Nvidia fan looking at the new specs for an M17x R2

Ok, I have been raised on Nvidia cards, and dont know much about ATI. Seeing as how DELL/AW only offers them in the configuration now, if I want to upgrade I have to get them. I have two Nvidia 260m cards, would I see much of a boost in gameplay if I went for these ATI HD 5870 cards?

Bonus question - I have a Q(x)9200 processor OCed @ 2.65ghz, and the I7 920XM is the best I can see in the configuration for the R2... is the I7 much better than my older 9200?

 

This about all I can offer without injecting any theory. This is a bone stock 3DMark Vantage run with specs in my sig, with no sort of GPU or CPU overclock whatsoever. Using ThrottleStop and a mild GPU overclock (50MHz) will put you at about 16.5K. Can I ask why you're looking to upgrade?

 

I am looking at a new system, but I would like to know if the R2 with the I7, and ATI cards will be any better than my R1 with a quad 9200, and 260m cards.

I am not having problems with my R1, I just have the money, and am thinking "hey, if it is better, I could sell this one, and get the new one"

I will upload a 3dmark score, once I run it... brb "wow 400mbs+ to download, this may take a few minutes... Edit - or I could download it at 1.5 mbs/second... and finish the download in under 5 minutes 0_o" Edit - Install complete, running the test now

 

Right, and if you also do a bone stock run, you'll have a good comparison. I would also say to make sure you get the 1920x1200 display and CrossFireX 5870s, and not to worry about the other specs. RAM, hard drives, and the 920XM CPU are much cheaper from Newegg and eBay. I ordered my R2 with the lowest possible specs and built it up with aftermarket parts. You can save quite a bit of money that way. Looking forward to seeing your scores.

 

LoL my screen is 1440x900, and can not run the test... oh well... any comments? I also upgraded my R1 with ebay, but I believe this is the best it can go other than a qx9300, but that upgrade is not worth the money. Do you know what the best CPU is that I could put in an R2?

 

your current specs are pretty good, i recommend waiting a few more months to see what dell has to offer. sadly the r2 is becoming old tech.

 

I thought that may be the situation... Oh well... good to hear it form someone other than the voice in my head. I guess I will bite my lip, and wait.

 

Old tech is a raugh term and different from incapable.
As inap said if you want to stick to AW wait a bit there's a small gap between the R1 and R2.
The best CPU that the R2 can hold is the 940xm(not so different than the 920xm)

 

true about "old tech" but -
I am sure Intel will re-release the Sandy Bridge tech, and that AW will take advantage of that in the form of a laptop that supports SLI/X-Fire. That should be quite the nice laptop when/if it comes out.
I am (for the moment anyway), willing to wait a few months to see what will come out, if anything.
Thanxxx for all the help guys, ya' all helped me and my problem waiting

Edit:
Looking at pro-star, and Falcon, (who have configurations like 485m SLI (4gigVRAM) I am sure DELL/AW will come out with something soon. "Dont fall behind AW, we believe in you"

 

Yeah, you can get a pair of 485s with a 980 desktop CPU right now. Speedy Gonzalez has one, and it puts up some beastly numbers. Problem is that the sucker is $4K+. It's getting pretty old hearing that the R2 is old tech. It still puts up considerably bigger numbers than the R2+1. If you get one off of the outlet, and then slap a 920XM in it, you will NOT be disappointed.

 

sorry guys, really didn't mean to bash the r2 or anything with the old tech comment. its still a great laptop and i will still recommend it. but in the op case, since he had an r1 already, it worth waiting to see what dell has to offer.

 

only opinion but it's kinda a double edged sword for gaming right now. I mean you can wait and get a way better computer in a few months (and wait a few weeks for delivery) and it will be way better in terms of FPS...yet that wont translate much into current gaming as the R2 suits everything fine right now. Then in two years when the new consoles hit neither computer will be running any of the games that are out as only the newest laptops two years from now will run then at moderate settings. This happens almost every gen.

 

getting a R2 now is redundant the diference from your r1 to the r2 is mostly only dx11 suport. Also the 5870 are a bit faster (ok alot) but the diference is really not worth it your r1 can be oced far enough to compete with the r2 you would get anyway

 

RGB is the best part of the R2, and I'm suprised it hasn't been mentioned before in this thread. Just throwing it out there.

 

If it's for the RGB it can be mounted on the R1 seeing that you have the low res screen,the RGB would be an improuvement.
And the way I see it you still have multiple upgrade options for your R1 and going for an R2 will give you a few improuvements but also some loss.