1500$ m15x for graphic design (what configurations)

the price drop really helped!! I really like alienware, but i only have 1500$ and im a graphics design student. Any thoughts on the configurations? (note: I am getting the lighted keyboard )

thanks a bunch..

 

Deathnote ftw!!! With that budget, i recommend a Sager np5793. You cant buya very good m15x for $1500.

 

What kind of graphics design? I do photoshop, premeire, and a litlle after effects. Photoshop and Premiere especially require a strong CPU and a lot of RAM while the video card does not play much of a role. If you are doing Maya or 3DsMAX then you want a Quadro card if possible.

Also an M15x might not be for you because I do stress that it is a gaming laptop and honestly a Dell might be a better buy as you can get more CPU and RAM for less $$$ and the 8600GT won't make a difference vs. the 8800GTX.

Oh for $1500 you will suffer in graphics design with an M15x. Let me recommend something to you . Ill post it in another post.

 

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...line/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

They used to have the 2.4 - 2.6Ghz processors but everyone purchased them (they always add more).

Basically there is no reason not to buy a outlet dell. You still can buy a 3yr warranty with onsite so you have the same protection. Honestly you will be very happy with a 2.5Ghz M1530 with a 1920x1200 screen if you can find on on there and you will pay LOADS less than if you got a M15x.

 

thanks for the quick replies...

i really like alienware.

Mostly I do photoshop.

I do game but not heavy games like crysis, maybe some spore.

I just want to buy an alienware laptop. Now i'm considering the m17 and the m15x...i just want to know which components should i put money on so that i can do photoshop right out of the box

 

Honestly I want to recommend an AW but I just can't in this situation. Since you are a student you will depend on this notebook, which gets rid of the M15x as you might run into a hinge snap which will put you out of contact with your notebook for 2-3 weeks.

You could always go for a stock M17 with just the 1920x1200 screen (necessity for design work trust me) which will run you ~ $1599.

 

thanks so much Stone825. What other 15 inch notebooks could you recommend? i really consider aesthetics as an important factor in an notebook. I currently do photoshop only and i am looking forward to light premiere movie editing in the future. any thoughts?

 

Basically any GPU can run Photoshop with ease. You can get a M15x with the 8700GT as the only upgrade for $1449. Add the Illuminated keyboard, your right at $1500. Then plus tax and shipping.

Here is a list of 15 inch "gaming systems"
Sager NP8660 which is now the same price as the m15X with the 9800GT ($1799)
Asus G50 -$1349, If you like orange.
Also
Toshiba Qosimo F55-Q504 -$1,299.99 If you can stand the look of it, which I can not.

 

Wow actually for $1500 you can get an amazing photoshop laptop (Just did the Dell Config). Right now dell has a deal going on the M1530 (check the front page when you go to dell.com). Here are the specs and price.

1)2.5Ghz Processor w/ 6MB Cache (the 6MB is important)
2)4GB Ram
3)320GB 5400RPM (room for video's)
4)8600GT
5)1920x1200 screen (VERY IMPORTANT FOR PHOTOSHOP although text might appear a little small to you). If your eyes aren't too good go for the LED 1440x900 screen. Otherwise go for the 1920x1200 as it is very sharp.
6)3Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support (Amazing they will come to your door in order to solve any problem. My sister had her motherboard and LCD screen replaced AT OUR HOUSE. With AW you would have to send it back).

Might not be the top of the line graphically but honestly you are getting a portable notebook that will perform much better than the M15x in the field that you are in. Hurry up on the deal BTW dell doesn't have them forever. If you want post a thread on "what notebook should I buy" or post in the Dell M1530 section and see what they think.

Finally: I haven't had my M9750 for almost 4 months which has hurt my graphics work. At least with this onsite repair you get to see the tech doing the work right at your home (or dorm) which honestly is very gratifying as it is nice to know that they can take apart your whole laptop right on the spot.

Oh also it totals to $1514 before tax + shipping.

 

I'm going to take a shower so it will probably be 20 - 30 minutes before I can respond again.

 

thank you so much!! i looked into the dell laptop and it was a great deal. I'm thinking about it. ... in graphics design what components should i take in mind???

I read about some problems encountered with Dell, are they that common?

would the base alienware m15x handle photoshop????

thanks a bunch for your help!!

 

It will handle it but not well at all. You only have 1GB of ram, a 2.1Ghz processor, and a 8600GT. On top of that the M15x is much larger than the M1530.

Finally there is always that hinge that has not been confirmed / denied by AW.

 

hahaha.. read about hose hinges. scared for quite a while.

i was thinking about upgrading to a T8300 and upgrading the hard drive and RAM in the future..any thoughts? is it easy to do?

does Dell have more issues than alienware or the other way around??any other brands of laptops i should look for?

 

Hmm not sure about how many issues the M1530 has but I haven't heard any complaints from friends who own it. The CPU is semi-hard to upgrade. The RAM is cake and the HD isn't too hard either.

 

thanks for the options and the help
In graphic design: are RAM and CPU speed the most important things to consider?

 

Yes in Photoshop, Flash, Video Editing, etc CPU speed and RAM are the two key components as well as a good screen.

Those are the 3 main ones in my opinion as well as most other people.

 

thanks, i'll consider those things when i look for a new laptop...!!

 

If you're going to use PS CS4, it will actually use hardware acceleration, (finally!) but I haven't seen any real numbers to show how much. A decent GPU is a good idea.

 

Yea I would say the 8600GT is more than sufficient.

 

thanks!!