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    Battery...How long do they last?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by jejjohnson, Apr 5, 2009.

  1. jejjohnson

    jejjohnson Notebook Guru

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    Just generally, How long do batteries for the models M17 and the m15x last?

    Should I buy an extra one when I purchase one? Or is there room [like a year] before i have to worry about when i need to get a new one?
     
  2. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Ok well When gaming these laptops last an hour tops... in surfing or typing about 2 hours
     
  3. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Batteries are nice and easy to pop out now so you could get another for convenience

    Can I ask you why If you are purchasing a gaming laptop though you dont go with a Asus, Sager or Clevo? They are much better than the alienware currently... Alienware hasn't updated their GPU's in a while
     
  4. jejjohnson

    jejjohnson Notebook Guru

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    oh..ive looked into those as well like the W90, the NP5797 and the NP8662 [even the MacBook Pro]. But i figured Id evaluate them all before i make a final decision.
     
  5. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Cool man, Yea you'll see this alot from me... Im absolutely obsessed with the Asus W90Vp-A1, x9300 processor just like the M17 :D but everything else is much better for much less lol
    I'll link you a mini review a guy on here just did
     
  6. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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  7. Shuya

    Shuya Notebook Evangelist

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  8. dondadah88

    dondadah88 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Not for me either. i am going to do a review on mine later this week. if you are intrested.
     
  9. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    Heyjejjohnson,
    Something to keep in mind is the fact that when you hear a comment like this it's an opinion and nothing more.

    My opinion is that Alienware is much better than Asus, Sager and Clevo by a huge margin. When I bought my second A.W the only other notebook I even considered was the OCZ Whitebook.

    Opinions about the best laptop are based on many things so take all opinions with a grain of salt including mine.

    If long battery life is important to you then a very high end gaming rig won't meet your needs. You can get decent battery life with a mid to high end gaming machine or a rig that accepts an additional battery in the smart bay.

    I would also suggest you try to narrow your search down to a few prospects and see them in person if you can. If you can find someone who has one check it out.

    According to the poster above my A.W. is old tech...bleh! I play crysis with everything set to very high (maxed) and gameplay is perfectly fluid! And nothing is overclocked. :cool:

    Although Asus was first to release the 4870's in crossfire, A.W. is close as well but they won't be the same 4870's, they'll be the 4870's with DDR5 instead of DDR3.

    All the rigs listed should play well so it comes down to what YOU want out of your laptop.
     
  10. butter30

    butter30 Notebook Consultant

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    i agree with Rob41 its really up to your preference, stylish design shell alienware, sleek big cube asus w90 or clevo which are quite plain and slightly blocky "D9000 series".

    how did this turn from choice of laptop to battery rofl
     
  11. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

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    my battery last 1 hour while gaming bout 2 doing just surfing

    the m15x can last 6 with SB battery
     
  12. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    The Asus has a better motherboard at least right now, and I absolutely love alienware.... If I could get a M17x with dual 4870's great! I just can't stand how the M17 looks like the 90's notebooks, like a corporate players laptop with the red button in the keyboard lol. Plus I am skeptical about alienware having dual 4870's on DDR5, thats the only reason I haven't bought the Asus yet (I'll wait 2-3 months)

    Although I will admit I wish the ASUS was 1920x1200 and a little smaller screen, but the increased size of the chassis keeps the monster running cooler
     
  13. dondadah88

    dondadah88 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    gaming 40 45
    with some heavy software tweaks alittle over 2 hours.
    more with my old t9400 but the quad is 10watts more and I am overclocked.
     
  14. bhattsan

    bhattsan Notebook Deity

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    Hands down, the m15x is the best gaming laptop also for battery life. With smart bay battery and integrated graphics, 6-7 hours is easily doable. Plus, you have an 9800m gt, which is pretty good for gaming, as well as a 15.4 inch, 7 lb frame which is manageable to carry around versus the m17 or the asus.
     
  15. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    Um, I'm really confused by your post. In your opinion, what makes the Asus motherboard better? Also, it's the M17X that uses the older Satna Rosa platform, not the newer Montevina one like the M17.

    It sounds like the Asus would be a better choice for you. :confused:
     
  16. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    No the M17 versus the Asus Im talking chip set/motherboard not CPU, The Asus has the latest motherboard higher bridge speeds

    At least it's what I've read?.... feel free to prove me wrong :)
     
  17. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Mobile Intel® X38 Express Chipset (ASUS W90) vs ICH9M-E chipset (Alienware M17)
     
  18. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    Yeah, O.K., the Asus uses PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM @800mhz. The M17 uses DDR3 PC3 8500 @1066.

    But like I said, the Asus looks to be a very nice choice for you.
     
  19. whizzo

    whizzo Notebook Prophet

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    word? {ten characters}
     
  20. jl1989

    jl1989 Notebook Evangelist

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    M15x smart bay is worth the premium imo.. even without integrated graphics you can still get almost 4 hours out of it... without huge things sticking out of your laptop, etc....

    plus you can have ssd primary drive and smart bay hd for everything that you don't need 100% of the time

    I guess it really depends on what you use it for.. if you're just going to leave it at home all the time then battery life is uselss.. and you'll probably have external harddrives at home too
     
  21. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Yea but the ASUS is DDR3 Capable as well, just ships with DDR2
     
  22. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Sorry I mean the Intel® X38 express chipsets are DDR3 capable
     
  23. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    Oh yeah, well the M17 ships with DDR3 so there!
     
