Alienware m17x General information

bonus=schweet. anywho....for m17x i would definitely go with 1900 display upgrade. 4gb ram is pretty pointless unless you want to run a LOT of apps at once (game performance might increase 2-4%, compared with 2gb). I would highly recommend XP Pro (my vista gave problems installing need for speed, oblivion, crysis, and many more...and somewhat decreased performance and not very good Sli support). I have yet to find if turbo memory does anything...but hey its a cheap upgrade so meh. Solid state has no moving parts so if you plan on moving around your notebook a lot and dropping it then i suppose you could go with it....orrrr you could use recovery software which might cost 40 bucks and save your corrupted files that way. Pointless to get in my opinion.

 

Well, Sager is already offering state od the art techs for theis 17 " units... I just configure this:

SAGER NP5792 $3,539
Display: 17" Wide Viewing Angles WUXGA LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1920 x 1200)[+$145.00]
- Processor: 45nm Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9500 / 6MB L2 Cache, 2.60GHz, 800MHz FSB[+$365.00]
- Video & Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTX Graphics with 512MB DDR3 Video Memory[+$465.00]
- Operating System: Genuine MS Windows® VISTA ULTIMATE 32/64-Bit Edition[+$80.00]
- Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 X 2048MB[+$110.00]
- Primary Hard Disk Drive: 200GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive[+$165.00]
- Optical Drive: 2X BD-R/8X DVD±R/2.4X +DL Blu-ray Drive & Software[+$495.00]
- Wireless Network Card: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth Module
- Intel Robson Technology: Intel 1GB TurboMemory Module[+$35.00]


Im really trying to convince myself to get the alienware m15x or m17x, but at this prices for the SAGER I think I'm going to end with this NP5792 (penryn t9500)

 

I consider this too when looking at all the options. Sagers are very generic looking. Are looks everything? No, but to me a nice looking laptop is worth something and so is the name. Just saying.

 

WOW. Is that better than what the Alienware could offer at that price? What is the dowside of going with a pimped-out Sager like that rather than waiting God-knows how many months for the m17x to come out?

 

what the hell... I'll stick with Alienware, but maybe the m15x that is like $4,100 with almost same configurations as the sager one... who need thoose 600 bucks anyways... I've just been a victim and get caught by thoose keebords lights!!!!!

 

I'm agree with you Raziel66 but then, why you didn't wait fo the skullcap model or the black color designs?... Im definitly going for the m15x now... but i think ill wait for the skullcap black design...

 

I'm waiting! I was all set to order mine and I decided that I will stick it out until the m17x comes out (hopefully not too long!) in order to better weigh my options. It seems like that one would fit my needs better. If that takes too long to come to market then I will get the m15x black skullcap

 

i seriously am dead on on waiting 3 more weeks for the m17x

 

I think 3 weeks would probably be my limit. I need a computer now

 

I know me too, we've waited way too long now...

 

Could be 3 more months? You still willing to wait that long?

 

I agree. What initially draws you to a laptop is its appearance. You want to feel good every time you look at it, and theres a greater sense of pride of ownership which is absent in a generic Sager. "Penny pinching performance", get a Sager; feel good factor, get the Alienware. An Alienware laptop may also be one of the few opportunities for some to display flamboyant personality. Just my thoughts, so please don't shoot me...

 

for those who want a computer now with better looks than sager, you can order the Gateway P series. Good price too.

 

I finally saw one today in person at Best Buy... those actually are pretty nice. I was surprised, not usually a big fan of Gateway.

 

neither am i, but its hard to find a notebook that can play crysis in dx10 with good settings under 2000...heck even 1599 will do.

 

Where have you found that these are available, other than the one model at Best Buy?

 

i believe you can place an order by phone. the only thing wrong with the best buy model is the cpu...its not that bad...but its not that good either.

 

Sweet, thank you!

 

someone said its in the middle of february

 

It looks liek Penryn may be a bit late in delivery.

"According a message purportedly sent from a Lenovo rep to resellers today, Intel's T9500, T9300, T8300 and T8100 Penryn chips are going to be delayed, affecting the laptop industry worldwide -- and obviously Lenovo's latest in particular. The word is that a thermal sensor issue is to blame, and supply on the chips will be tight through February.

Nothing official from Intel yet on the matter, so we're going to keep this in the rumor category for the moment -- but don't be surprised when that shiny new Penryn laptop of yours ends up taking a few extra weeks. Be strong, we can make it through this together."

