M14x or M17x for an Engineering student + Gamer ?

Hi
im really confused on what to buy,
im a college student who will live on campus
i was planin on gettin an Alienware (pls dont tell me abt other sager or clevo, i know they r cheap but they look AWFUL)
So the thing is i can carry a big notebook but i really dont wanna look weird in the class with a 17 inch, 15 wud have been perfect but they ....... ((
so 14 is ok but the GPU is not that good

if i buy the m17 i myt upgrade the GPU to GTX 680m later.

I play Call of duty and Battlefield aloooot !!!
i plan on gaming at almost High or Ultra settings.

is the m14x tooo small and soooo "un" powerful that it cant run high end games on ultra ?
is the m17x tooo big/heavy and looks weird if u pull it out inside the NYC subway or a small class ?

these are my two choices
i have no problem with the price as long as the lappy plays games on ultra and is portable enuf for me to carry around and do engineering projects

Alienware M14x ($1700)

3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM
6GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz
750GB 7,200 RPM SATA + 32GB mSATA Caching SSD
2 GB DDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M
14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900)
Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax and Bluetooth 4.0
Slot Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW)


Alienware M17x ($2324)

3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM
6GB DDR3 at 1600MHz (2DIMMS)
750GB 7,200 RPM + 32GB mSATA Caching SSD
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660M
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 120Hz NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle
Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax and Bluetooth 4.0
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)


Thank you fr ur input !

 

To be completely frank with you, I wouldn't pull out a 17" anything in NYC, especially not a subway. You'll not only get mugged, but killed.

I'd honestly get the 17X if gaming is a big priority for you, especially gaming at max settings. I'd also switch the GPU to a 7970M, that way you won't have to get the 680M in the future when it comes out, as the 7970M will crush games out now, and coming out in the near future.

 

Go for M14x if you want some portability while you can have some performance out of it because word portable will not go well with performance. If you want real mobile Gaming performance or 3D Gaming performance go for the M17x.

However, I'm not really sure if the GPU on the M14xR2 can be upgrade or not, as to the GT555M on the M14xR1 is soldered on the motherboard which there is no way you can upgrade the GPU.

 

"i have no problem with the price as long as the lappy plays games on ultra and is portable enuf for me to carry around and do engineering projects"

I think you honestly need to decide if portability or power is your primary thing, because the M14x will play most games on High (but maybe not future games), but the M17x is pretty darn huge.

 

Well I certainly wouldn't use any Alienware on the subway, regardless of size. That's just asking for trouble.

As for which you should go for, that I'm of no help because I'm trying to decide the same thing

 

If you're travelling with your laptop frequently, then go M14X.

If you're stationary at home with limited travel, then go M17X.

Personally, I find the M14X to be the best laptop. Perfect on the couch, in bed, library ...anywhere: ) Great laptop for students.

I'm running games like BF3/SWTOR on high+ and that's just with the R1.

I do think the prices you're listing are too high if you're buying in the US/CAN.

Contact Allen and his team if US/CAN:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...e-us-canada-upgrade-new-system-purchases.html

As a side note, the 1GB GPU gives you the same FPS as a 2GB GPU would, so don't worry about the 2GB unless you're hooking up the laptop to dual-monitors. Waste of money otherwise.

 

I wouldn't pull any laptop out on any subway. You're asking to be mugged.

If you're using it for class, then the M14x for sure. The GPU isn't the fastest out there, but it's definitely competent, so unless you want to dial up every one of those sliders to max, then it'll be plenty for you.

On the other hand, I'm a soon-to-be-student (and I'll be in London) and I'm planning on getting an M18x, because I won't be moving it from my desk except when travelling.

Quite honestly, if you need a portable system, I wouldn't recommend AW at all (well, not now that the M11x is a thing of the past). Even the M14x is bulky and heavy compared to a typical laptop designed for portability. A little more information on 'where' you're taking it would be good; if you're just talking about taking a system to class and around campus, then the M14x should be fine, but anything more than that, you'll want something more portable (as well as a more powerful system in your room). If you only need a system for carrying around for taking notes and web browsing and the such, there are plenty of good cheap and portable systems out there that you could get as well as an M17x or M18x (or a desktop) to stay in your room for playing games on.

