Is it time for an upgrade?

With the new revisions of the M18x I've been thinking it might be time to upgrade my laptop with a new one.

My current M17x r2 is as follows ((So you don't have to scroll down to my sig)):

1920x1200 screen
Single 2GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 6970m ((overclocked))
i7 820QM CPU
Kingston 8GB RAM 1333MHz
Hard Drives X25-M 160GB / 250GB 7200RPM

I was thinking about getting another 6970m and a i7 920xm to upgrade my M17x R2 again. However with the 680m coming out later this summer I can't help but, think having an SLI setup like that would be a worth while investment. Also, the newer laptops have and HDMI IN so I could hook up my Xbox or PS3 to my laptop and use it as a monitor. Something my version flatout doesn't have. Though my main concern would be the downgrade from a 1920x1200 screen to a 1920x1080 screen.

I'm a moderate gamer. I always like playing my games on max resolution with over 40 fps. Something my single 6970m can't do with games like The Witcher 2.

Looking for options whether it's really worth upgrading when the M18x gets 680m in SLI down the road or just upgrade my current laptop again.

 

The 920XM is a awesome and instead of getting another 6970M why dont you just put in a 6990M or the new 7970M if it fits the 6990M is not far off 2 6970M's anyway.

Personally I dont upgrade until I am 2 revisions behind and will be skipping the Ivy altogether.

 

Would the 7970m work in the M17x r2 though? I know they work in the R3 but, didn't see anything where someone had them working in the R2.

I did originally have a 6990m for the R2 but, it always ran hot and would my laptop shut off after ten minutes of playing a game. So I had the ebay seller exchange it for the 6970m. Working very well but, without overclocking I did see a downgrade in performance.

As far as the i7 920xm. . .I've seen alot of praise for it and I think I honestly prefer it to the newer CPU's also. My laptop is always plugged in so battery life is not an issue.

 

Someone will have to confirm that for you fella I am just praying they release Clevo versions and I can get on working in my one

Even so I dunno if I will upgrade to be honest the 6990M is a quality quality card and with my overclocks I may not see a reasonable return for the price. Its a good upgrade on the 6970M and they will be flying out cheap now the 7970M is here.

I only play World of Tanks anyway In my 920XM see the link in my sig I managed to punch mine upto 3.4ghz over all 4 cores and was hitting 5800pts in 3DMark06 and 20k in Vantage. Its a beast.

 

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Yeah with your clocks I can see why. Like I said though is didn't work so well for me. Honestly I believe it was just a bad card but, I'm superstitious. My 6970m runs at 780/1000 with minimal heat increase. Though I could likely pull more out it I wanted. But, like you said they'll be likely going down in price. Even the 6970m will go down too. And if I'm able to overclock it as well as the one I have then maybe it is indeed a better idea to just go cross-fire until the next generation cards.

I will have to take a look at your link. That's a very good score for the 920xm. Though my games are less CPU intensive but, upgrading is still something I would do.

You're making upgrading to the new M18x look less and less appealing. I'll give you credit there. Maybe I'll get a 1920x1200 monitor for my computer desk. ((After a second GPU anyway.)) Still like the idea of having all my gaming consoles in one area and this would be a decent solution.

 

Its just the way I look at things make the most of what you have and upgrade it to the max before considering upgrading. I had my G73JH for a good two years and only upgraded because it got nicked and the insurance job paid out UK price on a US import haha So the Clevo was born.

The 6990M is a great card and you would be better off just upgrading to it instead of going crossfire as you wont see the same gain, crossfire is very software dependant and in some games the increase is slight for instance 20-40% max. Some games dont make use of it at all.

After getting my M11x in fact my Clevo is gathering dust haha as mentioned I just use it for world of tanks in awesome 1080p.

The best upgrade for you would be the 920XM to play with as there is hour of fun in that and a big gain in CPU intensive games like Skyrim and soon to be Diablo 3 and its high physics.

 

My M17x R2 came out 2 years ago and came with 4870m in crossfire. Had the option of only a single 5870m at the time and I went with crossfire. Only when I got The Witcher 2 did I see the age of my laptop become apparent. I went with the 6990m like I mentioned and had some help with members here to get it running. ((Had no idea how to flash the GPU's bios to get it to run. Even with the guide available I had trouble.)) And as I said mine ran hot. 90 degrees almost immidiately in gaming and crashed the laptop. Again I believe the card was just bad. And honestly my laptop is alot cooler with one gpu so that's always a plus. If the price of the 6990m does go down enough maybe I'll give it another go and see if I can overclock it. Would be a good bit faster than my 6970m like you say.

And I guess I'm still very much in the mind set that two is better than one. On paper it sounds good. But, I see what you mean as the results of any gpu in crossfire/sli is very dependant on the game. Though I'm sure alot of games are more likely to have support for it these days? Or have you found that to not be the case?

I never knew Skyrim was CPU dependant. But, I get 50-60 fps playing that game so I'd never notice the difference. But, I do plan on getting Diablo 3. Very much on my wants list for a game.

