R2 v R3, all the pros and cons ? Best value etc.

I`ll be getting an M17X very shortly, i just need to decide whether to go for an R2 or an R3.

The R2 appeals because of the aluminium chassis, is that the case with all R2`s that they come with an aluminium chassis ?

Its just i read a thread on here where some R3 owners are saying that the rubber finish is starting to peel away and looks a bit unsightly.

Is the power difference between an R2 and an R3 huge or is their not a great deal between them, i appreciate that it depends what processor you go for, i was thinking of a 920XM on an R2 or a 2820QM on an R3.

Any feedback or info will be appreciated, its just their are too many threads to go through to get all the answers i`m looking for so i thought i`d start a thread.

I guess its all about value, is the R3 worth the big price difference between the R2 especially at the inflated UK prices.

Or is it worth waiting for the 18 inch version to come out, when is that due out ?

 

I own an R2, but I would urge you to get an R3 with a 6970M. The card is an absolute beast. Even on a low-end CPU, Joker is scoring almost 15K in 3D Mark Vantage. And the R3 is not very expensive, either. Especially if you can find some kind of EPP discount. The M18x is still speculation (let the flame begin). I think that until you can configure something and add it to your cart, it's speculation. It is rumored to be Alienware's next dual GPU flagship, so when it does come online, expect it to be very powerful. It will be expensive too though. That's me though. Hope I could help.

 

This thread is going to draw a bit of attention, so no flame wars or batboy will shut us down.

r3 is magnesium chasis with soft touch rubber coatings. If you use your r3 a lot (moving around, shoving in backpack, etc.) then the finish has a higher chance of peeling. We're still not sure exactly why it is so, because some people have no problems whereas others are not so lucky.

Processor-depends. If you're into overclocking, then go with the r2, just know that its EOL. At stock, the 2820qm beats the 940/920xm hands down. Also, you could always install a 2920xm aftermarket, but I'm not sure if the multipliers are unlocked.

With the r3 you loose RGB, dual gpu, and build quality.
Then again, you get 120hz 3d (depending), lighter, HDMI, usb 3.0, better battery life, etc.

If the r3 is that expensive in UK, i would advise HIDevolution. Also, the r2 is no longer available on the dell site if I'm not mistaken, so you would have to go through dell outlet or ebay or something.

No one really knows when the m18x will launch, if ever (although it is very likely).

 

Thanks for the input so far, i don`t want it to be a war of words between R2 and R3 owners as they are both great machines, i`m just after the best value and to find out if the significant price difference between the R2 and R3 is worth it especially in the UK.

I just want to add, i`m not a gamer and i won`t be buying it for gaming as i have an xbox 360 for that. I`ll mainly be using iot for video and graphics editing along with watching a few blurays or dvd`s as i`ll have it next to my bed to watch late at night.

 

At this point of time, I think buying an R2 is not worth it as the speculated M18x is due for release soon.

So I guess, if you can't wait for the speculated machine then go ahead and get M17x R3!

IMO, M17x R3 is good enough for me with a 6970M. Its also portable with good battery life.

 

Yes, a few folks are saying that the soft touch finish is peeling. I forgot about that. You've also got HDMI-In, which is nice if you also do a lot of console stuff.

Oops, you posted at the same time I did. If you're not a gamer, then you don't even need the 6970M necessarily.

 

One thing to keep in mind is the warranty. Since the M17x R2 is at the end of it's life, if you go for the M17x R2 with dual GPUs, than your system breaks, it will likely get replaced with an M18x if they can't supply the R2 parts. So if you need something now, but like the idea of the M18x, you may want to go the R2 route. Just know if you get a 920/940XM, your M18x will also come with an XM CPU. If you get a single GPU M17x, you'll likely get a M17x R3 replacement should you need one. Just keep the future in mind.

 

Nothing that matters on the case is magnesium, if you'd like proof I can provide a video. It's plastic with soft touch coating with a very small amount of some sort of metal(don't think it's magnesium though) on the inside in select points. If you're after reliability either the R2 or wait for the next offering, if you're after a good all around machine go with the R3 with either the 6970m for power/battery or 3D if you're a 3D/Nvidia fan.