 

As an engineering student, I wouldn't count on being able to have time to play games more than a few hours a week at most. Also, nvidia cards do not fair well in CAD where a proper quadro/firepro is most ideal. Basically going Alienware tells us that you are not going to be doing "real" engineering work unless you are willing to put a firepro/quadro into the m17x and find someone to make modded drivers for you. You can get by on an m14x for basic assemblies but when you step up to serious work in your junior/senior design courses, you will be disappointed.

Not trying to be rude but I guarantee that the first thing that people in your classes will think when they see an Alienware is that you are a gamer and not serious about your engineering work. Combined with the fact that you want portability with an acceptable ability to use engineering programs, I would only have a single recommendation. If you take your CAD work seriously and want something portable, there is no better option than the Clevo P150EM. Especially if the 7970m is able to be flashed into the equivalent firepro like the 5870m/6970m.

 

There's a huge "if" on the 7970m, even though I love the NP9150/p150em and feel that it is a great machine; Sager's warranty service is simply not viable in college, he would have to be without a laptop for weeks to months if something were to go wrong. And gaming laptops has a higher potential to fail than that of a normal laptop, regardless of brand.

IMO he should look into either the Dell Precision 4600 or the Thinkpad W530. First of all those two machine mean business, instantly recognize by your faculty and widely used by engineers. They are also the two most durable laptops out. And secondly, if he wanted to they can also play some games(although not as well as say the Sager/AW).

 

I can still dream that the 7970m can be modded into a firepro. I would like to think that he would look at a Precision or Thinkpad. Though reading his post would have to me worried that he is focusing on ultra gaming graphics before engineering work. In that regard, I tried to find something that was acceptable for work and play. If he was a die hard professional, I would recommend a precision in a heartbeat. I almost went with one for myself before I learned that I could grab an m18x with 6970s/firepro 8900 for the same price as a quadro 4000/2920xm m6600.

 

True, with this economy you can never be too sure. When I was going to school, and have to worry about balancing my student loans, work and all that other stuff I had a crappy $450 Inspiron. It served me all the way through school(it still works, sadly the Pentium D struggles browsing this site), now I don't have to worry about what laptop I have to buy but what laptops I want to buy.

 

I would think an engineering student would want the most screen real estate possible...

 

Engineering=Lenovo W520 or similar business class systems (Dell Precision comes to mind).

 

Engineer and gamer?

Was in the same boat as you, I got the M17x.

Are you a graphic w h & r e? Wan't the performance of a high end desktop in your hands?

Then get a M17x, but there are negatives it's 11 lbs, it's HUGE (probably cover your whole desk at school). Battery doesn't last very, and costs a LOT more. Be prepared to have a backpack that'll make you look like a ninja turtle.

Don't care about maxing games out? You want something that is really portable and able to fit in your daily backpack?

Then get a M14x, there's really no negatives for the m14x with the exception of graphical quality, and performance, but for school it'll do what you need it to do and MUCH more. You'll be able to play any game you want (just not in high settings).

Basically how much are you willing to sacrafice for a better portable/sit down at home gaming experience????

Either laptop will do just great in school, but the more high end the laptop the more consequences/sacrifices.

 

Actually, the R1 is handling SWTOR and BF3 (one of the most demanding games) at high settings (minus shadows), with zero issues and solid FPS (40-50; never dips below 30). OP, take it from someone who lugged around a behemoth G73 every day to school ...go for a portable gaming machine. It's not the weight that was the problem for me, it was the hassle, set-up and unpack/repack - It's such a pain.

Now that the R2 is out, the performance is even better.



@Chainspell
Very true. During my 2010 semester, my G73 broke and Asus kept it for 6 weeks at the repair depot. It had a severely negative impact on my semester since that was my only computer. Any brand that doesn't offer next-day warranty is something you'll want to avoid for college.

