Alienware m17x General information

I just e-mailed Alienware with the following questions,
"Good Morning,

I have some question with regard to the above and am hoping that you can answer them for me please?

1). Does the “WUXGA” 1920x1200 screen have “Clearview” technology and if so does it have a Matt or Glossy finish?

2). With regards to the “FX” keyboard, can the keys be configured for different uses i.e. gaming versus “normal” computing?

3). How many USB ports will the above have and will they be USB 2, USB 3 or possibly wireless USB?

4). Can you give me any indication of the release date for the above as my notebook has “died” and at the moment I am having to use my work laptop, which means I cannot play any games, old or new and I can’t wait to try Oblivion for the first time.

Many thanks for your help in this matter"


I'll let you know what the response is...

 

Well, here's the response :-

It's the typical polite but, no info response.
Guess we'll have to keep trying lol

OB

 

Next time try to send a E mail to the AW in Usa
& see what they say

 

OK, I have sent the same to [email protected]

Let's see what they have to say?

OB

 

Will we have the same Colour problem
With 17x will have wait 1 month for black colour

that sure will suck

 

sorry double post

 

I hope you don't mind Loardvader but, how'd you find that out?
It's not too bad considering it's not available for the M15X yet and that's been about a month.

I'm waiting until all options are available before ordering mine, i don't intend to get another until it dies lol

OB

 

ExtremeTech put up a review of the dual 8800m gtx M1730. Everyone oughta read it, should be the sort of performance we can expect from the m17x. That thing trounced... I mean TROUNCED.... the M9750 in their benchmarks :O

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,2260174,00.asp

 

I was just about to post the same, seems Dell are getting Penryn's before AW do?
Wonder why the XPS1730 get's priority over AW?

 

Maybe the m17x will launch with it. Could be part of the reason for the delay.

 

I agree...we are getting there... I can't wait for...

 

I'm wondering if the wait could be because AW are waiting for the Penryn's to arrive, so that they can make the M17X better than the 1730, only problem is that they are very similar machines, fully loaded almost the same! Apart from looking vastly different, wonder what AW will do to make there's a gaming beast?

OB

 

AW, in the Dell's marketing strategy, is the top of the notch offer. For the games enthusiast with a lot of money to spend. Is more tailor made than the Dell. I suppose even the technical assistance is better than Dell, I hope so...
There are some overlaps between the m17x and the XPS 1730, but I think the AW is still positioned higher.

 

I was hoping maybe Alienware would tweak what we've already seen of the m17x and make it their new mobile ALX system, but they'd probably want another 19/20 inch beast to fill that role. Penryn's would be cool. As would wireless USB.

 

in some way's i'm expecting Alienware to step up the the challenge to remain one of if not the best gaming computer manufacturers, by making the M17X the best notebook in the world (for 2008 anyway!!!)
As the specs are very similar, they need to do something special to justify the cost, although saying that the Dell's very expensive for a Dell notebook so...
I'm thinking that the Penryn would look cool wrapped up in a Skullcap shell of shiny black.....

OB

 

If Alienware releases the M17x without Penryn, then they need a good ard slap!

IMO, they are waiting for the X9000 release - because even with the M15x they advertise it mostly with "Intels Extreme CPU". So if they went all out now, I think they would be stumped by not getting their hands on the X9000 quick enough (only seen engineering samples of X9000 to date). Considering most people who buy Alienware are obviously looking for serious performance without worrying about cost, I can imagine they ship a lot of the high end CPU's.

So IMO, it makes sense to release the M17x AFTER the X9000 is out (and they have their hands on a shed load), if they indeed want the absolute top position in the 17" market.

I could be completely wrong and all, but that's my opinion.

 

This is worth getting too
High-Tech Vest Lets Gamers Take a Hit

 

Haha, I actually considered that. Not too sure if it'd be over the top though. I read somewhere that there are newer versions of the vests coming out along with a helmet (mainly for racing games). Pair those with a gaming laptop and an Emagin 3D Visor. Oh, and a Loftgoods Gamepod. That'd be a sweet setup.

