M17x Refresh Discussion

baha, yea I just noticed that too xD

guess its 667 now

 

Well the graph still shows that the new ATi cards outclass the nVidia 280M's.

 

Looks like a decent margin too...Id say 10-15 percent.

 

for the first gen. i7 parts, the northbridge just interfaced the CPU with the PCI-e lanes

in the 2nd gen parts (i7/new i7/mobile i7) the northbridge is none existent, the PCI-e lanes are now IN the CPU with a few more tacked on through DMI. The total available lanes is LOW though compared to X58 (but a non issue for notebooks where you only ever get x8 x8 for multi card anyways)

 

I understand that the QPI was an important component for southbridge/northbridge communication; and since the northbridge doesn't exist, QPI is not neccessary...which is silly since QPI seemed like such a significant feature; didn't think it would be short lived.

But why would they use DMI for the lanes? when they have the faster QPI at their disposal? Or am I understanding wrong and DMI was always used for such tasks.

 

DMI is cheaper, the i5/new i7 parts are supposed to be lower cost than the original socket 1366 i7 parts. For top performance, the original 1366 parts are still the way to go (and ironically can be bought cheaper - but only for desktop)

 

The big question now still is how the single 4870 stacks up to the sli 260s since they are the same price. Makes it really hard to decide if your in the market for an M17x

 

I'd imagine 1 4870 would have 70-75% the performance of 260 SLI

 

Remember that some games don't benefit from SLI at all. See this.

So, in that case, the 4870 will perform better than the SLI 260's (and 280's for that matter).

 

the 4870s will no doubt be nice......but reality and being "poor" will keep me with my lowly 280's....however will I manage haha

 

Just a random thought....

I think the i7 refresh will come with the new ATI and nvidia GPU's Q1 2010.

/end random thought

 

im torn.. buy now or wait to see if the i7 comes to the m17x....

 

You might be waiting a few months, z.

Dell just released the 4870's and I'm betting that they are thinking the ATI cards will help clear out montivena parts.

 

i could prob wait a couple months but not much longer...

 

Then do it.

If I had the patience I'd wait

Meh.. Returns are pretty mutch hassle-free with Dell (right, quad? lol).

 

Yep pretty much .

 

I knew you'd find it! lol

 

I Personally am somewhat dissapointed that a 15" laptop is better then a 17" in terms of processors, the M17x still wins with graphics, but now im considering returning my M17x for the M15x since its cheaper and comes with an i7 processor. I hope they update the M17x for core i7

 

I actually think the same as well..

and really hope it will be that way too, that way I can buy i7 and next-gen mobile gpu's, rather than see and i7 refresh with current gen mobile gpu's..as that would no doubt still be tempting.

if in a couple months they put out an i7 with dual 5870's/GT300's I'll definitely be patient...using a 2nd gen mobile i7 w/ that would be pushing it (as they haven't even announced a successor, other than Arrandale..which I believe is just dual cores), but I like to be hopeful xD

 

Am I reading the news the wrong way? Seems to me the M17X will be upgradable for years to come.

Am I wrong that you can upgrade to an i7 at some point in the future with the current M17X motherboard?

 

You cannot put an i7 in the current M17x Motherboard.

 

In the next big event ( might be CES ), the M17x will get the core i7 refresh.

MXM standards are constantly evolving and not exactly "standardized" like the desktop PCI express x16 or 2.0, future card upgrades still remain questionable.

 

Always new stuff coming out and companies always upgrade. If you want a M17x buy it and enjoy it. Otherwise you'll still be looking at what to buy in 6 months because something new will also be coming out by then. Just my 2 cents.

 

Where did the GDDR5 confirmation come from? I must have overlooked it.

 

Noob Question: I keep seeing people say how that in the future, you can just send your laptop back to dell and : poof : get a new one? Or do you mean as in send it back for a refund, and buy a totally new build?

 

Nvidia is going to come out with new GPUs?!?! Will miracles never cease?

