Alienware m17x General information

I predict mid-feb for 8800M SLI to be ready.

 

I want to know cause I spent money on a nice backpack that fits the 9750 and since I couldnt get a 9750 to work right, Im looking at this new one but want to know if its bigger in any way cause my backpack may be worthless if it is. Also, I carry to and from work every day so I dont want it to be bigger than the 9750. Saying its about the same doesnt really tell me much. I just thought someone by now at a show would have taken some dimensions.

 

We should have some dimensions soon.

 

it'll fit.

 

All hail the mystical prophet roor!!! lol

 

Why can't they just launch it with a single card? The people who do want SLI can order it when it's available in that mode or simply add a card later on. I personally would do the latter.

 

Because then impatient people will just order the m17x with the single and wont then order SLI at a later date, I think that's part of it.

 

I disagree; I myself am one of the people who would upgrade to SLI and I already know people who have done the same with the m9750. On the other hand a great number of people won't order 2 cards even when it is available in SLI, again like they have done with Alienware's previous offering.

 

i was thinking about getting a m9750, but having looked at the photos / potential specs of this newmachine, i can afford to wait a couple of months xD

does anyone know whether or not this will be purchasable with the 64bit version of vista?

 

They’re not offering the 64-bit version of the OS on any of their current systems and I’m pretty sure they won’t with these new laptops; the reason for this is simply the lack of available device drivers/software support for 64-Bit Operating systems and not hardware limitations as most computers now have 64-Bit processors and it’s now possible to upgrade notebook memory to up to 4GB.
But why do you really want a 64-Bit version? Unless you need it for large scale file memory mapping or very advanced programming, I can’t see how you could take advantage of its features!
I understand you probably want to be able to use all of your 4GB memory but this is an area of confusion for many people: Though you need a 64-Bit OS to address all of your 4GB memory, you will actually need more than 4GB of memory for a 64-Bit OS to work smoothly as 64-Bit software needs significantly more memory to run. The other thing I should mention is that the size of the files written on your HDD would be bigger than their 32-Bit versions.

So my advice is stay away from 64-Bit operating systems for the time being until they become standard and companies start producing device drivers and commercial software needed for them to work properly; unless as I said you really need them for a specific task.

 

"But why do you really want a 64-Bit version? "

i don't -really- want one form a personal viewpoint, but i work using applications that have large memory requirements / 64 bit enhanced versions.

if i could get 64bit on it, it'd save the need for a seperate work desktop, and i could put the grant i have from work into buffing out the laptop a little more.

won't bother if it will be more of a hassle than it's worth, though.

 

Yes I understand, but bear in mind the fact that all your hardware would need to have 64-Bit compatible drivers which are quite rare at the moment; few 32-Bit drivers work OK with a 64-Bit OS and fewer are enhanced by it...

 

I wish we could do this on Alienware

CES 2008 Video news - Optimus Maximus keyboard
http://pcnews.tv/701/ces-2008-video-...imus-keyboard/
I would pay more to have in my laptop than the side lights, which are useless

 

Ok, now that the m15x has officially been launched (to Alienware email subscribers anyway) and you've been able to look at its base configurations and pricing, has that made you more or less anxious for the launch of the m17x, which seems likely to be around 4-6 weeks away?

For me personally, I think its made me more anxious, though I didn't think that was possible.

 

They really are making me ill now, it's been almost 3 months since we first heard of these laptops...

 

Considering the m17x can have 3 hard drives, it's going to be fairly large won't it? I know that Alienware managed to make the m15x very small considering it's power, but still either way the m17x can only get so small right? Like... when compared to the m15x or something. If so, then I guess I'll have to go with the m15x although I really wish it could have 17" too.

 

Don't worry, I'm sure the m17x will be 1.6" thick at the most.

 

Damn it, I want to order mine already! I'm tired of waiting...

I'm holding off on playing all the new games so I can experience them maxed out on a shiny new m17x!

 

Were all tired of waiting... I mean I was planning on getting an M9750 but then ended up waiting another 4 months. AFTER my dell dimension 2350 turned 6

 

I'm running a three and a half year old Dell Inspiron 4600 (desktop).

 

haha, I thought I was the only one with that old of a computer. I've also got a 6-year-old Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop -- 2.0 GHz P4-M, 512 RAM, 64 MB Mobility Radeon 9000

I stopped playing games on it since about a year ago (so I've got a lot of catching up to do with this m15x) and it's been pretty rugged, but it's been failing left, right and centre recently (power supply failed, LCD screen needs to be bashed sometimes or pixels start changing colour, hard drive only runs at half-speed, fans are off and so they rub and make lots of noise, keyboard's a mess with a bunch of broken/missing keys, etc... etc...)

 

I don't get it.. it's available NOW. Why do you say you are waiting for the order page to come up?

 

you can only choose three configs and change them minimally. when the real config page comes out it should be starting at $1400ish. check out the alienware webby if you need to see for yourself.

 

I get that, but the two major options he wanted are available now though.

