The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Processor vs. Video Card

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by red0301, Jun 5, 2010.

  1. red0301

    red0301 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I am about to order the M17x and I am still hesitating between the i7 720QM with the Dual ATI Radeon HD 4870, or the i7 820QM with the ATI Radeon HD 5870. I cannot afford to get the i7 820QM with the Dual ATI Radeon 4870 (I will consider upgrading later).

    I will be using the laptop primarily for watching and editing high definition videos, watching Blu-Rays, Youtube, multitasking and gaming.

    Which combination is better for these uses?

    Thank you for your help.
     
    red0301, Jun 5, 2010
    #1
  2. tsuekasa

    tsuekasa Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    29
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'll say if gaming isn't your main priority then go for the i7
     
    tsuekasa, Jun 5, 2010
    #2
  3. deltaone45

    deltaone45 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    161
    Messages:
    740
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    hmm are you wanting to future proof? cuz if not the 720qm cf 4870's will outpreform the single 5870 you just wont have direct x 11 which dosent really matter anyways since it will be 1-2 years before its mainstream
     
    deltaone45, Jun 5, 2010
    #3
  4. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

    Reputations:
    5,955
    Messages:
    10,196
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The price difference between the 5870x2 and 4870x2 is negligible.
    Go for i7-720QM+5870x2!
    Otherwise: 4870x2
    I like 4870's even more for much lower temps.
     
    Aikimox, Jun 5, 2010
    #4
  5. EviLCorsaiR

    EviLCorsaiR Asura

    Reputations:
    970
    Messages:
    2,674
    Likes Received:
    144
    Trophy Points:
    81
    For gaming, GPUs should always take full priority. Get 5870 crossfire if you can, if not 4870 crossfire. CPU upgrades should always take second priority, after GPUs, for gamers.

    Do NOT go for a single GPU in the M17x, no matter what GPU it is. One 5870 will be beaten badly by two 4870s.
     
    EviLCorsaiR, Jun 5, 2010
    #5
  6. red0301

    red0301 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thank you everyone for the quick replies. If my main use will be high definition video processing & viewing and multitasking, I should stick with the 720QM and the Dual 4870?

    Future proof is a consideration, but I can always upgrade later. Beyond price, would upgrading the processor/video card be a complicated task?
     
    red0301, Jun 5, 2010
    #6
  7. deltaone45

    deltaone45 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    161
    Messages:
    740
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    look at my sig i have the 720qm 4870's crossfire and it eats anything i throw at it just like the 920xm system you wont regret it sir.
     
    deltaone45, Jun 5, 2010
    #7