The new M17xR3 will be Alienware's first 3D-capable Laptop - Discuss here

Come on the 460 is not enough to play on 3D when you enable 3D it cuts your frames in half if you get 30 FPS on Mafia 2 lets say" you going to get 15 FPS only

Now the 120HZ screen is amazing just to play regular 2D because all the games feel Snapier and that is a good point for Alienware

 

Is this thread specific to 3d? or is there a general r3 thread somewhere?

 

I don't know. If it can play Crysis 2 in 3D then is has a fast enough response time. I've been watching the Asus G73 and people seem to like it well enough. Maybe I'll go over to their forum and ask about cooling. It would definitely make a difference to me.

 

Lower the resolution?

I wonder what 3D looks like at non-native res.

 

The 3D feature looks nice in my opinion, but i am more of a hardcore gamer that doesn't really care about 3D.
The thing i wanna know is how the performance will be with the 2GB videocard compared to dual 5870's in the R2, i hope it will be at least about the same or just better because i will only be able to get myself an M17x in September this year, so that's still a long time to go.

Who knows there will be SLI / Xfire available again around that time? I hope so, or at least better GPU's.
For the 1080p instead of 1200p, i can live with that as i think it will still be a nice resolution.
I guess we all will have to wait till the 10th of January to see..

I still like the design of the Laptop, but the chrome on it wasn't really needed imo.

 

One major thing people have forgotten in the R3 is that the Intel P67 Express chipset enables SATA 6 Gb/s which will enable read and write rate of up to 500 mo/s with the newer drives like the Vertex 3.

 

What I'm hoping will happen is that what we know as the M17x R3 will actually be seperate laptop, the M17x 3D.

The M17x R2 would then get an R3 refresh - probably quietly, like the R1-R2. I'm hoping at the least 470M SLI, and hopefully a Sandy Bridge upgrade as well.

I'm just thinking, because at CES Dell didn't advertise it as the M17x R3, it was the M17x 3D, IIRC.

This setup would still give us the thicker, better cooled, better looking (IMO), more powerful M17x for hardcore gaming, but give the fad-boys their 3D bollocks at a cheaper price. To the civilians, they'd be getting an Alienware at a great price, and because there's more of them than us, Dell would still be making good money, but we'd still be satisfied.

Thoughts?

 

You are totally right about that, there would have to be an M17x 3D and an M17x R3, the R3 for hardcore gaming like you have the R2, and 3D for people who like to play games in 3D.

Thats what i think about the current situation, im not dissapointed though with what they currently announced.

 

Not sure where you get your info but dell advertised the new M17X as the M17X R3 not 3D. Again as mentioned many times before please check your sources before writing it online and mis-informing others.


The 3D screen will be an option and I believe it will represent so few of their sales that the option will go away after 6 months but I might be wrong.

The 20,155 score shown a few weeks ago for that PC with a single 6970M is promising if confirmed.

According to IGN video on youtube the finish is the same as the M11X. IGN M17X R3

 

Was not my intention, and I did state "IIRC".

Live from Dell's CES 2011 press event -- Engadget

That's what I was thinking of.

 

No harm done but the R2 will stay the R2 and the R3 is the new version. The R2 might still get some upgraded graphics though but certainly not sandy bridge.

 

I have been looking to buy a new gaming computer the past few months and I have been lurking around these forums trying to find some info. I did not really know about all the new stuff coming in like at ces 2011 or anything like that (im a super noob) Then i got all excited when people on NBR were speculating about m13x, m14x. Obviously, the ces were not what we expected. So I guess my question is: Should I go ahead with the r3 when it comes out, or buy a r2 while I still can?

 

I have to agree with the others based on what info we have. It seems that the new R3 will be very 'feature rich', and they've put maximum power aside. A decked-out R2 will last you for years. I'd get low-end everything accept the GPUs and LED LCD and then upgrade everything else myself from Newegg, eBay, etc. You can build a beast for thousands less than Dell sells 'em for.

 

You'll be able to buy an R2 for some time still. At least a few months. That's also only from Dell, never mind the Outlet, eBay, forums...

 

Hope Ferrari doesnt sue them for copying their design of the 458 Italia air intakes ...or is there a new partner ship in the midst...

http://carzpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Ferrari458Italia2009.jpg

 

Go pester Jerry. He's clearing his throat like he might know something.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...take-center-stage-discussion.html#post7036596

 

I have to STRONGLY agree with this point......I would be side-stepping the R3, buying an R2 with lower base specs in terms of cpu/ram/HDD and THEN I would (knowing what I know now) deck it out with the very best of all of these components.

If you were to use Throttlestop on an 9xxXM, you will get as close to a SB cpu's as is possible and the difference would be negligable.

