Shopping an m17x, Advice needed

Greetings everybody, I'm fairly new to the forum and have been observing and researching about the m17x. I really want to buy an m17x but my dilema is if it is worth it to make the order the next week (brand new, not from outlet) or wait a couple of months for sandy bridge, usb 3.0 and maybe a nvidia 400 series gpu. £3000 are a lot to spent on a computer and I want to get the best and not regret it. If I was to buy it now, I would get the 940xm proc (not really intrested in overclocking), xfire 5870 or sli 285, 4gb ram the full hd screen etc. What would you do and why? I am really anxious to get my pc but from the other hand I don't want to be quick and make a bad choice. Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you all in advance!

 

Why get a 1000k upgrade processor if you aren't going to overclock? Your GPU's will outdate before the 740qm will (from a gaming perspective). 4 gig ram is the minimum these days but it is easier to upgrade ram from newegg or something.

There is always something better around the corner, but in this case, it may be worth waiting for your case. Personally I am waiting on USB 3.0 and the next GPU refresh before upgrading. But everyone is different and only you are going to know when YOU need a new computer.

 

There is always the debate of using the machine in your hand vs waiting.

Sandy Bridge is going to bring a sizeable increase in CPU power, and I believe it's worth waiting for IF you are using something right now and are not without a machine. If you truly need a machine, then the M17x is good now.

Sandy Bridge = Jan "maybe" if AW is on time when SB arrives to market. AW may not be on time...

4xx Nvidia GPU's "may" come sooner than that but no one knows when. Oct? Nov? Just wait till Jan and introduce 4xx and Sandy Bridge? No one is sure. But if you want those chips, that is another short term changeover coming.

Otherwise the system has had most bugs fixed as it stands now and is a good machine if you are in need of one right away.

 

Thanks for the replies, yes I already have a laptop but with zero gaming capabilities (Intel Crap) and have a cheap desktop for decent gaming. hopefully patience won't make me crazy

 

Alright gents. I too am musing over an M17x (after much consideration over Kobalt G890/790 and Asus G73). The key factor in the M17x's favour is the 1920x1200 RGBLED screen, which I am keen on. The major con is the cost of the Alienware gear. As such I'm looking at the current £340 off deal on the UK dell site, and Dell have offered me another ~£50 off. However, what I'd like to do is what most on this forum seem to be up to: install a new SSD of my choosing and clean install Windows 7 on this, using the HD that comes with the machine as a data disk. However it is my understanding that the Windows 7 media that comes with the machine is a Recovery Disk only. Soooo... is it feasible to do a clean install on a totally blank disk with the media that comes with the machine? After much internet searching, I can't get a clear answer - any advice much appreciated.

 

You get a Windows Installation Disk, Clean, Pure Windows as you know it from other computers. Then you get an outdated Diagnostic/ Ressource disks, which contains the basic drivers and some programs, not all that were preinstalled, for example the Dell Backup Utility. But i never bothered with that anyway. I got Laptop, Grim puts in Windows CD, Installs Windows with completly formatting HDD (incl. Factory Restore Image *g*) and had the latest drivers at hand, ready to install after finishing installing windows. If you still want to use PowerDVD, YouCam, Norton (30 days evaluation) and Nero, you can use those of course, why not, you actually paid for them in some way (i use my own well known apps i use for years). Anything else is provided on support site or here in the forum. (Don't forget to grab some of those Alienware AlienFX themes, backgrounds, login screen, avatar and windows skins)

Hope that was the answer for your question

 

Grim - yes, it does answer my question, but leaves me confused. I specifically asked the Dell rep what Windows media comes with the machine and he told me that they do NOT provide installation discs. Did you buy your machine relatively recently in the UK? I wonder if they've changed the policy.

 

I bought mine via Internet from the EU Dell Store in July, Brand New System, Assemblied in China, Shipped via UPS, 15 days production/delievery time from the point of ordering, all inclusive, as i said. Details in my sig, it's the standard Windows seVen Home Premium 64-Bit CD/Option i have got. 2 CD/DVD's - Windows Installation Disk and the Ressource Disk.