 

Any other opinions ?

Is the performance difference between a decent specced R2 and a similar specced R3 that great that it warrants the extra money ?

As i said above i won`t be using the M17x for gaming, i`ll be mainly using the laptop for video editing, graphics editing and watching films.

 

Finally a straight answer. No one seemed to be able to confirm whether the thing was mostly plastic or if it was magnesium. Its a shame that I purchased the thing thinking that it would be my first computer with a metal chassis, but for the deal I got its hardly something to complain about at the moment. Oh well. Embrace the plastic.

 

R3 is better. 9 cell battery, switchable graphics, better cpu architecture, lighter to carry around, quieter fan, more slim, support 1666mhz ram (need to upgrade cpu) , hdmi - in, usb 3.0

 

I still say the R2 is worth it if you can grab one for a good price.

I agree with DR650SE.....keep the future in mind....

I think a lot of R2's are going to "break" when/if the M18x is released. LOL.

But I like my R2. I plan on keeping it for a while. If you are not in a hurry, wait a bit and see what the future brings. New hardware additions to the R3, new notebooks released from Alienware, etc.

 

copied from another thread


TBH, I'm happy enough with a single GPU in a laptop, it makes things a lot less complicated, also consider that mobile GPU's are getting incresingly more powerfull, the best R2 Sli/CF combination is equalled by both the 6970 and 485m, add faster bus - cpu - ram - HD interface - USB 3 - etc etc and you have quite a package in the R3, the only thing that concerns me is the BSOD's people are experiencing, Dell/AW need to nail this down ASAP albeit just seems to be driver issues for now

 

Is this correct? I was under the impression that the R2 5870s in CF were still more powerful than the 6970 and 485m....or did I miss something?

 

if the outcome is you looking for an r2, i might be your man, specs in sig. its a complete beast

 

I like my CFX/SLI capabilities. Don't know how much it matters to you, but it looks as if CFX 6970 mobilities in the R2 is already/will be very soon a reality.

A fully maxed out R3 is still a bit weaker than a fully maxed out R2 - so keep that in mind.

Personally I'd go with the R2.

 

nope and in many cases depending on what review you read are actually lesser

 

and you base this on what exactly, with 2x 6970's you are pushing the bounderies of power limits, that is fact without question, but I hope you are right it will keep all R2 owners happy for some time to come

 

I base this on a lot of stuff. Bios support is being added with a community mod. Currently, a single (and most likely dual) 6970's are confirmed to boot into windows in the R2 with normal clocks and performance. There are some bugs and glitches which most likely will be worked out in the bios mod.

Also, power shouldn't be an issue. Stock clocked 6970 mobilities draw 85 watts max. Some of the overclocks and overvolts people have their 5870's on here definitely push their cards draw near and possibly above 85 watts. Power won't be an issue - unless you are overclocking, and then be careful.

With all the research I've done on the matter, I'd actually be very very surprised if 6970 CF can't be done in the R2. When I get the money, I'm going to attempt it. Everything I've seen points me to a green light. There will be issues no doubt, but atm everything seems fixable.

What really did it for me was the guy who confirmed that the 6970 mobility will boot into windows in the R2 and run at the appropriate clocks and is recognized correctly by gpu-z. The artifacting and instability he found can be fixed (decently easily too - at least compared to fixing incorrect clocks and voltages as was found when the GTX 470m was tried in a M15x)

 

^^link or it didn't happen!

 

STOP GIVING FALSE INFORMATION...

