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

x 2

and USB 3.0 would be nice as well

 

waiting for a paper printing sceen! wow I didn't know they were planning on making those

 

i'm looking for an upgrade from DX10 to DX11. so the 5870s are the only way to go when it comes to the least amount of time waiting. There's no way Nvidia is going to release a mobile DX11 card anytime soon when they aren't even going to release a DX11 desktop cards yet. now that the g73JH is out with some real benches, it looks like the wait will be worth it. I'm upgrading from q9000 gtx260m sli. so.... i should see maybe %40 increase in game performance? i hope....

 

Cause Im hoping Dell will be nice and just give us a updated Bios so we can install the 5870 ourselves.

 

that is a lot of work for someone like me. not to mention voiding the warranty. dell isn't so nice when releasing just the cards alone. if they do, it'll probably be a few weeks after official notebook refresh, then the bio's flash and the trial and error of card installations(sometimes you get it right the first time and sometimes you don't). i'm not very good at working with small parts. I've opened some laptops and replaced gpus and cpus and sometimes it's almost impossible to put it back 100% error free. and don't forget all the little wires. after watching moo's GPU removal, I don't feel very lucky. of course the full home warranty coverage might allow dell to send someone to you door to install it for you, but even that you'll have to fight for. too much of a hassle for me. i like to relax and just order it, and have done with it.

 

Replacing CPU/GPU/RAM/HDD Does not void your warranty. I had a link to something The Moo made on what voids your warranty and what doesn't.

 

really? when i changed my m1730's 8700ms to 8800ms it voided my warranty. i had the choice to send it in, and it would still void my warrant. so it must be different now. i don't see how Dell would still warranty your laptop after you opened it up and completely change a part. i know you can get away with thermal paste or saying that you just repositioned it, but parts coming in and out, and done by the costumer with no proof of IT training doesn't look too good when something does go wrong. you'll probably have to fight for it. right?

 

Probably true. But it goes like this. Say you Upgraded your CPU and GPU's from a i7 720qm and a 4870 to a i7 920XM and a 5870. (Just an example) Now that isn't voided. But the parts are. So IF your Laptop breaks. Before you send it in for repair you must replace the new parts with the old.

 

I second that..
Thus, always keep your swapped parts! Unless your laptop gets stolen (** UGH** like mine **UGH**)...

Need a Q9000?

 

Sorry my R2 doesn't support.

Anyway i do hope Dell becomes nice and gives us a updated BIO's so we can simply upgrade ourselves (Either way i'll probably just send my R2 into AW/Dell when they release them and ask him for a quote to upgrade them, themselves.)

 

yep agreed. only the parts that was changed is voided. but, changing the CPU or GPU can also void the motherboard and other parts as well. (example) if the mother goes out, and dell knows that you recently changed the CPU or GPU, you'll have to fight for it. Since the M17x requires almost everything to be taken apart before changing the GPU and CPU, dell techs would probably give you crap about breaking something when installing new GPUs and CPUs. i'm not the fighting type so i'll stick to factory setup. I'm going to almost max out my next m17x, that way it'll last me for the next 2 years or so, or until there is a game it cannot handle. which ever one comes up first. best way i'd go is to buy GPU and CPU from third parties and keep that info from dell. i don't recommend it, but sometimes things really do just break down and you really didn't have anything to do about it.

 

Here i found that link for you. *OFFICAL* What will NOT void your warranty.

 

Again, how do you guys know that the 5870 will be offered in the first place?
Just speculating?

Because knowing Dell, i don't see why they would offer such an upgrade to a current line of laptop with the same price as the 4870. They will definitely make a new "All powerful" and offer the 5870 with it.

 

Because the CES apparently said they would receive a DirectX 11 Graphics card in the Alienware laptops.

 

5870Ms will be featured in M17x in weeks or a month ahead. That's pretty obvious and not many people doubt it.

 

Can you point me to a benchmark thread of G73? I'm so lost these days. Damn!

 

So true. Add "from 18 to 22" to it.

On later games the gap maybe a little more bigger.

 

somewhere from this pages http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=447065&page=550 +/- 5
quad actually did benches in games and vantage - and some others)) enjoy
edit: and this lol http://www.xoticpcforums.com/showthread.php?p=22818

 

+ rep! I'm reading it

Edit: Ouch! Quad is no longer fight along side with us but on Asus team

Edit: 7435 Vantage

Very nice Crysis benchmark too

You saved me from browsing 550 pages on my iPhone lol.

 

nope - he with both sides he's waiting R2 too

 

Nothing wrong with keeping your options open!

Also, xotic was able to hit 8900 in vantage with some overclocking of the core and mem of the 5870.

You guys are in for a real treat when your next refresh with 5870's come in!

