The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M17x 260SLI > Area 51 M17x GT9800 SLI???

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by usmc1488, Apr 9, 2010.

  1. usmc1488

    usmc1488 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hello everyone, just for fun I built a M17x in 260SLI (no 280 available???) online and it is not too bad in price. I currently have an Area 51 M17x with the 9800SLI set up. Is the newer M17x in 260SLI that much better? Worth the price?

    I just bought Mass Effect 2 and it looks and runs beutiful on the 1st gen machine.

    The M17x works great and I have zero problems, just like to know how it stacks up and/or if its worth upgrading to its younger sibling. Thanks for looking, have a great weekend!!!!!
     
    usmc1488, Apr 9, 2010
    #1
  2. ramatar14

    ramatar14 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    what 9800 is it? Is it the GT or the GTX? the GT SLI scores 3000 points more in benchmark test than the 260m sli
     
    ramatar14, Apr 9, 2010
    #2
  3. ronnieb

    ronnieb Representing the Canucks

    Reputations:
    613
    Messages:
    1,869
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    The processor should be a pretty big leap in performance.
     
    ronnieb, Apr 9, 2010
    #3
  4. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

    Reputations:
    3,289
    Messages:
    10,780
    Likes Received:
    1,782
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Nah, 9800M SLI is still plenty powerful. I wouldn't upgrade yet, unless you really just want a new machine.
     
    Kevin, Apr 9, 2010
    #4
  5. AlienContact

    AlienContact Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just save up for the R2 with 5870's when there out!
     
    AlienContact, Apr 9, 2010
    #5
  6. usmc1488

    usmc1488 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Its the 9800gt with the 2.5 ecu, I figure ecu speed isn't that much important as games use the sli cards. Ill just keep the Gen 1 till the next Gen come out. PS crysis still looks awesome!!!!!!
     
    usmc1488, Apr 9, 2010
    #6
  7. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

    Reputations:
    1,870
    Messages:
    7,976
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    9800 uses the same G92 core so only difference should be a few shaders and clock speed.
     
    sleey0, Apr 9, 2010
    #7
  8. usmc1488

    usmc1488 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    ......so the fact one card is 512 and one is 1 gig of memory isn't that big of a deal?

    And thanks for the replies!
     
    usmc1488, Apr 9, 2010
    #8
  9. ronnieb

    ronnieb Representing the Canucks

    Reputations:
    613
    Messages:
    1,869
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Graphics card memory doesn't really matter much.
     
    ronnieb, Apr 9, 2010
    #9
  10. usmc1488

    usmc1488 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Awesome, just what I wanted to hear. I know my M17x might not post the highest 3D scores anymore, but in real life gameplay I can still play the latest and greatest games with the settings maxed.
     
    usmc1488, Apr 10, 2010
    #10
  11. arsenal243

    arsenal243 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    76
    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    It really matters in game like GTA IV where 1GB Graphics isn't nowhere near maximum performance
     
    arsenal243, Apr 10, 2010
    #11
  12. Pman

    Pman Company Representative

    Reputations:
    327
    Messages:
    1,882
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    gta IVis more about cpu performance then gpu

    CPU in gta IV is far more important
     
    Pman, Apr 10, 2010
    #12
  13. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

    Reputations:
    4,365
    Messages:
    11,264
    Likes Received:
    263
    Trophy Points:
    501
    GTX 260m=9800m GTX (same cores - memory may vary between 512 and 1gb for the 9800m GTX, the GTX 260m is always 1 gb)

    The jump in CPU and cooling and build quality are the main plusses. As well as the igp for better battery life (upto 3.5 hours)
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Apr 10, 2010
    #13
  14. usmc1488

    usmc1488 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thanks for all of the information gents. From what it sounds like there is not much of a difference right now between systems to pay over three grand again. I'm thinking a gen 3 m17x will be the time again.
     
    usmc1488, Apr 10, 2010
    #14
  15. arsenal243

    arsenal243 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    76
    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    yep, but it still need at least 512MB VRAM to load all textures. with 30 in view distance, 1GB is *just* barely enough (maximum is 100 in distance)
     
    arsenal243, Apr 11, 2010
    #15