Alienware M15x/M17x R3?

Does anyone know when the next revision of the M15x/M17x may occur?

 

I've heard speculation that it might be around fall. I personally don't expect a new revision until early next year, but its all speculation. I think the only thing that could be agreed upon is that its a long ways away.

 

I was planning on buying mine late August/ early September
I'll never be able to enjoy mine if a new one came out a month later... Maybe with USB 3.0 and Nvidia fermi? Definitely would hate to miss out on that. Ugh decisions decisions

 

Depends what you call a rev. To most, it will be a chipset change (to Sandy Bridge platform). That puts it at Q1 2011 at the earliest. Sure, they could do a case revision before then, but why would they with the new chipset coming? New cards will come for sure, but they'd be fine to just do spec bumps (fermi, 840, 940xm) until Sandy Bridge.

 

All the tech now is more than enough computer horse power for my needs so a case revision would be pretty significant to me. Sorry to be a rook but what is the Sandy Bridge chipset? I read this forum quite alot and I haven't heard anything about it.

 

Information on Sandy Bridge can be found here. According to the article the mobile Sandy Bridge microarchitecture should be released by the end of this year, but I don't really trust Wikipedia that much. If that were true then spending around 4 grands on the R2 would be considered a bad move (to me at least ). I should have kept my R1 and waited then . IMHO, if there's a new AW laptop it's more likely to be named M18 or M18x or smth since all the promising new technologies will be far more superb than the current M17x line , but speculations are just speculations...

 

You know is Sept, when you buy it, a few months later theres going to be a new GPU/upgrade option right?

 

A revision, or incremental improvement? To me, a CF 5870 would be an incremental improvement, not a revision.

I would consider a revision a new release that uses an updated chipset, proc family, or a new case design.

 

"R3" won't be out until there is an architecture change.

 

my speculation would be on E3 (June) or TGS(sept). im hoping for new revision too coz im willing to order an M15x soon before new year. i know theres a big event too on January (CES) and it might also be the time for one like when they announced m11x but i cant order on that month since i would go abroad on February (shipping issue), thats why i hope there would be a new one at least fall.

 

The new procs for the M11x are out now so that one would be sooner rather than later. What would be the point of a refresh in the Fall when the most they could possibly add then is another GPU option? Until they actually have to swap out the system board there will be no refresh, just some additional options.

 

I'm agreeing with you. anything else is just evolutionary improvements.

 

Do you guys think that the current R2 would be compatible with the new Nvidia Fermi 400m series GPUs? still MXM 3b and BIOS support?

 

Yes, I do. Different heatsink seems probable though. From what I've heard, no reason it wouldn't be MXM 3b. As for BIOS, I'm guessing no, but I'm under-educated on this in particular.

 

Do you want to maybe add more text into your signature...

As for the topic, I believe there won't be an R3 until the new intel chipset is integrated that should be early next year.

Fermi will not require anything new besides maybe a slight change in cooling system/heatsink.

 

and a new power supply 100w is needed for the 480m imho they need it for either the M15x/M17x

 

I foresee the nvidia 4XX causing issues. Between the thermal envelope and the possibility of an nvidia chipset scares me. As for revisions other then a few minor hardware changes r2 will be here until the next chipset arrives. While I would have liked to have USB3.0 on my dellienware, the risk of that m17x having any nvidia parts makes it not even an option.

 

But m17x R3 maybe will come out to have Intel DESKTOP PROCESSOR like Sager 9285...
There's a changes in the Processor...
and it's happened, its going to be the most powerful laptops...^_^

 

Does anyone know when the next revision of the m11x or m15x will be? I'm trying to get a laptop myself, but I figure I can wait for a new revision.. my need is not so great as of yet........

 

Based of the relative power upgrades between the M15x and the new M17x r3, the R3 is the new M15x, and the rumored M18x will be the new M17x R2...

Based on what most people on these boards are saying

 

As for the M11x, you'll probable see some minor upgrades in memory or other components but I'm willing to bet you won't see a whole new revised M11x until CES 2012.

 

Originally posted in M17x forum (since it's an M17x question), but mods closed it...especially interested in question about 60/120 hz screen...

Thinking about moving from M15x in sig to the new 17xR3. Assuming I trick out the R3 with the 2.4/3.4 processor, nVidia 460, and non-3d true HD, would I see a significant performance boost?

Also, if I don't plan on using 3d, will I notice any difference from the 60hz vice 120hz screen?

Thanks in advance for any insight...
__________________

 

my exact tots, i have the m15X went from 260 gtx to 5850 (5870 clocks) Got experience jump, noticed that the 460gtx is slightly under the 5870 performance.... i guess the only Big jump will be the battery life and maybe (and i say maybe the processor) as having the 920XM u can compare urself to the 26720QM...depending on how hard u push the 920XM clocks....

Was thinking of getting the M17X-R3 too, guess i am willing to wait another year as i feel that the 920XM currently is enough processing power for me...