Alienware should have just made everything available from the start

 

anyone know if the m15x and 17x have the side lights of any kind? i've heard of the "light pipe" thing but not sure if its true. also are there lights in the front speakers???? im addicted to blinking LEDs like a mosquito.

 

Yeah strange I thought I saw side-lights on the M17x and M15x when they revealed them for the first time in NY.

 

That problem had me hung up for a while too, and I'm still not sure what to think. Half of Alienware's promo info on the m15x page has the lights, half of it doesn't. However, CNET posted a video from CES which shows an m15x with the lights still there

http://www.cnettv.com/9742-1_53-31916.html

Now, whether or not that was just an early model they were showin off at CES (with the lights removed from production models), I dunno. An equally-convincing piece of evidence in the other direction is that the screenshots of the command centre don't show the light controls for any side lights, which would be strange if there are any. You be the judge.

 

guess well have to wait till someone gets one. By my general feeling is that the CES videos had really bright lighting and dimmed out the lid lights

 

I so hope that the side-lights exist.

 

the m15x with 8800m is 2700.....i really want the 17 which im guessing will be 3200+++...and i don't even want to think about their next mALX....probably will go buy a car or something instead.....


lights FTW!!!

 

Hate to drudge this back up if someone already stated this. But what is the story with the M17x using Penryn (which I am certain I have read they would be releasing for the M9750 and M15x, yet neither offer it yet)?
Also, any word on if the M17x will be offering 8800m GTX SLI? A lot of other computers (Aviator EQ7, NP 9265, Sting 917D, etc) are offering them [and they, too, are 17" and have Intel Core 2 Extreme Processors (up to 3GHz I've seen, but that may be due to overclocking, unsure)].
I've been following the M15x and M17x a bit, but am dissapointed in the lack of the penryn and have yet to see information on the 8800 GTX SLI (Late February I believe) compatibility. The only thing the M17x seems to have over the competition appears to be it's "cool" factor (lights changing) and it's brand name. They seem to be lagging behind to me. Don't suppose anyone else sees some obvious advantages with the M17x over the competition)?
Edit: Though, I must admit. I would shave my head bald for that second 6-cell battery that you can pop-in to the M17x. Then again, the other laptops offer as much as 3 (or was it 4?) harddrives. The M17x only offers two (only one if you would opt for the second battery like I would). No one really needs 3-4 harddrives. One is enough for me, but some may opt for the advantages of having two.

 

and also does anyone have any idea when the m17x will be released? its really annoying that they are delaying it
EDIT: to top and i think it has dual 8800M gtx

 

Yes, SLi on the m17x is one of the more prominent pieces of information out there. That's one of the reasons to wait for it. Alienware has never stated anything (to my knowledge) about Penryn processors. It's just an inevitability that they will move to them at some point.

I've heard anywhere from February to just "later in the year" for the release. So your guess is as good as mine.

 

well i hope that it is february.. im willing to configure it to max $5000

 

Alienware has never said anything about Penryn and either the m17x or m15x. They have always advertised it as simply using Intel Extreme CPU's. It seems logical that they would move to Penryn but remember that the m9750 ended up being behind as well by the time it was readily available after the 2007 AVN.

I don't believe Alienware has publicly moved off of their "Q1 2008" release date for the m17x. There is speculation is that the delay is due to the SLI issues with the 8800m, which has caused Sager/Clevo to delay shipping their 9262/D901C laptops with SLI until an estimated "mid to late February". We don't really know if that's the hold-up but it seems a logical assumption, though it could also be they feel they can delay the m17x a bit because of the m9750.

 

Guess I was wrong about the Penryn's and great to hear they will incorporate the 8800m GTX SLI. Anything else the 17" got going for it that makes it superior to the...
WidowPC's Sting 917D -> Configuration
Sager's NP9262 -> Configuration1 & Configuration2
HyperSonic's EQ7 -> Configuration

Edit: With the exception of the Sting 917D, the other two cost approximately $4.5k, with 64-bit Vista Ultimate, 4GB 800MHz DDR2 Dual Ram, 200GB HDD (5400 or 7200 rpm), 8800m GTX SLI, and everything else "standard". I could be wrong, but I bet you the M17x, with those settings, would cost a comparible price, possibly more. So why wait? (and of-course, we can all save a bunch if we just do the OS installation ourself and do the ram install, possibly the same for the HDD's, too).

 

You realize that all 3 of those are actually the same laptop Sager/Clevo laptop, just sold by different resellers with their own "tweaks" and you aren't going to be getting 8800M SLI with any of them until mid to late February either. So, why not wait until at least then unless you have to have it sooner, in which case you could order one of the Sager/Clevo systems with 1 8800M and add the 2nd 8800M later.

The m17x will also have the ability to switch between integrated graphics and the GPU to save power and the swapable Smart Bay, neither of which are found in the Sager/Clevo models.

You are also comparing the Sager/Clevo laptops that use a desktop CPU with the m17x that will use a mobile CPU, which may or may not have ramifications in terms of performance, battery life, heat, etc., though we won't really know until the m17x is released and reviewed.

