Need help choosing CPU...

Hi guys, I apologise if this has been discussed before...

I'm on the verge of placing an order for my first m17x but I'm having trouble with choosing the best value CPU from the 3 listed. These are my options in Australia (but I assume they're pretty much the same everywhere).

I was thinking of going for the 840QM (a $383AU upgrade from the standard 740QM) but after reading a lot of shining posts about the 940XM I find myself reconsidering.

The 940XM is a HUGE $719AU upgrade over the 840QM and I just don't know if that amount is really worth it. People seem to rave about the XM range of CPUs so I'm trying to decide if I should just save a bit longer and grab the 940XM or just settle with the 840QM (which also seems to be a great CPU but doesn't have the overclocking potential of an XM).

I don't really overclock all that much (but wouldn't mind the option if I chose to) and I'm mostly into gaming which benefits more from GPU power than CPU so I'm trying to work out if it will be worth it to me.

My other option is to just get a 740QM and replace it myself later on - I can only assume doing that would void the warranty (do they put warranty tape over screws on the base panel?) Buying an XM series CPU still looks like an expensive option even on eBay.

If anyone has found real-world, noticeable benefits of the XM please let me know so I can finally lay my indecision to rest and place the order for one of these beasts

Thanks in advance guys...

P.S. Crap, just noticed how long this post ended up

 

you should get the lowest cpu possible, then get a 940xm from ebay they are about half the price. there is no reason to purchase a 940xm from dell when you can get one for $400 usd on eBay, Im sure that's what most of us will tell you. i mean that's over $1200 for $400 cpu. save yourself some cash and do it that way.

 

Hmmm, it certainly sounds like the logical option provided it doesn't affect my warranty.

I don't know if I'm searching for the wrong thing but if I search for "940xm" on eBay I get mostly laptops with a couple of CPUs (from the UK) in there for $1400AU+

 

Anyone in here bought an M17x from Australia? Do Dell tape up the case screws with warranty tape or anything similar so they know if the laptop has been opened up?

I certainly have experience installing CPUs but would hate to buy the laptop & seperate CPU only to find I can't replace the CPU because it would break my warranty...

 

No they do not put any tape on the M17x here in AUS. You can open it up no problems and upgrade whatever component you want eg : hard drive, memory, cpu etc. Just remember to keep your original cpu in case you need to send the laptop back for a replacement or depot service if you do not purchase the in home warranty.

 

Ive been looking on ebay to find one for that price, with no success, for a few weeks now. Feel free to share a link or send me a pm if you see one.

 

Get a 920XM. With ThrottleStop it is a 940XM without the price tag. $390 US on ebay.

 

Agreed I chose to go for the cheapest option with the intention of upgrading to a 920xm/940xm however I'm also finding the current batch of CPU's no where near as cheap as previously stated. If I ordered again though I'd still do the same, I'm quite happy to wait until a bargain comes along

 

Yeah spot on TurbodTalon.I initially was going to go for a 940XM but read up on it more & decided that the 920XM was the better choice for me.

 

Thanks for all the great advice guys, it sounds like going for a 740QM is the best plan and upgrading later.

I've been noticing the "ES" term a lot with the XM CPUs - what does that mean? People seem to indicate they're a lot cheaper than "retail" CPUs so I assume they're some sort of unpackaged version?

 

ES stands for Engineering Sample. you will also come across QS which is qualification sample. QS is really what you want to get if you are buying from ebay because it's closest to the final release. either way, both will be labeled as ES in CPUID programs.

 

Sweet, exactly what I needed to know

I'm pretty much sold on the idea of just getting the 740QM from Dell and upgrading to an XM series myself, I guess the only other obvious question to ask is if anyone has had any bad experiences with these QS/ES CPUs? I noticed a lot of people have them listed in their signatures so they must be pretty reliable.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions guys, has made my decision a lot easier - I hope to be in the m17x owners club very soon

 

For those still looking for semi-cheap 920XMs I just found this one, not as cheap as some are saying they should be but still cheaper than Dell

New Intel® Core™ i7-920XM Processor 2.0GHz/8m/1333

Hope it helps

 

I spotted these last night think I may have to get one ordered

 

I have the same question but my system is the r1, im currently have the p8700 and i want to upgrade to q9000 or q9100 i did some research and there are many q9100 with different price on ebay? And there is the t9900 with 6mb cache and 2.9ghz is it really different between a high cache with slow ghz and a low cache with high ghz?