Alienware/Dell no longer offering 680m in any laptops...? - Now available! (See post #125)

Well everything is taken care of now. My order is placed and on record so all I need now is for the actual computer to arrive and be in working condition at which point I will be satisfied. I think if I ever run into issues like this again I will definitely PM one of the AW reps here instead of trusting my sales rep. I worked harder to give Dell/AW my money than my original rep(s) did to take my money

I'll be sure and come back with a final update if/when my M18x R2 arrives :thumbsup:

 

Sharp and caustic observation, as well as unnecessary and uncalled for, unless your goal was suggesting him to express his concerns using the academic writing format in order to avoid personal and possessive pronouns.

Your sympathy and understanding skills were used 0 times.

 

Well, my sympathy and understanding skills were used 0 times when I censored the subsequent troll posts, too.

I think the point was merely an observation how narrow and self-centered the ranting post was. If people are going to post rants that don't really contribute anything of value to the community, observations from others in the community are sure to follow. As long as forum rules are observed, there's no problem with anyone responding with an objective observation like that one.

 

Well, I'd say that not only rants but also "mere observations" such as the one I responded to don't really contribute of anything of value to the discussion. Not to mention that the observation wasn't all that objective, since it was imbued with subtle sarcasm used to mock its author. But again, as I've noticed before, objectivity and tolerance toward someone who might have something to complain about are not the strongest assets here sometimes. I already called for more tolerance and less hostility in an earlier discussion. Unless we're just becoming a board in which posts either praise the company or discuss technicalities while everything else is considered a rant.

 

No, I left the rant. The posting party was allow to rant... Once. He wasn't allowed to ramble and repeatedly rant and make a spectacle. I disposed of that right away. Think of it as being a republic, not a democracy.

We don't want NBR to become a place where drive-by poopers come to poop and then leave. We have no use for that sort of nonsense. This is not a platform for people to indiscriminately say whatever they feel like saying to try to settle a personal vendetta for things not going as they wanted it them to go. That's kindergartner silliness and we don't need that here.

 

That I understand. I haven't even seen those subsequent rants, you're quick and effective moderating this forum. My reply to that sarcastic comment here discussed was to point out that even though this digital republic doesn't allow useless complaints to fester, it can still leave some room for debate, and why not, even to hear from some of those who now and then aren't that happy or having a celestial experience with AW. There's no need to see them attacked or replied with hostility just because they found a reason not love the company or its products for a while. I think that constructive debate and confrontation of dis-according opinions is always a good asset of any republic, even for an AW-paladin-driven republic as this one That is the reason why I took the freedom to criticize the sarcastic as well as non constructive remarks on that post, which as I noticed before always follow any kind of criticism on AW with painstaking punctuality and plenty of paladin-authored follow ups that as rants already do, they add nothing relevant to the discussion. Just my two cents, Sire

 

Still no word on the replacement availability. I imagine once the stock is in place, it should be available quickly. Will keep you all posted.

 

I just got an email from AW support telling me the 680 is now available as an upgrade. A little expensive at £1100.00 inc heatsink but it's there now (UK)...

 

That's great news. I suspect Mark_O should be hearing something official pretty soon regarding replacement part availability if that is the case.

 

My rep just emailed and said Fedex has picked up my M18X, so it looks like I'll be getting it in a couple of days. I ordered on 8/6 and was given a revised EDD of 9/5. So hopefully some of you guys who ordered around the same time will be getting contacted by Dell soon.

 

You just made my day.

 

Woo hoo, mine just updated too!!!!

Ordered on 08/03/2012 with initial EDD of 08/17/2012. Received updated EDD on 08/16/2012 saying it would be 09/12/2012

Shipped today with delievery on 08/29/2012

 

YAY! Super happy for both of you guys!

Hope we see similar rapid breakthrough on the part supply. Hopefully, the email MickyD1234 received is true for more than only UK customers.

 

ordered mine on 3rd too...mine still listed as in production.

They called me thursday and said 'good news it's finalized production so it will ship out tomorrow and be there day after with your NBD shipping'

Yeah. That didn't happen. Or i'd be unboxing it now lol.

 

I just called them and I'm off backordered. They said it's in the final stage. I'm on the west coast so I won't know if it shipped or not until 3 hrs from now.