This is all conjecture, but If the R3 doesnt support dual gpu, then its not the beast that the R2 is for gaming as its been said before, gaming is gpu bound and not so much cpu orientated.

For gaming - stick with a dual gpu setup, get an xm under the hood (even tho my 840 does fine for gaming) and som other "nice" bits.....

The R3 is soooo obviously a multimedia "jack of all trades - master of none" kind of laptop....if that floats your boat, great..its good for you...if you want haardcore gaming, at this point in time, i would say forget it...max out an R2 and sit back an rock.....

 

I was on CNet's live blog of the Dell event and I remember the new release being referred to as the M17x 3D. I don't remember any reference of R3 anywhere. I think you're post is a very logical conclusion, even if it proves to be false. We know that the R2 will be sold alongside it for a while, but the likelihood of it seeing any updates (other than better GPU options) is slim. I do think though, it would be smart by Dell to offer a model optimized by 3D and a model optimized for all out benchmarking.

I have limited experience with 3D TV, and zero experience with 3D gaming, and could care less about it. But those that think, 3D will fail in 6 months are sadly mistaken. Something fails, when there's a company offering a better product, or the same thing for cheaper. 3D has been adopted by the ENTIRE industry. Theatrical releases, Home Entertainment, and now gaming. Every company, and every facet of the entertainment industry believe this is a money maker. Its got buzz, and they are going to do everything in their power to get us to spend money on it. The average consumer will believe the hype, and eventually it may live up to it. In the meantime the old, stubborn, traditional guys are a dwindling customer base, unlike the growing up and comers who probably want 3D.

Once Dell took over and made it affordable, it had to become more of a mainstream product. I typically don't think this works in the long run, because Alienware was made famous by the "niche" customers. Eventually the name will lose its halo status and Alienware will represent something totally different, however it will still be profitable for Dell. The business side of me understands how the short term benefit of this works. Buy the name, sell it to the masses on mostly name recognition alone, with decent stats. By the time niche group denounces the name and the word trickles down to the masses, Dell will have squeezed it for all its worth, and will just buy out the next name and repeat.

 

Reagrding "3D"...... its in its infancy....it isnt properly geared to be everything it "should" be....

Yes, Asus cam out with some 3d laptops such as the G51-3d and now the g73jh but just take a look at mainstream DVD's as an example (or blu rays)....even tho the technology exists to perpetuate these onto our screens in "glorious 3D", how many movies are there out there that offer the viewer this experience?....not many. Same goes for games .... at best, 3d is a gimmick and one that really doesnt offer the end user what they would be expecting...

Ever sat and watched one of those 3dtv's in your local store...ive been into my local retailers and "donned" the 3d glasses (which makes you feel like a complete twit) and watched the screen hoping for some major experience....sadly, no....maybe the odd 3d ball "comin' atcha" but not like the "mega" experience its hyped to be.

I hark back to the days when Jaws the movie 3d came out and everyone flocked to see it with the ole red/green paper glasses....c'mon...total crap....

Its the same now, its still crap, it will continue to be crap for quite some time to come and , basically, its a huge con IMHO.

Forget 3d, its pants....I can see why Dell have done it, basically, as its the "buzz thing" atm.....roots have been forgotten, pedigree has been put aside in favour of mass marketing appeal. Dell has funked up what SHOULD be a powerhouse of a gaming latop just to offer it to the masses along with the likes of the 3d Asus' lappy's.

Sure, its gonna make them more money 'cos then Dell get a nice share of the "3d pie" but Dell has forgotten abouth the nature of AW systems, in the search for more profit, it is disecting a high end niche laptop and bundling it off to make more profit (which as a business makes sense) and "cash in" by using the Alienware brand to "re-market" its own "dellized" systems.

 

Again you guys are dreaming and Dell calls it the R3. Only some journalist called it the M17X 3D.

PROOF


All we know for sure is that the R3 is as described and the R2 will be sold for another year or so with maybe an upgrade to 470M or 6970M but no way sandy bridge is going into the R2 as we know it.

 

Also, while im thinking of it....has everyone forgot that Dell already offer a 3d screen in the format of an OptX external monitor? - why on earth get rid (if its to be the case) of the RGBLED in favour...surely, for those who WANT to have 3d gaming, go get a 3d external monitor.....I think Dell should have simply "added" a package option....for those who want 3d, maybe a deal on an M17 R3 that includes Nvidia gpu's BUT also includes a discounted 3d Monitor....

That would have left the core system to be what it is best at being...a powerhouse...and for those "gadget-boi" fans out there, who WANT 3d, they could be happy too....

 

I hope that the R2 will be sold till i can at least get one, wich is in September. I don't want the R3, im not a 3D fanboy, im more for the hardcore gaming. Do you know if it will still be available at that time? I know you said another year but maybe it isn't? I don't know honestly..

