Buying a Used M17 Laptop

This guys wants 1600 dollars for this. Tell me if this is a good deal. I plan on upgrading graphics card to dual, processor to T9400, and probably getting more space for the hard drive. This guy didnt use this computer for gaming but I plan to. Hasn't been overclocked. I appreciate your responses as I am trying to decide wheter to spend the 2800 I am spending buy new with a few more extra things on it. Let me know! Thanks.

Operating System: Windows Vista® Home Premium (32-bit)
Screen: 17-inch Widescreen WUXGA 1920 x 1200 with Clearview and 2.0 Megapixel Webcam with Vertical Tilt
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Ram: 4 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM @ 1066MHz (2 x 2048 MB)
Hard Drive: 160 GB SATA
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 (only one)

 

I'm going to go with. Really bad idea.

AW warranties were not transferable a few months ago and I doubt that has changed.

 

Well, I thought it had dual 3870's before, me bad, put nevertheless you can build the same for $1624 new so not sure it is that great a deal...

 

Man its getting late, mssed the clearview...still $1799 new

 

What do you think would be an acceptable price. He bought it around when M17's came out. He says he paid 1800 dollars up front.

 

Honestly...used and no warranty... I would not give more than $1200.
Just my opinion. It's like when you drive a new car off the lot, you lose soon as it pulls away on resale.

 

Yeah i would buy it for 1400-1500 because it has only one gpu. and a low end cpu. try it out first. install some games on it and see if you like it.

 

I just dont know. I just want a laptop that can play any game I want and I can have a bunch of games installed. No need for downloading anything other then games. I want the games to load and play fast and to have really good graphics. I play WoW and alot of online shooters. I don't do much multitasking. I usually just play one game at a time, while listening to music on one of my HP's and having something else running on my PS3/Xbox/Wii if I want. What would be the perfect M17 setup for me while still keeping a little cheaper.

 

I cancelled this order today because I thought I would be buying this laptop. Now im not so sure. This lap top was going to cost me 2800 with some accessories. If I reorder it, should I use the exsisting cancelled order (which they said I can redeem), or start up a new order?

Video/Graphics Card: DUAL 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870
Processor: Intel® Core™2 T9400 2.53GHz
Design & Display: Black Skullcap Design
Chassis: 17-Inch WideUXGA
Keyboard Options: Illuminated Keyboard – Alienware Exclusive Design - Fusion Red
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB

System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 500GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® Ultimate N 5300 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card with MIMO Technology
The World's First 450 Mbps Wi-Fi Adapter!
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with Surround Sound
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Onsite Service and 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support

 

drop the hard drive and the ram and how much would it be?

 

I would save a little over 100 and only order the basic 2g. Then buy the 4 from newegg. That is what I did when I ordered mine this morning

 

Listen to me, i haven't heard your need of mobility, so I would suggest go for a desktop computer, and leave the music to your HPs. for ~$1300 you can buy a decked out core I7 desktop

 

a few threads ago the OP said he wasn't good with computers. Buying an AW second hand WITH NO WARRANTY WHERE THEY WONT EVEN TALK TO YOU IF YOU'RE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER...

well, that is just plain stupidity.

 

I want a laptop because I am military and I travel alot. I am also in a traveling band and enjoy the convenience of mobile gaming. I am considering desktops though. I really just want to be able to bring this sucker wherever I want to.

I think I might go for my original order that I cancelled, specs are in a previous post. I am definitely not getting the used one. Should I make a new order or try to redeem my cancelled order? I think the cancelled order might take longer, but I don't know. Thanks for all your help.

 

do not get the used one

get 2 gigs of ram and drop the hard drive and save like 2-300 then get them off newegg
and you have a warrenty on that huge investment

just re order mine cost 2100

it was t9400 and xfire and 160 gig hd and 2 gigs ram and illuminated keyboard and i got the 1440 screen

i play fall out crysis and grid on high !! and ultra high

 

When you do reorder, order through AAFES so that you won't pay taxes and you don't pay for shipping. You should be paying only for the cost of the NB if not $5 to $10 less then it.