 

stop shouting lol, he's happy with bios mods and sh#t like that sobeit

 

warranty / "sudden" breaking when M18x is out aside, i would personally go for R3. for starters, sandy bridge cpus are absolute titans considering how cheap they are. a 2720QM or 2820QM is already surpasing 940XM at default speed without even sacrificing battery life. of course, if you overclock 940XM, that's a whole different story, but still 940xm requires a lot of skills and knowledge to get the most out of it, plus there's nothing you can do to get battery life close to what sandy bridge can achieve.

second argument is obviously the gpu. assuming proper driver and crossfire profile support, true 5870M CF is still the king and 6970M though as powerful as it is, can never reach that level. BUT, CF like SLI is extremely driver and profile dependant. so you'll be running into trouble when new titles release or game patches that altered graphical settings even with existing profile support. 6970M, is just like sandy bridge. getting the performance without the hassle (driver updates, user knowledge, skills).

3rd being USB3 support, slimmer and lighter physical profile at the expense of lower build quality (refer to paint coming off thread). R2 is just a pain to transport, but i dont expect R3 to be a lot easier despite shaving off some weight.

 

Everyone has forgot to mention the fact that the R3 will support up to 32Gb of RAM. The R2 only supports 8. May never need it, but still good to have for some stuff (VM's comes to mind).

 

Here is a little spreadsheet I made with my opinion and overall scores.

Y'all tell me what you think.

 

I see the r3 and r2 as two different beasts, one is geared towards enthusiasts with the dual card set up and the r3 is made for people who like a portable powerhouse or 3d in their screen.

I also think Dell/Alienware traded on their good rep to help push the r3. It's not a bad machine, it fact it's awesome, but it not the true successor or step up to the r2 in terms of design and quality IMO.

If you want an extremely powerful computer for the next few years that will play games at top settings or be able to play movies and games in 3d in lighter more streamlined package then the r3 will suit your needs. If you want simply amazing power at your finger tips without having to over clock and mess with internals or mods made by people you don't know, the r3 is your machine.

If you like the rbgled screen, dual card setup, heavier more durable chasis and are into modding and playing inside your machine or really using third party programs to pull the max power out of your machine, the r2 is more you.

I see them as two top end cars, both are amazing right out of the box, with a nod towards the r3 in unmodded power, however if you like rolling up your sleeves and paying for some top end parts, the r2 becomes a jet. So it's not a debate of which is better, it's which one fits you and what you want to do.

Enthusists really find a lot to love about the r2 and the average Joe who just wants a great fast machine at a good price will like r3. Some people like it simple and some like to wring every last watt of power out of their machine. It's more about you then the machines.

 

I believe Comrade Ynot went right on spot.

I second what he said

 

Comrade makes a great point.

In the end, it is going to come down to how the person is going to use the computer....whether it be an R2 or R3.

Only the user will know what you want to do with the machine.

Best thing to do, is search through these threads and compare/contrast both notebooks. Make a list of what you think are pros and cons of each notebook in the way you will use it, or the features you like/dislike.

Then make your decision.

 

Biggest elephant in the room is this, no matter how we put it...ALIENWARE M17x R2 is a product that has reached its END OF LIFE.

Dont talk as if these 2 products are currently on sale for 2 different groups of buyers. One has reached its end of life. Those of us who have it simply just can't accept that fact. Its understandable. I have an R2. I am giving it up because its has the most unintelligent design for a touchpad. Its total area of actual use is so ridiculously small.

Its the most frustrating aspect of R2 plus its polling rate is horrible even at 60Hz.

You are not buying an antique car here. Its value is not going to go up either. Its a piece of techware. and it will be inferior as times goes by no matter what I or anyone says. You buy techware for the latest technology to be incorporated. Not because its like a freaking tank etc.

Be realistic towards the money you spend. It should serve you well into the future. Keep it simple and follow the chart that has been created. Its a very good and balanced pointer system. If anything it tells you what you should go for.

 

+1 So nailed it. The difference between a 1969 and 2011 Camaro. Both go fast it's a matter of how much of a hobbyist you are.......

It also boils down to what you consider "value". I recently bought an R2 over an R3 because the difference between the two was about $1000 (bearing in mind the R2 was a private purchase so had no tax). End of life or not that difference was what made the R2 the better "value". Adding to that value, I was replacing a 4 year old Dell XPS M1710 thereby making the upgrade to either the R2 or R3 an equivalent increase in power.

