Is this a good deal for the M17x (from Micro Center)

Let me know what you guys think of them!

 

@airplaneman
how much did it total ? with sales tax and shipping..?

 

Uhh, $2611 CAD, specs in my sig. Then I got a $50 credit because of some hassles I went through and then another $200 because the price dropped and I said I'd return it if I didn't get the credit. No shipping charges in Canada, so with taxes it came to $2361 with the credits. I also got a free carrying bag apparently worth $90 for free as well.

 

uh..thanks..how bout you averagejo3?

 

Specs are in my sig. It was ~2300 with tax and shipping.

 

^ and that post is dejavu for me..

time to merge microcenter threads huh?
anyway thanks averagejo3 and airplaneman
cheers

 

Ok well I picked up the Microcenter config from their store on Friday. Comes in the same box plain black box as all the unboxing videos with everyting else the same. Had to open it in the store to make sure I was getting what I had ordered on-line for instore pick-up because there weren't any details until you opened it to see what was inside. It was my 1st time in a MircoCenter store and I was disturbed and amazed at the same time (lots of cool stuff/total chaos in organization layout). Feels like a Japanese or 1990s electronics store. It has the hat, mouce pad, etc and came with the Windows 7 upgrade coupon in the box.

The name plate that you can customize on the dell website just has "M17x" but its not like you'll be picking up this laptop very often to look at a nameplate on the bottom.

I ran 3Dmark Vantage a couple times and I've gotten 8-9k on CPU and graphics so far without tweeking anything other then installing Dell's recommended divers and software updates and I was downloading patches/etc from the net while doing it. So far I'm very pleased but its my 24 hours impression at this point.

 

Hey Element, congrats on the M17x and thanks for posting your experience so far. My M17x (through Microcenter) has been delivered at my parents house, I'm teaching English in France right now and I'll be back in the states in 1 week to pick it up, feel it out for 2 weeks and fly back to France. Whew!

I'd love some OC'ing on that Q9000. Most people have been getting it up to 2.4 stable so I'd love some benchmarks after that.

Also make sure to check out driver forums/OC'ing forums to spice it up.

 

i bought one from micro center yesterday online. it is back ordered right now. 7-21 business days before they can ship one out. ETD is 9/04/09. what was your ETD averagejo3?

 

So much to install and so much to tweek. I'm playing Crysis in 1920x1200 on high and it is as smooth as anyone could hope for. Makes it hard to justify tweaking so soon but I'm sure I'll get to it. Perhaps I just need to justify to myself that I need to buy more games just to try and tax this thing. I'll post benchmarks when I can spend the time to get everything maxed out.

Just haning out on the Forums while another game takes forever to install...

 

Well I ordered it on Tuesday and it arrived that Friday.

I think Microcenter was squeezed dry.

 

how does crysis run with 1920x1200 all very high? is it playable? 20-30fps?

 

dammit. i should have ordered it sooner. now i might have to wait 2 weeks to get mine.

 

Can't blame you element, the day I get this I'm not sure if I'll be able to OC before I jump into some games.

 

Blame me and Skook9.

I originally ordered through Best Buy and waited 3 weeks until they finally told me, "Sorry it took us to long so we're canceling the order". Which was a godsend in a way, for $200 more I was getting a WUXGA and Bluray through Microcenter, so it worked out for the better. Same day shipping was also great as there were a lot of people moping on the forums about Boxing phases and such.

In any case I would be happy you got the best deal available at the moment, if a better deal existed we would've heard of it by now.

 

i was thinking about canceling my order and ordering it with 1 day shipping instead of the 2 day shipping i have. that would have been the dumbest thing, seeing that i ordered it yesterday. i would have just been paying more for the same shipping date. too bad they won't allow you to change that after you already ordered. i really hope it's 7-10 days instead of the full 21 days. but then again, some other great deal might just pop up with in these next 2 weeks.

 

Greta deal! Got one last Thursday from a MD Microcenter. The battery was totally dead so much that Windows did not even recognize there was a battery installed. Called Alienware Tech Support, they said they do not support laptops that are purchased from Microcenter. All support has to go through them....In cases of repair, Microcenter will send it to Alienware for repair themselves.

 

Craig, I had the same problem as well as someone else buying one from microcenter.... as strange as that sounds. My battery was unable to 1) charge 2) recognized by windows so i brought it back. I'm really not sure what they did, but they took my battery and put it in the floor model and back in mine. Afterwards, it started working.... Strange, I know, but I watched the whole thing happen. Its a small problem and can be fixed. I also read a thread where this happens due to static issues or something? Do a little research and you'' find it. Apparently the solution is to take the battery out and hold the power button down for 10 seconds. Don't quote me on that tho. Its just what I remember off the top of my head.

 

they restocked the m17x at micro center already. it is back to 5-7 days shipping. i hope i get mine next week. or if i'm really lucky, this week. but that wont happen since im blessed with bad luck.

 

Picking mine up this Saturday. I'll let you know if I have any problems, like the battery issue. But I find it hard to believe it's an issue relating to specifically Microcenter's M17x.

As far as Tech Support. It comes with a 1 year warranty through Dell, not sure why you'd have to go through Microcenter again...

