Is this M17x spec ok?

Hey
I am looking at ordering a new M17x, and I am wondering if this spec is ok and won't be too slow for most games. I really can't afford to upgrade much more:

Core i7 720QM
Single ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 4870
17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED
4GB DDR3 1333MHz
500GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD
Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card
3 Year Advanced Service Plan Warranty
Space Black
Would a 820QM make any difference in games?

Thanks

 

i just got mine with the 820qm. works great for me, but i also have the second 4870 in mine. my suggestion would be to cut that warranty to the advanced service 1 year. you can always extend that warranty before it runs out by calling them

 

looks sweet to me me, 820 won't matter much for gaming. but a second gpu would be sweet.

 

u MUST get a 2nd GPU or go m15x

 

yeah keep 720 get a second gpu and get quotes!! if you cant get any down to 1985 like i did pm me ill give you the name and extension to the sales agent i have.

 

Yeah I agree with the above, get a second 4870, then you'll be rocking!

 

you got the setup in your quote for 1985? i would love to get your sales agents name and extension. i had a similar set up using the EPP program and the best the agent could do was 2200 (before shipping).

i saw on another thread that you were USAF, i'm USNavy so hopefully they can cut me deal aswell.

thanks

edit: for some reason its not allowing me to PM possibly because im a long time browser and just joined today =p

 

Yea, definitely get dual GPUs if you can. Everything else looks good.

If you can't afford much more then possibly get the 1 year warranty and upgrade later when you have the money. Or talk to a sales rep who will get you more of a discount that allows you to get the dual cards for about the same price. Just keep haggling and calling back until they do come down in price.

 

Keep the warrintee.

 

Thanks a lot for your help guys, err I don't think I can stretch to Crossfire as the money was a gift, but I'll see if a rep can take money off.
If I can't get the 2 4870s, is that build still going to be fast? Is one 4870 still quick?
Thanks

 

if you can't get that second GPU, your build is going to be very not "all powerful". settle for a m15x. You'll save lives. your other option is to change your warranty from 3 years to 1 year and put that money to the second GPU. warranty can be extended later. adding a GPU later will cost you around $500+ later. and possibly voiding your GPU warranty in the process.
M15x config with same price, about $2700:
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Intel® Core™ i7-820QM
3 Year Advanced Service Plan
1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M
15.6-inch WideFHD 1920x1080 (1080p) WLED
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz
500GB SATAII 7,200RPM
Primary - 9-cell (85Watt) Lithium-Ion Battery

 

Diablo, check out the ordering thread in my sig. You may find it helpful. But Mazda is right. If you want a 2nd GPU, you may consider going from a 3 year warranty to a 1 year warranty. You can extend your warranty later on down the road before it expires. Like in 11 months, and use that money to upgrade your GPU. Adding a GPU down the road is costly since the cards themselves are expensive and you need to get a crossfire cable. It will require sending it back to Dell if you don't want to void your warranty. Or at least having a Dell tech come out to install the parts

You need at least 10 posts I believe

 

for a second there, i thought you were referring to me. lol. mine is already ordered. should be on the way to me sometime this week.

 

yep DR50SE is 100% correct. manipulation can give life. I don't think they'll throw in the extra GPU for free, but they might do it for half of the upgrade price if you are willing to buy it right there on the spot.

 

lol, I was, I thought you were still pondering the purchase lol

 

With the last two laptops I had issues with overheating and what help me was the warrintee. One system I even went from a low end gpu to a high end gpu. m17x with geforce 8600 to a 9800 total cost $730 for both cards. If you want to wait untel the M17x r2 supports Dual Ati 5870. Cost would be about the same.

1 you can stay with one gpu and see if they support ATI 5870. Or if they dont you ca buy a Ati 4870 at around $300+ Which is not a bad deal

2 Warrintee I had 2 laptops from Dell Alienware. Both had issues. I rather have the consumer be safe then having no warrintee with a faulty system.

 

long story short, i ordered the 920xm and dual 4870's, but then when i saw joker and them having issues with the power supply, i emailed my rep as i am deployed as well and had her change the processor to an 820, and now im still waiting on the original orders hold on my bank account to clear before the rep can process my updated order.

i really wanted the 920 as it would have been my first "balls out" computer but i simply cannot afford to be without a computer right now.

 

I feel you on the cant be without a laptop right now, I'm deployed too.

i am staying with the 920 tho going to go with faith that they will find out whats going on with it by march 11 my EDD.

 

i was | | that close to staying with the 920, but i wont take the chance. ill just wait for the next time i buy a gaming laptop.

 

Yea, I understand that. Thats why I came out here with my Inspiron 1720. Currently have an M11X on order, and will still order the R2 w/920XM as soon as there are new GPU's for it. What can I say, I like toys lol. Bordem doesn't go over well with me. It's hard on my wallet

 

dont get me wrong, i like toys too, but i have no need for a M11x, and have already sold a couple of my "toys" to pay for the M17x. besides, 2600 isnt too bad of a price on a maxed out M17x minus the processor and hard drives (i have a 160gb intel ssd on the way and already have 2 500gb 7200 rpm drives)

with the the 920xm it would have cost me ~3120 after EPP, haggling, coupons, and 2 $100 american express gift cards that i got for my birthday.

 

diablozx, I haven't yet ordered mine so I cannot give absolutely 1st hand advice, but I look at the forums frequently about this very point and it seems that there are a huge amount of problems with xfire at the moment ( but not as much as the BSODs of the SLi 280s debacle) such as flickering and slow-downs.

So I would hesitate to advise you to go for the 2 fx cards.

I just think that one will give you less problems... granted, maybe it won't run crisis at enthusiast settings but at least it won't flicker and throttle etc. Just have a look at the R2 owners lounge last few pages to get a general idea about the problems people are having with 2 gfx cards...

 

I spoke to about 5 different sales reps and tried everything and the most they will give me off dual gpus is $50. I'm only a school student that doesn't have a job lol and my parents won't lend me any more cash, so it's either stay with one 4870 or get the M15x. I'd prefer the 17x because of the larger screen...but you've said it's pointless if I only get one GPU...Hmm idk what to do lol

 

i woudnt necessarily say its pointless if your going for the m17x because of the screen you better max it out otherwise yes get the 15. Anyways later on down the road you could come across some cheap 4870's when the 5850's or whatever are released for the 17x's