 

After looking at Joe's piccies, i would bet my life on the fact that the shell is no longer metal/aluminum.....too much machining involved to get those ports so sculptured (around the audio ports) if it were the same construction as the R2 with its solid base and lid casting .... say hello to some nice "plastic" m17x R3...

 

Well I hope you can still have a RGB screen, I read on the Alienware twitter that they only support Nvidia cards for 3D, so I hope you can still get a RGB display if you purchase a 6970M, I wouldn't want a 900P screen or pay extra for a 3D screen i can't use.

Also, I wasn't really going to buy it until i heard about the HDMI-IN, that's a great idea and it was a selling point for me when i heard about the Clevo X7200, but i didn't buy it because of the price. I'm not to worried about the lose of SLI/Xfire, with all the problems i have heard and games becoming less demanding, I could careless unless i'm a huge benchmarker.

I hope the price doesn't change too much, i would hate to find out that the $1,500 base price has a horrible CPU, 1GB of ram, some old Nvidia GT card, and a 900P screen.

 

i would guess you get the lower ati video card, i5 cpu, 4gb of ram and lower end screen. I would imagine a decent equipped would be $2,000-$2,200 and would have a 3d nvidia, 3d screen and i7 processor.

 

I believe this is a new video about the M17x R3, not that informative though but allright.

YouTube - Alienware M17X laptop at CES 2011 - Which first look review

Im still deciding if i should get an R2 or an R3 - if the R2 would still be available in September this year.
If not ill just go with the R3 maxed out, except for the ram ill stick with 8GB of RAM as 32GB is really much and what would we (or at least me) do with that amount of RAM? I hope the R3's performance will be about the same as the R2 or maybe better, we will see how this new one will run games.

Im not gonna buy the 3D feature though, im buying for pure gaming.

 

Just to keep the thread on track - probably worth someone starting a thread on the validity of 3D and it's market (or the opposite) and letting the discussion on that flourish there.

Seems to me that AW has been noted for offering SLI and CF when no one else does. I will be surprised if they have given up and just left that entire market to Clevo. Truly when you discuss gaming machines at all, any machine without CF or SLI is almost immediately "2nd tier" in the discussion. I'm not saying that single cards aren't without their merits, but the market for these machines is hand in hand with their ability to carry two cards. Very few folks purchase the M17x R1/R2 with just a single card without plans to eventually take it to two cards. It would seem to be a major sign of giving up if Dell changes that format. There is a literal sea of single card machines, with very low margins, and the M17x has always stood above that.

So I'm very curious if Dell/AW are "giving up" in being able to sell a machine with dual cards. The R2 isn't really a substitute, because SB processors are going to be night and day better than the older I7's.

And secondly, why not 470M's? That seems strange as well. It certainly seems within the power and heat envelope of the machine. Possibly the 460 and 470 are getting replaced by 5xx series and Dell is saying "why bother, just wait for the new chips to come" and putting 460's in as a cheap placeholder. Remember when the 8700's were first on the 1730's? The "real" power cards came later, and many folks holding 8700's were very unhappy. Wonder if the 460M is the modern equivalent or if there are simply so many parts and so little space going on in the R3 that 460M's are the most they can manage. It's another Clevo market opportunity I think.

I also note that there is going to be more than the 120hz screen being offered. The article mentions 2 screens, so let's hope they keep the RGBLED as an option.

And lastly I wondered a bit if the new paint (soft touch) might be impacting the heat. The alum shell of the R1/2 isn't going to make dramatic changes in temps, but the alum should dissipate heat. Put a rubber (insulating) paint instead of anodizing onto that shell and you'd basically be trapping that heat back into the body. Just a thought.

Rumoured problems:
Overheating
Possible single cards only
No RGBLED

Someone in the marketing department made some very strange decisions if these things turn out to be true.

 

Monday we'll all see what options are there,

 

I agree with that statement, that's why I said that Dell could also have catered to their high end crowd much like Clevo did with the X7200. Who knows, they still might and I'll continue hoping for an M18x.

 

Here's the bottom line. If there is a configuration that can outperform the top R2, it'll sell and be a worthy successor. Very few people will care how it does it, just as long as it does it. /thread

In the end.....a smaller, lighter, prettier (subjective), more versatile (3D, USB3, HDMI-In) system will make a lot of customers happy, especially if they can do it at a lower price point. It will be sad if there is no RGB LED option, and I believe that will be a bigger hindrance than the axing of CF/SLI for most of the R2 customers that wish to make the jump. However this is dependent on the single GPU option performing as well or better than the R2's dual 5870 setup.


On a personal note...If the R3's real world (i.e. gaming) performance matches the R2's range topping dual 5870's, my M15x will be going up for sale.

