M18X, first alienware. Please Help.

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I saw that there is a Thread only to this kind of questions, but I don't know much of computers and I couldn't understand much of the opinion at the other topic.
So, now I have a Sony Vaio witch I'm very disappointed, because it doesn't run any good games, neither serves me well at my college needs. Im doing architecture course, but I also like to use some 3D programs like Maya.
Enough of background, what configuration would be a good one to my case? I'm brazilian, so sorry for any mistakes at the writing.
Oh, the price may be a problem, so if you can get a good config. with a good price it would be nice, I think 2500 its the maximum price I can pay. Thanks a lot.

 

I recommend you get the least amount of ram and the smallest hard drive and upgrade them yourself.

 

They only offer the m11x in Brazil. You wil not have warrenty in your country.

 

Yeah, I know that, but I'll be at USA in July, so I can get one while Im there, about the warrenty I think I can get it here. And, do you think these Alienware really need the warrenty? Cause I've been reading about them and everyone say it's pretty good.

 

About that, any store can upgrade it? Because probably I will only be able to upgrade it when I come back to Brazil.

 

If Alienware was always good this site would not exist.

The Q here is do you want SLI/CF/Blu ray?

Got this for ya:

Spoiler

Software & Services
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7 2720QM 2.2GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit
MEMORY 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS)
VIDEO CARD Dual 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M – NVIDIA® SLI® Enabled
HARD DRIVE 320GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
WIRELESS + BLUETOOTH Intel® Advanced-N 6200 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology and Bluetooth 3.0
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) with Roxio Creator 2011

Price: 2428,99 excl. shipping.

 

Oh, Thanks a lot, but sorry, can you explain what is the difference between SLI/CF/Blu ray ?
And this config. you made, should I be able to play good games with it and run 3D programs?

 

SLI...you will have 2 graphic cards from Nvida.
Crossfire...you will have 2 graphic cards from AMD.

If you watch movies you can upgrade the DVD drive to a Blu ray drive.

Most people here seem to have the AMD cards for gaming.

Anyone has some benchmark numbers or something similar to compare gtx460m/6790m?

 

upgrade it yourself. if you know how to use a screwdriver and loosen/tighten a screw that's 99% of any job on a computer.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, thats what I want, I guess. SLI.
And about the Blu ray, I don't need it and don't want to, just the dvd driver is fine.
Wich one do you recommend to play games and to run 3D programs? The SLI or the Crossfire? Is there any difference at all?

 

Thanks for the reply, I myself prefer not to do it, but I know someone who can.

 

Always I used to buy the advanced warranty w/ NBD service. Then you call the free phone to reset your warranty as international. I have been in Brazil Sao Paulo, Minas, Mafra, etc. etc. etc. Never had problems that cannot be handled with the Dell's service.

 

Thanks for the information!
Oh, I read at another topic, that the alienware might not be too good to run 3D programs as Maya, Zbrush and stuff. Is this realy true?

 

M18x does not have a 3D screen, to get proper effects you need to find 120htz screens

I know the XPS17 has that option, I'm not sure about Alienware 17's, probably do though

 

Nigel, thanks for the information, but here is te situation... I would like to run this programs, but I use them as a hobbie, until now at least. I dont need them professionaly, so do you think the M18X would satisfy this need, plus offer me good gaming settings? Thanks again all of you!

 

Ok, let me be more specific.

The M18x does not have the 3D emitter built into the bezel either. I have heard that there are some USB type emitters that people can use but without a 120 htz screen it probably really wont look very good. Plus the 3D screens have higher brightness levels that help compensate for the tinted glasses you have to wear.

 

I think he's referring to 3D CAD not 3D screens

 

If you are referring to the comment I made, it wasn't that the m18x's would perform badly, it was more that the Quadro/FireGL (nVidia/AMD respectively) cards are designed to work best with those sorts of applications apps, and therefore would generally perform better with them.

The Alienware should easily handle anything a hobbyist 3D modeller throws at it

 

Yeah Nigel, I think you got it wrong, I asking about these 3D programs not about the screen as EtownsFinest said.

 

Of course he is. (Blush)

Would it help if I mention that I never even heard of 3D CAD until now?

I thought Maya was some fancy 3D game I never heard of.

Thx for the tip.

 

Oh, ok, I don't remember if it was your post, I read the topic asking opinions for a game designer, and some people there told the guy that the M18X maybe wasn't the best choice. But, thanks for the information, can you make a costumization to me? Please, as I don't know much of computers, now I need only to get a good configuration, wich doesn't get more than 2500,00.

 

If you need to do serious business Autodesk Maya then you will probably want to go with a Dell Precision m6600 or an HP Elitebook. The firepro 8900 is architecturally exactly the same as a single 6970m. You have to decide if you want gaming performance over CAD or CAD over gaming. For $2500 you can pick up a m18x with xfire 6970m with the base 2630qm cpu.

 

I use autoCAD/Maya almost everyday , with my 2920 it runs perfectly , I don't think graphic card really effect in the point. CPU is really important too.