My 2 cents, if you bought an R2 at a good price and only kept it for six months because you thought it was a bad idea in the end I expect the most you'd lose is a couple of hundred dollars. That's a better depreciation than buying an R3 to move up to an M18x six months later. The R3 is a very worthy purchase if your not sitting on the fence for the next Alienware SLI/Xfire solution.

 

Your spec looks perfect but i`m in the UK and not the US.

 

The touchpad is not bad at all. Not to mention, I think the majority of users who have an R2 or an R3 use a mouse. If you can play your games with that touchpad.....then more power to you.

The technological differences are not that big. The i7's in the M17x R2 are still very powerful and will handle anything the R3 can do. So it doesn't have the exact same speed in video encoding, multitasking, or CPU intensive tasks, but how big are the differences really in gaming, which is what the notebook is designed for? I don't believe its an astronomical difference....

The R2 may be EOL. And I, as well as others, most likely accept that. Every laptop you buy will have an EOL at one point.

At the end, you have to compare your price/performance to what you are buying. That is what really matters in the end. And of course, if you like the machine.

 

+1 M3th0d1c4l! Vads how long do you think the R3 is going to last? I've had 3 AW laptops and they have all been retired well before the warranty ran out.

We are all in this business spending ridiculous amounts of money on hardware that is EOL after 1-2 years. My advice, wait for the M18X and get it as soon as it comes out. The only way to guarantee you get the most time with your baby before she gets replaced. Just remember there are always problems with the younger models!

 

Ive decided to try and source a well specced R2, the main rasons are as follows.

1. I won`t be gaming on the laptop, it will be used mainly for video and graphic editing so i think the R2 is more than powerful enough for that.

2. With the M18X being rumoured for release soon i can see a possible huge loss coming on an R3 if i was to buy one now, i can see their prices dropping heavily when the M18X comes out with its dual graphics cards.

3. The build quality of the R2 appeals to me more, an aluminium body over mainly plastic on the R3, the finish peeling off some R3`s has also put me off as that shouldn`t be happening considering what they cost.

4. For what i`ll be using it for the R3 could be overkill for my uses so the significant extra cost i don`t think is justified.

If anyone is selling a well specced R2 in the UK then let me know as i could be interested, it would be ideal for someone looking to upgrade to an R3.

 

For video editing, graphics editing I would go sandy bridge unless you go full oc 920xm.


4. Video Editing
If you are an avid video editor, Sandy Bridge chips offer robust performance using Intel's Quick Sync Video that is built into the processor. With integrated HD 3000 Sandy Bridge graphics, you can encode video faster than using even high-end NVIDIA graphics cards in many circumstances. Add this speed to the overall cost savings and you have an excellent solution for video editing.


From about.com, I would do some checking around, stock v stock the new sbs offers good stuff.

 

2. With the M18X being rumoured for release soon i can see a possible huge loss coming on an R3 if i was to buy one now, i can see their prices dropping heavily when the M18X comes out with its dual graphics cards.


Won't the M18x coming out affect R2 prices more so than R3 since the R3 is more (size wise) a replacement for the M15x?

I think it's more likely price wise for the M18x to be at a larger price premium to the M17x R3 and folks will buy the R3 if it is powerful enough already.

In terms of screen, I'd just get some massive 24-30" and you're set.

 

I wouldn`t say so, the R2 prices have already been pushed down with the R3 release, thats a natural thing to happen when a new model comes out.

When the M18X comes out thats bound to have an effect on the R3 prices as the M18X is rumoured to have dual graphics cards where as the R3 only has a single.

The release of the M18X in my opinion would have a far bigger effect on R3 prices than the R2 as the R2 prices won`t drop significantly lower than they already are now due to their already high spec and dual graphic cards, people naturally want the latest technology just like with people queing up to buy the R3 even though the build quality doesn`t seem to be as good as the R2.

 

Agreed. The prices on the R2 dropped significantly already, along with its components since the R3 release.