  24. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    AHHH why does god do this to me! ( I'm absolutely enarmored with both these laptops) Im not buying mine for 2-3 more months so I'll play the waiting game and see...
     
  25. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    Just remember that you are the only one who needs to be pleased with your choice. If you can, try to see each of your choices in person to really get a feel for them. The Asus w90 and the A.W M17 will both play very well.
     
  26. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    :) yup well in the meantime at least I can "try" to give non-biased oppinions to others lol

    and thank you it's nice to hear that from someone, I transferred over from the Game trailers forums yesterday... This is heaven compared to that
     
  27. Mystik

    Mystik Notebook Deity

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    the ICH9 chipset is a SOUTHBRIDGE, not a NORTHBRIDGE.

    PM45 is the northbridge.

    so your real comparison is between the X38 and PM45...

    and from what I'm seeing here, the PM45 is a mobile chipset... it doesn't say the same for the x38.

    it might have a mobile version that just isn't documented?
     
  28. Soloman

    Soloman Notebook Consultant

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    You've been hanging around those IBM Thinkbook Geeks too long. Seriously the M17 is the farthest thing from that red button in the middle 90's look.

    I know its tough to see an AW in person they only come out at night but do yourself a favor and try. And seriously the M17x (Ripely Back) is more corporate than the M17, one reason I am not seriously looking at them. Are you maybe mistaking the M17x with the M17?

    BTW yes wait the 2-3 months things are supposed to change by then for AW models.
     
  29. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    its a X38 ICH10 I believe, yes its a mobile

    And no I've seen it, I cant decide between the ASUS and the M17... The M17 is kind of rugged, and I prefer the ports not to be on the rear (IE hdmi, Sata etc.)
     
  30. Mystik

    Mystik Notebook Deity

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    According to the link I posted earlier, it's an ICH9 chipset.

    the chipset and video cards seem to be brand new on the system, frankly, I'm surprised it's out. according to what I'm seeing on newegg and Asus's own webpage, it uses 4870s in crossfire.... I wasn't aware the mobile 4870s had hit the market yet.

    .... the fact that it's GIGANTIC (18") is besides the point.
     
  31. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Im positive when I was looking up the chipset on the W90Vp-A1 I saw that it was a Intel X38- ICH 10 or something I know it was not a 9 though
     
  32. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Found it Intel x38 + ICH10R
     
  33. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    It does use the Intel X38-ICH 10 chipset. Just google it.
     
  34. Mystik

    Mystik Notebook Deity

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    because google is NEVER WRONG
     
  35. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

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    1 inch is not that much of a differnce i would say like 1 15 inch to a 18.4 is a big diff but 17 to 18 is not mcuh
     
  36. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    no lol, but when you repeatedly find the Intel x38 + ICH10R under articles for the W90... I begin to think it might be... At least I can hope
     
  37. butter30

    butter30 Notebook Consultant

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    does any1 no any retail shops that sell the asus w90 and Aw m17 so that you can see and feel the laptop ^^
     
  38. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    No I serioously doubt there are, the closest you will get is a youtube video... They are warehouse makers, by that I mean you configure it and they send it to you... Only retail store is occasionaly sold though a Bestbuy or other electronics store
     
  39. FoxTrot1337

    FoxTrot1337 Notebook Deity

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    Costco sells M17s
     
  40. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    really? wow I guess were just not special enough to have them in ours
    Spokane, WA lol
     
  41. EscapingJail

    EscapingJail Notebook Enthusiast

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    Anybody know where I can buy a m15x smart bay battery without calling AW? Is it even possible? I don't have an "Account" with AW since I won my laptop so it seems I can't even talk to anybody to simply buy something.
     
  42. FoxTrot1337

    FoxTrot1337 Notebook Deity

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    Well, they have them online so I expect them to sell it in store.
     
  43. mjl2142

    mjl2142 Notebook Evangelist

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    I find it somewhat odd that a legit contest would not give you the account number, but whatever...

    They may sell them in the "gear shop" on their website.
    If not, try calling their sales line (where they sell systems to new customers)
    They might be able to help you.
     
  44. EscapingJail

    EscapingJail Notebook Enthusiast

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    http://cgl.delluniversity.com/fall_wrapup


    Soul Calibur IV
    1st: Sean “Escaping Jail” Lowe-Bianco - Alienware m15x Notebook
    2nd: Alec “s1refrosty” Zurek - Dell 20-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor
    3rd: Jason “ParadiseLost421” Kuntz - $100 Dell Gift Card


    Yeah I'll try their sales line this time.
     
  45. FirecatF7

    FirecatF7 Notebook Consultant

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  46. mjl2142

    mjl2142 Notebook Evangelist

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    Personally, I would call Dell about that. They own alienware, so they should be able to get you warranty coverage & an account. Otherwise, if something breaks, your stuck.

    Congrats on winning one btw.
     
  47. EscapingJail

    EscapingJail Notebook Enthusiast

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    Already tried, they tell me there is nothing they can do. And thanks
     
  48. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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  49. Snowm0bile

    Snowm0bile Starcraftologist

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    In my opinion the w90 looks cheap. I think they will be selling it at best buy soon.
     
  50. whizzo

    whizzo Notebook Prophet

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    ...like Alienware.... :D
     
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