 

That's a good question. I've heard people on this board argue about this and it seems unresolved. On the one hand, I heard that unless you can run games at 120fps, you won't see any improvement in your games; anything less will be just as if you had a 60hz screen. On the other hand others have sworn that they have noticed improvements over the 60hz screen 1st hand as well as quoting from manufacturers.

As for deciding between a M15x or M17x r3, I would go with the r3. They both seem to be geared towards the same crowd whereas the r2 is more for the extreme, ultra setup, expense be danged just as what the rumored M18X will seemingly be.

 

I went ahead and ordered an R3 with the 3d. After computing the difference in price and learning I can turn it off, figured the cost was worth experimenting with it some.

I've also done a lot of reading and it seems the only way some of the older tech can beat out the Sandy Bridges in the R3 are with overclocking and fiddling with various parameters...something I am not interested in messing with.

If no one puts anything up on the screen before I get mine mid-late Feb, I'll post my opinions on 60Hz vice 120Hz.

 

Why is the M15x configured with a gtx 460m and a i7 740QM cpu is more expensive @ $1799 than the new M17x r3 with the i7 2630QM SB cpu and gtx 460m at $1699

The New M17x r3 also have HDMI input and USB 3.0 and a bigger screen so I dont understand why the M15x with the inferior spec but same card when configured the same cost more.

 

More than likely Dell is phasing out the current M15x and replacing it with the M17x-R3. My guess is that a price drop for the M15x will be coming soon.

 

Agreed. I just don't think they've gotten around to dropping the price yet for the M15x. But it is going away. I assume a smaller 15 incher coming or more likely a 14.x

Right now considering the price, similar size yet bigger screen, time on battery, looks, and additional options (3D, stronger video cards, etc...) I don't know why anyone would opt for the M15x. Unless you don't want to spend much over $1k, leaving the bare bones M15x as ur only option.

 

And also, The m15x exterior is aluminium, while the r3 is just magnesium something. Maybe that's somewhat a factor.

 

The M15x is magnesium, no idea about the r3.

 

Really? I thought that the m15x has the anodized aluminum like the r2's.

 

Really. It's a magnesium alloy. The M17x r2 is aluminium as far as I heard, but the M15x is magnesium.

 

Oh, Thanks for the info.

 

I am going to buy an alienware for college and was considering the m15x. But I was disappointed by the battery life and found out about the m17x r3. M17x r3 does have better battery life but do you it is portable for college. It only weighs .6 lbs more than the m15x and is thinner but cox of the larger screen size it is considerably wider. My ideal laptop would be the m15x with sandy bridge and optimus. So should I get the m17x r3 when it becomes available or should I wait for the m15x with sandy bridge(if it is coming at all). Do you think SB + optimus would improve the m15x's battery life to 4 or 5 hours(casual usage on integrated graphics not gaming). Also will it be any lighter than the current gen m15x like the m17xr3.
EDIT: I was just talking with a Dell sales rep and When I asked him " if the m15x would get a sandy bridge processor" he told me "no info yet check back next week"
Does it actually mean sumthing or was he just generally mentioning I should call again later just in case. I also asked him about the rumores xps 14 replacement and the reavailability of the m17xr3 but in those cases he just told he was not sure but for the m15x specifically he told me to call next week.

 

Are you a grad student or undergrad? If grad, then 17x. If undergrad, you may consider getting something smaller, cuz of limited space in lecture halls. Or, you could sit in the front at the corner

 

I am an undergrad student. How can you say that undergrad lecture halls have limited space, that would vary from college to college. Either way do you think the m15x is small enough or something like the envy 14. I was even thinking of the g53SW which has sandy bridge.
IS the M11x good for me. I am not that much of a gamer but i do like to game but only occasionally. I will mostly be playing RTS games(SC2, C&C) or perhaps some Call of Duty. I want a laptop that should not e outdated throughout my 4 years of college and i am afraid that the m11x will be.

 

Ahh.. You're in the same position that I was, before I discovered the 17x. I'd say get the Envy 14 or 3820TG. It'll be way beyond your requirements, and enough to handle SC2 on medium/high. I too, wanted the G53, but was turned off by how fast it turns off (i.e. battery life ). The R3 came along, and romanced me immediately. Also, couldn't resist the temptation of aafes pricing. However, what I saved, I'm paying for now with the long donkey wait time

Yah, get the E14 or 3820TG. If you don't want to trouble yourself with buying from Canada, you can pick up the 4820TG as well. m11x isn't enough to play SC2 on medium+ on bnet, I don't think.

 

If I was still going to school, I wouldn't want to mess with an m15 for note taking. Mine is sitting here in front of me, and I just can't see something this size in a college class with me. I can't speak to the 11x, however I would think you could run all those games on a MacBook pro with the new processors. And if you don't like OS x, you can use boot camp to run windows. By far, the MacBook pro I passed down to my daughter is the perfect size classroom size laptop IMO.

Checkout the thread in the alien ware m17x section about how the new MacBook pros compare to some pretty powerful processors...and hold their own. You just have to filter out the anti-Mac sentiment...

 

Or you could save tons of money, 50% or more to be exact, and buy an Acer or the 11x, or even the E14.