Questions: m17x r3 portability, SC2, graphics...

Hey guys, I'm currently debating between whether to get the m14x or the m17x r3 and I had a couple quick questions that I don't fully have a good impression of from reading around here...

Most importantly, how do you guys find the portability of the m17x? Is it decent? I'll be using it at home, work, and school, so I'll be moving it around a lot. Do you find the weight/size to be much of a factor? And has anybody that's gotten a chance to use it in a school situation report how much desk space it takes up? I'm thinking it'll be doable, but I'd love to know what others think.

The largest laptop I ever had was a Compaq DTR model that I got in 2005. It weighed around 8 pounds, and it was a little hard to use in some classes, but overall it wasn't too bad.

I know people talk about SC2 plenty here, but anybody out there that has played a significant amount of SC2 on the R3, maybe you can comment on how you find it? Which graphics do you have, what resolution do you run the game at, and what detail level can you use that's still comfortable and realistic?

Lastly, any thoughts on the 6970M over the 460M?

Lots of questions, I know, but any input is greatly welcomed! Thanks

 

Well i can tell you from my small experience (i have the laptop for like 3 days..)
nmm i got to move around with it pretty much alot in the time i got it (and not just from my room to the living room , but actuall traveling from city to city xD) and well i find it decent although its a pretty Heavy machine i still like it and it doesnt bothers me much :S.

About Sc2 since i play it also i experienced some problem with it well according to review i saw where people got like 35 fps on ultra/1920x1080p , i get around 20 which is kinda annoying since they use there The 2720 cpu and 460m and i use 2820 cpu and 6970 gpu :/ so i'm kinda disappointed and i hope that installing some drivers will fix it but still even at 20 fps the game looks amazing :X (i prefer better Graphics over 3d).

 

That's odd. I wonder what's up with that framerate?

 

I have played SC2 maxed out on everything and got about 35-40 fps.

I don't move around much with laptop its either in my living room or in my room from time to time. I find it heavy i mean im kinda skinny so yeah lol so i have brought it to school ones and it was a pain mainly cauz i felt my backpack couldn't hold it to well. So I will be getting a new backpack for it and hopefully it will solve the problem. Using it in school however was fairly enjoyable

 

nmm i got same gpu as ur's and 2820qm cpu :| , and idea why sc2 runs on max for me at 20-25fps? :/

 

I'm guessing you play at 1920x1080? That's really good to hear about SC2.

Did you use it at school often? lol

 

I'd like to chime in on the portability. I've taken this to work with me and have given presentations with it. Doesn't take up much space, and if you're taller than me (I'm 5'4") then I'm sure you can handle the size/weight, otherwise you've got some plans for the summer . As long as you have a good carrying case, or a backpack, then you're set. FYI I have the Orion, and I'm getting used to the larger size. I've always had a Jansport Daypack (the regular boring plain backpack for high school), so having something with 3 compartments is kinda strange to me, but I'm slowly getting used to it.

 

Hi, I have switched from M11x to M17x R3. Quite a big difference, mainly from beginning, but after more than a month I dont have any problem with size and weight. Its quite less portable than M11x ;-) but its definitelly worth it. I have also orion backpack, which I really like and it pushes mobility with M17x further on.
My mainly used game is SC2 which I run at FullHD with everything totally maxed out (i think ultra), just no FSAA. At the beginning of the match I get 60+ frames, I think it drops to ~40 during later battles but not sure as game is quite fast ;-) However its never lagging.

 

I use mine in school and no problems with portability, if you have a backpack the size and weight is not an issue.

 

Blah with everyone that add's a comment i get alot more pissed that im running the game on 20-25 fps , help ? .

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm glad to hear you guys think it's portable. I'll be moving it on a daily basis. My main concern was using it on a desk at school, but it doesn't sound like it should take up too much space. I've always been against 17" laptops, because of the size, but now, I'm actually looking forward to having a large screen with a high resolution for class. It'll be for law school, so I think being able to look at two pages at once anywhere I'm at will actually be worth the trade off of a heavier computer that takes up more space.

And by the looks of it, a lot of you guys are choosing the 6970.

 

the m17x r3 managed to fit on my desk perfectly, but if u wanna use a book as well then no way!there won't be any space. my desk is about 55cm(length)

do u guys have the latest drivers installed.Ones i updated it not only did i get a huge fps boost plus some of the lag and flickering stopped during playing.

 

I withdraw my statement i just downloaded m18x 6970 driver and well
From avarge of 25 fps to max of 30 fps on sc2 max settings 1920x1080
I run it now at 57~67.

The diff is hugeeee , same goes for crysis i now run extreme 1920x1080 crysis smooth :] , completely happy now.

 

You should start your own thread. Usually you don't try to derail another thread with something completely off topic. If you start another thread with a GPU-Z log while you run a game and post the log there. I am sure we would help you out. I will for sure.

EDIT: Glad you figured it out.

 

Well look at my above post i kinda figured it out , and yea sorry for going off topic. :x

 

This guy's good. Listen to him