M17xr2 might be replaced with an R4 is it worth it?

Hey guys i recently run in to another hardware issue and alienware might just replace mine with an r4( i was told). Ive havent had any experience with the customer support regarding this so i just wanted to know if its worth? Mainly because the m17xr2 is pretty customizable already and ive seen some crazy battery mod too i was thinking of trying later down the line. As well i have the r2 with all thew works, and i dont want to receive an r4 that ships with whatever they want to give me, like no bluray player,no ssd, or a lower clocked CPU, or hopefully not some refurbished pc that might die on me. As well i wanted to know if it overheats as much as my r2 does or did, screen quality, build quality, and also ability to fool around with it if i please. Also does it come in silver because i also want the same color? I know its a long list of demands but just wanted to know from others past experience with having theirs replaced or those that have an r4, if they like it?

I might just get it replacement or just fix it myself? Any tips, experience, suggestions, advice is greatly appreciated!

 

From what i understand. Dell's policy is to replace with like or better, never a downgrade. Which is why some people push for the M18 as the m17 r3 and r4 dont have sli.

 

x2. If you're getting a replacement, the true successor to the r2 is the M18x (assuming you've got dual GPUs, but I don't know your specs.) Even if you've only got a single GPU, I think it would make sense for them to replace it with a single GPU M18x.

 

Well its m17xr 2 with the i7 3.2ghz, 5870x2, 8gigs of ram, bluray, 125gb ssd, with the rgb led. Thats what i though since the r4 is not dual gpu, and i was wondering if i will have the ability to tell them that. I dont want to get into a debate with some tech support guy and his 5 managers as to why i either don't have the proper configurations or an m18x.

 

Well it depends on your luck and the parts availability. I had 4 years of warranty in maxed out M1730. In the third year, the gpu died on me and the Dell offered a replacement which was M17x R3.
They said that one 580m was really powerful than 8800M SLI and that should do it. So, its really up to the person you speak if they honor dual gpu for dual gpu or better performance.

 

Well i talked to them today and they did say it was going to be refurbished which is fine but they will be replacing it with an r4. Well i mentioned the dual gpu thing to the guy and he told me r3 and.or r4 is mufti-gpu which we all know is utterly false. This worries me, this guy or people don't know what there sending me. I told him i looked it up its a single gpu and he said he was looking at the screen and told me it is dual gpu. Now im thinking im going to get f'ed over by this somehow ? what are your thoughts guys ?

 

It definitely has only one discrete GPU, an M17x r2 will be replaced for a M17x R4. None of the approved Sli configurations on the R1/R2 are better than a 680m, therefore it is in fact same or better.

If you're concerned about your exchange send me a PM and I'll keep you informed.

 

I talked to them they said the exchange will most likely be an r4 with amd 7970 so thats good, with an ssd, bluray, etc so ill take you up on the help though Luis thanks! What kind of info do you need to pm you! Service tag?

 

NO WAY! last December I accidentally spilled an energy drink on my M17x R2 - i7 820, 5870 crossfire, 6 gb ram, rgb screen, 1 TB hard drive, blu ray drive. Since my advance warranty was still good at the time Alienware replaced my M17xr2 with a refurbished near max out m18x r2! Look at the signature! If I were you I would keep on fighting with Dell until you get a m18x r2! Good luck mate!

 

I would dude but i dont have that much fiight in me and i dont have any LUCK at all lol. Ill take an r4 and to be honest crossfire is always a pain anyway. I think thats the only difference between that and the m18x other than the bigger size and dual gpus.

 

Well there is one argument you can make.

5870cf will give a windows performance index of 7.3 while a single 7970 gives 7.0, well in my case at least. So tell them you want dual gpu and you want ati/amd only, so no choice but to go m18xr2 dual 7970.

Its really upto the dell rep though as windows performance index is a hit or miss affair and in reality 7970 is more powerful than 5870cf.

 

They are well within their rights to offer the R4 really, its performance is far better and it will weigh less.

 

But LCD resolution difference makes it an inferior product, that being said 1200p LCD is not available in any model anyhow.

Also quality wise m17xr2 to m17xr4 is a downgrade.

 

Not enough to make up for the massive performance and feature increase though really. Faster, lighter, quieter, longer battery life.