 

engineering= lenovo

 

thanks guysss !

lol i know abt subways

i just wanted to know if it wud look odd if i pull it out on places where there are not many computer geeky ppl

so after givin a loooot of thot and like what ppl says, " i took the leap"

i will be goin fr the 17x
and like i said I WONT be goin fr clevo and others cz they doo look really crappy !

like ray said....i do see all the advantages of the m14x
like in my junior year and all
the thing is im actually seeing it in my first year itself
engineering needs PCs !
almost all the time
for that i was thinkin of 14

but.....why buy a pc for $1800 and find out a year later that it cant run games on ultra ???

that feelin is really bad

and all these days i was thinkin like a Nvidia fanboy and totally ignored the Radeons
SO i did my reseearch and now im goin with the Radeon 7970M

cz that is POWERFUL and cheaper

and now after sm chnges my price comes to $2200
with that i can play almost fr 3yrs on full
so i will be happy then
and i also thot abt the screen size

14 inch is too small....specially when u think of sniping in Bf3 or COD

and another thing is that i have a Tablet--- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
so i can actually take notes and stuffs...(not CAD, Solidedge offcourse)
and if thats not workin i myt get a cheap netbook.

So now tell me
7970M or wait for GTX 680M ?

anyways still keep on givin inputs.....i myt change my mind

 

I'm an engineering student and my Alienwares have been awesome so far. In my opinion, either of these choices would be great. It really comes down to the decision between more power and less portability with the M17x or less power and more portability with the M14x. You may also want to consider the resolution difference. I've found that I really value screen real-estate, so for me the 1080p M17x has my vote of your two choices.

If it means anything, I handled my first year with just an M11x.

 

it will be weeks, possibly months before the 680's are available, and they will only be marginally better than the radeon (and they will be more expensive). best go with the 7970. Also don't forget to upgrade to the 1080P screen as well. blue ray is really just a personal preference thing.

 

Good job sticking with Dell/Alienware. The warranty alone makes it the best choice. Why not the M18x? It's far more powerful with a dual GPU setup and it has an anodized aluminum chassis. It's not much bigger than the M17xR3/R4. Too much for the budget?

We will need to wait and see. I am seriously kicking around the idea of 7970M CF due to the uncertainty about the GTX680M release date and what its performance will look like. My logical side is telling me to wait and see before spending money. But honestly, the more expensive part is not even an issue for folks that are not content with holding a spot in second fiddle. Having the best comes with a price tag regardless of what kind of product. If the GTX680M (still just a rumored GPU) is truly only marginally better, the 7970M will remain an outstanding compromise for those that cannot, or choose not to, spend more for the better components.

 

Oh comon man lol. I have seen the m18x, and that thing is an unportable beast. it is the definition of a mobile desktop, and by that I mean you might want to move it once a week and only to lan party's or on business trips. an 18.4 inch laptop is not a student laptop, especially not with the thickness and weight of the thing. You could glue legs to that thing have it would be an ample coffee table substitute lol.

 

I haven't held either in my hands so I cannot say with 100% certainty but I did watch a video on Youtube that showed they side by side and even stacked on top of each other (M17x and M18x) and they did appear to be very close. So Mr. Fox is right on with his statement, I'd say.

I know everyone always comments what a big laptop I have (17 inch) but honestly I am so used to it that it feels kind of small. If I did have to carry it around regularly it wouldn't bother me at all.

 

I cannot imagine that you have ever spent much time with an M18x because your comments don't coincide with my experience even remotely. Mine has traveled extensively with me all over the United States. It's very portable, and extremely powerful. I would be lost without it on the road. The only downside I have found to owning an M18x is that all of my other computers have become extremely dissatisfying for me to use, and they are collecting dust because they no longer interest me. I only use my work laptop because I don't have the option of using the M18x for that, LOL.

In case you had not noticed my signature, I also own an M17x R2 and there is minimal difference in size and weight.

 

Yup the price is a prob.
If I cud get the price lower than $2300 and same performance ad m17 then I wud have gone for it.

 

Wrong.

^That. I've owned an R1 (which is pretty damn similar to the M18x in size and weight) and I used it for college all the time. It's very portable. So you can't pick it up one-handed and throw it in a bag like a netbook, so what? You can put it in a backpack, bring it to a lecture, and use it perfectly fine.

Also, to the other comments of "He's an engineer, so he needs a Quadro / FirePro card" - that's bull. The most he's going to be doing is a few snippits of C++, and (if he's unlucky) some assembly. Maybe a bit of MATLAB as well, nothing that a netbook couldn't handle computationally, so stop trying to push him into something he doesn't need, that would also be completely useless for gaming.