What to upgrade next... or get a new laptop?

Hi guys,

I love my m15x, and I have already upgrade the memory to 16GB and the drives to 2 SSDs. I am considering changing the GPU as I thought it would be the most obvious, but I am also thinking about CPU as I am not just playing on my awesome laptop.

I have the following config:

Based on that, would you recommend a new GPU (ATI 7970m or nVidia GTX 770M) or CPU (which one)... or save the money for a brand new Alienware (14"?)

Thanks for your help. Christmas is coming, and I want to be ready to open my own gift

Cheers

 

For CPU upgrade you want to get an i7 920xm or i7 940xm. Both of these have unlocked multipliers and can be overclocked to significantly boost performance.

For GPU, probably the best option in terms out outright performance is the GTX 680M, but you need to flash the vBIOS to a tweaked one available at Tech Inferno.
The 7970M is a good option and great value but it can run a bit hot, especially when overclocked.

GTX 770M also a good option and it will run cooler.

In terms of gaming, picking up either the GTX 680M or 7970M will make your M15x significantly more powerful for gaming than a new AW 14.
The i7 4700QM processor is faster than an overclocked i7 940xm but that shouldn't be an issue unless you really need that extra cpu performance.

 

Sell it, try to get a bargain and then get a new laptop. It gives you chance to think about it little more...

 

Stock vs stock 840qm is close to 920XM. However due to being unlocked you can achieve 3.3ghz no sweat across all cores at 100% load with the cooling in the M15x. Needless to say that is a massive increase in performance if you need it. 1.86Ghz vs 3.3ghz! 3.7ghz attainable on 1 or 2 cores.

GPU upgrade is a wise choice to start with. I recommend the 680M. Prices are getting finally very reasonable. If you have a little patience wait until late October/November and see what the 9970M has to offer if it comes then. It might be an option to hold out for it as it will probably leave the 680M in the dust!

With the release of new consoles coming out soon games are likely to become more multi threaded 8+ threads. A powerful CPU would be useful therefore. Also matched with the 680M/7970M or future fast cards the 840qm bottlenecks in certain titles already. Sure the 4700qm is faster however paired with the weak GPU's you see in the 14 laptops the gaming experience won't even compare to the M15x. Also games tend to take more and more load away from the CPU and give it to the GPU the 920xm/940xm matched with a powerful GPU will game well for year's yet. While MXM 3.0 is still used the 14 will never compare.

As for the guy above. His bigger and more expensive M17x (newer laptop) is considerably slower than my own M15x... even the 2720qm can can't win against a heavily OCed 920xm lol. Always I have seen trolls come on here numerous times to tell us we should chuck out the M15x. There really is no reason to. Ignore such nonsense. Upgrade, enjoy and take pride that you are also saving the environment keeping the old beast alive

 

Thanks for the comments ! I will look at both the CPU and the GPU. I worked hard this year, so I can make myself happy at XMas

Cheers

 

Please do Interesting you have a dual SSD setup. Can't help but think the vertex 3 is held back by the sata I ODD slot though. Not a waste?

 

I see the difference in everything I do, it is still by far better than a normal HDD.

I always thought, there were only sata III on the m15x.

 

No SATA III on M15x. Hard drive is SATA II and optical drive is SATA I.
Evidence comes from my Samsung 840 only having a 250 MB/s read speed when it should have 500.
That is the limitation of SATA-II.

 

I must only agree with my mates from above, if you are asking just for choosing between a m15x´s upgrade or a m14x.
I say this because the non upgradeable issue of the last one. Only for that, i wouldn´t hesitate
Then, added to this, we have the fact and the affection of having a 4 years old and exclusive 15" machine, (the only one in the line with that size and upgradeable), with that awesome looking (past gen now, so more exclusive Xd) , and i dont find any reason for not remaining that m15x
Furthermore, as they have told you, you can get a 680m+920xm combo and transform your old laptop into a nowadays first class machine (overall), for much less money than purchasing the equivalent horsepower on a current top laptop
I´ve just got my 680m and the only problem i´m finding now is the CPU. The 1est gen XM processors are really overpriced now :/. And i have not enough money to buy a brand new one for 240 euros the chipest. But if this, is not a problem for you, with 600-650€ you can get those items for sure