Best M17 specs for 1800 $ Budget !!

so My budget is 1500$( can max it to 1800$ ) and am not sure what is the best specs i can cuztomaiz with this money

i tried , and this what came out ... is it the best with 1800 $ ?



Alienware M17
--------------
LCD : 17-Inch WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p)
RAM: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB
CPU: Intel® Core™2 P8600 2.4GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
GPU: 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870
HD: 320GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drive : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Price : 1799.00 $

 

if you get 2 gb ram and the 120gb hd you'll save enough to upgrade both from someplace like newegg and have a little change...

 

Do you mean I should by 4 gig RAM and bigger HD from newegg , and it's gonna be cheaper ??

Do you have links

 

LCD : 17-Inch WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p)
RAM: 2GB« Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 1048MB
CPU: Intel® Core™2 P8600 2.4GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
GPU: dual in cross fire 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870
HD: 160GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drive : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)

illuminated keyboard to and there you go

 

check these...

western digital 7200 rpm 320 gb hdd ($89.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136280

mushkin ddr3 sodimm pc8500 1066mhz - 2 x 2gb dual channel kit ($79.99):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226019

those may not be the best choices as far as performance or price, just examples....

if i was you I would try to get the the t9400 as well as the dual ati graphics cards...it comes out at $1926 like that...then you could save for a bit and order the ram and hdd down the road...

word.

 

What about the RAM ??!

Does not vista need at least 4 gig ?

 

well...if your using 32-bit windows 4 gb is your max...2gb will get the job done though...AW's RAM is brutal - they want $200 to upgrade to 4gb!!! you can get better ram for less than half of that on your own. I noticed they're charging $75 to upgrade to the 320gb...so that's cheaper than the link I gave you...

the t9400 processor has double the size cache than the ones below it...I would say it's the best bang for the buck, these 3870's kick a$$ in xfirex so you'll prolly want that as well...

 

i used 2 gigs to play crysis and fallout and grid 2 gigs is plenty on vista

no actually its 3.2


also get both graphic cards other wise you just bought a gaming laptop for no reason. the t9400 is the best deal for a cpu and the 2 cards are the best deal

edit : sorry i can't link my internet is down to 2 kbs i hate hughes net

 

wow thank you guys that is helpfull really

but what is the Diff between 32-bit and 64-bit XD

 

one you can use more then 3.2 gigs of ram

32 bit= 3 gigs of ram
64 bit= i think 16-or 32 gigs of ram but the m17 only supports 8 gigs of ram

 

then why dont i go with 64-bit ..

 

i unno i wondering the same thing ? why ask me?

 

Actually 64-bit can goto 128 GBs of Ram.

 

o my bad i couldnt remeber but he got the point i hope lol

now we are even

 

In general, 64 bit is less efficient with memory do to hardware constraints, but can use larger amounts, and depending on the application can be faster. As a result, when at 3GB or lower one should get 32 bit. 4GB tends to be a toss up, I would prefer 64 bit personally. Anything greater than 4GB should be 64 bit or you're just wasting money.

Right now, 4GB sticks of DDR3 is a lot of money, on the order of $300+ so no one has them. So the max for DDR3 notebooks like the M17 is 2 sticks of 2GB DDR3 for a total of 4GB until the price comes down.

If you later upgrade to 4GB, go ahead and call Alienware and ask for the 64 bit disk. Like most laptop sellers that bundle Windows, Alienware is required by Microsoft to offer 64 bit for free if you decide on the 32 bit Windows.

 

Ok any more suggestion on how i should Cuztiomize my AW laptop ? M 17 ?

 

dual graphic cards illuminated keyboard and try to get the t9400 thats bout it

 

I would upgrade the GFX.
If you could spare an extra 100-150, you could upgrade to the T9400 or the Q9000.

Oh, get the illuminated keyboard too.

 

Ok

1) what is the illuminated keyboard ? where to find that ?

2) do I have to buy the laptop with vista insalled already ? or i can istalled in the Uni for free : )

 

huh?
of coarse you cant ????

the illuminated keyboard is on the customize webpage ...

all the choices are on the customize page

 

It is an option on the M17 configuration site and I dunno what Uni means, but M17 will come preinstalled with Vista Premium.

 

OK lol thanks , I just relized it's free


and uni means university

 

lol no problem i was really lost for a second

 

Ok is it that big diff between the X fire and the other ATI ??

 

ughhh ....wow you dont have a big backround in computers ehhh? lol just messin with you

ok the cross fire means that there is 2 graphic cards instead of 1
so its alot faster and better. you really wont regret getting it

xfire>>>>>>>>>then single

 

Every thing is here.

No offense but you should do some research first.

Upgrading RAM and HDD from Alienware is quite expensive, as in more expensive than the price you buy from retail store. So its suggested that you stick with the base configuration of these two and upgrade them later once you receive your notebook.

I personally would not go lower than 1920x1200 for the 17" screen and why 1 GPU when you can get two? Except if you plan to upgrade it to two later (Say the 4XXX series) but I think the heat sink will be different (As in single GPU heat sink and double GPU heat sink). I might be wrong about the heat sink though.

