Can't decide what to buy...

Hi, I want to buy an alienware but I can't decide, first I was thinking about the m11x r3, good battery, portable, but I want more perf, it seems the fan is really loud and the screen is just too small because I want to buy a laptop for the school but as main PC too, so I looked the m14x, the size is good imo, the battery acceptable but the GPU disappoint me and it seems to have the same fan issue like the m11x r3 + high temps... The m15x is perfect, good perfs, no fan issue, no high temps but old tech, overpriced for old gen of proc and poor battery. The m17x is just too big because I'll must to take my laptop with me everyday and it is too expessive... Why did dell abandonned the 15" series...
So I can't make my choice, I must to decide between m14x and m15x but the fan issue + high temps + not so good perf because of the GPU make me perplexed, and for the m15x it's old tech and price...
Any advice?

 

Xps 15? .

 

m14x have a better GPU than XPS 15. I don't want to take the m14x because of the GPU and temps issue, so I'm not going to take a laptop with lower GPU...

 

m14x is worst than m15x (GTX 460m) for gaming right?

 

If performance is that important to you, and the m14x just won't cut it, then I advise going to sager. I know this is blasphemy...

m14x has a decent gpu, which should crank out decent fps for its 1600:900 screen. It's not a "powerhouse", but it packs a punch.

Wouldn't advise m15x, even if you aftermarket install the 6970m, and get a 920xm and oc it like crazy, it is still EOL. Plus the m15x weighs the same as the new m17x r3, and is almost the same size.

Sager has some 15in that pack up to a 6970 or 485m. Might want to check those out. You would loose dell warranty and alienware styling, but if performance is key, those might be a decent option

 

Depends. The full 1080p screen on the m15x is a lot of pixels to crunch (I think someone mentioned on here that is almost double 900p screens) and the 460m might falter a bit. generally though, it will outperform the 555gt, especially if you lower the screen resolution

 

I was going to take the LCD update but to play in 1366x768.

 

I agree, dont even consider the m15, It's outdated and similar to the m17 in size/weight (which you said was too big). I think though that if you picked up a backpack or messenger bag with a 17x, you'd be perfectly fine carrying it around on a (semi) daily basis. plenty of people on here do it, and I may be doing it with a m18 soon, and i'm not the biggest person lol.

seriously think about the usefulness of the dell warranty. i returned my 15" sager for mainly this reason. being a student, i'd rather have dell's nbd warranty than having weeks of down time with a sager..

I enjoyed the 1080p screen on my sager. it took a few days to get used to it, and there were a few times i had to Ctrl+ to increase the font on some things, but it was superb for gaming and writing papers.

 

I would recommend a 15.6" sager/clevo equipped with either 485m or 6970m and a 95% gamut display. They are light, well cooled and have great performance. They lack the styling, warranty and flashiness of AW but overall they are a solid alternative.

 

The design of Sager are... nonexistent? I love the design of Alienware, I think I'll go with the m14x, I just hope the issues will be fixed, the loud fan is a little anoying but I don't really care, its just the temp issue that make me fear.

 

The loud fan issue was supposed to be resolved soon by dell. The temps weren't that bad last i checked, but I could be wrong of course. Alienwares usually have phenomenal cooling

 

Where did you read that the fan issue is supposed to be resolved? And for the temps I saw threads like http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m14x/577495-m14x-gets-way-too-hot.html and some people must to reapply thermal paste even without O/C, I think thats a little too much...

 

You have to remember the people here are powerusers. When we say temps are too hot, it's because we're typically a little OCD about keeping temps as low as possible.

Really, the temps on the m14x aren't THAT bad, and it shouldn't be a huge concern.

Also, you seem to have a misconception that the m15x is just right, but the m17xR3 is too large. Are you aware their dimensions are very similar and that the R3 was shrunk considerably?

Still, for your usages I think the m14x is a good fit. Considering the OC headroom on the 555GT and you should be okay. For 16x9 gaming, it's really not a weak card at all.

 

Yes I realised latter that the m15x was almost the same as the m17x, so I'll go with the m14x, I'll buy it on HIDevolution and I'll take the termal paste option on CPU and GPU (IC Diamond intalled by HIDevolution).
If someone here already buy on HIDevolution, feedback will be aprecied, I hope they are pro and they will reapply the termal paste well. In term of price I was surprised that they are selling the m14x at the same price as dell. (1199$ for the base model)

 

Well, i would personally go with the 14" if i were in ur situation. Heres why: newer tech obviously, battery life is good, the fan wont be a problem unless you're putting your system under stress (ie gaming) so you're fine in class and libraries/cafes etc, and the for the temperatures get a cooling pad. I mean its one minor nuance that you have to deal with but also resolvable via cooling pad. I too was having same predicament because a 15.6" would be perfect for me but i decided to go up to the 17" instead of down to the 14" but goodluck to you

 

Yes I'll go with the IC Diamond Thermal paste, maybe if the temps are lower the fan will be less loud no?

 

5150joker thats a great M18x. glad it shipped so quick! Were you one of the first orders?

 

You can send a PM you know, just sayin because you're a little off topic.