For those thinking of going dual gpu...

Just installed my secondary card (260m)...

All I can say is that I have a completely different machine now! Even with the dual 260m I'm running Crysis maxed out. Everything is smooth and fluid. I only regret not choosing the option when it was a $300 upgrade rather than a $500 upgrade.

This laptop is not worth the crazy money spent on it unless you go SLI.

 

Yep, we all know that!!! Sorry you had to find out the hard way...

 

Haha. Yeah might as well get an M15x if you only want one GPU.

 

If you're tight on money then upgrading later is the way to go. Especially as these get older.

 

Im having dual 260 but I dont know about single 260 performance. Glad to know it makes huge difference. We benefit from SLI much more than these old days

 

yeah luckily i dint went for single GPU =)

 

I made the same mistake and wound up selling my first one and re-ordering fully spec'd. It really is better to wait and get SLI or Crossfire...

 

I often wanted more power for my laptop, more so then many other things I could get, The GPU power i mean! But alas not everyone can get everything they want...I have single ati card in my alienware, but its always hung in there after 4 years. Either way now id rather spend more on something like a better connection or something, then gpu power, but thats just me now.

 

4 years? At least you've got your money out of it. I'll be quite happy with this config for some time. In 3-4 years I'll start looking again.

 

Yeah, I almost sold this about a week ago. Navigating Dell's phone system was such a pain I was starting to think it would be faster to sell and repurchase.

 

For me I wanted to get the ATI's and change to the new RED case. I ordered the first one on the first day available and these were not options. I sold mine on ebay and actually eek'd out a small profit and re-ordered with the specs I wanted. The only thing I didn't see coming was all the delays and I had to wait 30 days for the new one. But, it was worth it in the end....GL and happy you found a way to upgrade!

 

How long did it take for your extra card to ship?

 

I did next business day. Yeah, not long at all once you make it through the "phone Labyrinth".

 

Very nice specs on that machine of yours. The red is very appealing...I have that chassis as well.

 

This is why the M17x > M15x when it comes to gaming.... plain and simple.

 

Yeah, after attempting to play Crysis on one 260m, I'm not sure why the M15x was created.

 

Kinda like a Porsche with a 4 cyl engine...all show no go!

 

Simple: Portability. There are plenty of people out there that only want/need the power of a single 260M, and the M15x creates a cheaper (at least in the UK) and more portable package for them.

Actually there's a Porsche long past (like 20, 30 years) with a 4 cylinder engine, but it was still fast and powerful thanks to its big turbo. Work the gearbox, and it'd get to 60mph in 5 seconds.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of a 924 from the 70's and 80's.....they were about 9.5's 0-60.....I know some caravans that can beat them! But, they looked pretty nice back then!

924
Year 1976
Layout Front-engined, Rwd. Front-engined, Rwd. Front-engined, Rwd. Front-engined, Rwd.
Engine Inline-4, sohc, Engine Capacity 1984 c.c. 2479 c.c. 2479 c.c. 2479 c.c.
Power 125 hp
Torque 121 lbft
Gearbox 5M
Weight 1114 kg 1320 kg -- 1350 kg
Top speed 126 mph*
0-60 mph 9.5 sec*

 

Yeah...you're right about the 924. My second car was a 924. It was a step up from the VW Super Beetle I had, so I didn't complain.

I understand the comments about the M15x, but it really doesn't make much sense considering all the other choices on the market. It's sort of like having the single 260 or 280 puts you in that "half-way" grey area of graphics quality. Anything less and you can't run the game, but one of these cards and it leaves you gasping for more.