 

for people who have bought the m17x from Micro center, does this come with a secondary hard drive caddy? or does it come with only 1 hard drive setup?

 

Maz, I'm pretty sure it doesn't. You'd have to call Dell to get one.

 

This sucks I can't seem to find a good deal anywhere! I live in iowa and i want to buy an m17x, but i can't find anywhere to do so without shellin out 3,000 dollars for a decent set up, best buy seems to be f'ed with getting anything right i'm not a member of sams club, i just saw costco had two set ups available, but they have a $1900, with nothing good on it, the lowest of the low specs, and a $3000 one with the strangest specs on it, that don't make sense, check it out and tell me what you think! Anyways, anyone out there with a bright idea?

http://www.costco.com/Common/Search...e=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US

 

the low spec is not a big money saver since only the HD is different. the high spec is decent, since it has 8gb rams and the t9600 cpu. it will save you about $300, but much cheaper to buy it later.

 

bmftblmn68, Welcome to the forums.

Those Cosco "deals" are horrible. I needed a laugh today though. Really? A $3000 notebook with a 14x9 screen and a 2.8 duo? 8GB of ram but what were they thinking when they put this together.

Secondly, what do you mean you can't find a good deal? The Microcenter deal is fantastic for what you're getting. And to be completely honest, even if you were to buy a stock M17x w/ an upgraded screen from Dell, you're still getting a computer capable of running any game. And most importantly, the ability to upgrade your GPUs, CPU, HD, anything but the screen.

No reason to stress.

 

First i wish i was more technical i don't really know a whole lot about upgrades and such im just a good gamer! I wouldn't know how to do any such things! Read the side note, NEWBIE! lol Anyways yea i gues microcenter would be a good fit, ive wanted an alienware for about 6 years now! Although that Asus doesn't seem to make a bad product for the money!

 

Well bmf, whatever you want to do.

It's not like you'll need to know how to upgrade an M17x the moment you get one. It's a wonderfully well-built computer, from the screen to the design to the upgradability to the cooling etc etc etc.

 

Well, thanks for your help anyways, AvgJoe! This can get frustrating, just waitin for the day when i get my finalized product, whatever it may be!

 

The deal at Sams is cheaper if you don't want blu-ray. Seems to be the only difference I can discern.

 

Sam's club says it takes 4-6 weeks to ship.

As opposed to Microcenter's, in my case, same day shipping.

 

I hope I get same day shipping. It is saying 5-7 days. I want it now! I'm not going to be able to sleep til it is in my hands :O

Anyway I was just pointing out the Sam's price was cheaper, that's all

 

in sam's price, only 1 GPU is available. so it's not a good deal.

 

Alright after much consideration i did it, i got the micro center deal!!!! Phew, i really wanted the nebula red with pretty close to the same specs, but i couldn't wait till 9/10 just for it to be ready to be shipped!! Plus for some reason i didn't pay tax, don't know why, anyone have any idea? Anyways im stoked and ready!

 

Maybe your state is celebrating a tax holiday?

I know it happens around the back to school time...

 

i didn't pay tax either. bmftblmn68 what is your estimated time of shipping?

 

I thought Microcenter doesn't tax in states that they don't have a physical presence in.

 

http://www.microcenter.com/customer_support/shipping.html

 

15 of those states listed have stores. There is a store in a 16th state that doesn't have tax applied - Missouri.

 

That's typical, Ohio has tax

 

As does PA

 

bmf, grats on the machine.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed. The red is cool for sure but IMO, you have AlienFX to change your keyboard lighting and by having a red M17x, it's red lightning or nothing. Don't get me wrong I think that's a wicked look. And if someone wants to post some pics of a red M17x with non red lightning, I'd be interested to see how aesthetically pleasing it is.

Hope you enjoy it and let everyone know how long it's taking to ship or if you have any problems down the road.

 

You'd be right, Iowa, my state has no micro center present so, i don't get taxed! Sweet S***!! I did the standard shipping rate wich was $20, i'm outta money after that machine i can wait 5-7 days! My ship date should be the 28th, so we'll see, i'll keep you all posted!

 

So they called me earlier "more information is needed to verify your order" *grrr* I have to call them tomorrow.

 

Happened to me too. I think they just want to be sure you're legit. Any order through Microcenter over $1500 dollars they will probably contact your bank for more info, things like that.

 

yep me too. i have to contact my credit card company to verify it. i'm currently bidding one an m17x on ebay that ends tonight. link is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220468242758&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

i'll have to cancel microcenter if i get it on ebay.

 

Well I talked to the chick earlier on the phone for like an hour this morning and she said everything looked good, it was on backorder for a few days nothing major... Then the same chick calls me while I'm working and is like "we need more information" - I hate that crap.

They do it to protect themselves though so whatever, I'll call tomorrow.

 

I just got the credit card for this laptop today, so i was goin all out, i never got a call though!

 

u might not. they claimed that they called me today 5 times and left messages. i didn't get any. good thing i checked my status with a chat rep and found out that my order status was on hold.

 

how long has it been for you the mazda

 

i ordered it last thursday. when i ordered it, it said 7-21 days. and i was given an estimated shipping of 9/04/09
when i called them today, they said they have not received any yet. and it will be 5-7 business days from today before they get any more in.(IMO i don't believe them.)