 

8,900 Vantage

Is it GPU score or Vantage score?

Either way that number is huge If it's GPU score, it's around my GTX 260 SLI stock score . If it's Vantage score it come close to my stock Vantage score

 

8900 Total... Gpu overclocked vantage score was 8500+.

I don't even want to think about what scores you'll get in an M17x with 2 of these in it.

 

Thats one of the first things I'm going to do when it gets release and I get my system, reflash the vbios with new clocks and a massive CPU OC

 

It's so tempting... Lol... March... Saving up more buck in the mean time... When the time comes... Make a phone call: "Hey dude, I call to order a new version of M17x..."... Going online checking order status everyday ... Sign the delivery confirmation... BINGO!!!

 

I am keenly waiting for this specced AW too, provided ASUS continue to drag its feet on the G73JH-A1 ~~

 

still no official info on when the 5870s going to release right? or is march-april the confirmed dates

 

There was a rumor when R2 was released that it would be late March for the 5870s.

 

rumors.......

 

I see that rumors in this forum are proved to be correct quite a few times. Late March is way too long tho. I hope it will be launched early March.

 

i don't mind it being late march as long as it doesn't come with problems like the R2.

 

me too............

 

Waiting for a mythical beast to arrive - AW without issues,hehe.

 

I hope we see the 5870's in mid march at least. ASUS already has 'em, and we're all seeing how well the current AW systems are performing, hopefully AW will work harder and get the 5870's out sooner than later to smooth over the image.

They just cancelled my order on me, so I am gonna hold out until the 5870's arrive and then order again.

 

I also don't expect we'll see anything Fermi in a notebook for a good 6-12 months due to the chips being the hottest ever made so far. That's why I am so eager for the 5870's, because I think they're gonna be the best for a better part of the next year.

 

Yep! let's give them some time to sort out M17x-R2 problems (Occurred due to lack of proper in-house testing).

 

One would think if ASUS already has the 5870's that Dell would not be far behind.

All these issues with the R1 and R2 could have an impact either way.

 

Well, one would also think Dell would test their systems, too, but we know how that works. All told, I hope you're right, but with the chinese new year, and all of the R2 shenanigans, I doubt we'll see the 5870's until mid/late march.

 

Maybe even later, I'm thinking April at the earliest.

 

You could very well be correct on that. It's really hard sayin' at this point with so much uncertainty in the air.

 

that would suck if it's april. clevo could get CF 5870s before then. and if that happens, AW is gona lose a lot of customers. then again, clevo don't do ATI anymore since CF 3870s. What is Nvidia doing? other than their fail 285m. I'm an Nvidia fanboy, but man they are lagging behind big time.

 

nVidia is taking a huge gamble on the GF100 stuff. It could be a big deal when it's ready, but it's already being marketed as a very hot chip and it's over 6 mo behind as is. Heat issues mean it's gonna be awhile after the desktop stuff is released before we see a mobile solution.

 

I still prefer NVIDIA over ATI, but it could be 2011 before we see a DX11 Mobile GPU from them

 

I am one of the many that have been completely exhausted by the issues of the R1 and then cancelled my R2 due to the issues I read about.

I will wait the 5870 even if it means waiting until June though I hope not.

The thing is there is reason to change the CPU asap for AW/Dell as they need to start showing the gaming community that they care and all the issues are being resolved.

 

I am really looking forward for the new ati, can't wait to buy my alienware

 

whether you wait for the 5870 or not, there will always be risks if you want to stay at the bleeding edge of technology.
problems will still come up, but i do hope AW/Dell can better their support on these kinds of issues.

 

What's the best guess on the 5870's in the M17x-R2 right now? March? April?

The only other thing of concern to me is that I do want a blu-ray optical with the notebook ... and right now M17x's don't have that option. Hopefully by the time they introduce the 5870's ... the Blu-ray option is back as well.

I guess someone should start the 'M17x-R3' waiting thread!!

 

I was on the dell chat with a sales rep and he said you could add the blu-ray drive manually not configuring it online.

 

I suspect we'll hear about the details regarding the 5870 release shortly, at ceBit. (March 2-6) The main reason I am waiting is because I really like the potential of one feature in particular with DX11, I know that the 5870's are going to be the standard mobile solution for the next year or so at least, (fermi may eventually dethrone it before the year is out, but not after a substantial amount of time in R&D) and I know that even if I re-ordered my system this very moment, I wouldn't get it before mid march - and by mid-march I will have heard about the 5870's and would prolly cancel anyways. It's a preferential thing. The 4870's are killer cards, I just prefer to have DX11 in Xfire. Personal preference.

Yeah, you can always get stuff not shown on the site by phoning in your order. My rep told me that too.

 

I totally agree with u NX701, that's one of the main reason that I am waiting for the 5870