Alienware M17 reasons

Im looking to buy one of these with th T9400, cf 3870's and 2gb ram.
I would like to hear some pros and cons and also can i turn off the cf seeing that some games dont favor sli/cf.I've read the reviews and and about the dead/fake pixel and gpu overheating but i would like some more info plz.

 

Well I did probably 25-30 hours of research on it, as well with dealing with other vendors to find which laptop I wanted. I ended up getting the M17, I ordered it 3 days ago and it Already Shipped.

The only Real True Negitives that are static, not random defects:
Case design is older, not the same as the m17x
The Touchpad isn't flush like the m17x
The numpad is a custom version, not a standard numpad
The system doesn't light up as much as some alienwares, only the keyboard and alienware logo on back of screen light up, and is not customizable, and the keyboard only toggles between 3 colors.



It is worth getting imo, from everything I've read and the people I've spoke too. The overheating of GPU's isn't a normal problem, the new drivers that came out fix alot of problems. Although I would say get a good cooling tray no matter what you do.

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™ Enabled!
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Extreme X9100 3.06GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Chassis: 17-Inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p) with Clearview Technology
Keyboard Options: Illuminated Keyboard – Alienware Exclusive Design - Astral Blue
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB

System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 500GB (250GB x 2) 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Reader (BD-ROM, DVD±RW, CD-RW )
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® Ultimate N 5300 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card with MIMO Technology
The World's First 450 Mbps Wi-Fi Adapter!
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with Surround Sound
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Onsite Service and 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support
Power: Additional Battery – 12-cell Lithium-Ion Battery

 

^Somebody's got some cash ^

The only complaints that I have are the fact that the ATI cards are extremely processor dependent, and that Alienware doesn't allow any kind of overclocking. You can overclock the extreme CPUs, but it requires a warranty-voiding BIOS flash. Even if you buy a better CPU down the road sometime, you will void the warranty installing it. If you do the upgrade through Alienware, your warranty is still intact, but you'll pay twice as much for the CPU. Please do yourself a favor and get the X9100 at a minimum. I bought the P8600 and ended up buying the X9100 a week later. Since my warranty was shot to sh*t from installing the new CPU, I went the extra mile and flashed the OCZ BIOS so I could overclock it.

The M17 is a gaming monster, and one of the fastest laptops on the planet.

 

Lol turbo , you should see my car j/k. But yah get a better processor, really no need for a quadcore I find it not mandatory which is why I downgraded last minute to fastest duo core. ATI is NOT nvidia. as Turbo said, preformance increases with better processors. Post the spec you are thinking of getting so we can help ya out.

 

Exactly. And remember, RAM and hard drives are easily ordered from Newegg and installed by you for much cheaper than AW sells them. Put that money toward the CPU.

 

Talon I'm new to these forums, has any one Benchmarked a High Powered M17 like mine yet here for the community or shall I do the honors?

 

I have the same setup you have minus a few perks, but my CPU is OC'd. Benchmark is in my sig. The more the merrier though, my friend.

 

i dont have the cash to go with the extreme now i read about fussions problem with the gpus and the waranty seems like crap anyways he had to spend 5+hours? on the phone with them to get wat he was suposed to get in the first place.I wana know also does it have vents on the bottom a decent amount,I have a NZXT cryo lx cooler but i could always cut a hole in the desk and drill a room fan on it (lol)probably keep my car engine cool(lol)

here a re the specs
Alienware M17 $2124

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™ Enabled!
Processor: Intel® Core™2 T9400 2.53GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Chassis: 17-Inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p) with Clearview Technology
Keyboard Options: Illuminated Keyboard – Alienware Exclusive Design - Terra Green
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 1024MB
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 160GB 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless Network Card: Internal Wireless b/g (Full Mini-Card)
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with Surround Sound

 

oh and could i see a pic of the bottom? I wana see the vents
Cause my other laptop used to overheat undersome light oc
and a couple hours of gaming.
Xtee wat do you mean by "The only Real True Negitives that are static"

PS. i like the stealth design more than the m17x

 

By static I mean somthing that you will have to deal with, where as the problems you mentioned are isolated or rare events. Fussions problem was a single incident and not worth judging your own purchase after. I mean it is your money after all so only you can judge what you want to do but you should be fine.

 

My case was single incident. I am still waiting for my replacement.
But I still don't like how they don't take extra step to correct it for me. For example, send a replacement without me paying for it first. Now, I paid about $4500 total until I return this old one.

 

Sorry fusion but that's the way business is done, nobody's going to send you a second computer free of charge trusting you'll send back a good computer. Whats to stop you from gutting it and ebaying the pieces and sending back a stripped computer? They are protecting their investment and still offering you a refund, which is more then a lot of companies do. I understand the issue sucks and the resolution was done in a way that was sub par. But your issue is indeed being resolve in a professional manner at this point. Which is better then a lot of people with a lot of companies. Also you said your self had you wanted it free, you could have mailed yours back first and been refunded prior to getting a new one. But you felt that you needed a laptop the entire time, so you have chosen the resolution.