Just a rumor but who knows.

 

reading your previous posts u guys seem like people who could help me with a laptop I'm looking for. I want to see what the m17x has to offer, but like the rest of you guys, waiting for it is just killing me. I need a laptop for 3d graphics and video games, and on the go. I want something that i can use for maya, bryce and game space lite, but at the same time play intense games, and bring it everywhere with me. I need a laptop ASAP, but if i wanted to wait i could just borrow my friend's and use his for my work for the time being until the m17x comes out. or should I just get the m15x? I mean I like having 3 HDD and a big 17inch screen, but I don't know if I just want it just to have or am I really going to use it. I know I can fill up 200 gb no problem, so I still don't know if 3 is excessive. It seems someone recommends xp pro for the gaming on the laptop but on AW website they don't even offer xp pro for the m15x.

 

I heard that Alienware uses the same "notebook design" as Sager (Clevo) and I was thinking that when Sager starts to have the Nvidia 8800GTX SLi, which is supposedly going to be the end of February 2008, Alienware would start selling the Alienware M17X. Its just a thought there seems to be a delay with the SLi configuration with the Sager 17in notebook with SLi so that is what I am basing my assumption on. Here is the quote from the Sager site: "Sager were informed by our supplier (Clevo) that (D901C) Sager NP9262 SLi configuration has been delayed until end of February’08. At this time sager will temporarily stop accepting NP9262 pre-orders with SLi configurations, a special package of end-user self install SLi kit will be available for $695 for a limited time for customer that has purchased Sager NP9262 with single nVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX graphics card. Further announcement will be made on our News section at www.sagernotebook.com once available." Am I wrong that Alienware uses Clevo?

 

Alienware used to use Clevo chassis but since the m9750 i think, they've changed to special Arima chassis. So you probably won't be able to buy the same notebook, but without the lights and branding, from Sager or another reseller.

 

Aswas previously mentioned the m9750 was not a Clevo/Sager model, so there is reason to believe that the m17x also will not be a Clevo/Sager model, though I don't think that has been officially confirmed. With that said, the problem with the 9262 model 8800m SLI configuration, as I understand it, is a driver issue related to Nvidia. If that's the case, its reasonable to believe the same problem would be seen in the m17x regardless of whether its an Arima or Sager/Clevo model.

 

The m15x (and presumably m17x) have a 1394b firewire port. This is VERY rare on a laptop; no Sager laptop offers that (they are all 4 pin 1394a mini ports).

The only laptop I am aware of which offers firewire b is the MacBook Pro, which is a Quanta chassis I believe. Which means that it's either a Quanta design based on the MBP or a totally new design which could be from anybody.

 

so uhh can anyone help me with my problem?

 

Only you can decide what laptop is going to fit your usage. If you play A LOT of games, wait for the m17x or get a Sager when they offer SLi. If you casually play, get the m15x as it is a good compromise. As for hdd space just get an external drive. That's what I am going to do.

Oh, Alienware isn't offering XP on the m15x yet because they haven't opened all of the customization options yet. So this one requires patience as well since we don't know when they will open it up. A lot of people are waiting for the other case design and the option to make it black.

 

I want to give vista a try but i dont want all the problems everyone has been talkin about, do you guys recommend xp pro or vista?

 

If you are looking forwards to use it much much longer in the future, you have to choose Vista. Everyone know Vista is a pain, but that's what you gotta live with. On the other while, XP is stable enough if you are 99% confident you won't be needing anything from Vista (dx10 and stuff). Some of us here are still on their Microsoft Server 2003 and what not. So unless you really know the freewares you are using now is not compatible with Vista, then keep yourself old-skool.

 

I'm biting the bullet and going with vista. I hear SP1 is supposed to fix a lot of issues and will be coming out relatively soon. I'm kind of tired of the look of XP as well. A little Vista eye candy wouldn't hurt

 

You just summed up what I wanted to say! I too am tired of the looks and more importantly Vista will be pretty much the standard OS after the release of SP1; yes, it does have many issues but so did XP when it was first released. The other thing to appreciate about Vista is the presence of DirectX 10 graphics which trust me, does really make a difference and 8800M GTX will make good use of it.
However it's still a matter of personal preference :wink:

 

If you are having trouble running any app under vista, just right click the app and select RUN AS. Voila you can have backwards capability to win 98. And you would be so surprised on much stuff will run while using this method.

