Bad time to buy m15x?

I really need a laptop and am willing to pay a little extra for the gorgeous m15x, but I honestly can't understand why the clock speed of the ram is so low. They appear to have just rejigged the options on their site but the memory still shows as 667mhz. I don't think Xotic offer anything in the gaming category running that slow, or am I missing something?

 

the m15x uses the Santa Rosa chipset, which uses DDR2 RAM clocked at 667mhz. the notebooks offered by Clevo use the (newer) Montevina chipset, which requires DDR3 RAM clocked at 1066mhz. in operation, you won't notice a speed difference between the two RAM versions.

 

The m15x is quite dated by now. The RAM and processor FSB speeds are limited by the Santa Rosa platform (as is the wireless card and various other things). The RAM is actually not that important, but everything else is also old. Given their pricing ($150 for 4GB of DDR2-667 RAM? $250 for upgrading to the T9300? :laugh: ), the only reason to buy it is because you value apperance over performance -- the Sager NP8662 (Clevo M860TU) annihilates it in every category and even manages to weigh a bit less.

 

I wonder when it will be revised or at least slash the price on it's current configuration.

 

In practice, generally the newer DDR3 ram offer little performance benefit, over 667 mhz DDR2. The chances are, you won't notice any difference, unless you do very heavy encoding. The difference in windows will certainly be minimal.

It might be bad time getting M15x, if you say its outdated, but its spec is still highly rated amongst 15 inchers. And the way you put it, any gaming laptop currently are nearly outdated, since next gen mobile Nehalem CPU and GPU are just around the corner (Q3-4). If you wait, you can do so forever.

If your into flashy stuff, but are open to other chioces, why not have a look at Asus's G50 VT? it has 9800m GS, as well as latest CPU.

 

I highly doubt that they'll do it. They are likely to completely skip monteniva generation. Beside, if they did have that intention, they would have updated much sooner. Afterall, monteniva is just a small improment over santa rosa, rather than offering drastic microarchitecture improvements.

The only likely refresh you'll see, is after next gen CPU and GPU have landed. The best bet would be early next year.

 

Nehalem windows 7 machines could be worth waiting for you think?

 

From what Ive heared the RC is coming out Tuesday and the beta wont expire until some time in 2010.

 

My guess is that they will probably try to update the M15X with a newer and better video card to get more life out of it with either the Nvidia GTX 260M or would be nice to see if the ATI HD4870 would work. I mean it is marketed as a gaming laptop / notebook so what really counts in games is the GPU. I hope this helps. God Bless

 

Just go for it, TC. You won't notice that big of a difference, and if you wait, you'll be waiting endlessly.

As long as you're sure that it's what you want, waiting will make you doubt your choice to buy.

 

Maybe I will just go for it, waiting sucks

 

I just configured the m15x with the same specs as mine.... only $1929.00

When i bought mine 5 months ago, i paid $2700.00. When something new at alienware does come out, it will be extremely overpriced, and if you wait for the price to come down, something new will be right around the corner. Im very happy with my M15x, and 1929.00 is a good price for what it is. Just my opinion

 

Some of the upgrades may be even further discounted when the new line or refresh of the current line takes place. I would actually wait since rumors are flying saying it will happen this month. Then again if you REALLY need something now just buy it.

 

I just noticed that the base price was bumped up to $1,199, but that now includes the HD3870. You can still get the $1,099 price by dropping that to the 8600M GT, but that was previously a $250 upgrade, so it's actually saving $150 (anyone else dizzy yet?). The 8700 has disappeared completely.

I played with the current specs, and I can now configure a system for under $2000 that will run circles around the one my wife got a year ago for $2400.

 

indeed, the 8700m-gt is gone. of course, it was a fairly bad card.

 

hooo hummm seems they are really trying to clear out some 3870's

 

I'm waiting for it to be gone from the UK site lol

 

I've got one now, thx ebay

 

highly doubtful about that.

by Fall-Winter, this system will fall behind two generations of platforms.

its still a fine gaming machine, but with no chances for CPU upgrades past the dual-core X9000 and videocard.... the price paid is not worth it.

 

I say that If you want to buy it, then go for it. There will always be reasons not to buy something.

 

Doesn't look like you went cheap either. Hope you got a good price.