Dell Ripping me off?

Earlier this week, I received my certified refurbished M17x r2 from the Dell Outlet. I thought it was a pretty good deal for just over $1600. These are the specs.

-- Alienware M17x R2 Laptop
-- Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
-- Certified Refurbished
-- Processor: Intel Core i7-720QM Quad Core Processor 1.6GHz (2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
-- 17 inch UltraSharp WUXGA (1920x1200) RGB LED Display
-- 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
-- 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM
-- 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) 2nd Drive
-- Dell Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card
-- Crossfire 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 587
-- 9 Cell Primary Battery
-- Lunar Silver
-- 64BIT Operating System
-- 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
-- RAID 0

There was some trouble with the OS being corrupted or something like that. (I could barely understand the girl) This representative offered to sent an on-site tech to replace everything free of charge.

I wait a week and nothing happens. I call in again and this new representative says that that the last representative forgot to follow up on the replacement parts. So this new guy says cancelling my order and buying a new laptop would be the best way to go. I want to know if he is just trying to earn a commission or being sincerely helpful?

Even with a full refund, buying a new laptop would mean a downgrade of the one I have right now. I would get a better processor, but I heard the m17x r3 are plastic, my GPU would go from a 5870m Crossfire to a single GTX 460m (That is a downgrade, right?), my hard drive would be smaller, and the screen would not be a RGB LED.

Please, the extensive Dell Outlet warranty runs out soon, so I need to know what to do, and fast!

 

Windy Turnip, guess its who you talk to. I've read on these threads that others who bought from the outlet and had a bad computer ended getting a brand new one with upgrades...without paying anymore...You need to find a better rep to give you a new computer at no charge. Good luck.

Note: This is the benefit of you being in such a community/forum like NBR. You see how others in a similar situation got treated/resoloved their issues...so you won't be taken advantage of. Make sure you stand up for your rights!

KJ

 

No need for a refund, call alienware technical support (not the dell reps) and ask them to fix your system. But if the OS is corrupted, it's probably because RAID isn't enabled properly (check bios upon boot). Here's a few links for you:

1. How to Create or Delete a RAID Array in an Alienware M17 Mobile System? - KB Article - 351950 | Dell

2. M17x raid menu - Google Search

 

Who should I talk to about getting a replacement? The reason I don't want to get one is because Dell Outlet isn't very reliable as far as finding what you want. But if I could get a replacement that is exactly the same, that would definitely be the best option. Then again, if I can't, if Dell replaces the parts, do you think that will increase my chances of having problems in the future?

Just to make sure, are Crossfire 5870m better than a single GTX 460m?

 

No, Crossfire is way better.

 

Thanks, but I have to ask. Why is there no option for Crossfire or SLI on the m17 r3. It seems pointless to have a gaming laptop without a top of the line GPU...

 

Hahaha, thats a whole "can of worms" you DONT wanna open LOL - suffice to say that the R3 isnt intended (or so its said) as a direct replacement of the R2, moreso, its a system by AW to target the 3d laptops by Asus.

There is rumour that AW will release a successor to the existing R2 at some point (namely the M18x) but its a bit of a mythical beast at the moment.

Guess its wait and see for that.

Regarding your current system, I would say that its a "keeper" for that kind of money. You have crossfire gpu's which will outperform the gpu options on the R3, you also have the very best screen in terms of the RGBLED. Unless 3d is a MJOR thing for you, I would be sticking with what you have....but thats a personal choice I guess. I know if I was in your shoes and someone asked me if i would trade for an R3 (with the specs you could afford for $1600 obviously), there is no way I would trade my R2 thats spec'd like yours.

Keep it, get it sorted by AW tech and enjoy it, its a beast....a much better system than the $1600 budget would get you when configuring an R3.

 

It looks like I am just going to demand a new replacement, and if they won't let me do that, at least get them to repair it for free.

 

They should repair it for free since is under warranty

 

Good luck with that. The last time I called with an issue and felt like I was getting the run around and the tech obviously didnt know the product (you cant have 2 graphics cards in a laptop sir, thats impossible) I asked to talk to a manager. I asked, dont you guys know this laptop since youre specific to alienware? He told me that depending on call volume your call may be routed to any available rep, since there are only "a couple Alienware specific reps left". "This help to alleviate wait time." So now I know as soon as I get a tech on the phone to specifically ask for an Alienware tech.

 

Windy, its time for you to make use of the info in this thread if you are still hitting a brick wall. Be sure to allow them the change to resolve the issue before escalating. See this post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...placement-systems-warranty-repair-issues.html

Follow-up posts there please.

Thanks.