 

Your order with your config breaks down like this:

Subtotal: $2524.00
Shipping: $70.00
AAFES Discount: $75.72
Your Total: $2518.28

I would also thou drop the RAM and lower the HDD and upgrade through Newegg.

With that config your total cost after Shipping and Discounts would be $2155. Your discount with this config eats all of the Shipping except for $5.

 

Wow, thank you so much for that idea. I had no idea about AAFES and I have been in active duty for three years . That is definitely a wicked deal and saves me about 300 dollars off the bat. I am just not sure what exactly I need to order through new egg to save some money. I am just not sure what is compatible with the M17 and all that. I appreciate everyones support and patience with my computer technology fail! I thought I knew alot, but I guess not haha.

 

The M17 takes DDR3-SO-DIMM @ 1066Mhz so when you go to newegg that's what you should look for. Look at OCZ memory. You can get 2GB for $50.

When you go to newegg click on memory and then Laptop Memory.
Same for HDD. I would stick with Western Digital HDs. Very Reliable.

If you don't feel comfortable doing the upgrade yourself, ask a friend and watch and learn. It'll be fun for ya and you'll get comfortable with your Notebook so you won't be afraid to clean it when the time comes.

 

Yeah. My brother is basically an IT and will most likely do the install for me. I know I sound like an impatient child, but how long does that usually take to get all that setup and will I have to change anything? Does this make me give up my warranty? Since I will already have 2GB, do I only buy 2GB more? What would you guys recommend for total hard drive space? Do you think I necessarily need all the stuff that I am putting on the lap top since I am only using it for gaming?

Alot of questions, thanks for the time.

 

Buying 3rd party hardware to upgrade your system will not void the warranty but it will not be supported in the event you need technical assistance. We have discounts for military personal, you may call our sales dept and the sales agent will advise you accordingly. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to send me a PM.

Thank you.

 

You can upgrade the RAM and HDD in your M17 without voiding your warranty. Just don't touch the CPU. Although when you purchase your M17, the warranty with AW will cover only the original parts in it. So if your newegg HDD dies, you will have to go to newegg for a replacement, if it's still under warranty.

Right now for games, another 2GB won't hurt but more probably will be overkill.

For the HDD, since you are looking at going to newegg, just get the 160GB see how long that will last you and if you need more, then go to newegg and upgrade.

 

Usually if you need to send your laptop back to the manufacturer, you can just put the original parts back into it, and then send it. If your laptop comes with one 2gb stick of ram you just need to buy another 2gb stick, but usually manufacturers put two 1gb sticks filling the two available slots making you have to order two 2gb sticks for a total of 4gb. I have no idea how many slots are available on the M17 though.

As for gaming you usually want to go for a good processor, around 3-4gb RAM, and enough hard drive space to hold all your games.

 

Good advice everyone, thank you. I'm pretty sure I will need more then 160 GB of HD because I like to have alot of games installed. I play WoW, Warhammer, Shooters (Battlefield, Crysis) Strategy (Warcraft 3, WH4k), and Simulators (Sims, SPORE).

Basically I just want to be able to play whatever I want at an excellent speed and with impressive graphics while still keeping to a more mobile machine, which is why I want a lap top. I am considering desktop since I see the graphics cards are a little better and the processors as well, but will I notice a significant difference between the two? Most people I have asked say no, and tell me that I should just get the lap top. I want to be able to carry it wherever I need it. For instance, I will be in the recording studio in the first week of march and want to bring my laptop there. I also want to bring it over to game at my brothers house, and at shows I want to use it. Does anyone recommend that I get a desktop instead? The military makes go mobile but not often because of my current job, so I guess I could carry around a desktop if the desktop would be more beneficial to me.

 

Well you a desktop will always be more powerful then a notebook and a notebook will always be more mobile.

If you move about once a month, I would get the notebook.

If you move about once every 3 to 4 months, I would get the desktop.

I think since you started with the M17 you should stay there because you may get buyers remorse the first time you have to move and you're without a notebook. So stick with the M17.