 

GT3xx and ATI5xxx.

I really don't see Dell changing it up right away (i7).

If they were, they would have done it with the launch of the M15x.

The way they did it, they will sell M15x's because it's the only i7 laptop you can buy right now from them As of now, they are 2 very different systems aside from looks.

 

guys from what the person i know at dell is being told by his people the 4870's look to be ddr3. he said of course there is a chance but his engineering guy told him ddr3....so he's doing some more digging

 

z

striker posted his detailed order confirmation and the ram is def GDDR5.

Makes sense why Dell is charging so much money for the upgrade.

 

doesnt mean the paperwork isnt wrong... dell has been wrong before. i dont doubt it one bit but for everyone i hope they are ddr5.. as i said he was just repeating what engineering told him.. he is supposed to call me back after he finds out for sure

 

Well, darkhan works for Dell and his peeps have confirmed as well.

I doubt the listing would be that wrong. lol

Dell would have a LOT of returns on their hands......

 

Hmmmm, well I have it in writing, the 4870's presently offered by Dell/AW are 1GB GDDR5 each. They better be, or someone is getting a quick refund. I'll post confirmation as soon as mine arrives, unless someone else beats me to it.

It's right there on my build sheet.......

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5342499&postcount=1336

 

R&D

from team blackhawk said ddr3 as well.....

 

We shall see

 

When is your ETA?

 

If he ordered yesterday, then ESD would be 10/15/2009 given current lead times.

 

Yeah, well I hope they are GDDR5 as well. Since I have 260's on hand a reasonable upgrade would be 4870's DDR5. It would kind of suck if the 280's/4870s DDR3 are the only thing to look forward to.

Unless of course the new wave of cards are also compliant with the current M17x, then I wouldn't care what the 4870s are either way.

I guess we are all waiting on this.

 

It make no sense to me, that Dell/AW would be offering the 4870 card of old.... i.e: the 512mb (or 1GB model of the same) GDDR3 4870's sold by Asus in the W90...... and then, promoting this card as their flagship over the GTX 280m.

I am of the belief these cards are in fact 1GB GDDR5, and I will be receiving these 'as advertised'.

I'll be confirming this first hand SOON!

 

Yeah, I highly doubt Dell got the spec wrong on the item list.

I wouldn't have any doubt that they are anything but GDDR5

 

Yeah I dont think theyd make a mistake that bad on your final spec sheet, I think you will get DDR5's as well. If you dont though (knock on wood) you have a no contest case to get a full refund NO restock fee NO questions asked. Or you can always haggle a new mouse or headset out of them for the mistake

 

Dell doesn't charge restock fees anyway (at least I haven't been hit with one in any of my various returnss).

 

they will usually try to charge them.. but if you are persistant they will not.. they never have for me either

 

I've got a very good system worked out. lol

And if you go thru EPP, try and get a hold of the EPP section to return, They ask hardly any questions at all.

 

If the 4870's are GDDR3, or anything less than what I paid for, the M17x will be returned..... period..... nothing to haggle over!

" CrossFireX - Dual 1GB GDDR5 ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870" is on my build sheet, and I expect no less.

 

I want them to be GDDR5 so that there is something new to be excited over, but at the same time, I want to see GDDR3 so I can still have a top model laptop haha

But more the first one

 

Can't wait to see benchmarks of the 4870's to see what they can offer

 

well I just got off the phone with a Dell sales rep,
and he said the 4870s were GDDR3 as well...
if me and a few others have talked to Dell and they say, then
it sounds likely that they are GDDR3 then.

 

I would take what any dell rep says with a grain of salt.

Strikers build sheet clearly states DDR5 and Darkhan who actually works for dell confirmed they are DDR5 as well.

So people that keep calling the dell reps looking for confirmation are wasting there precious time and should fine something better to do .

 

well I def know they dont know what theyre talking about alot of the time.

just thought id share...

 

We need a 'sticky' post....

LOL!