I bought a brand new 940XM OEM off ebay for $550 bucks. Whereas a while ago, you could not touch them for less than $700-800 bucks.

I think the $$$ of the R2 is going to hold its own for now, and maybe even after the M18x is released, especially if the R2 still has some good warranty left on it.

Future planning......

 

you're not serious lol, I cannot think of one single thing that has not been uprated............................oh wait - the cmos battery lol


come on mate, every technology in the R3 has been changed from R2

​

 

Why is it all of you are taking for granted that people are buying R3 because M18x is not there.

Now when M18x comes out M17x will still be sold. Now this is when you can say these 2 products are for different groups of people.

Do you think someone who wants mobility is going to buy a 8kg laptop? No. Right now I am in the midst of waiting to choose a replacement over my R2 cause Dell has to give me one. But I have told myself, I dont want a M18x model for myself. At best I might get only to sell it off immediately. No way I am going be using it.

R3 weight factor fits perfect in for mobility and gaming. If you are dead serious on craving for M18x why dont you just buy a Desktop Alienware. Why go through the downsized GPUs for notebooks. I know most of may differ, but I think there is something important called ergonomics in what you call as Notebook. and desktop replacement notebooks also fall into a narrow band of cost and value over getting an actual desktop.

R2 was the king of a different era. Now you have R3 which literally matches its crossfire and far more advanced in tech development. I know you guys are hardcore alienware fans whatsoever..but please dont jump the cliff and say getting a R2 vs R3 is like 1969 and 2011 camaro. A 1969 camaro can still roll on its wheels for another 30 years if you maintain it. But an R2 is not going to be able to game the future games soon enough. We are talking about technology. Not automobiles.

First the R2 fan boys said R3 is not as fast as R2. Then they said its the same. And now you have die hard guys who are still clinging on to the argument saying its meant for 2 different markets...

Use you common sense will ya..if it was meant for 2 different market segments, why would Dell stop selling R2. All it had to do was to change the motherboard and update all the other specs like USB 3.0, sata 3 etc.

And dont say they pulled it out because of impending M18x. If Dell sold R2 and r3 for 2 different markets then it would simply continue to sell R2 until M18x came out. That would make business sense. R2 ------> R3. Thats it and thats all. Those of you who bought R2 now due to monetary and offerings etc..its ok. It doesnt matter. But if someone said, they will buy you a R3 and take your R2 for free..I am sure most of you will except it with your tongue wagging.

That reminds me ..in this discussion or R2...does the tail wag the dog or does the dog wag the tail...

I think the thread should be closed because the OP should have enough info by now.

 

Screw you R2 owners. All R3 owners will get lots of girls while R2 owners with their ancient machines will only get a "That is SO 2010" from them.
No hanky panky for you!

 

I did not say it was not changed. I said the improvements in the technology are not astronomically different from one to another for the price/performance.

Everyone talks about the weight of the R3 compared to the R2. I am not sure, but is a couple lbs really that big of a difference when the laptop is sitting on the desk? I don't think my desk gives $0.02 how much my notebook weighs. When I carry my notebook around, it goes in a bag. 2lbs of difference is not noticeable on my shoulders, at least for me. For those of you that it does, then go with an R3. I am not saying don't get one.
...don't misinterpret what I was saying.

Just compare the performance of one notebook to another compared to the amount you are spending on it. Put it this way......are you really going to spend an extra say....$500 if the performance increase was an extra overall 5-10FPS in games? Is it justifiable to spend that much on such minimal gains in performance?

I am not saying those are actual differences with these laptops, but take that as an example when comparing what you are buying.

There is really no point in arguing. At the end, it is all an OPINION from what one person thinks to another persons views. Everyone is different. Take it with a grain of salt. I am not for the R2 or the R3. I am no fanboy of either. I just like my system. I am only giving advice to the OP when spending his money. I am not saying that the R3 is better than the R2, or the R3 is a POS...

I like the R3 myself very much so. Yes it has some slight issues like any other notebook. But for me, to jump from an R2 to an R3, the money being spent is not justified in the performance gained/lost or features gained/lost, which is what I am trying to point out.