 

True, that's why I didn't complaint, and I mention if they did free swap, it would be an extra step, which maybe a good thing to do to correct their embarrass fault.
I am still in the process of this whole thing, I am not sure how well will it turn out at the end. They can deny their promise when I finally return it.
But I still recommend many NBR members to buy AW M17, unless they screw me at the end.

 

Yea i dont think that they'll screw you.The tape on the gpu's was pretty f****** dumb probably guys first day on the job.
Anyways anybody got any pics on the bottom vents?Not the guts ive seen those pics.

 

I have had my M17 for about 2 months 1 of which was in for repairs.
My specs are as follows

2x 250gb raid 0
2x ATI 3870 Crossfire
4gb ddr3 ram
Intel QX9300 2.53, 12mb cache
1920x1200 res
the thing over heats like a monster my master ATI card fried, waiting for a new one, I was upset with AW that that happend and i'm having an intown tech do the work so it will not void my warranty.

What coolers do you think are the best?

Goku

 

Come to think of it they also left the tape on my GPU's so im thinking that is why the master burned out, seems to me that its not just a single issue it more or less they just don't care. When I first got my laptop it would not even play Titan Quest just kept skipping video/sound so when I sent it in they where not able to reproduce the issue, even through email and phone calls telling them that it only happens with i play games or watch a movie the issue's show up yet they don't even try to fix it or look into what is wrong. They will not even talk to me anymore. I really I have been a Tech/Network admin for 15/16 years this is bull to build a system and send it out with out proper testing. It's just sad really you pay 4k for it and its nothing more then a paper weight. My Mac Book Pro can out perfrom it at the moment.

 

i have a high powered m17 and hit over 16k in 3dmark06...no overheating of anything without a notebook cooler either...and this is with my overclocked qx9300

 

goku, sucks about the tape left on.. they have done that on several occassions, you'd think they would have learned by now? Take the tape off of the heatsink! Kinda like trying to put gas in your car without removing the cap... It's gonna make a mess, waste money, and you're lucky if you don't start a fire.

 

Heck my M17 will not even bench over 8k sucks really. I'm now thinking I should have just used the cash to buy custom parts for my 05 Mustang would have been happier.

 

hahahah maybe i should have put the money into my 08 GT....feel ur pain bro lol

 

Goku, what was your gpu temps.

 

Here are some temps, i also included hdtune and cpuid and real temp. Hope this helps. I'm not sure if its a heat issue or not seems more bios related, for example with the Alineware Bios it will run choppy even with a cooler and fan blowing on it, if I use the OCZ Bios it will run alot better, and just have normal game lag for about a sec. All issues go away. I know flashing to OCZ bios will void the warranty, but i'll just flash it back to AW bios if need be. haha. I'm only runing on one card at the moment as the other stopped working. Still waiting for the new one to come in.

 

those temps are normal , the max on the cpu is a little high but no where near any dangerous level. Looks to me like normal temps for a max, specially a quad

 

I do like the idea of custom cooling by either building your own cooler or the hole in the table with a fan (currently my AW sits on a desk made of 2x4's and a side of an old shelf).
I really don't think the AW is the best value when it comes to performance, but it is a great system and I wouldn't trade it for any other, except for a M17 with 4870s.
If I were to do it again, I think I would go for the X9100. If you're going all out and getting an AW, get the best.

 

Thanks Mr. Moo, the cpu temps never seem to go over 62/63'c, I had a feeling the temps where ok. Still it bugs me that the AW bios causes lag and the OCZ does not what is diff between the two of them other then overclock tool for the cpu.

 

The m17 is a good laptop but dont take a chance with them because if you do get a broken one like me customer support wont be supportive with you get the xps m1730 it has a better graphic card anyway 9800m GTX SLI

 

Also similarly configured costs almost 1000 more, and not quad core capable, nor DDR3 memory.

 

the xps m1730 is now cheaper check it out

 

Ok in an effort to find out what is causing the issue with my laptop I have found that running fraps while playing a game, the FPS dip way down to 4 then up to about 24, then back down to 4, this will keep going so my only option is to quit the game. Those issue go away if I use the OCZ bios, but then the games seem to move very slow almost as if its in slow motion but not always, also the FPS stay above 45. Temps are not passing 61-63'c on the cpu and about 50-60'c on the GPU. Adding a fan in the back and taking the bottom cover off keep it cooler but the issues are still there. Also I noitced that I can no longer montior the temps on my hd's not sure what happned there.

 

It should be cheaper, it's old tech. compared to the M17!