M17x r1 or r2?

A friend has been asking me this and I just don't really know a good answer but basically he's asking if he should wait the 30 days to get an i7 RGB for like 23-24 hundred or pick up from a local reseller an x9100 4870 crossfire RGB m17x for 1900.

He said that he's primarily a gamer and that having multiple cores isn't going to be entirely all that beneficial for him

 

Tell him to get the R1.

 

Terrible advice. Tell him to get the R2, it has far less problems than the R1 and the RGB LED is worth it, especially if he's a gamer.

 

Ah, my mistake. Sorry for the bad advice, OP.

 

yeah, r2 all the way. like joker mentioned the rgb by itself is worth the extra price imho, plus less problems, faster CPU, upgradeability ..
no brainer for me

 

If you were a street racer would you buy a model T ford, or a Ferriai? Get the r2

 

Even though normally I'd disagree with everyone in the most pointless and stupid way,...
- R2 hands down.

 

Yeah, I prefer the R2. I was about to post a more lengthy explanation, but forget it. Should put a poll up or something.

 

Definitely R2 if anything for the screen

 

r2 for sure. other than the rgb led screen the performance is pretty close with the qx9300 and i7 920xm

 

920xm is quite a bit faster than a qx9300. You have to OC the qx9300 to get anywhere near 920xm speeds and even then it's slower.

 

Isnt that the point though? you can OC the qx9300 so that the performance is close. 920 sure wins but at that cpu level arent you more than enough for any game out there?

Since we all can see an M11x play MW2 with a ulv processor it became clear to me that "its the gpu stupid" not the cpu anymore for most gamers. Since they both have the same GPU's and the R1 is now so much cheaper doesnt it make sense for "most gamers" to pay %50 percent of the price of a R2 for 95% of the performance?

yes, i did pick theperformance percent out of my...but i dont think im that far off for game playing.

I'm open minded but i got a heck of a deal on my R1 that arrives on Tuesday....half current retail....

 

You're comparing an outlet system to a brand new one, that's the first flaw in your logic. Second, the 920xm can be further OC'd another 5% via bios so it always is faster than a qx9300, sometimes by a large margin. Third, many games (e.g. RTS or even source games) scale really well with CPU power. In that case, you will see noticeable gains with the 920xm. Lastly, but not least, the R1 has too many known issues (DPC latency, stuttering video etc), an autodimming CCFL screen (vs. RGB LED in the R2) and is a soon to be discontinued model (no real upgrade path) which makes it an unattractive proposition.

BTW, check out the thread discussing how to get good deals. People are managing 20%+ off with the right representative. I believe your system cost close to $3000 correct? The system in my sig cost me $3200 (WITH 3 yrs warranty) and even less if you factor in some free goodies I got from AW (backpack etc). The M17x-R1 is a decent system in it's own right and like any piece of technology, it's outdated compared to it's R2 successor.The R2 will eventually be dethroned by yet another M17x, it's just the way it is.

 

Since you've had both i totally defer to your experience with them. most of the feedback i have read here spoke to the 9300 being compariable to the 920 if oc'ed in normal usage (gaming, not benchmarking). I ordered a r1 for my wife and with the latest patches the dpc issues are gone and i switched to the 1510 wireless card to fix the dropping wireless issues. I never noticed the dimming screen. If you can get a sweetsauce R2 for that price if the new R1 has any issues i'll be sure to get an R2. I'll ask for good reps if i do.

The 2x256ssd's were quite attractive with the price i got so it seemed too good to pass up, thats what did it for me.

out the door with 3yr complete care 2936.00

 

In most games you probably won't notice a difference with qx9300 vs 920xm. However, the point was that overall the 920xm will always be faster and in some situations (certain games and especially applications) it will be substantially faster. You got a good deal on the R1 no doubt. But the OP is looking for something new and in that regard the R2 is a no brainer. BTW I did not own an R1 before.

 

No one has addressed the questionable warranty that would come on the R1 since Dell never supported the R1 with an x9100 in it......

 

Never mind, ....

 

anybody know if there will be a big difference for Dragon Age?

 

I was through the whole game on max settings with my old R1 (P8700+280x2) with only a couple of spots where the fps dropped below 30. You'll be perfectly fine.

 

awesome, thanks

 

Does EA still use rootkits for it's anti piracy? What did they use on DA?

 

i think they are using an internet based thing now, not securom (the rootkit)

 

I read that they have one that forces you to be connected to the net to be able to play. Is it that one?

If you get it from steam does it still have the drm?

thanks for your help!

 

You have to be connected for the unique items (that you get from them with your purchase) to be available. Normally, - no.

 

Guys I really really really really need to thank you all for your great comments and quick responses in helping me come up with the right answers, especially joker. So we'll be going with an r2, but because of the current long delay on current orders (till end of April) I think we'll be waiting until April to place that order.

 

good to know, thanks for your replies.

i've been wary of DRM since the sony drm issu and i hate to have that kind of crap on my computers.

 

I waited a extra Month for the r2. Then 3 months for delivery.

 

Was it worth it?

 

3 months... man!

 

With the sound quality of the frist system. I rather wait then get a Crap system.

 

K, I'm waiting now too, till the end of this month for my R2-D2 to show up to my door.