M17x refresh buyers- why not wait for ATI 5870's??

Then there's no time for rush at all

 

I was not being serious, but like Joker, after witnessing the shortage of 4870 cards I wouldn't want to wait any longer for my first ever M17x. Otherwise, if the M17x was my 3rd Alienware laptop, then I would most likely be in the same boat as those wanting a 5870 xfire setup.

 

Here is what I got out of Team Blackhawk according to their facebook page. I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think they might be in the testing phase... I hope

And if it is the case that they come out soon, if you join the team blackhawk facebook group, they send out a 15% coupon to all members tommorrow. So join tonight. Not sure if the coupon will be applicable to laptops, but it's worth having just in case.

 

Bah.

I'm waiting for the 6870's.

In Quadfire.

 

What exactly do you have to do to get the coupon? I am clicking on links and saw the "switch to our new group bla bla" but how do I do that?

lol

 

Just join the group and they'll send out either an Email or a FB private message tommorow.

 

its going to be a facebook message to all members. Just join the group

 

I'm waiting for the time when you can customise the system board and choose the number and placement of GPUs and CPUs according to your freaky desire

 

We all talk about the 5870 but what about the next gen Nvidia cards. Aren't they suppose to come out soon???

 

Meh, my personal experience with Nvidia cards wasn't so good. Besides, for me there's just something about ATI cards that make graphics look really....I dunno, smooth with clean lines? I dunno. Just saying, I tend to like them better.

 

I don't care red or green just give me the one that is better

 

I have never seen the difference you are mentioning yet I've owned both R1 with both sets of graphic cards.

Nonetheless, I agree. Nvidia fans have favored Nvidia for about 10 years and now they are all switching to ATI.

 

I agree with you but when???

Nvidia has not come out with anything really new on the high end mobile market for more than a year.

 

Was there a reason for them to lift a finger?

 

Now that ATi has been wearing the crown for a bit maybe nvidia will retake the lead.

I can only hope so otherwise ATI will just sit on there hands and do nothing.

 

Yep, the more fiercely they fight - the faster we upgrade, hehe.

 

whichever/whatever it is, alienware should be at the tech forefront with all of their newfound dell resources, and quite frankly they're not atm.

now, an M17x refresh "very soon" featuring optimus with integrated gpu for battery life and discrete directx 11 gpu (with option for dual gpu's now, later, or perhaps even never...) for gaming would be a real winner!

 

I really don't think single gpu notebooks are powerhouse gaming rigs. I don't understand why anyone would choose a single gpu when theres an option for crossfire/sli.

 

so, even if you're not interested in purchasing one, you really don't view the asus rog g73jh-a1 & clevo w870cu (or any other similarly configured machine for that matter) as competition for dell's newly acquired alienware flagship?

 

I have played with the asus, but not the clevo. As impressed as I am with the ati 5870, the dual 4870's still win. By quite a bit i might add. The difference in gaming with 1 card turned on vs. both in xfire/sli is huge.

I just don't feel that single card only notebooks are able to get the most out of pc games nowadays. I have been spoiled with sli, and I firmly believe 2 gpu's is/was and always will be the future.

 

Dual GPU solutions are much less reliable and require a lot more tweaking (SLI profiles/hotfixes/etc). Plus, more chances of mechanical/physical failures. A single GPU solution will always run games better (eg. no micro-stuttering).
If a single 5870 could be equal to 4870X2 in power, I'd buy it and be a happy camper for another 2 years.

 

I always prefer a powerful single GPU solution over dual card setups.

For desktops you can get away with a MUCH faster single card system and laptops traditionally benefit from dual GPU's more.

The MR 5870 is one heck of a card and I hope we keep seeing better, more powerful single card setups in the future.

 

Sleey0, If money wasn't an issue what system would you buy for all-around-ultimate-computing (as of today)?

 

I don't really know.

There aren't that many laptops that just wow me nowadays.

I guess I would have to stick with the M17x, for now

What would get me interested would be a new M15x. I want one that doesn't resemble the M17x and has it's own design. And like the original m15x, I would like AW to be innovative and put the most powerful single card (5870) in it.

