Simple Question

Hey,

I wanted to know if there is an M15x R1/2/3. I got my computer in December 2009, wanted to know if upgrading to a 460m is possible.

Thanks in advance.

 

Yours is what's commonly referred to as the R2, although the original one was the m15x and the newer one is the M15x.

Yours is able to take the 460m, or for that matter the 6970 or the 5850.

 

Well technically your/our M15x's are the Dell version which supports core i processors. The old lower case m15x with the skullcap or ripley design was when Alienware were run by themselves and were sort of a Clevo reseller. Yours will take a 460m infact here are a list of all supported GPUs that have been tested:
GT 240m, GTX 260m, Mobility 5850, GTX 460m, Mobility 5870, Radeon 6970m.

 

Thanks guys. +1 for both of you.

 

It is possible to upgrade to a 460m, but I would recommend getting a better card while in the process of upgrading. 460m is rather weak at todays standards.

Compatible GPUs with the M15x with the most powerful highest up:
6970m
5870m
5850m
460m
260m
240m

I would recommend the 6970m as it is about twice as powerful as a 460m

 

And price-wise?

 

Well price to performance, the 5850/5870 are up there. Then the 460m if you can a cheap one. The 6970m is a bit of a lottery. If you ever get the chance to snag one that you can afford, don't hesitate because it will be worth it.

 

Price wise: in order of price/performance rate:
6970M
5850M
460m
5870M
260M
240M

 

I'd argue that the 5850M is the clear price/performance champion, particularly when overclocking is considered. In my experience, the 6970M provides a performance advantage in the M15x ranging from a high of 52% (3dMark11 at stock clocks, dropping to 30% at max o/c to date) down to 18% (3dMark06 at max o/c to date). Given that the 6970M costs nearly twice as much, it's hard to argue on any objective basis that the 6970M is the better value. Now subjective value is a different proposition. If you're a performance junkie, then the incremental speed/points/fps is worth more, substantially more, than the base case. And that is how we rationalize the 6970M's, God bless 'em, but the argument holds water only because we want it to.

 

@The Revelator

Your argument is very valid.

I would personally take the 6970m though if I was upgrading from a 260m as the performance gap from 260m to 6970m is a lot bigger than from 260m to 5850m.

Lets say that we count on how much performance we gain from upgrading. We subtract the performance of each card with the performance of a 260m. The performance boost from a 260m to a 6970m will be about double or more than from a 260m to a 5850m

Its all up to personal preference though, but I find it more worth it to do a really good upgrade for once than upgrade to the 2nd best.

 

I would too -- and did (coming from a 5850M). Value per se had nothing to do with it; serious additional power provided all the justification required. And I've been delighted with the result.

 

The 6970m was my first venture from green team to red/teal team and I am impressed to say the least. Still miss a few things that nvidia offered but can't really argue too much.

 

You say the price of the 6970 is much more than the 5850. What are the exact prices, any idea?

PS: @The Revelator, I replied to what you said in the '460m % coolers' thread. Please take a look at it if you have the time

 

6970m is about 400$
5850m is about 180$+

 

Lol wow, that's a huge price difference. So the 460m sells at $320, 5850m is about $180, and then 6970 is four hundred?
And both cards are a performance boost from the 260m right?

 

260m -> 460m/5850m will give a nice boost.
260m -> 6970m will give more than double of that boost.

Its up to personal preference and how much you can afford.

 

And between the 460m and the 5850m the 460 takes it, I suppose?

 

The 5850m is slightly more powerful than the 460m. Overall the 5850m will give you more value for money, unless you need a nVidia gpu for work.

 

Hmm.. So if I play games such as CoD and Crysis, maybe Aion/an MMO I'll see better performance in FPS, unless the application specifies that it is only NVIDIA compatible, correct?

 

You will see better FPS in all games with the 5850m. I would only go for the 460m if I needed it for work like 3d developing etc (
M15x does not have a 3d screen anyway).

 

True. Well you have officially changed my mind. I'm gonna spend $140 less and get the 5850

Just out of curiosity, do you know by how much my FPS would increase by? I know it's a vague question lol

 

Im not sure of exactly how much you will gain in terms of fps from a 260m as I have never owned this card, but I would say you can expect about double.

I have 2x 5870m (no overclock) in my 17x R2. If I disable one, I can pretty much max out 90% of all games (for crysis I need both cards active to max out).

The 5850m is pretty much the same card as the 5870m, but with lower clock speeds. You can overclock it to match the 5870m, even overclock it past the potential of the 5870m.

 

@dhruv if you can look for a Dell version as they are a bit better built and can handle higher OC's. You can probably hit 10k GPU score in Vantage with it.