 

So, iPhantomhive, this laptop is from Dell? Do you run games at it too? I mean, good games, such as The Witcher 2, Crysis... If you do, maybe this one may be better than the M18X to me. Thanks! =)

 

Yeah, actually I dont know if Im gonna need to do some serious business with Maya someday, maybe with CAD. There is my doubt, because, I still have some doubts about the M18X being good running theses programs.
As I first said, I want a laptop to play and to use at architecture college.
Thanks.

 

Yes , Dell. I do tested some games , but I haven't tried Witcher 2 yet , for Crysis 2 max setting , I got 30-40 fps , I'll try Fear 3 tonight but due to dead pixel I don't feel do anything just atm.

 

Yeah, I think these are great results, can you send the link to this laptop? I haven't found searching for it. Thanks man, maybe this one may be a better solution than M18X ?

 

Its m18x http://www.alienware.com/Landings/laptops.aspx

 

hahaha, I feel so stupid, at least I advise that I dont know nothing about laptops or pc's. Hey, I was taking a look at the XPS 17, do you know if this one is good?
See, I quickly made this config. with the XPS17

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® Home Premium, 64-Bit, English edit
OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft® Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook edit
SERVICE PLAN 1 Year Premium Hardware Service edit
VIDEO CARD NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M 3GB graphics with TV Tuner edit
MEMORY 16GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 90 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery edit
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive edit
SECURITY SOFTWARE McAfee Security Center with VirusScan, Firewall, Spyware Removal, 15-Months edit
HD DISPLAY 17.3" FHD (1080p) 3D Display with 2.0MP HD Webcam & Facial Recognition edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Tray Load Blu-ray® Triple Writer (reads and writes CDs, DVDs, BDs) edit
WIRELESS + BLUETOOTH Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000 edit
SOUND OPTIONS JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3

And I got: $2,184.99
Have no idea if its good tough.

 

XPS 17 is not that bad. if you compare to alienware , the alienware's look & hardware , especially the led keyboard is more fancy then XPS 17.

PS : m18x's battery life last longer then xps 17 , xps 17 has 3d display and half most fps because of the 3d screen. (9 cell vs 12 cell battery)

3D is not needed for a laptop , you won't really enjoy it , unless you have 55" TV.

 

Ok. I can talk about the xps17. I had SIX of them in the last two months. They all went back to Dell for one reason or another.

If you want an average computer with a non upgardable video card then the xps is for you.

It's a good computer for most but I hated it. The build, feel, quality, it just isn't there.

 

So, this config. I made with the XPS 17, can you do one better with the alienware without exceed too much the price? If you do, than I'll go with the Alienware... everytime I go to that customize part, I exceed the price, but I have no idea of what is best to upgrade and what is not, according to what I want this laptop for. Like yourself I want it to use Maya, CAD And play good games too!

 

Oh, than it looks like my Vaio and I don't want that. As I asked to iPhantomhive, can you make a config. better than the one I made to the XPS17 with a Alienware without exceed too much the price? Thanks again all of you, you've been offering me great help!

 

Unfortunately the alienware brand is more expensive because of the build. An 18 inch screen, dual video cards, better wireless, no bloatware, it all adds up to a higher cost. That's why I said most people can get by with the xps17. I couldn't and realized it was going to cost 1000.00 more. Ultimately I'll be happier in the long run with it vs the xps.

I'm sure you can config a base m18x for about 2100 though.

 

Good Idea about the $2100 , just buy it without any config + tax $2100 lol.

I've advised him that to call his country's dell rep , he probably get cheaper then website's build.

 

Oh yes, absolutely, you are correct-o phantom ............ call a rep and read about how other saved money on the forums

 

AMD Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire - Notebookcheck.net Tech
Here you can find a game performance comparison between the 6970 cf and the 460 sli, just click on the various comparison charts related to the games.

 

Thanks Nigel and Iphantom ! So, here in Brazil they only ship the M11X, so I think I can't buy the M18X from here. Do you guys think that a basic M18X would be enough? If it is, than I have no problem with it!
Thank you again!
I'll try to put up a config. here, that may not cost too much more, do you guys can give me a hint of what I HAVE to upgrade and things that I don't need them? I know that the Hard Drive is something I can upgrade myself right? As someone answered me at the first page.


I came up with this, with it, will I be able to play games like Crysis 2 and The Witcher 2? And use those programs I need, as CAD?

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit
MEMORY 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (4DIMMS)
VIDEO CARD Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6970M - AMD CrossFireX™
HARD DRIVE 320GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
WIRELESS + BLUETOOTH Intel® Advanced-N 6200 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology and Bluetooth 3.0
WIRELESSHD Internal WirelessHD Technology - FullHD Video Transmitter
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

3.208,00.

What do you think? The GTX 460M Sli is a good one? Will I be able to play Witcher 2 and Crysis 2 with it? And use the programs I need as CAD ?

 

Oh, thank you Rafix, I will take a look at it.