bios for R2 i guess it will be A03.

in two hours i ll know if i get one day extension or not for my replacement.

 

maybe DELL did a mistake to Mandrake's machine. is it possible?
still, let's wait for those guys who ordered 5870 in R2 to confirm the right new bios for r2.

 

whats more strange than the bios itself is that if you install wrong bios on a machine it just doesnt work again.

 

normally it should result like what u said. but how to explain Mandrake's case. only DELL knows what happened which leave us many question marks like

 

The BIOS update software backs up the BIOS before flashing. Maybe Mandrake should try flashing back to A02, dumping A04 in the process. It's reversible.

 

Need is a bit strong for a luxury item.

 

i was thinking exactly the same.

 

The email has UKI which I assume is United Kingdom & Ireland.
The "product team" is who he asked. I believe he is above the sales reps.

 

You cannot flash an R1 bios onto a R2 system. There are built in checks to makes sure people don't brick their system that way. I haven't flashed to A02 because it wouldn't make much sense as to why that would work. Also I'm not the only one with A04. Everyone getting their system now is reporting having the A04 bios.

 

its getting even more strange then. a bios on new machines that noone knows whats for and doesnt exist on their website.

 

plus do not support 5870. then dell made two versions for R2 WITH 4870CF and R2 WITH 5870? just does not make sense

 

Hey There. I got my R2 yesterday from the US. It has A02 bios.
Great machine by the way.

 

interesting, which graphic card do u have in your machine?

 

Dual ATI4870's

 

Sounds like they are not very consistent.

 

Spoke with Dell rep today, was told techs are dealing with power&heat issues, that's why CF 5870 was pulled out last week.

 

how can it has power issues when it uses less power than the 4870 ?

 

Well that's what rep told me

 

same happened with the 4870s. so they changed the ddr5 to ddr3. i got extension till tomorrow but thats all. And CF 5870 doesnt seem to be a choice now. and for the next weeks.

 

Dell will contact me regarding release date of CF 5870 tomorrow. I am afraid they will tell me the following: ''Are you planning to buy a new laptop for Christmas 2011?''

 

4870 is 256bit so from GDDR5 TO GDDR3 is kind of acceptable
while for 128bit 5870, if they do the same thing, i do not think it worth to upgrade.
However, RULE 1 again

 

i said that since the crossfire option dissapeared from Dell EU sites. but many people were talking about it uses less power-producing less heat. my conclusion is CF ddr5 will never be on this machine.

 

I can feel u with ur replacement situation and this tough time.
what i want to say is just wait.maybe u can not wait any longer, but to others. wait to see what kind of single 5870 those early bird will get, wait to check out which bios they have, and wait until the CF option to be available.

 

=( getting really sick of waiting...

 

Same here, can't wait, i have money to order and nothing interesting to buy until the cf 5870 is available.

 

i will say almost 70-80% people checking this post often are waiting for CF and they have been wait for a long time. For me, since last Dec. One or two more weeks are not that long compare to 5 months. Even E3 is close. If 5870CF are not show up before June, then we definitely will see something from AW at E3, what do u guys think.

 

I think every day i dont order is another day i regret not ordering

 

Just got confirmation from Dell rep that CF 5870 will be released on 13th of May and my cancelled order will be re-booked.

 

oh dear

 

We will see I don't really trust anyone from Dell.

 

Everyone thinks their dell rep has the inside scoop. Its all bs. They don't know until it shows up on their screen.

 

So there are rumors of the 7th, the 13th, and possibly not being released at all. So no one knows.

 

hm, so another week of waiting. The date looks sensible to me, it kinda looks like they were aiming for the famous cindo de mayo but had some technical/supply problems (I think its probably supply) and so now they expect to get their parts shipment next week.

Well I waited until now so might as well continue doing that. But when 5870s come, I will no longer care even if NVIDIA cards come a week later, I'll order straight away

And I feel sorry for people who can't wait due to vouchers/discounts

 

I don't believe the date. First of all, reps have no clue. Second, if it's a supply issue then that could be resolved today, tomorrow or in a month. I have seen many times certain parts are stated to delay your shipment for a month. Then, the next day, the delay is gone.

 

Are there really any "rumors" to this? All I see are people who randomly say that's what they think. And to that I say I think there is zero chance that they won't be coming. I think Alienware likes money.

 

People in this thread say different things. One of those things was that because of heat or power issuses or size issues the 5870's in CF will not be released with this current m17x. No one has a freakin clue.

 

no i cant wait. and this guy responsible for my replacement was the only one reliable and helpful since i entered the alienware-dell group. thats why i still didnt order my replacement. he is even pressed from above and he should go on before three days.

anyway CF 4870 and i hope to see 5870 with crossfire connector on the net. babyhemi you are the man.

only sad that i will have to open the machine to install them and that i have to pay more again. however as i said before its a security for the future even if it will be 5870 single, or CF 5870s or 480.

 

Ugh, I have a good discount that expires tonight. Not sure what to do. I will probably just wait I guess. I know the current R2 is way better than what I have due to the screen and processor though.

Also, not sure if it's been said, but you have to order a new power brick if you order a single card now and go CF in the future. It's a 150 watt versus a 240 watt.

 

I've been watching this thread for a long time, and think most are just reacting to what they think. The only thing I can see that rings of truth would be a supply issue. I don't think it's a supply issue with 5870's, more that they have too many 4870's. As those deplete, the 5870's will be available in crossfire.

Btw, I placed an order for 5870 crossfire with my salesman. He couldn't put crossfire on it yet, so it won't go through, but as soon as (or if to be safe) it's available he's correcting it and calling for a cc. This way, I don't have to check the site all the time. I have no doubt that 5870 crossfire will be available, and it'll be in short order.

 

well, I was hoping for CF 5870. Oh well, I might wait for a while.

 

well well so with CF 4870 i still have to buy only two 5870 with crossfire connector (not even their heatsinks).

with single 5870 the following should be purchased:
second gpu fan
first 5870 (as i believe single wont have CF connection)
second 5870 WITH heatsink and crossfire cable
new power brick

beside the above if the 4870s have any issue and then the 5870 CF will be the only configuration then they will update them for free.