I'm interested in buying an Alienware laptop for gaming but i'm waiting for a killer promo so in the meaning time I have a few questions regarding Alienware. :hi2:
1) What is the difference between the models? I see laptops which can come with different numbering schemes such as R1, R2, R3 etc. What do those numbers stand for?
They are revision numbers. They coincide with newer chipset, CPU and GPU releases. M18x R1 is Sandy Bridge, M18x R2 is Ivy Bridge, etc. As timing would have it, GPU upgrades generally follow suit, but we did see some new models with updated GPUs before Ivy Bridge was released in the last go round. Dell/Alienware was awesome and voluntarily switched those out for systems with Ivy Bridge for many customers from NBR forums. The exception is the M17x R1/R2, which are actually the predecessors to the M18x R1/R2. They have the same physical superiority that an M18x does, and those are what have made Alienware laptops legendary as high performance laptops.
2) Is there a massive size difference between the M17x and the M18x? As a gamer bigger is better but price is a factor, which is why I ask.
No, not much. But even a little bit matters to some. Where the M18x eclipses the M17x R3/R4 is in build quality, performance and cooling. The M17x R3/R4 is a good laptop compared to other brands and lesser Alienware models, but it has a rubberized coating on a plastic chassis. The M18x is anodized aluminum. The M18x is dual GPU and an XM CPU is a purchasing option. The cooling system in an M18x is more effective.
3) I've read that Alienware laptops use GPU sockets that allow you to upgrade the GPU? Does that apply for all Alienware laptops or just the M17x and M18x?
Theoretically, it applies to all laptops that share the same MXM video card specification. Some other brands make it difficult or impossible to upgrade by introducing proprietary crap technology that makes owning one of their machines an impediment. Having impediments to upgrades makes their products obsolete faster than Alienware. It also diminishes the value of competing products. Those impediments exist less frequently in an Alienware laptop. The M11x and maybe the M14x (don't know because I don't really pay attention) may both have integrated components that cannot be removed or upgraded. So, check out the Service Manual for details before considering a model other than an M17x R3/R4 or M18x.
4) Where do you buy future GPU's i.e. if I buy a M18x with a 680m and I want to upgrade to the unannounced 690m?
Clevo MXM cards typically work best in an Alienware when the parts are not available from Dell. The first and best choice would be Dell parts, but limited availability often seems to stand in the way of upgrades. Observing what others have posted, getting Clevo cards from vendors other than Eurocom seems to be better experience. I have never dealt with Eurocom, so I can only go on what I have read. Upgradeyourlaptop. (aka Upgrademonkey,) R&J Technology and MXM-Upgrade are good vendors to buy from. Beware of great prices on eBay if the seller of the GPU is not one of these three vendors. GPUs are more prone to failure and defect than CPUs (which rarely have defect) and you want to buy your GPU from a seller that has the ability to take care of you if there is a problem. Buying used and system pull GPUs on eBay from people that have no replacement stock is like rolling dice. Getting a refund can be a major problem from sellers that don't have replacement stock on hand for exchanges. My best advice here is skip the bargain parts and buy only from a trusted source. Maintaining your sanity and avoiding potential hassles is worth more than saving a few bucks.
5) How reliable are the Alienware laptop's? I ask because these are performance devices and not your typical Dell laptops.
All laptops, especially high performance models, are subject to malfunction. Quality control is playing second fiddle to price among all brands as they tighten up the bottom line to remain as profitable as they can and maintain competitive prices as much as possible in our state of economic decline. I have found mine to be reliable. The machines with problems generally show the issues while brand new, shortly after opening the box. This is the case with most electronics regardless of brand. The most important consideration here is warranty and how well the warranty is handled when the need arises. This is where Dell/Alienware has no competition. They have the best warranty and technical support available anywhere and do a better job of fulfilling their obligations under warranty than their competitors. They are flexible about allowing customers to make changes to their system, with the caveat that user-induced damage is not covered by the warranty and neither are the aftermarket upgrades. Apart from that, knock yourself out... you're still covered. This is not the case with most brands. See more commentary under question 6.
6) Is it better to buy from XoticPC or Dell? I see there are a ton of customization options with XoticPC but not sure how warranties are handled?
This can vary based on where you live. People in some countries cannot even order an Alienware except through a reseller. You will need someone with experience to comment about how the warranty is handled. Where resellers add value, or have the greatest potential to add value, is quality control. Because they handle all of the final details, the chances of you getting a new machine that is defective prior to delivery are greatly diminished. Good resellers thoroughly test everything, and some will even cherry pick the best overclockable CPUs and GPUs from their parts stock if you are willing to pay extra for that service. (I have not heard this mentioned in a long time. I am assuming there are still resellers that will do that, but not many customers willing to pay for it.)
The drawbacks to a reseller (other than the unanswered warranty question) can be price and perhaps availability of parts. You can expect to pay more buying an Alienware from a reseller. The best pricing available and ability to negotiate price is generally limited to buying directly from Alienware. The reason is probably obvious... resellers need to make a profit to stay in business, so markup is a given. If there is a component shortage, the reseller might take a back seat to customers with pending orders that are buying directly from Dell/Alienware. If something is on backorder, it only makes sense that Alienware is going to take care of its own order fulfillment needs before shipping any backordered stock to a reseller.
Maybe a reseller that reads this can chime in and confirm if I have stated anything incorrectly. I want the information to be accurate, so hearing it straight from the horse's mouth would be better.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
