M18x US Launch Info

Personally, I would like to have a M18x with a single 6970m GPU, 2720qm CPU, Slot Load Blu-Ray, the best screen offered and everything else at a minimum. This would set me up for going to dual 6970s when all you experts work out the bugs, and when the prices would be decent for the 6970m. I already have the extra memory and a 240Gb SSD. When the pricing comes down for the 2920xm, I could jump to it. At the moment ,from the configuration link we have, the single 6970m is not available, but i am hoping it will be on launch day. I would expect the cost would be $300 - $500 more than a M17x - R3. Just my half baked thinking.

 

Yeah a single 6970m would be perfect for me too. Currently I'm using the m17xr1 with a single 260m for my daily work in game development. A $900 upgrade is crazy -_-

 

If offered, would you need the upgraded power supply for eventual possible 6970m crossfire?

One reason I was thinking the SLI 460 maybe a decent option to get all the heat sinks, etc and larger PSU to start...

 

I appreciate the comparison given (saw in another thread):
2X GTX485m > 2X 6970M > 2X GTX460 > GTX485m > 6970m > GTX460

And have been reading all the commentary from this community (much appreciated).

I am really wondering if anyone can give some approx numbers to this? (Percentagewise?)

I have an m17xr2 with crossfire 5870. I am wondering if I should wait unitl the m18x comes down in price or try to hurry and spend my tax money before it gets consumed to other things more in the wife realm. I am not really looking for a yes, no, do or don't do it decision, but rather numbers (best guess indexes that relate to performance benefit) to base, not if, but when to get it. I am guessing this price may go down in a few months or so. Maybe when Clevo, Asus, etc come out with more of their competing products, (at least I am hoping). The only numerical reference I could find was the graphic charts at Toms, but these were for desktop cards and didn't seem to consider SLI or Crossfire. Also, does going to SandyBridge up the performance for gaming?

From Toms (gaming index)
460M = 35
6970 = 56
5870 = 45

What I would want is an approximate numerical performance index for the following:

m17xr2 - $2760 - i7 740QM - 5870 crossfire
m18x - $2318 - i7 2630QM - GTX 460M
m18x - $2518 - i7 2630QM - GTX 460M sli
m18x - $3218 - i7 2630QM - HD 6970M crossfire
(ps: I have added other options such as blueray, intel ultimate wifi, and with the m18x, wirelesshd)
(I upgrade RAM and HardDrive myself and plan to re-use or buy later, so not to be considered)

Should I even consider the m18x, wait and be happy with my r2 or even opt for the Clevo x7200? (I would hate to get this and realize that my r2 has a better screen and performance is negligable for my needs and not want to sell it)

Does i7 2820QM offer any performance advantage over i7 2630QM as far as gaming? (worth the $350 upcharge) or even the i7 2720QM? Numbers please? (somethng like 1% or 5%, less, more?)

I am also wondering if the aluminum case is the last of the breed and Dell is going to try and go with this carbon fiber case. I really like the aluminum case.

I saw a few comments on the current WLED screen. Is Dell planning on a new and improved screen as another option in the future? How does this one compare to the RGBLED screen of the r2? Or even 90% gamut on the clevo?

If I decide to cheap out and just go with single or even dual 460m, can I replace with 6970 or 485m later on, or is self-upgrading GPUs a bad idea? (I know I am technically capable, just worried about ability to order parts)

One of the main reasons I got the R2 was for the RGB screen. I see some comments about the m18x screen. Is it that much lower quality, (can't be as bad as the m17xr1, which I did have)?

Currently, my main games are: StarCraft2 (mostly), Portal 2 (but finished), DragonAge2 & 1, Crysis 2, MassEffect 2 & 1, Oblivion, Fallout 3 & NV, Left4Dead 2, Mafia 2

My future games will be: DukeNukemForever, The Witcher 2, Fable 2, Rage, Prey 2, Skyrim, Diablo 3, Starcraft Zerg Expansion

Current m17xr2:
1 224-8108 Lunar Silver - Anodized Aluminum $2537.80
1 317-5661 Intel Core i7 740QM Quad Core Processor, 1.73GHz (2.93GHz Turbo Mode, 6M Cache) $0.00
1 317-3664 6GB Memory (1x 2GB, 1x 4GB DDR3) $0.00
1 330-7841 Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter $0.00
1 320-8856 17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p) $0.00
1 320-8988 Dual 1024 MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 with ATI CrossFireX technology $0.00
1 342-0666 250GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD $0.00
1 421-1400 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English $0.00
1 313-8569 Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW) $0.00
1 313-8944 5.1 Channel Audio $0.00
1 430-3739 Intel Ultimate N WiFi Link 6300 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology $0.00
1 430-0628 Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR $0.00
1 464-7516 DHS $50 EPP DISCOUNT MATCH $0.00