 

well actually, I'm upgrading from a Dell XPS1730 to an Alienware, I had a choice, R2 or R3 need I say more ?

 

That is different. You have an old notebook that has far different specs. Yours would have been a HUGE upgrade either way.

You are comparing a dual core to a quad core. The R2/R3 is a comparison of 2 different quad cores. Your upgrade was justifiable IMO, jumping from a dual core to a quad. I was saying, for me, going from an R2 to an R3......that is not really worth it for the amount I would spend on an R3 to get slightly better performance (if anything at all).

The OP did not specify what laptop he currently has, or had before. So picking one or the other at this point is up to him and how much he is going to spend.

Like I said.......it comes down to how good a deal he can get either notebook for. The amount of $$$ you spend/the amount of performance you are getting.

Example: The notebook in my sig cost me $2350+shipping (minus one SSD). Now, to get the same/comparable performance in my laptop, how much would I have to spend to order an R3 from Dell? You think the price difference would be worth considering? IMO........no.

That sir. is the point I am trying to make. If he looks around for a sweet deal on an R2 like I had, you could save yourself quite a bit of money vs ordering a comparable one from Dell. I see awesome deals here on the NBR marketplace all the time on M15x's, R2's, etc.

You just gotta take the time to look for a deal and wait for the opportunity. If money is no object, then go for an R3. But for others, every bit of $$$ matters in today's world.

 

True words from Methodical. Not much to gain with going from R2 with CF 5870M and 920XM to R3. Except the bitc*es

 

ive never shipped out of the US, but it can be done. if you dont find one in the UK, and u wanna still get one from the U.S. let me know. but u would have to help me w/ shipping. just an idea

 

Its easy to ship worldwide, its just like shipping from within your own country only it costs more and takes longer to reach the other person.

Ive sent you a pm with a few questions about the laptop, if all is well with your laptop and it has no faults and its unmarked then i`d be interested. The only down side is that it has no warranty, i`d have to find out if Dell UK would give me a warranty on it.

 

Good points guys and many different perspectives, I travel a lot and spend many months aaway from home, my laptop is my companion, I like the idea of 3D and the convenience of some of the connection features of the R3 (WiHD) and I guess the weight reduction although in a backpack it makes little odds, I've been burned with the constant problems with dual GPU's in the XPS currently 9800gtx but they are overheating and it's only a matter of time to failure again, game wise there are none I cannot play to an acceptable level but have never used 3D in games or video, I guess if I had an R2 right now it would be an expensive upgrade which with the devaluation of R2's would be a tough call, everyone to their own I guess

enjoy your machines guys

 

Hi guys,
Firstly I would like to apologize for bringing up the old thread, as I can see,
there has been a lot of arguments.
But, being a moderate person in this computer stuff, I think I need to seek an advice from you guys.

In Malaysia, I have found a great deal on new M17x R2 (it is a clearance stock)
with a spec as below:
i7 740QM
6GB RAM
1920x1200 RGBLED
Crossfire 5870M.
2x500Gb HDD 7200rpm Raid 0
Price :RM6800 (about USD2 283.41)

While if I go for M17x R3, the comparable specs that I can find is
as below:
i7 2720QM (in Malaysia this is the slowest processor for R3)
6gb RAM
1920x1080 WLED 60Hz
HD6970M
750gb HDD 7200rpm (the smallest hard disk that can be configured in dell Malaysia)
Price : RM8684 (about USD2 916.05)

For me a difference of RM1884 (about USD632.63) is very large. Plus, I am still a student and I have save lots of money for this.
Now I hope you guys could tell which one is worth it.
I tend to get the R2 now because it is cheaper. But if you guys have any opinion to say, I would like to hear it.
Thank you in advance.

 

For me, it would depend upon whether or not the R2 came with a warranty comparable to that of the R3 or if you added one, how much extra would it come out to. Like others have said, having a single strong GPU causes less headaches in the future, but that RGBLED screen is very tempting, not to mention the $600 USD difference.