Can someone help me configure a lappy?

I am looking at M15x's and M17x's and need some help configuring one.

I can spend $4-6K on it, and will be using it mostly for gaming and HW.

However, my worry is that I don't want to put too much in it, because won't that make it even heavier than they already are and run really really hot?

Also I'm leaning towards an M15x because the M17x only has the QX9300 as the best processor, and those are outdated considering I can get an i7 920XM for basically the same price. But will that matter with dual 4870's compared to a single 260?

I'm going to go on the site and come up with some stuff and post back here with my findings but any help from you experienced people is appreciated, even if it's little tiny tips.

 

Man, 6k budget must be nice. if gaming is your main thing than go for maxed out M17x, if it is not go maxed out M15x. I would love to be you. lol . little upgrade don't add that much weight.

 

the only upgrades that changes weight are jumping from 1 hdd to two and from 1 gpu to two but even then they don't add much

i second inappropriate if you are in gaming get the m17x the qx9300 is not that much far from the i7 and the dual 4870 will completely eat the single 260

 

But will heat be increased that much? Because I had wanted to be able to sit on the couch with it in my lap as well as I don't want it to fry itself after 3 months.

Fires are also bad. xD

Also, should I go for the lower or higher res options on either lappy?

I know higher will look a little better, but I am willing to sacrifice some res for performance.

 

if you get the m17x with dual 4870 go for the higher the power thoses cards haves is more then enough (on mine a m17 with dual 4850 i can game on the hd screen and on a hdtv at the same time no-lag or notable perf drop)

the cooling on the m17x is reputed really great and should not have any trouble on your lapp (how ever gaming on your lapp is not a good idea no mather how good cooling you have the m17 coling reputation is not that good but it has no trouble bieing on my lap but when gaming hard it become burning really fast)

 

go high res, no perfomance increase or decrease either way. and even though its a "LAPtop" i don't recommend using it on your lap.

 

With that budget, deff maxed GPUs, and CPU and deffinetly a solid state drive ^^

and ya, m17x might be the way to go

 

What will you be using it for? If gaming will be the primary use then I'd get the M17x with dual 4870's and QX9300 since games are more GPU intensive. If you will be doing a bit of gaming with more video editing/number crunching and stuff like than then I'd get the M15x with a 260 since it has a better processor for that type of activity. As for the res, I'd go for the WUXGA screen (High res one) on both models, I have the 1440x900 screen on my M17x and I regret not getting the high res one.

 

with 6k you can get the same configuration i have and you still have money left

 

Well, as long as I can get Oblivion at high - ultra settings I'll be happy.

Say I went maxed out M15x, then would res be a problem?

Also, say there's a blanket between me and the lappy, then is the lap okay?

 

res is no problem if you get 1080 screen that would be sweet. M15x on blanket, i would not recommend, i think it would cause heat issues. get a small foldable table or just something with a flat surface.

 

kinda offtopic but for 6k you can build a monstrous Desktop, with dual 5970s, and that will last you for a helluva long time lol

Though you just wont be able to put it on ur lap

 

Yeah I know, but I have a desktop that suits my needs and getting another one is really not an option for me.

Anybody know what I would get at 1080p in Crysis with a maxed M17x?

 

i think best to ask this question in M17x benchmark forum.

 

Right-o gov.

EDIT: My last question for the M17x, is it very unwieldly? Cuz I'd be moving it from here to there and every which way.

 

yeah its pretty heavy, if gaming isn't your main concern, than get M15x. smaller and lighter and can still play most games maxed out.

 

Well I will be gaming primarily, but I don't want a laptop that can't taken out of the house.

 

Its Still Portable, But its not something your going to be holding with one hand and typing with the other. If your going to be doing a lot of gaming, You should get the 17x. Bigger screen, better hardware. more future proof.

 

I hear the M17x and M15x are build very solidly. its heavy but still could be moved around. just check the owners lounge to check what people say then make your decision, at the end of the day its still your choice to get what you want.

 

i recommend not getting the 256 ssd because its a samsung and is very slow in some areas compared to the other ssd drive made by intel and intillix (not sure if thats how its spelled). Samsungs drives are unflashable so lack ability to update support for garbage collection and trim which cause major slow down (garbage collector) and keeps the drive running like new(trim) don't know what the other ssd drive brand is.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=440467

Edit:
ssd are faster then regular harddrives but it doesn't seem worth it to me to pay a premium price for the samsung ssd when you can buy a better ssd from newegg.com and are flashable.

 

lol, with 6k, you can max out the M17x and play almost any game on the planet!

 

Almost? What kinda games can't he play? lol Must be some crazy intense games

 

WTH almost any game?? lol that thing will dominate almost any game. What games are you thinking that he cant play?

jk.

In all seriousness. Max out the m17x and youll love it.

 

Alright, so I just got back from the hardware section of the BGSF forums to get some specific info on how the maxed M15x and M17x would perform in Oblivion, the game I'm pretty much getting this for.

I was told there that the 4870 and GTX 260m are pretty much the same in performance, so would I be better off getting two GTX 280m's?

One other thing, I measured my sister's 17" macbook pro to get a feel for the difference between a 15.6 inch and 17 inch, and it was only like 14.5 across, but 17 diagonally. Are Alienware's the same way?

