Need advice. New r2 vs getting an r3. Return options??

Thought I would make a post bases on my situation and a few others who just received their r2s just ahead if Ces and the new r3 release. I received mine a week ago today. I specifically had the sales guy email me in his words that no new version was coming out anytime soon. Not sure if that would help me but I did it anyways. I did activate windows obviously to use it and intall the 2 games I play and I ran 3dmark 06 and besides that I haven't used it. Not that it matters I thought I would share that. I am not refraining from using it because of the r3 i just don't have a need until I'm back to work end of January.

I decided the r2 is everything I need and more and it looks sexy and I couldn't be happier. The only thing that would make me want an r3 is if the performance BLOWS my r2 into the weeds in every aspect.

If I did want to upgrade what would be my options for having purchased so late in the year ?

Anyone have any insight on the return policy or any procedures through Dell?

I read in the alienware Ces thread someone called in that was in my situation and Dell offered another $200 refund to keep his r2. Is this an option I can try to go for? If so I would probably be happy with that considering I don't 'think' an equally configured r3 would be close to what I paid for my setup.

Thoughts?

 

Forget returning an R2 to get an R3. You don't need it, you aren't owed it, they probably won't do it without you spending a bunch more money. Besides, the performance will only be another increment up, not a mind-blowing overshadowing.

Just be happy. You have MUCH to be thankful for!

 

I am expecting it to be an increment as well. Unless it doubles the performance I am happy keeping mine for sure.

 

It wont be double performance, otherwise I'd sell my desktop for a laptop any day lol. It'll be like 10%-15% at best.

 

Yeah the base config will be faster than the base R2, but who knows what will be available at the high end. Right away I would not be surprised to see that the R3 isn't as fast as a high end R2. Remember we have had months to tinker with settings, BIOS, overclocking plus updated drivers etc on the R2.

 

You could upgrade, and make your system like mine I have no plans for an R3, maybe R4. Besides, All the power this system is capable of, is rarely needed or used.

 

That's right. Much human effort has gone into getting the R2 where it is, and it is likely that a similar effort will be required for the R3. These high-end systems can be raw and edgy when they are freshly delivered. They are like supercomputers in a way: When those are being built, they are carefully put together, load-balanced, the operating system has to be tweaked and tuned to the hardware, and they are gradually brought up to full power. Full power and speed is not often achieved for many months after "first light", and takes many people working very hard to do.

The R2 is rather mature now and will hold its own for a very long time against many contenders and pretenders. Someday, probably a good year from now, the R3 will be out and slowly taking over, and this forum will be filled with long tracks from posts about "my (insert component) R3 is a (insert angry word)... help!" Many people will have sweated their R3s, and complained that their R2s were totally all they ever needed, blah, blah....

Forget the R3 hype. Work, play, live, and be happy. You have all you need and then some. Someday, when your R2 is dying, you can buy whatever is the next great thing. A dog with a bone in his mouth once stood at the edge of a deep pond, looked down into the pond, and saw another dog, much like himself, with a great bone in his mouth as well, just inches away. "I'll bet I could have that bone too!" he thought. He lunged down to grab it, releasing his hold on his own bone, and..... I think you get the idea.

 

Just wait and see what the R3 actually looks like, What hardware it will actually have, and what the cost is. The Speculative hardware seems to be much better. But I dont really know a game now that the R2 is struggling to run at descent frames at high res. The new AW models dont always have issues for everyone, but do tend to be buggier in the beginning. There is already a large thread concerning possible new hardware here. http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/541326-speculation-alienware-ces-2011-email.html

 

You're kinda like a wet rag... It's in many of our nature to want the latest and greatest. You must have found out there was no Santa too young.
Let people be excited there company has something new coming. It's great to see ppl excited instead of complaining.
LONG LIVE THE HYPE!

 

I play wow and am frustrated that crossfire doesn't run it well at all. Had I known that I would be staring at a MacBook pro right now and satisfied playing on low settings.

If it were up to me, every employee at nvidia and ati would be working on wow drivers first! I mean come on there's only 14 million people playing it. Instead I see fixes for games I havvent heard of or care to.

My only hope is that the r3 can play wow without issues. If it has a faster and better LCD, a CPU 2x as fast, better battery, better gpu and aesthetics too let's be honest I think anyone would want to upgrade of it wasn't going to cost much. I'm just worried every aspect will be improved which might sway me.

On the other hand if the prices don't have the big discounts available now like the price I got mine for I'll be happy with my r2

I got mine with the Orion bag, 3 years advanced for $2785 cdn

 

Does anyone know what my options would be 'if' I did decide I wanted an r3?

 

It amazes me how many people think a better GPU will work well with WoW.

"wow doesnt work with my comp e6400 2.3ghz 480 sli why doesnt it work???!!!1"

WoW is CPU BOUND. OC that processor of yours then we'll talk.

 

Dude you are like a broken record......

If wow won't play on that R2 you need to box it up and return it
Because you know nothing about computers. YOU DON'T need crossfire
or sli to run wow. It is not that intense of a game. If you want a macbook for
Christs sakes return this and get one and shut your whiney piehole.....

 

ohhhh i like stirring the pot Macbook > alienware

i think he owns the macbook already

stick a 920xm in your r2 and call it a day and enjoy the savings and the bEAAST

 

@ 5abivt
Hahahahaha a mac better than an alienware lol.

Do you even IMAGINE the difference between the mac gpu and the alienware gpus?

Mac pro has a GT 330m lol that is not even a half of the HD 5870 and if you have a crossfire setup of HD 5870's lol .

 

Wow used to not need much power to run ok, heck I've ran it on a netbook before. However, now with all of the updates and changes over the years it can bring anyones machine to it's knees if you crank the settings up. While it runs good enough for me on single screen mode with crossfire, I just can't get the performance I need at high resolutions of multi screen (eyefinity) without turning the settings way down. It's not like it used to be, the more CPU and more GPU you have the better!

 

***Well you added nothing useful to my questions but you did say u can box it and return it.... Does this mean I can do that and they will refund me?? Sounds like you know what you are talking about.

Jeez dude there's no need to get all angry about my post. I forgot wow was more CPU bound. I guess I need to look down the path of upgrading the CPU. I sold my MacBook for this alienware so no I wot be going back I just enjoy ranting about my positive experience with the Mac. I need to find out if I can oc the 740qm or I'll just crank my settings way down so my fps doesn't drop too low.

Like someone else mentioned above there is always excitement for a new product. I'm excited by it for sure! I know the r2 is more than I ever need for my games and usage but the speculation has got me caught up.

 

Any tips on precedure and criteria?

I received mine last week and am waiting to see what r3 brings. If the r3 is what I will want, what are my options ?

 

Contact Dell, you have 21-day return policy. They will issue you an RMA and you are good to go.

 

closing thread as we have numerous threads on 'how to contact support'. Your question has been answered. Please review the forum rules on the creation of new threads and posting. Thanks.