P8400 is enough if what you do is only gaming and other basic applications. If you use wireless connection at home or any other similar location, its better for you to get the N wireless card all together (G came as base configuration and its weak).

And no, I don't think you could get Alienware to ship you notebook without the OS but it wont harm for you to ask.

Lastly, if you plan on upgrading the GPU later, why don't you wait until the release of 4XXX series ATI cards all together?

 

ohhhh isee now : )

Well about the backround , don't worry am working on it ..

 

what with the people getting angry because i want to learn few things about computers

anyways

1) when does this new series of ATI is coming ? and is it the same price ?


2) the best M17 with budget 2000$ is this ? what do you think / if it's yes we done if you think there is better custome tell me please

here :
Alienware M17
CPU Intel® Core™2 P8400 2.26GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
RAM 3GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 1 x 2048MB + 1 x 1024MB
GPU Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™
Display 17-Inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p) with Clearview Technology
HD 160GB 7,200RPM (8MB Cache)
Optical Drive 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Price 2000 $

 

Umm, I believe this is his research and he did go onto the site as you can see from his first post (He has a configured M17).

 

people are people

the new seris is saposed to be coming out in april and no it will not be the same price any thing else i say will be pure speculation

the best m17 best budget m17 is that because thats what i got i can play crysis and fallout and grid and wow and pretty much anything else out.

if your gonna buy a 2k laptop make sure to get the part's that will last awhile

 

but you upgraded your RAM else where later right ?

 

yea i haven't got it yet im waiting on my tax return or this paycheck wednesday lol

upgrade hard drive and ram from newegg fo sho

 

Good good ok then ill go with Post 31 specs then


THANK YOU so much Mr.moo and Foxtrot1337 and all the people who helpt

 

noooo
save your money dont get the ram from them
also the 1900 screen isn't a nessary i have the 1440 screen i like it but each to their own

 

Get the ram later, downgrade that and get a better CPU, you won't regret doing that.

 

yea what Fox said you want to get the best you can get so you dont have to send it back in

 

Posts 37,38,39

You guys mean Downgrad the Ram from 3 gig to 2 gig and use the money to upgrade the Cpu from P8400 to P8600 ? ( mean specs mentioned in post 31 )


and it's gonna be the same price

 

lol fox ment get a t9400 for the level 3 cache but the upgrade would not be worth it(i mean the p8400 to p8600 because it wouldnt be noticable) save the 100 and get 4 gigs of ram at newegg then sell the 2 gigs that came with it then you may have enough to get a 2 hard drive

 

You really should consider the crossfire 3870s. Especially if somehow the GREAT 4870s all the sudden are a no go with the whitebook, atleast you have the good performance of the 3870s in xfire. In my opinion, if you getting a Whitebook, that should be your first priority.

 

Ecyde he is getting cross fire we talked him into it


Alienware M17
CPU Intel® Core™2 P8400 2.26GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
RAM 2GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – + 2 x 1024MB get these with the 100 you saved and sell the old ones
GPU Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™
Display 17-Inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p) with Clearview Technology
HD 160GB 7,200RPM (8MB Cache)
Optical Drive 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Price 2000 $

 

Yea I just replied on the first page. I then went back after to find out you guys did the right thing in telling him to go XFire. I was going to edit my post but you guys are quick.

I was actually about to tell him to go to Xotic to get it for a couple hundred dollars cheaper, but that probably isnt such a great idea anymore.

 

xotic isnt selling any more...i figured they would pull it right away to keep there supplys stock piled for repairs ...

he is right my bad

 

ok i get it

so

2 gig ram
P9400 CPU
cross fire GPU
160 HD
1920x1200 LCD
and the N wirless card + that kind of key board

and i should upgrade both Ram and Hd later

But like that it's gonna be at least 2150 $ ? Unless i downgrad the LCD too to 1400x900 and it's gonna be 1950 ?


confusing right ,, : )

 

Yea, and if possible try getting the T9400, which is much better then the P8600.

 

nope i had your dellima i am a student and had a price dellima so i made sure to get myself soemthing that would last not just be cheap

the 1440 screen is good my self personally i would save the 200 and not get it then you could get a second hard drive 4 gigs of ram and have like 120 left over

or just get the t9400 and downgrade to 1440 res

 

Is screen resolution important to you?

 

Crossfire is for high resolution. If you're going to get a 1440x900, then why get the 2nd GPU? One 3870 will run 1440x900 just fine.

 

If resolution is not important to you, then yeah I would downgrade the Screen size and get the better CPU (within your price range)

 

future games will need a second gpu just a investment

 

Its a pain in the (something) to upgrade the screen and its piece of cake to upgrade the CPU, RAM and HDD (Include buying them from other store).

That's all I'm going to say, I warned ya and good luck with your purchase.

[EDIT]

I actually expect people to Google first before asking some really simple and obvious question, maybe I'm too harsh or expecting too much?

@FoxTrot1337

Yes I know he went to that page but he asked what is illuminated keyboard... So I direct him to the page for picture of it.