 

Thank you Mr. Fox

 

I've been "in the final stage" since thursday. Sadly, it does not mean tightening the screws on your base plates.

 

My status has been updated. It says shipped!!

 

If you are referring to the throttling issue in benchmarks then yes. I replaced my Dell 680m with the Clevo 680m and POOF! Problem solved.

 

no problems at all with the clevo 680m's?

-EDIT- (the above is a reply/question to Eldaren.)

 

__________

 

Perhaps that is affecting the M17x R4 differently than the M18x R2. From what I heard, the Clevo 680M is not working as expected in SLI. Have a look in the M18x Benchmark thread and I don't think you will see much throttling going on. Those with 680M SLI are laying down some pretty incredible benchmark scores with their Dell 680M setups... like P12594 in 3DMark11 .

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...enchmark-thread-part-2-a-232.html#post8809995

 

FYI
Just ordered my AW M18x-R2 with Dual Nvidia GTX680M SLI and expected delivery date is Sept. 12. 2012.

 

__________

 

My M18X arrived yesterday. Still loading software and setting things up. But it is pretty awesome so far. Those of you who were waiting for the 680s to come in should get yours any day now. Gotta go check out the owners lounge.

 

Finally got my M18x R2 today! So far no problems. At least not with the computer itself.

 

Could a M680 GPU operate in an Alienware M14 R2 laptop ?

 

No. the heat would probably melt your machine, and the graphics card is soldered into your machine anyways.

 

Is the m14 r2 card realy soldered to the motherboard? really.. some how thats really hard to believe..

 

Yes, it is. Actually most if not all laptops of that size don't have a removable graphics card.

 

680m SLI for M18x no longer available on UK website......making room for 680mx?????? - my Dell rep made comment to this effect but had no date.....

 

Guys the UK AW/DELL website has the 680M's available, however in the US AW/DELL website they are not. What I have found out after over the course of 3 months with back & forth issues with Alienware over my M18x R2 purchase has provide me with this info after a replacement system and going on a second one. Some of the agents have leaked out that there is an issue with the mSATA and the 680m and therefore they are removing them. From what I witness is that the 680m were not allow in to be configured with SSD Drives if they they were 2 680m in SLI. I know this for sure because made the attempt. However the prior info about the mSATA issue is not clear because I have literally been dealing with not the brightest minds in their Tech Dept. Last but not least I will post my full story after I have reached a resolve I would not want to count my chickens before the eggs have hatched. Last issue I had with them was sending me a 580 gtx desktop card and being told my 525w PSU would work with it after I asked specifically that question. Turns out that card required 600w psu.. Hmmm is all I am saying.

 

Any news on the 680m yet? I'm about to get a replacement laptop for mine m17xr2....please hurry up Alienware!:cry:

 

Nope, not unless you order one in the UK or Australia, without Windows 8. Seems that customers in either of those countries still have the 680M option available as long as Windows 8 is not part of the system configuration.

If they replace your M17x R2 with an M18x, it will most likely be equipped with 675M SLI, which is still far superior to any GPU configuration available in the M17x R2.

 

I was hoping GTX 680MX is going to be available soon.....Mr.Fox should I get 7970M Crossfire instead of 675m SLI or get a max out 17x R4 with 680m?

 

I cannot answer that for you. I can only tell you what i would do and leave the decision up to you. I hope availability changes on 680M SLI very soon. It is starting to get ridiculous and Alienware is going to start losing business if availability does not improve. Some folks are not willing to pay more for a better machine if they cannot buy premium components for it. Having to settle for 7970M CF or 675M SLI will not be an attractive purchase option for those that want the best.

In 20/20 hindsight, I would opt for 675M SLI over 7970M CF even though the 7970M CF is more potent. However, I would take an M18x with any of the dual GPU options available, including 7970M CF, over a plastic M17x R4 with only one GPU. Hands down, the M18x is a better machine than the M17x R4.

680M X SLI probably will never be available for the M18x if what I have read about power requirements is accurate. I hear they are 122W and two of them in SLI would exceed the capacity of our 330W AC adapter. They would need a new AC adapter with another 50W or 100W to support it. It would be nice if they made a 400W+ AC adapter for us. I would buy one for my M18x right now if they did.