 

If you have tried it already it might be best to go with the crossfire sorry didn't realise that the R2 had problems with it. I know the initial batch of cards there were a lot of bad ones that burned up. It does run hot however Witcher 2 with my clocks running flat out can push the high 80's on the shader and memory with ease its a 100watt card after all

Skyrim is very much about the CPU because of its a port like so many games these days you will notice it will hardly touch your GPU but will pester the CPU, so CPU upgrades are more necessary than many will think when it comes to gaming. The 1st Gen is still good but you really want the 920XM rather than a QM if you can 1.86ghz over 4 cores that you have at the moment is slow.

 

The poll needs another question (or two) for me to answer.

My response is "Holding out for more powerful technology" and "considering component upgrades" instead of a system replacement.

The Ivy Bridge CPU upgrade is great for owners of first generation i7 systems, but it is too minor to be worth any money for Sandy Bridge owners (at least in my opinion).

And, while the 7970M is a real beast, we haven't seen what surprises NVIDIA will bring to mobile GPU market yet. There is no reason to believe that a GTX 580M rebranded as "675M" is going to be their best shot at the 7970M. I think they are way smarter than that. Remember, NVIDIA's M.O. in recent years is to show up late for the gunfight, packing more heat.

Either way, I can see an AMD or NVIDIA dual-GPU upgrade in the near future as opposed to a system upgrade. Or, no upgrade at all, just enjoying the brute force of the GTX 580M SLI beast and waiting for the M18x R3 in 2013. (The M18x R3 should be released before my Advanced warranty expires with my current M18x, which is August of 2013.)

 

There are plenty of R2 owners running the 6990m in crossfire. I just got unlucky with it. But, the guide I speak off had the bios for the 6970m. One of the members in the alienware forums had his own custom bios for the 6990m. Since it didn't work for me I took a chance on the 6970m. Since it works I'm just wary of trying another 6990m.

That's sad but, I see what you mean. Elder scrolls used to be a computer exclusive title but, that really has changed hasn't it? And the QM can't be overclocked so upgrading it to the 920xm is a very much must if I go this route.

What can I clarify for you on that front? ((Can I edit the poll?))

Basically I'm asking should I wait for the M18x to get the 680m or upgrade my current laptop? Crossfire 6970m and i7 920xm CPU upgrades. ((I haven't seen anything about the 7970m working for the R2.))

Yes the new CPU's are really intriguing since I'm in the category you speak off. If I bought a new laptop I'd go straight for the 2960xm. But, since I'm thinking of going with a 920xm would it be still be wise the replace the CPU instead of a full laptop replacement?

Since my laptop isn't maxed out I'm just having trouble making up my mind on this.

 

Oh contrare, the QM can be overclocked I got my 720QM upto 2ghz on 4 cores by raising the FSB using SetFSB.

You will need find your code for the Alienware M17x but have a look on the SetFSB website for it because it may be a freeby code. You should be able to get the 820QM upto around 2-2.2ghz by raising the FSB.

Here is a post from a longgggg time ago when I first came here.

 

Very nice! Not much of an increase with the qm cpu's though huh? Would be a better choice to wait for a 920xm. . .or 2960xm with the new laptops. . .

Weeeelp. Back to square one. Think some gaming is in order to clear my head.

 

Cannot go wrong with the 2760QM that I have which came out with the refresh still a QM but on par with the performance of a 2920XM at only 45watts.

The Ivy just does not warrant upgrading to IMO the consumption is not as good as they made out and the quads are still at 45-55watts.

 

I just realized I goofed on my last post. I should've said 3960xm. Didn't realize the new laptops had the third gen processors too. Then again since you don't seem too impressed with them.

 

They are impressive but you can understand why people with the Sandy Bridge are not interested in upgrading to them as the 2nd Gen is still way ahead of its time and wont be outdated for many years to come.

The next Ivy refresh in a years time on the other hand if it is anything like the refresh of the Sandy Bridge it should be pretty meaty expect 4ghz to be touched as standard on the XM

 

I see. For me it is more like the jump from the old quad cores to the first gen i7's. Wouldn't surprise me if they had six core mobile processors in the works. Though I find it hard to believe something needs that much processing power.

And I've been doing some reading on the HD 7970m. That's a scary card. I've also seen someone put one into their m15x. So there maybe hope my old R2 could see this kind of upgrade.

 

6 core is surely on the horizon the Ivy are running so well I was hoping they would bring 6 cores. Again why i am waiting for the 2nd refresh

Yes the 7970M again blows the 6990M out of the water just as it did the 5870M.

Just when I thought I made the right choice choosing the 6990M, boom out of date

 

I say 8 cores or go home.

Atleast with the 7970m you can't expect much better until 8xxxm. Only so much you can do with 100w cards. But, that's why I'm so curious to see what the 680m has to offer.

 

Again before I upgrade to the 7970M and click the buy button I must remember I only play World of Tanks! Like having a ferrari in the garage and riding a push bike to work.

 

Very true. Maybe diablo 3 will hold me over for awhile in a few weeks.