interested in M17

hey hows it going everyone, i've been researching laptops from asus to sager, dell, and now alienware. At first, i was looking at the m15x but i didn't like all the problems people were having with it and i didn't wanna take my chances. But looking at the beautiful M17 made me wonder if it had any of the same problems as the M15x. So my question is, how reliable is the M17? how is the build quality? any overheating issues? I want a laptop that will last me 4 years easily, will this be the one? Thank you for your help.

 

M17 is great. No problems whatsoever atm, and build quality is superb. Will last at least 2 years. More if they allow us to upgrade the gpu

 

The only issue I keep hearing about is the stuttering problem.

 

Theres actually a huge problem with it, not everyones M17 but quite a few(The shuttering). Mine is on its second return to Alienware to get this problem fixed.

 

Some people experience stuttering with the Quadcore, but if you don't get a quad core like me its fine.

 

Didn't it occur if you were using Raid-0 also?

 

www.Xoticpc.com the M17 is a rebranded OCZ whitebook it's alot cheaper on here and it's just the computer without the alienhead enjoy

 

The alienhead is the part that makes it all worth it. plus all the goodies and things they send along the way.

 

What goodies??? and you can order an alienhead for really cheap and install it yourself if you like it isn't very hard...

 

No sadly not, I'm not using Raid 0 and I still have it

EDIT: Even though I have this problem, I still recommend it, it has everything I need, excellent layout, great range of ports and CS thats very easy to contact. For me its even easier because the manufacturing plant is in the same country I live in.

 

m17 is great, had it for bout 3 months now, and no issues with it thank God. go for it

 

I just tried pricing it out and the difference is really the warranty not the price. I guess it depends on what you plan on buying.

 

Anyone with the x9100 reporting the problem?

 

Yeah I guess it really isn't an incredible load cheaper sorry :/ lol (average savings 250), but the difference is in much much better customer service and warrranties... Also I think don't you have more upgrade options through Xotic?

 

Plus it gives you the option to skip the OS to save you a few extra bucks if you don't need it.

It would be nice if we had the option to get Dell's complete care warranty on the M17. Maybe soon.

 

My system has had just about constant use from the day I got it, a few months ago. No stuttering, no issues. It does run warm, but does not overheat (and I believe any performance laptop with top end graphics cards/powerful CPU will run warm).

To clarify, by warm, i mean graphics cards in the 85 degree range or so. Nothing overheating, and no issues, just something to be aware of - any performance laptop, make sure you take good care of it and keep it clean, etc. (For reference, Alienware says the graphics cards are good to about 100 degrees, and most here on the site have said 90 to 100 is when they start to worry.)

Overall, I like mine a lot - I don't have the quad core, but do have a raid setup, and have had no issues. (specs in sig if interested).

(Edit: sorry, i didn't specify; after reading the post below I'll add my temps are celcius... )

 

Maybe Im thinking desktops, but isnt 80 farenheit not warm at all I though warm was considered 80c which is like 160 lol, I've been warned temps are measured in Celsius and it isnt a problem till the upper 80 or 90c

 

Good to hear. I would go for the x9100 also. Has AW come out with native OC support yet?

 

Just like others have said, everyone's story seems to be different. I have had no issues except for disabling sleep mode. I do not have a quad CPU. But that issue doesn't seem to be Alienware's fault.

After disabling sleep mode, my M17 has ran incredibly well. No problems whatsoever. It eats through anything I throw at it, and my system is not even the very high-end model. CS support has been great too. No complains at all.

(Like you, I was reading these forums before I even got an M17, and after reading about sleep mode, I bought the PC, waited 2 days to experience the issue, and when I did, I disabled sleep mode right away, and replaced all settings with hibernate. If disabling sleep mode is not an issue for you, then you are good to go. Or your system might not have the issue for all we know.)

Temperatures never go above 79. Maybe because I never have time to play for consecutive hours, say 4. But on the other hand, I also require it to run Mathematica 7 a lot, along with AutoCAD 2009, heavy programs as you probably know, and honestly it doesn't even break a sweat. Multitasking in that environment is no big deal for it.

The build quality is great. The leather-ish finish is great. I have seen m15x, and IMO it doesn't look as solid as the M17. I am very happy with it.

The only drawback I would say is that Alienware doesn't have a netbook. Because you do not want to haul that beast around. So a nice Eee PC is right for that.

Add to those 2 computers Logmein.com and you are set. Your netbook is essensially an extension of your M17...

...

Hmmm... I see I went a little off-topic there. I stop now.


Edit: I always forget something in the question... You asked about a computer that will last you 4 years "easily." It really all depends on your growing needs. But if you want to be safe, go with M17, it has the newer hardware and it is so upgradeable it's not even fair. (Patiently waiting for 4870's though.)

 

As you can see boosrx7, especially since you're in the Alienware forum, facts are much more accurate when you get them from people whoa actually own an M17.

The M17 is rock solid reliable. Mine has never even come close to overheating even with my X9100 overclocked to 3.55Ghz. Some people with the quad core have had a stuttering issue but mine has never had any issues of any kind.

The M17 has excellent build quality and should last a long time.

I think you'll be very pleasedif you get one.

 

Well I figured out what was up with my order. Lol it got sent out on April 21st from Miami, FL, yet it took 2 weeks to get to USPS in Miami, FL... haha what??????

Anyways, Im going crazy..

 

Holy crap Snowm0bile,

let's see how long it takes to get to Djibouti now!

Ya know, I was thinking about buying (making) one of those nice single room ranch style homes you see along the road on the way to your camp. lol

I'll just tell the wife we just got an economical vacation home where it's warm.

 

Thank you very much everyone for you replies, i think I FINALLY had made up my mind and decided to go with the M17!!! I've always loved alienware's design, and i think i just needed a lil "push" from you guys to go for it

 

here are the facts

the m17 is a rebranded OCZ Whitebook

the m17 does have a stuttering issue that is related to ONLY quad cores it is due to the northbridge over heating and we at NBR are trying different options

the m17 build quality is amazing it has a metal chassis not the crapppy plastic

no over heating except for the quad core heating up the north bridge

it will game beautifully

PM me with question