 

Also, it might require a better cooling system too - those bad boys are bound to run nice and toasty at full tilt, I imagine. That, coupled with a requirement for a bigger psu means lots of work for Dell......I hope they do it, as a flagship Alienware M18x doesn't quite have the same "ring" to it when it hasn't got THE fastest mobile gpu solution in the world available to it's configuration.....

 

Wow - never?? I was hoping by the time I'm back stateside and ready to order (in a month or two) this would be straightened out.

I had finally decided on the m18x, but really want dual 680's in sli. Sager's still got 'em in the 9370 - c'mon, alienware, don't make me choose between the laptop I want or the cards I want!

 

You may have misread... my assumption of "never" was in regard to the 680M X SLI not 680M SLI or a single 680M X. The assumption of never is due to the inadequacy of the 330W AC adapter to power dual 122W video cards along with everything else.

 

You're right on M18x is better than M17x Mr. Fox, but I am really disappointed in Ailenware right now for not having 680m SLI. At least they can update the 675M (Fermi ) to 675MX (Kepler) then I would be happy with 675MX SLI! I can wait a little longer before Dell contact me what I want for my replacement laptop....SIGH Here is the configuration that I wanted for mime replacement laptop:
Black M18x R2
i7-3940XM (overclocked)
6GB ram (16GB 1866MHz aftermarket ram)
500GB (3TB aftermarket HHD)
680M SLI > 675MX SLI > 7970M Crossfire > 675M SLI (Right now I don't know at the moment)
Killer Wireless 1103
Blue-Ray reader

 

It is very disappointing, but it's not their fault if they sold out and the supplier cannot provide enough of them. It's still frustrating, I agree... no different that going to Best Buy, MicroCenter or Fry's Electronics to grab something you wanted and find it sold out because others beat you to the door.

 

Ooops - you're right, I did misunderstand (missed the X portion!)

Well, then perhaps by the time I'm home and ready to purchase this'll be sorted out! Here's hoping!

 

So guys, if GX680m are that hard to find and GX680mX are not possible because of the limit on energy consumption, then what about GX690m?

I am wondering because I heard the 690 is available and 680 is almost a year old, so I do not want to end up buying an M18X and immediately have it rendered 'old' like with my M17x-R2.

I want to upgrade in March 2013 towards M18X, so I want to ask you guys if I should wait or should I grab the earliest opportunity to get a dual 680m? Price is not a problem, I just do not want to regret jumping too early...

 

where did you hear 690m was availible?

 

The GTX 680M was released sometime around mid or late July, if my recollection is accurate. So, it's about 6 months in circulation, not a year. The 7970M was released several months earlier, like the end of March or early April if memory serves me correctly. So, neither GPU is a year old yet.

The next generation probably will not be released any earlier, and if the same thing happens it will be in high demand with limited stock availability when it is released. We may be looking at July or maybe even August before we see any systems out with in circulation with GPUs that are successors to GTX 680M, with potential stock depletion issues that stretch to the end of 3rd quarter or beyond.

 

DumbDumb, I heard it from a colleague who works in IT. But from Mr. Fox and your comment, I gather that it is not anywhere close to release...

Colour me naive...

So I guess that I'd better grab a dual GTX 680m when it becomes available (maybe an M18X-R3?), unless I want to wait close to another year for a possible upgrade...

 

Should also be sure of the power requirements and the ability of the AC adapter to provide adequate power. Preliminary info suggests that 680MX may be 122W versus 100W. For the M18x, cooling should not be an issue because the GPUs run very cool, but 330W AC adapter may not be enough to power everything else, especially if a heavily overclocked XM CPU is added to the mix. You may run into a similar limitation with the M17x R3/R4 trying to upgrade. It would be a bummer to wait 6 months to pull the trigger only to learn it will not work. I say buy 680M now, and if the new GPUs work OK, then upgrade later if the performance increase warrants it and you wallet can stand it. If you wait until tomorrow for the best technology, just remember that "tomorrow never comes" LOL. Procrastination always stands between the procrastinator and enjoyment.

 

That's what I've been wanting to do. But after two months, the 680m is still not available for purchase for upgrade.

 

Good News everyone! NVIDIA GTX 680M - SLI is now available! WHOO HOO!:thumbsup:

 

YaY!!! WoooT!!!

Spoiler

So, now 7970M CrossFire is not available???? Only a single 7970M? They must be trying to not overstock or something... weird.