No it doesn't fix everything but I would bet it will work 75% of the time. IT guys in the office always say it won't work on vista, I right click run as and I have it working on Vista.

Vista has gotten such a bad name, it got lots publicity alright. But not the kind it wanted. I dual boot mostly because of SLI issues, but over all vista has been working great for me.

I would say just give it a try, if you have issues ask around. I am sure we can help you through them.

So yes I like vista. And if I pay over 4k for a lappy I want EYE candy. why the hell would I want to look at GUI that was designed for hardware from 2000. I want something to match the year we are in. I don't have shagg carpet in my house, and I don't have bell bottom jeans. I want something fresh and new why the hell else would you buy a flashy M15x.

 

before alienware had the option of xp, and if they're switching to vista they probably know bugs are fixed or will be fixed soon.

 

by the way, anyone have any possible idea as to when alienware might actually release these things?

 

By the end of February.

 

Does anyone know when the m17x is going to be released? jk

Seriously though, I have a some questions:
1. What is the notebook made of? It looks like cheap plastic, like a Saturn bumper or an HP. Can you smush your finger into it and watch it flex?

2. Do the keys have a rubbery feel or are they hard plastic?

3. How bright are the LCDs they use? Are they dual lamp or single? Are Sagers any better?

4. How many dead pixels does Alienware say are normal and can you buy a zero dp guarantee?

thx

 

Well, the first three we won't know until it's released. Some of the people that ordered the m15x will have their systems in hand this coming week and will be able to post impressions/pics/vids.

I have no clue about numero cuatro.

 

1. Magnesium-alloy.

2. Looks like rubbery feel but we don't know for sure. Just one more week to find that out.

3. Sagers never made LCDs. Maybe u meant any LCDs that comes with Sager laptop brands.

4. Specifically for this two new products I have no idea but based on their website, i think they have divided the screen into 7/8 small boxes. I think u only need 1 for the middle section and total of 3 for anything outside the middle box. I try to bring back my memory about this since I have experience an LCD exchange because of dead pixel with my previous m9700.

Anyhow, u can look almost every question u asked at their site. It's weird when people want to know more about Alienware, they don't ask them first. Hmm the theory of people don't read anymore, could it be it?

 

Yeah but they may just give us preconfigs at that time, like with the m15x...that would really suck...

 

i think they would offer the m17x with all options unlocked around the end of march i think.

 

Well the M15x had the preconfigured version and the pricer version with the ability to configure it so I think Alienware might just do the same thing. I just hope it comes out soon, I cant wait and the M15x is getting more and more tempting by the day. If it gets released mid February it would rock.

 

Do you know how expensive it would be to make an entire laptop chassis out of magnesium alloy? Or how much that would weigh?
It's simply made of hard plastic, but there's a thin magnesium alloy frame inside to hold everything together. :wink:

 

Everyone made a big deal when there was a special Magnesium Alloy version of the OQO. I think it added about $1000 to the pricetag....

 

Might want to take a look at the official m15x owners thread to get a preview of what the m17x be like

 

i also use Maya U 7 and i am getting Maya U 2008 and i do gaming, if i were you i would go with the m17x it has SLI and a large screen, that will help with the space for both Maya and gaming, vista would work, you may want to buy Windows Server 2003 to run maya in 64-bit just turn of some of the server stuff, so use vista for every day stuff and WS 2003 for Maya, thats if you have the money.

 

now, in relation to this article the m 17x should be ready for February?
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/655/2/
what do you think?

 

Thanks for that link! Says that they will be taking orders... I wonder what the ship date would be. It was about a 2-3 weeks lead time for the m15x and the last thing we heard about SLi was that it would be available at the end of February. I wonder if that has changed or if you will be waiting roughly a month for your computer to ship.

 

Well, I guess the first test will be to see if/when Dell offers the 8800M SLI in the m1730. According to the article, its supposed to happen today for the m1730. If it does (or even if its in the next day or so), that would tend to give some support that the information in the article is accurate.

 

Magnesium-alloy

 

I think I've pretty much decided I'll be much better off with a desktop, even though I would've really liked the portability. I'm going all out on this, though! I'm adding a 2.4GHz Intel Quad-Core processor and a 9800 Ultra, which Nvidia claims will be 30-50% faster than the 8800 Ultra and is oming out February 14, 2008. Well, it's been fun guys. Enjoy your Alienware!