 

the MBP will look like a little sissy machine sitting next to this. also i heard the cross fire is better than sli 280's. i'm sure a maxxxed out M17x will handle oblivion with ease.

 

So then an M17x will be considerably larger than the 17" MBP?

 

there should be some comparison picture on this forum somewhere, if your willing to search for it. but i know its definitely thicker and maybe a bit wider.
M17x is a whole different class of laptop, you really can't compare it to MBP.

 

the single 4870 is about 20% faster then a single 260

Get a M17x because it will be 60% faster then a M15x

The M17x is VERY portable and has a 3 hour battery .

The M17x is kinda heavy but VERY VERY strong.

The M17x is the way to go .... FOR ANY GAMING.... slower CPU + WAY faster GPU is the gaming machine

 

The only thing is I have a horrible feeling that after I buy it and spend $1000+ on a QX9300 they're gonna start making them with i7's.

Anyway, tomorrow I have to go to bestbuy to get a netbook, so I'll take a look see at their Alienware's to get a gauge on the size and weight first hand.

I'm also gonna see how bad 1440x900 really is cuz if it's not too bad I might downgrade to it to save some performance.

 

No DO NOT downgrade if you do it would be a waste .... the 4870's can run ANY game ....

Also the M17x will get refreshed with i7 and 58xx series ..... but yea .... get it now or you will always be waiting

 

the screen is the best part of the laptop.

 

Right-o, I just get kinda nervous because my desktop has some trouble at 1920x1200.

I know they will get refreshed, but is it the kind of thing that will happen in like 5-6 months? Cuz $5,000 is a lot to spend on something that is going to be outdated in a few months.

EDIT: To make that an actual question do you know how often AW usually refreshes laptop specs?

 

Not sure when it will happen. But if you have that mindset, you'll never buy anything. because something bigger and badder is always coming. Its kinda depressing.

But on the bright side these are extremely upgradeable. I wouldn't be surprised if Alienware figured out a way to get the i7's inside the current chassis. I guess i'm hoping anyhow.

 

when ever there is something new .... in 5-6 months it will be refreshed with DX 11 GPU's and i7 CPU with a Chipset for SLI

 

I wonder how much of that we will be able to upgrade to. Not saying i would. but sometime down the road i would have to.

I really wish they would make a completely modular laptop. Like a desktop is. so you can keep the same chassis and build away

 

well if they keep the same body then you could

 

Seems like it might be a better investment to just deck out an m15x then?

A GTX 260m should be able to handle Oblivon decently with an i7 920, I think.

Especially when you consider that Oblivion generally only gets a 1-5% performance increase from SLI or Crossfire.

 

...... Your wrong flat out


The CPU DOES NOT MATTER


if you want to play games better then obviously you need more GPU power not CPU power


So the M17x is the Better way to go considering the overclocked qx9300 is only 5-10% slower then the x920

 

...... Your wrong flat out


The CPU DOES NOT MATTER


if you want to play games better then obviously you need more GPU power not CPU power


So the M17x is the Better way to go considering the overclocked qx9300 is only 5-10% slower then the x920

 

Yeah, I have pretty much no idea what I'm talking about, as I'm sure you already know.

Well, the size is there to consider too. After I get my over to bestbuy tomorrow to check out the size weight of them I'll post back here.

I'm also gonna try to find some comparisons.

 

i dont mean to be mean but when i am mean it gets your attention.


The laptop is heavy but i carry it to school every day. For your need to pure performance boost from the 2 would out weigh the weight ( 3 pounds)


So no contest .....

Hell i can bench my single 260 again Mandrakes 4870 Xfire to show you if you need....

 

I don't entirely understand the wording there? Do you mean the upgrades I'd put in them would make them heavier than the base config?

 

the different in the weight of the M15x and M17x is 3 pounds @ base

the extra GPU is the only thing to add weight on the M17x config

the battery is the only upgrade on the M15x that adds weight




So if you upgrade the M17x to 2 GPU's then it may be 13.5 14 pounds vs the M15x 10 pounds.....So those 4 pounds DOUBLE your gaming expereince by doubling the power you have at your finger tips. Also with the M17x getting better battery life you will be mobile longer.

So those 4 pounds does not out weight the benefits of going with the larger system.

performance > weight , in my book when considering which laptop to get

 

Ah, I see.

Weight's not a huge deal to me, I won't be moving it far too much, and plan on getting a netbook for the little things.

Still it's nice to really see it and pick it up before deciding.

I also found a Core 2 v i7 comparison for the extreme editions. I'm gonna read up on it.

 

don't trust everything you read ... just trust NBR


go to like vantage and compare Vantage score(CPU)

 

Mind linking that so I can read it? and maybe we can call some BS on it.

 

It's on tomshardware.

I found it on here, actually. Can't link it ATM as I'm on my iPod, but I will next I get on the computer.

 

tomshardware i would trust and they are 95% of the time a good site and generally care

 

I agree with the cow Tomshardware more into Hardware then desktops or laptops. They like to see new reviews gpu, cpu, ram, and HD and SDD drives. They are more about Part then the system.

 

This is it BTW if you guys wanna have a look-see:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=425227

Direct Article Link.