I remember everyone's reaction when AW released the m15x and it had the 8800 GTX in it. People were freaking out because that much power was limited to big and heavy 17" systems at the time.

 

which is why i still suggest that an M17x with optimus to get us a wee bit more untethered general use, all while retaining some discrete in your face gaming, would be quite the home run if offered up soon!

 

I don't need the optimus stuff.

Shoot, I'd be happy if we could use the on-die GPU on the i7-620

 

I'd agree but due to the nature of my work need a bigger screen.
So I'm kinda forced into the 17" category.
Might end-up selling the W510 (if it ever gets in here...rgrgrggr) and try something bigger like M6500 or W701 (maybe even 8740w).
I wonder how good will those pro cards perform in benches and games.

 

or even that - switchable period. start applying some of the M11x concepts across the board; albeit bigger, badder, better! after all, thats what alienware premium, cutting edge tech should be representing to consumers! not the "also ran"...

 

That's true. One thing I'm sure of - when SB hits, the on-die graphics will be utilised on all boards by default.

 

Aren't SB's meant to be using the same chipset as the older i7's?

 

i guess the main point is, for their reputation and pricepoint, alienware should be out competing within the marketplace HERE AND NOW...

 

They are
Look at this forum and our sigs.

 

Nope. AFAIK, mobile SB will be put on the Huron River platform.

 

you know i'm not referring to their current offerings...

 

Yeah, AW does just fine as far as competition is concerned.

You have to remember that Clevo and Asus are ODM's themselves and will usually have access to parts quicker than Dell, who's business model is quite different than most (inventory with suppliers, etc), and also testing can most likely be done quicker when you are the factory making your own systems. lol

 

Very true. There were times when AW used Clevo barebones.

 

alienware is supposed to represent something far beyond standard m.o. at dell.

they indeed do "just fine", but to retain their reputation over the long haul amongst consumers they're going to have to start to perform on par with those odm's (imo, actually better) because the odm's are going to go for blood irregardless of dell's current business model...

 

I don't think AW feels too threatened, IMO.

They are a name brand (even my Mom knows about AW lol) and the styling is unmistakable.

Performance will always be at or above the competition. Speaking of competition, what is the direct competitor to the R2?

I am pretty sure that the R2 is still the most powerful 17" and up system money can buy right now.

 

There's still the Clevo X8100 with dual 285M's, but word is that Clevo isn't giving it 5870s which would make the AW stand alone when it gets 5870s.

 

4870's > 285's

 

Clevo doesn't have a proper screen Plus it's ugly and too big (even for me) to carry it to and from work.
Nvidia is still fighting the stuttering issues, and Dell did timely jump of that train.

 

The Clevo is not a real competitor. It's big and ugly as said by Aikimox. The R2 is really standing alone out there as of right now.

 

Many of those are subjective qualities, and the 285M is pretty close to the 4870. Not saying I like the X8100, it just offers many of the same features at a similar price point.

 

Yes, they are similar in gaming performance, but like I said, - SLI config is far less stable right now. Nvidia is still trying to fix (for many months now) their drivers to address the latency issues. 4870x2 is far more reliable, but not perfect either.

 

lol so it's not ok for guys?

Now Sleey said 5870 is extremely close and I don't have cash anymore. Nice

Dell messed me up real bad this time

 

Nah, worry not. By the time AW has a decent upgrade, you'll save 3Xmoney, buy 3Xuseless crap and drink yourself to the "Oink-Oink" state.

 

I'd be content drinking myself to any stage at this point.

SillyHoney, you can always sell some of those toys you got

 

And my wait continues...

 

Haha dont you wish you got the M17x with dual 4870? No I am just kidding. Yes the Clevo/Sugar still look like they did 5 years ago.

 

Hmmmm... good question Atol!
But the RGB Led screen only became available 2 weeks ago here. So there was no rush to get it until then. Maybe my patience is being tested until it snaps?!?

I just hope it still will come in a short while... Untill then no gaming for this guy...