First M17x

Greetings everyone,
I was in the market for a new laptop and was thinking about getting a M17x. This will be my first Alienware computer so I'm looking forward to it. I had a few questions about my M17x build and I was hoping any alienware enthusiast could help me out.

First I want to show the M17x build I have in mind and show you the specs of the laptop it will be replacing.

Alienware M17x:
PROCESSOR: P8600 2.4GHz
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit
VIDEO CARD: Single - 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4870 or Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M, 2GB – SLI
LCD PANEL: 17-inch WUXGA 1920x1200
MEMORY: 6GB DDR3 at 1066MHz
HARD DRIVE: 640GB - 2x 320GB 7,200RPM - RAID 0
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE: Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

Two things real quick. I'm only getting a P8600 CPU because I have a T9600 in my current laptop that I plan to put into my M17x. And later again I want to get a QX9300 for it. But, I know I can get it cheaper somewhere else. As I don't know if I want the single ATI 4870 or the SLI GTX 260. They price out to be the same. I'm no stranger to taking my computers apart and installing new parts so I could install a second 4870 if needed.

Gateway-7805u:
PROCESSOR: T9600 2.8GHz
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit
VIDEO CARD: Single NVIDIA GeForce 9800m GTS 1GB
LCD PANEL: 17" WXGA 1440x900
MEMORY: 4GB DDR3 at 1066MHz
HARD DRIVE: 320GB 7,200RPM
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE: DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive with Labelflash

The only thing I've done to improve this laptop was the CPU. I thought about buying more upgrades for it. However, the GPU can not be removed and a second one can't be added if I so wished in the future. Which is why I liked the M17x.

So any advice or critique would be appreciated.

 

if your main purpose is for gaming, get M17x with 260 sli. and you don't need 6GB of RAM. Unless you're getting a second GPU, 260 SLI will perform better than single 4870. But it's more expensive to get the GPU's later, so you wanna get the best you can.

 

Are laptop GPU's hard to come by separately? If that's so maybe I should drop the RAM to 4 and get the 4870 Crossfire? I mainly use my laptop for gaming and entertainment. I do use it for some CAD for work but, that's more of an after thought.

 

That's what I'd do.
You don't need 6GB for gaming. or even CAD, i believe.
If you want 4870's you should get it configured.
They're more expensive to buy later.

 

CAD will depend on the size of the files you work on.

 

Well that's very good to know. I'll just have to consider which ones I'll want.

Thanks

From what work I have done with my 7805u 4GB of RAM has done me well. I try not to take too much of my work home with me. After all, I like to relax while at home.

 

I think that you should take the best processor and the best graphic card. Both are very very difficult to upgrade and change later. And you should open your laptop completly. So the warranty will be screwed.

Take the basic ram, that's to say 4 gb at 1066 Mhz, you can upgrade this easyly later. Also Alienware RAM is overpriced, you could have better RAM. for cheaper price.

 

1. Laptop processors are easily procured aftermarket for cheaper, and are easily upgradeable in the M17x.

2. The warranty on the M17x is not void by opening it up. The only two things that void the warranty are damaging it or painting it. You can change any parts without voiding the warranty, unless you damage it in the process.

 

Alienware M17x:
PROCESSOR: P8600 2.4GHz YES ! Get this, Upgrade to your T9600
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit
VIDEO CARD: Single - 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4870 or Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M, 2GB – SLI GO WITH ATI RADEON CROSSFIRE - You won't be sorry- and upgrading later is a bad idea, get full warranty coverage right now on these
LCD PANEL: 17-inch WUXGA 1920x1200 Yes!
MEMORY: 6GB DDR3 at 1066MHz GO WITH 4GB DDR3 RAM - 2GB Extra will net you ZERO performance difference
HARD DRIVE: 640GB - 2x 320GB 7,200RPM - RAID 0 IMO GO WITH SMALLEST HARD DISK - 160GB or 250GB SINGLE - UPGRADE TO 2x500GB LATER BY BUYING YOUR OWN PARTS. Raid 0 is useless on a laptop, especially when things go wrong and you can't enjoy the benefit of 2 seperate drives on your system (just one virtual one using 2 slots), and your other components take a (small) hit to support it. Its software RAID. (or get SSD with 500gb HD)
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE: Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) YES!!!

And youll have the same PC as me! LOL!

 

I'm pretty convinced to get the better graphics cards now rather than later. More worried about finding them online so it seems the smart choice to get them now.

You can void you're warranty by painting the laptop? That's a bit odd.

Thanks for the input. I'm pretty convinced on the Crossfire 4870's. Would be a nice improvement over my current laptop.