Past m17xr1:
1 224-5966 Red Metallic $2417.07
1 317-0819 Intel Core2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB) $0.00
1 317-0856 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz 2 x 2048MB $0.00
1 320-8140 17.0in, WUXGA,LCD,ANW,M17X $0.00
1 320-0762 SLI Dual 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA GeForce (NB10E-GTX1) $0.00
1 341-0012 1TB (500GB x 2) 7,200RPM (xMB Cache) - RAID 0 $0.00
1 421-0720 ALIENFX RED $0.00
1 421-1400 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English $0.00
1 313-8977 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive,QuickSilver $0.00
1 430-3558 Internal 300Mbps Dual-Band a/g/n 2x2 MIMO $0.00
1 430-0628 Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR $0.00
1 461-2681 DHS 7 PERCENT EPP DISCOUNT MATCH $0.00

 

Good question.

1. I would think the 240 power supply would be fine for a single GPU. Of course, an upgrade to the larger PSU would be neccessary for either dual GPU setup.

2. Will the M18x come with a different motherboard depending on which GPU manufacturer is used? If so, a choice between AMD or NVIDIA would have to be made with the original purchase.

 

Agree...I travel moderately and taking one single entity with me that is able to play all the games I want on very high is much more desireable then taking a 3 part system with me on vacation just because I want to play at max settings.

Laptop and desktop gaming power seems to be getting blurred as consoles slow the PC game progression so might as well just consolidate. I'm still gonna wait to see if they drop the price on those cards but I also agree the xfire is a must if you're going to get this sucker

 

The M18X config page linked to originally seems to have been removed from the site. Changes afoot?

 

Link is dead.

FIX THE CFX upgrade price dell!

 

WAAYYY bummed out about these prices, going to have to look at AAFES or other options or I'm going to go grab a Sager

The price of the stock config over the m17xR3 is already a huge premium, but add on the CF costs and the possibility I'll be beta testing an R1? No thanks...

I wouldn't bet on it

On the desktop side, I remember the node shrinks on the CPU forcing a motherboard change/"chipset update" which completely screwed up the path for people (see: 65nm to 45nm Core 2's)

Hope so!!

It's more like this:

2 x GTX 485M > 2X 6970M > GTX 485M > 6970M ~= 2X GTX460 > GTX 460

But SLI/CF depends on scaling too, in some games a single 6970M trails the 485M but in SLI vs. CF, the dual 6970M's beat the 485M in SLI due to scaling, etc.

Either way though, the 6970M itself is roughly equivalent to GTX 460M SLI

 

Link doesn't work anymore!

Gives me hope

 

This is completely false....you can use a 45nm Core 2 Duo on anything from a 975x upto a P45 motherboard as long as their is bios support

 

Not working now. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!????

 

was working but I think they took it down. or something

 

Nope, not all of them. You might want to recheck that

And like you said, not every board has the support for it for various reasons

Either way you put it, i'm hot holding my breath on it, knowing Dell/Alienware

 

PCI Express & CrossFire: Scaling Explored : Introduction

If it does not work it is the board makers fault, the chipset is compatible

 

To me it is all about the design. You can't find a gaming laptop with a lighted keyboard (Do not like the Asus) and none even come close to the AW design.

 

I'm glad they took it down. Gets rid of the temptation.

 

my m17x is in the shop and they don't have any replacement processors. The rep I talked to said if they couldn't get it done by friday. He was just going to put in for a replacement. Want m18x.

 

My M18X status is now in Pre production... not sure exactly what that change means but progress is good

 

yeah ive decided to go w m18x not x7200.
the battery life of x7200 sucks.
i mean i know that m18x will be heavy but im a student and i need to take my laptop to school. when i do that, i dont usually bring my charger because i dont use more than an hour. but x7200 only has 30mins when idle.
so i hope m18x come up w gtx 485m
even its not the case, im going w 6970 cf

 

I'm definitely sitting on the fence while I wait for a comprehensive tear down review (*cough* Joker *cough*) from a real overclocker.

I still can't find a link or someone who has run the current 2920xm through the ringer with the newest versions of Throttlestop.

 

For those wondering about specs, etc. you might check the Mobile Manual and Service Manual docs, available online: Alienware: Online Documentation

-HK

 

$1999 with a single 6970M would be fair.

The a la carte pricing we've seen, if accurate, is the worst I've ever seen. It's $300 for an 8GB upgrade? My goodness.