 

Lol,

That needs pairing up with that new (in development) Philips speaker set, which includes fans that blow on you as you run and act like wind etc in games.

It also shoots blasts of air at you when bullets fly past your head etc

http://www.everythingusb.com/philips_ambx.html

 

I had previously thought that some have tried to read too much into why Alienware has delayed the m17x, including the thought that they were waiting for Penryn CPUs. I do believe some of the delay was due to Nvidia's delays in providing the 8800m SLI driver. We've seen that has delayed Sager/Clevo from shipping 8800m SLI laptops and while Dell has them available for order, it appears we are still a week or two away from those shipping and/or being received. That, of course, does not explain why the m17x remains in limbo while the m1730 with 8800m SLI has been available for over a week. As of today, there are Penryn options now available for m1730 orders, though the x9000 is not yet available. So I guess it is possible that in addition to the issues related to the 8800m drivers, Alienware has also been waiting for Penryns generally and the x9000 specifically, though it begs the question of why they would not similarly wait for the m15x.

 

Only reason I can think of is possibly the X9000 isn't mission critical to the M15x being it has only 1 GPU.

The M17x will benefit more from the extra CPU power of the X9000 and maybe the marketing man at AW thought that for what people want from the M15x - the current processors were fine.

The M17x is going to have to equal if not better the M1730 to pull the customers in, so that is the only reason I can see the delays (because of the X9000)

 

That's logical. Without the x9000 the m15x with the 8800m is the "most powerful 15" laptop available" at the moment. The same could not necessarily be said about the m17x. With that said, I would not be shocked if the m17x was released without Penryns and we won't really know why there was the extended delay.

 

Those aren't in development, they've been available for a while. Go to Amazon and type in AMBX. You can also check the forums at Ambx.com for updates on what's coming next.

 

Thought someone might pick up on that , I remember reading a while back about them and they weren't available then - guess a little too lazy to google availability on my behalf .

Still they look fun

 

If they work anything like my Philips Ambilight tv (haven't seen an AmbX system in person), they are worth getting for the lighting. I'm thinking about the getting the lighting only starter kit to compliment the tv, but I understand the wires are kind of short.

 

Now they're just messing with me...I just checked my email and found a new one from Alienware Insider titled "For the Passion of Gaming". I opened it quickly only to find that it was an ad for the m15x and Area-51 7500. Sigh.

 

Haha, what a mind ****. I got an email alert on my phone, haven't check it yet. I'm assuming that's what it is

 

Yep, don't other...

 

Now that I think about it, that's probably a sign that the m17x isn't coming tomorrow. Why send out an email hyping your other new system right before you launch a better system?



Damn... here comes another week of waiting.

 

May not mean anything but pcmicroworks.com (a Sager/Clevo reseller) today launched for ordering their version of the NP5793 with the Q9000 CPU. It should be noted that they were similarly a bit ahead of the curve when the 8800m was first launched as well and ended up being a little late with some of their first deliveries which had been promised before Christmas. But, that's one with the Q9000 available for ordering with Dell apparently coming in the next week or so.

If interested, look for their Horizon model:

http://www.pcmicroworks.com/store/customize.php

They boast of an 11,200+ 3D Mark06 score with the Q9000 and a single 8800m GPU.

 

What are your guys thoughts on the m17x config, do you think they will have an option for a single 8800gtx and how much price do you think it will add to run another one in sli? I'm planning on going with the standard memory, hard drive, and cpu but just sli two 8800gtx and keep it under about 3200-3500.
What are your thoughts

 

That's probably a pretty reasonable price to expect, but don't be surprised if it goes higher (of course)

 

I think you should be able to keep it in that range depending on what options Alienware initially opens up for custom configuration. Try going over to Dell's site and configuring the base m1730 as close to what you're looking at for the m17x. That should give you some idea of what you're looking at assuming you aren't getting any additional Smart Bay drives or batteries.