 

The 6970M will probably fall 20-30% short of xfire 5870s (in most games) is my guess since it's based on an underclocked barts. However, tomshardware noted the R3 was already throttling due to heat in Crysis 2 which isn't good news because that means very little to no overclocking headroom to bring those clocks back up to normal desktop barts pro and/or xt levels.

 

Hey Joker can you link tomshardware article?

 

You're probably right, I will take some solace in the thought that they will probably offer better GPU options in the future. It is very disheartening to hear about the throttling issue. We both know how frustrating the M15x throttling issues were. Then I read about the CF issues some of the R2 owners had. I'm really surprised that this thing would throttle so quickly in a single GPU setup. I'm really interested to hear what power supply they decided to supply with it. I wish some of those journalists, actually did some journalism. All we were left with after CES was more questions.

 

Dell's 3D Laptops: Yes, They Can Play Crysis 2

 

thanks Phinagle wonder if they was playng Crysis 2 max out on 3D with a single 460M lol

 

I just can't understand a laptop maxing out Crysis 2 on 19x10, 3D, with, what? the equivelant to a GTX 260-192? Fat chance.

 

And they call this the most powerful laptop...???

I m still scratching my head over this one lol

 

A new refreshed model will probably show up this summer due to the amount of bombardment they will get after this and hopefully the new GF110 will show up.

 

Unfortunately I expect M17x-Lite to make a big splash with sales figures. It's priced $300 cheaper than the existing M17x-R2 and has all the buzzwords: Sandy bridge, 3D gaming, HDMI Input, USB 3.0 etc. Dell won't care about a vocal minority.

 

Yep, I agree and this is exactly what I posted a few days ago. Now if the single GPU score of 20155 posted a few weeks ago is real then it might not be too much of a loss. But I may be expecting too much.

 

Is that even possible with a single GPU with the advertised GPU options for the R3

 

I have no idea... Joker said it seemed unrealistic and I tend to agree but that's what was posted.

I guess we have to wait to see until someone gets their hands on it.

 

You know, after seeing SB + 485M benchmarks, I may have to take back what I said. It's possible that the 6970M can get 20k with a SB CPU in 3dmark06 since it's such a highly cpu dependent benchmark. 485M is scoring 12k GPU vantage with 2920xm so if 6970M is 10-15% slower, it could hit 18-20k 3dmark06. The 485M is matching 5870m crossfire performance in most games (some it falls behind) so hopefully the 6970M follows that trend. I'm still holding out hope that we can put two 6970M's in our M17x-R2.

My biggest concern for the R3 is throttling. Synthetics are meaningless if the system thermal throttles in games.

 

I'm going to guess that since everything in those leaked photos has come to pass...there will be a configuration that Is strong enough to hit 20k. At least I'm hoping so if im going to be ordering one Monday. I have a feeling there will be a 1200p screen AND a 1080 Which is obviously Is for 3d.

 

i dont think there will be 1200p choice would be 1080p 3d wled (nvidia) or 1080p wled (for amd)...

 

Yeah I agree the throttling is worrying me a lot also. It might be a driver issue that can be fixed or the thermal tables that were overly restricted which would be easily fixable. We had that issue on the R1 and R2.

I am just worried that the cooling might just not be adequate in which case the design of the R3 would be flawed.

 

I'm just going on the guess that Dell had a deal for a certain # of screens from whoever makes the rgb. Since the m17x isn't a large volume seller it would make sense to continue it on in the r3.

 

Might not be the best source, but adding SB 2720 to the 3D06 testing instead of 920xm upped the score by about 3k. So take a current single chip that can score 17k and you would have a 20k score from a single chip. As mentioned above, CPU impacted scores are just how it is with 06.

I might be insane but I was kind of hoping for something more like 21-22k from a SB based system, knowing the CPU improvements would up the score. A 470M SLI system and possible a 6970 CF would do that with a 2920 in it. So I'm praying the M17x can still take 2 moderate cards and a 2920. Otherwise all you really have is a slightly larger and heavier M15x, if all you can get is a 2920 and a single moderate card.

Remember, it's not like they are offering a 485M in this thing. If they are saying it will take "only" the 460M, then it would be very limited to only take one of those. They are roughly 65-70W cards. That's a lot but the 5870's (full card mind you not the chip) were not all that diff from that and the R2 could take 2 of them. So it's at least hopeful that we may see a dual card capable system. Now whether it's worth waiting for the imminent 560M's to arrive and whether we can keep CF 6970's and SLI 460's from throttling in the middle of a game is quite another pickle to worry about.

We'll know more tomorrow...

 

I am a Machinist and the machines we have now can do alot and most small parts for a laptop or such are stamped out but bet your right the new r3 is more plastic

 

any one know when exactly to expect pricing and information to be updated it it is right at midnight or like 8 am cst. Just wondering when this forum will explode with all the hate