 

Where I am stationed I am not moving at all for a year at least. My concern lies with being able to bring the computer wherever I want. Now I really am considering a desktop, but I really want a laptop to bring with me on trips or places I go with my band. But now that I think of it, I do have an HP Laptop that I can use for that while keeping my sweet setup as a desktop. The hp is ok and will run most games. I was playing SPORE and WoW and a bunch of other games on it. But now the screen is broken on it :/ so I will have to get that repaired. I need opinions lol.

 

Well, you can go to www.desktopreview.com (the sister site of this one) and see what kind of desktop you and your brother can build for ya.

If you only deploy once a year, a desktop maybe more for you.

A notebook is ideal for people constantly on the go. Anywhere from being constantly on the go within the crib, from home to school, from LAN party to LAN party and coast to coast.

You have to weigh your options. Eventhough you don't move that much, the M17 gives you the best of both worlds. For your budget at $2500, you can get a lot of gaming power and still be very mobile with it.

 

lol you can get a desktop with handles like i did

but if you dont move much a desktop would be a better investment , so much power vs price

 

You can build a killer desktop for cheaper than a gaming notebook, and you can use the money you save to fix the screen on your hp. That's what I would do of I were in your shoes.

 

Bah, after all of this talk I think I really just want the laptop. I'm going to regret either way not getting one or the other so it doesnt matter. I think the laptop will serve its purpose and I don't think the price is that unreasonable. If I get the desktop, I know I am going to wish I had a better mobile computer. People are already saying that the M17 is a desktop replacement computer and are playing games like Crysis on it.

 

And I also am thinking of building a computer to learn more about them and to get a good desktop as well I don't mind

 

Get the Laptop, stick with the 160 hd, buy an external to hold files such as music and such, add the ram later, you will be a happy camper.

Glad to see you moved towards a new unit rather than risk a used one. Also some money is well spent even if its more in the long run when you think all the angle's through.

Pull the trigger and take the shot!

Enjoy

 

Pull that trigger! The more you think and think the more you'll drive yourself crazy.

Make the command decision and order the M17.

 

M17 FTW do it do it do it

 

Ok then guys... I am pulling the trigger today Thanks for all of your help! Does everyone think that the 160GB will be enough to support ALOT of games? I guess I am concerned that my computer will slow down from too many games and i might lose information if i upgrade.

 

You could get a bigger hard drive, but buy the least amount of ram and upgrade that from a third party retailer. It'd still be cheaper than buying straight from the manufacturer.

 

I went with the 160.. my brother says I can store alot of games on there with it regardless and since I am only using it for games, no higher drive is needed.

 

sure, age of conan only takes up 30gb, GTA IV needs 25gb... i think you'll be able to fit a lot of games on there

 

Haha don't tell me that!! Now I am going to want to call them back to upgrade my hard drive lol. Do I need MORE then 160GB?

 

Just get an external hard drive

 

no you dont you can go to new egg and get a second hard drive

the M17 holds 2 hard drives you can save 100 bucks and get one off of new egg and install it easy

my 160 i had
WoW
grid
crysis warhead
fallout 3
crysis wars
and all my system files and had 70 gigs left

 

Yeah thats what I wanted to do. What should I get for the other hard drive? Another 160?

 

Get a 320gb 7200rpm. I think you should clone the first one onto the 320 anduse it as your primary drive, and format the 160gb and use it as secondary.

 

I could just open the laptop up on the first power up and do that right?

 

Well make sure the Notebook is off first THEN put the second HDD in.

Does your brother know about cloning HDD? If not, I know there has got to be a guide on this site to help you. I know Ghost is one program that can do it for you but I'm sure there more out and probably a lot better.

 

once you get the drive and laptop post in the windows section for help with cloning

 

i had some freeware program and you booted from a cd then click source drive then destanation drive and done and woof ....a cloned drive

 

I will consider that if my brother doesn't know how to do it. Thanks for all the support guys, this is pretty much the best forum I have been on. You treat newbies like me as equals and I always get quick and very informative responses to my posts! It's the best.