 

i think the predicted configured price for the m17x was 6000...but it had completely retarded things in it.... bluray drive, i think 640gb hdd, 4gb ram, the extreme processor, a tv tuner, etc. if you get 2gb ram, a decent cpu (probably the entry level will do just fine), dvd drive, 200gb...maybe 160gb hdd and sli 8800s you might be able to sc**** by low $3000...which seems quite nice for the specs.


the censored word is "s.c.r.a.p.e"...dunno why that would be censored....ghey

 

Are you sure the m17x has binaryGFX (ability to switch between dedicated and integrated)? Because I've only heard of the ability on the m15x. Also 17" laptops were never made to be used on battery for long periods of time unlike 15.4" so the implementation would seem kind of redundant. However, I do see the 'stealth' mode quick touch button in m17x pics so maybe I'm wrong, it's just I've always heard people talk of it specifically for the m15x.

 

Yes, the m17x has the same feature.

 

Ha-ha, don't get me wrong Kem99. I wasn't saying to opt for those other three (I have no intention of getting any of them most likely, either). I was just curious about what made the M17X so much more special, when it seemed most the features (smart bay, "coolness", and graphics-switch) aside.

 

Yes! Good to hear this! Also, does the m17x lose a optical drive like the m15x when the smart bay is in use by something else?

 

Probably, but you also may be able to get away with not having to do that. I'm pretty sure the m17x has been advertised to have up to three hard drives (for example), and if you assume that one is a smart bay drive, you can still have two drives built right in (which would make it unnecessary for you to have to get a smart bay drive in order to have two hard drives, which you have to do with the m15x). However, if you're looking for two batteries (running at the same time), you probably will still lose the optical drive.

 

I have never bought a laptop and since I started traveling for work, it makes sense to get something that I can watch movies on, play games, etc. I have looked at various options and the new alienware mx17 seems to be the way to go.

So - I am curious what type of setup everyone is looking to get. What elements are important to have vs. others? For example, the turbo memory, the upgraded display, etc.

 

I think since you say travel, have you consider m15x for your choice? m15x is a more portable option compared to m17x, tho m17x is definitely more powerful in terms of performance.

I personally think for traveling, consider batteries, cpu, ram, and maybe monitor. Usually people will suggest 1440x900 resolution straight out, but it's really depends on what individuals will be doing with their system. Say you are of those who do photo editing or even MULTI spreadsheets and documents at a time, a larger amount of space on your desktop would definitely benefit compared of having 1440x900 reso. But maybe if gaming is your priority, having 1440x900 would definitely be a better option. So that really depends.

 

Thanks for the reply. If I had to rate my priorities, they would go as follows:
1) Watching Movies
2) Playing Games (City of Heroes primarily)
3) Microsoft Money/Large Spreadsheet manipulation
4) Website editing
5) Email/Surf web
6) Portability (use battery). It would be rare where I would take the PC anywhere and use it without an adapter for more than 2 hours.

Things I do not do a ton of currently but may in the future:
1) Video editing/Photo Editing

This is just some highlevel list but should give you an idea of the kind of user I am.

 

I should also ask if the getting Vista makes sense with the speed and performance of the m17? I have had ZERO experience with Vista. I just want the best bang for my buck.

 

I've had mainly very bad experiences with Vista. Every game I installed gave problems at first (Oblivion, Crysis, and for some reason Need for Speed: Carbon). However, Alienware know what they're doing so they will probably have all the Vista bugs sorted out. You do realize though that with 1900res, 2gbram, sli 8800m the price will be probably reaching $4000. If you are able to pay that much (or willing to) then m17x should be great for you. If you want to pay less then you can look at the Clevo/Sager.

 

Thanks for the reply. The budget is pretty wideopen (it's bonus time!) so I want to really explore what the m17 has to offer. I am specifically questioning the need for:

1) Are Solid-State drives that beneficial to command a $875 adder?
2) Should I get the 4GB of RAM from Alienware or save some dough and buy the RAM from Newegg and itstall it myself?
3) Does Turbo Memory Do anything?
4) Vista or XP Pro?
5) Get the upgraded display or not?

I dont want to spend money for the sake of spending it however I will spend it if I am getting something worth the cash.

 

I have been on the Beta testing for Vista since the very begining(non public). Yes vista does have some quirks. And people will complain, although for most evreyday users Vista has been proven more stable on release then XP was. I am sure I will catch some slack for this. For me I have a little better understanding of Vista then the basic user, and it has proven to be extremely stable for me. Since RTM I have not had to reinstall or use a recovery shadow. I wish I could say the same about XP wen it was released. I personnaly feel that Vista has been given a bad name. Everyone says XP is so fast compared to Vista. Of course it will be. Xp was manufactured for hardware of 2001. Vista is manufactured for hardware of 2007. Give Vista a few years and with increses in hardware it will seem faster then Windows Vienna when it hits. It's a normal cycle.

And on another note the RC refresh of SP1 yeilds alot of potential, so for me Vista has been refreshing. I use to game on XP only because my desktop was SLI, but slowly I find myself doing more and more gaming on Vista.