 

Just remember, up till and sometimes even after release the specs in a manual can change. I've seen in monitors where specs were changed in the manual when someone discovered a certain feature worked a certain way that the manual said wasn't so. So just take all sources, ordering page and so forth with a bit of salt. This close to release most specs should be solid, but if a spec looks suspect, just keep your mind open that it might be wrong.

 

I'm not gonna believe anything about pricing until the machines are actually for sale from the front page of the Dell.com website. I don't care if people have already ordered and their machines are being built.

 

i have a hard time believing the 2x6970m upgrade will be $900 in the US. Probably more like $600-650.

 

Dell is trolling us.

 

When will it be on the site to order?

 

No one knows.

 

2x 6970 and a 900 upgrade fee is absolutely absurd.. Dell can be a little lacking marketing wise but should not be to this extent...

 

Anyone thinking about keeping your R2 like I do now I'm well prepared for an M18x but this kinda pricing is darned hard to justified.

 

The retail price of a single 6970M is 500-550$. Dell gets their cards in bulks and probably pays 400$ per card. Add 2 heatsinks, a crossfire cable, some % margin and 900$ wouldn't seem that absurd, even though I'd very much like to see it around 700$. Dell should lower the starting price by a few hundred, to fix the situation.

 

Nice they just started updating some of the US m18x page Alienware M18x Laptop Details ? Gaming Laptop with Full HD | Dell

 

1080p 18" screen doesn't quite justify at least almost standard specs on an m17x but who knows. Maybe cheaper outsourced 2nd GPU.

 

tactx keys added

12 cell battery

aluminum chasis

1.1" bigger screen

thats all i can think of for differences

 

But (a big BUT!) less display resolution, pixel, etc. quality. Just compare 1920x1280 (in a 17") vs. 1900x1080... (in a 18") +

 

Clevo/sager are able to offer it around 650-700

Plus, it comes with a 460m, so you have to calculate it as a jump from 460m to 6970, then add on CF cable, and 2nd 6970.

 

is there any reason that dell doesnt offer 1920x1080 display? is it because of battery problem?
maybe they will have it when m18x is officialy released i hope

 

I assume you mean 1920 x 1200? The reason is because no panel manufacturer makes an 18" 1920 x 1200 screen and it would be too expensive for Dell to contract one to just make 1 for the M18x...

The 1920 x 1080 is the default display on the M18x.

 

Just spotted this for M17x



Could it be M18x might get the same thing?

 

Heh, to reproduce the above, go to search.dell.com and search for:
alienware m17x r3

 

BUT a subwoofer
and an IGP and
2 X USB 3.0
and HDMI IN
and SATA 3
and Sandy Bridge...

 

Clevo/Sager is a different story. They don't charge that much on RAM, HDD, CPU upgrades either.

 

You're right, indeed, but the FRONT LINE of any kind of computer is the display screen...

 

It's been like that for a long time

Doesn't mean it'll happen though, Dell is notorious for putting things up that don't always come true

 

Oh and practically the mobile power equivalent of a desktop 6970/580...

 

While we are debating the pricing issue, please note that the upgrade to a single 6970 is a $250 upgrade on the R3, which even if doubled would be $500, add in additional power supply (change to the 330W model which is required in SLI choice) and you might be talking $600-700 with new model markup that is a more appropriate pricing level as others have highlighted.
This is a long way of saying it "seems" like the 600-700 price that others think "should" be charged, is not entirely unrealistic given comparable model pricing.

 

The upgrade to a single 6970m is from a single 460m, not from scratch like it would be when adding a second 6970m, so you can't say even if doubled it's $500, you forgot to take the 460m's price into account

 

The old config page had the M18x defaulting to the GTX 460M card as the base card. From there, $900 for crossfire means you're paying +$175 upgrade for the initial 6970 and another $725 for the additional 6970. I think that's where people are upset.

Looking at it more, the increased price of the M18x over the M17x R3 is about 250-275 dollars. The base price difference is $500 (assuming start price of $1,999), but if you add in the upgrades to the M17x to the base specs of the expected M18x below:
$75 GTX 460M (175 more to upgrade to 6970)
$150 1920x1080 screen
$25 Intel Wireless (I thought I saw the M18x having a better default wireless card?)
-------
$250 is the gap between the M17x R3 components to the base M18x level.

Is the $250 worth it for the aluminum chasis, larger screen, sli/xfire option, 5 additional function keys, sub-woofer?

I was hoping it'd start at 1799, but I don't think that'll happen.

heh, Ryan beat me to it...

 

Yes, without a doubt. Dual GPU & the aluminum chasis seal the deal to make it a true top of the line Alienware gaming rig.