 

Hmmm - OK, thanks for the info. I'll have another chat with them and find out.

 

So I just had a 'chat' with a Dell support geezer, and he said that there is no disc from Microsoft at all! Not even a recovery disk. There is only a 'Resource DVD' from which you can apparently repair Windows if it goes pear-shaped. Can anyone else confirm this?

 

Not from Microsoft, it's Alienware "branded" on the DVD.

Maybe it doesn't apply to your Windows MEDIA, or they just have to tell you this, that they don't give out Windows CD, i won't get smart out of those Customer Call Center Boys and Girls sometimes...

Here's what it looks like:


How did they answer on the question, when you lose that, or like to do a fresh windows install, they also recommend that sometimes to users on the phone i've read (Sometimes you even need it to recover it when windows is corrupted)... Because I (me) bought that windows along, and not for all the hidden crap programs on the resource disk, that was an option where i've build my system online, so i own it and i have a license for it.

PS: Show him this thread, ask the CCC about this CD.

 

I think you're probably right - that they don't really understand what I'm asking. Maybe I'll have another go with the rep I chatted to in the afternoon. It's frustrating, since it's a key requirement and Dell don't seem to be able to answer the question.

Cheers for the info anyhow Grim.

 

To walk into the burning flame, i think they are not allowed to tell, maybe it's an illegal copy

Try a sales rep once and the guys from tech support individually, normally everyone says something else, i think there should be a special alienware hotline aswell. Also it would be a better question to others if they have NOT received a Windows CD along their Alienware Laptop, no matter which version, old XP, Vista, seVen. I always got a CD for any Dell Laptop with the OS.

Also i overseen a previous statement, Recovery Disk (Factory Restore Image) is on the HDD, though you might want to use your own Backup Application to save an image of your system onto an external HDD once you received it. I still recommend a fresh Install over anything, just for the personal comfort and getting known together step by step with your new laptop

 

So I had another chat with the sales rep today. He confirmed that the Resource disk that is part of my package would NOT allow me to install Windows on a new hard-disk should I choose to do so at some point in the future. I am wondering if this is a UK policy...

Did anyone who put an SSD into their machine AFTER purchase (i.e. self-mod) buy a new copy of Windows 7 to do so?

 

This may be a country-specific thing, but I got a Windows installation disc with my M17x. It's Alienware-branded, but it is a normal Windows 7 install disc.

 

Dont worry about what those ignorant reps tell you. They hardly have any idea about an alienware system. I got mine yesterday in UK and this isnt the first time i am getting one. I never call dell help line instead I use skype to call the alienware helpline at +448002799751 (atleast this one says "Welcome to alienware" ;-)). You WILL have a windows 7 installation dvd and a resource disc. What these reps dont understand is alienware systems have a completely different philosophy from dells. Most of these reps didnt even know what alienware was when i purchased my previous M15x last year.

I actually got hold of the same person I bought the m15x and he actually gave me a system(in sig but with only 500gb hdd and 4gb ram) which was worth £2900 for £2300. Try haggling untill u are happy with the price. dont accept proforma invoice untill you are happy else even if u call back again looking for some one else they will know you already have a quote(connected to your postcode and name).

All the best there m8.

 

nzgeek, oneabove,

Thanks for the replies. I figured that there was some sort of miscommunication going on, so I tried once more and the geezer confirmed what you guys said - there'll be two disks, one of which will allow Windows 7 installation onto a new drive.

On the haggling bit - I got into quite a few long discussions which in the end culminated in the chap requesting a link the comparison machine I was talking about (Kobalt G890). He proceeded to claim he'd never heard of them and could only do comparisons with Sony or HP. I find this difficult to believe. The current deal they're offering is essentially the same as oneabove's, only with 320GB hard-disk for £2253. I'm uming-and-ahing over it, since it's still £350 more than the Kobalt machine. If only Kobalt offered 1920x1200 RGBLED I wouldn't have this problem...