 

Thanks guys, I hope alienware has an option for a single 8800gtx dual might be out of the price range for me, I need speakers and a mouse also and a few other add ons, and with an extra 8800gtx it brings the price up 1000 bucks.

 

I might go single 8800 at first if they offer it and then add the second later.

 

how can you buy one later? mobile... ?

 

Alienware will sell them. You send the laptop to them, they pop it in and set it up for you. Someone on the board said they offer kits too, but I don't know that for sure.

 

Can someone tell me
is it better to wait for AW m17x
or get Dell 1730

Which will be more Faster & better for gaming ?

 

they'll be pretty even, though the M1730 may come out with the edge if its extreme processor is OCable while the m17x's still isn't

 

Dell also has a physics processor (if you see that as an advantage). Honestly, I like the looks of the m17x MUCH better, but you can't go wrong with either!

 

Honestly, the review sucks. I'm not even going to say that the m1730 is disappointing in that review (12,700 3DMarks only? with a single 8800GTX getting 9000's?) because those numbers look unreliable to me. Mainly because the numbers they are posting of the m9750 with 8700M GT SLi are worse than an m9750 with a single 8700M GT

 

//sorry to interrupt can we get this topic pinned please. thank you

 

I agree it reads like it's been written from a member of Dell staff, trying to get commission for selling XPS1730's!

Guess we'll have to wait until Alienware to release the real thing to get some real benchmarks!

Ho Hum

OB

 

Ok, I punted on the m17x. Best Buy's $1,199 deal on the P-6831FX (+ 1 PC game (Crysis) for free) was too good to pass up. this deal had been leaked last week and I went back and forth on it until last night when I saw BestBuy had sold-out online and I could only find a handful of stores that still had any units in stock.

I know its not as powerful or have all of the bells and whistles as the m17x but I decided it would buy me some time for the new Intel chipset to come out, let all the bugs be worked out with the m17x, not have to wait if Alienware does not release all of the colors, skull-cap, configuration options, etc. I likely will swap out the T5450 CPU for the T9300 and might add a RAID 0 configuration in the next couple of months.

 

No Kem no!!! Haha, so how is it so far?

 

hmmm....many people seem to be going for the gateway p fx series. if alienware tries to keep people on their toes for too long they're not gonna sell much....m17x isn't even out yet but the desktop 9 series is already being released very soon so about 6months for the notebook version.....ghey! i don't want to spend $4k++ only to not be the best in only 6 months.....

 

I'm amazed at the AW strategy...preview the m17x in November then delay release for months. It has kept me from buying anything else, but no info from AW is really making me reconsider waiting. The m17x looks great, and meets my needs...okay...gadget lust for a great desktop replacement. However, I won't wait past the end of Feb for a chance to order since I'll likely have to wait weeks after that for the build.

 

Well, this does not sound good if you believe that the reason for the hold-up on the release of the m17x is the problems with the nVidia drivers that have similarly held-up Sager/Clevo shipping their D901C/Np9262 models with 8800m SLI. I found this on the message board at xoticpc.com.

"Update: 2/18/2008

Sager NP9262 w/SLI:
We understand that there are many of you are patiently waiting for updates regarding Sager NP9262 (Clevo D901C) and nVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX with SLi, Sager thanks everyone for being so patient.

There are still unresolved driver issues that require solving by nVIDIA & Clevo. Sager is working very closely with both nVIDIA & Clevo to get the issues resolved and that these open issues are on top of everyone’s list to be resolved and that all available resources with-in all parties are being allocated to resolve these issue.

However at this time we are uncertain if we will be able to meet our original end of Feb’08 target date, but the matter is just out of our control. Sager will keep following up with both nVIDIA and Clevo and will keep our customers posted as things progress forward."

 

I remember someone else mentioning this as a reason for the delay with the M17X.
I guess the high-end manufacturs don't want to release something that doesn't work, as with the XPS1730, i don't think they have full SLI yet, and that's been out how long?

OB

 

I have just sent this to [email protected]

I am hoping that i get a positive response?

OB