Better upgrade for M15x, a M14x or M17x ?

Howdy Everyone,

My M15x is starting to get long-in-the tooth (hits 3 years pretty soon), and so I am considering an upgrade. I originally thought about an Asus G75 (the Best Buy model, as its easy to get), but after looking at the specs, the wireless card is insufficiant to meet my needs (must be able to do at least 2 streams at 5 GHz). Then yesterday, I saw this very nice looking Samsung 'Series 7' laptop at a local Best Buy. This thing looks very nice, featurs a 2 GB GDDR5 nVidia 650M, and a better wireless card than the G75. However, the display model blue-screened while trying to boot, so I was unable to look any closer. My biggest stickler is that I prefer 15" notebooks (which is why I have a M15x ), and it has been perfect for my needs. I decided that I am probably better off with just getting a new Alienware laptop, but the real issue, is which current model is considered the replacement for the M15x? I thought that perhaps the M14x would fit that bill, but it seems to have much weaker GPU options, and does not feature a 'FullHD' screen. Which leads me to the M17x. It has all of the options I would want (Bluetooth, Blu-Ray, Full HD, decent discrete video, IB, mSATA cacheing), but at a larger size than I want. Really the only one of these options that the Samsung doesn't have is the BluRay drive.....

What (in your opinion) would be a better upgrade for an M15x (specs in my sig)?

Secondly, but related... What is the current opinion on the available GPUs, which is better Radeon 7970M or GeForce 67(5) GTX? The builder points out the nVidia card, but I thought the 7970 was the "best" out there (underneath the overpriced GeForce 680M)?

Thanks!

Rich S

 

7970M is the best card for the money. 675M = 580M rebadged. 680M is better but as you have discovered, is overpriced.

I think someone got an M15x with a 7970M, but at that point a 720QM would bottleneck it, you might want to get a 920XM.

You could probably take a looking at a Clevo rebrand Sager NP9150, 15.6" with IB, 1080p, option for a 7970M or 680M, BT, Bluray if you so want. Or you can consider an M17xR4, pretty much all the same options, though it is 17.3" not 15.6" but the R3/R4 is the M15x replacement for Alienware.

 

in reality the m17x should not be much bigger than the m15x (chassis wise). i believe the m17x r4 would be the best upgrade if your willing to stick with alienware.

here are the m15x dimensions:
Height 48.7 mm (1.92 inches) - Front and Back
Width 377.93 mm (14.88 inches)
Depth 308.51 mm (12.15 inches)
Weight with 6-cell battery (starting at) 4.08 kg (9.00 lb)

and here is the m17x r4 dims:
Height: 44.5 mm (1.75 inches)
Depth: 304.30 mm (11.97 inches)
Width: 410 mm (16.14 inches)
Starting at weight: 4.26 kg (9.39 lbs)

 

Hi Tsunade_Hime and Mexic00ls,

Thanks! rep++ to you both! I just pulled the trigger and ordered an M17x R4 with the ATI 7970M. I am extremely giddy right now but I always feel bad after spending that amount of money. However, I have enjoyed pretty much 3 years of service from M15x, so I look forward to at least 3 more years with the M17x. Now, what to do with my M15x hmmmmmmm Thanks again guys!

Rich S.

 

GREAT! and congrats, the m17x r4 should keep you pretty happy for years to come. i cant see myself getting rid of my m15x.... to much love for this awesome machine..... but you could make a couple of hundred buck on ebay???