Need help with when/what to buy regarding the M17x

You can get the Blu-Ray player for a notebook on ebay too, if you need it, I would just download Blu-Ray Movies, instead of burning or renting them.

Also if you still insist on the 280m's then I think that set-up is good to go.

But like I said if you get the p8600 you can sell it on ebay for 180, and then buy the Quad Q9100 for 350 like on ebay, I think that works out to be cheaper than the T9600 from alienware.

But you have one beast of a notebook there.

 

Ok, well if I do go with that setup I would be saving myself a lot of money. Which means I could get a better headset than the Alienware one.

The SENNHEISER PC350 was recommended. Anyone else have any suggestions or would those be a good choice?

 

we are here to help you

you still don't need those 280's ....

 

The graphics card would be harder to upgrade later on than the RAM or CPU though because they aren't as easily available right?

 

yes but the 280's are AT BEST 10% fast so like 3-4 FPS isn't worth 300$ to me

i overclocked my 260's to 280's levels and higher to make them even

 

Hmm...do you think the next set of mobile GPUs will be compatible with the M17x?

 

When did you get SLI 260's? I thought you only had one?

 

Its possible, and even though it is harder to upgrade it's not impossible so go with with 260m's and later if you think they really aren't doing it for you upgrade, but im sure you will be satisfied with dual 260's

 

Ditch those head phones and get a head set from a company that does it professionally. The SENNHEISER PC350 is something to behold, built very well, amazing sound, noise canceling microphone, noise canceling ear cups. You'd have to actually try these to see how amazing a headset can be.

Get 260s.

 

Hmm...with 260s instead of 280s the total price would be 4,334, not including a headset or $70 for the Cryo LX.

(thats with the RAM being 1333, is the difference between that and the 1066 worth the $60? I would only use that RAM for about a year anyways)

So the warranty and everything looks fine? Complete care is worth the $150?

 

No, I don't think you will need more than the standard warranties, the reason they offer warranties is because it is always in the companies favor, also the ram isnt worth it from what I have read.

 

Just get the 1066 ram, you will barely notice the difference, if you even do at all.

Don't upgrade the warranty yet. Wait 10 months then buy another year if you want to. Don't get the complete care yet either, wait for something to break first and then do it. This way you can spread out the cost over time and save yourself a few hundred bucks on the initial purchase.

 

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0314770

there you go, you will save a ton. also you can buy another 500gig notebook HDD if you want the terabyte.

 

Yeah I've been using a 75gb HD for over 6 years so when I hear people even considering 1 TB it's seems so overboard.

 

Well i download and store alot of movies.

and 400 gig was good for me for 2 years

 

I would've mentioned the Microcenter deal. I almost tell everyone about it. Not sure if they'll send to Canada.

 

well with the money you save, you could try the states to canada shipping servies often advertised on NBR at the top.

 

I didn't know one could upgrade the warranty after the purchase. So I could get a two year warranty, and then when it nears expiration I could add another year?

One can get complete care after something has broken? Wouldn't complete care only count for after it is purchased?

Would upgrading the warranty later be cheaper then upgrading it now? Or would it just mean I don't have to spend the money until later?

 

I don't think the price would change too much.

 

If you buy from microcenter does it come with the upgrade to windows 7? I don't see it mentioned.

 

Seems like you have a lot of questions. I would spend some time browsing topics on the Alienware forums like 260s vs 280s, the ram, different available deals, stuff like that, then make your decision.

Last thing I'll say is, there are brands that make great computers and there are brands that make great headsets. If I ever saw someone with an Alienware headset it would be hard not to laugh.

 

On the right hand side of the page it has information on it.

 

I think I will buy the laptop directly from Alienware, I don't really want to install a second hard drive right after buying the laptop.

 

Not hard at all..like 4-6 screws and I don't think it comes with the mounting hardware anyway. Mine didn't and I specifically asked for it (through Dell, not micro center).

 

I have been reading through a ton of topics since the M17x was released and just finished reading the 260s vs 280s one. I think I know what I will do now.

SYSTEM COLOR Space Black – Anodized Aluminum
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo T9600 2.8GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows Vista Home Premium (64 bit) + Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Coupon
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 2 Yr Ltd Warranty with 1 Yr NBD Onsite Service with Complete Care and 1 Yr Tech Support
LCD PANEL 17-inch WideUXGA 1920x1200 (1200p)
MEMORY 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB
HARD DRIVE 1TB - 2x 500GB 7,200RPM - RAID 0
VIDEO CARD Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M, 2GB – SLI® Enabled
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot-Load Dual Layer Blu-ray Combo (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
GAMING ACCESSORIES Mobile Edge Alienware Orion Laptop Messenger Bag – Fits Laptop Up to 17" - Black
POWER PROTECTION Belkin Inc 12-Outlet Surge Protector

Total the laptop would be 4,000

Headset
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=29043&vpn=PC350&manufacture=Sennheiser Electronics

Cryo LX
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=33495&vpn=ACC-NT-CRYO-B&manufacture=NZXT

Total would be about 4,325 and then I would upgrade the CPU and RAM Christmas 2010.


Does everything look about right?

 

Buy a clip on Zalman mic, and Sennheiser 595s/Goldring DR150s over the PC350s. Cheaper and better (the PC350s use the same drivers as the 595s, but with worse design decisions meaning they sound worse!)

 

and get cry lx for your notebookcooler for $70 on ebay. itrs the best notebookcooler.

 

Hope you get the Sennheiser PC350s. You will not regret it.

 

If you want a kickass headset..get the Astro A40.

 

A review for the Sennheiser 595 said that there is a good bit of sound bleed. They are also more expensive so I don't think I will be getting them.

 

Thats the same price NCIX has it for and NCIX is fairly close to where I live so I won't have to bother with shipping.

 

n it isn't worth it

EDIT about the RAM

 

Haha I was gunna say..

 

Hehe, ok, well thanks so much for all the help everyone, I really appreciate it.

 

That's what we're here for.

 

Honestly you can get HDD so much cheaper than the 1 terabyte on alienware and you really can't screw up an installation. especially if you get 1ter external.

I mean the only thing you are getting that micro doesnt offer is the 500gigs extra which isn't that expensive to buy and you're saving 1500. but again its your call if you don't mind flushing the money down the toilet

 

The 500 GB option for me was a $200 CAN upgrade, for me to go and buy 7200RPM 500GB notebook drives, I'd be looking at around $130 each.

Heck, the 320 gig sells for $101 CAN at Tiger Direct.

Even if you can find them for >$100 a HDD, I would rather pay slightly more and have them install it so I don't have to setup the RAID and reinstall my OS and wait ~3 days for the adapter.

 

I flushed a nickel ($0.05 coin for you Americans) down the toilet once. Flushing money down the toilet is terribly overrated.

 

ok so you're telling me you would rather pay the 4,300 he is going to than buy from microcenter for 2300 and then spend $130 more canadian on the second HDD and while thats being shipped waiting for the adapter?

For the exact same set-up


Oh and edit: I am not american but they have nickels too... just doesn't have a beaver on it.

 

The micro deal has a 1 year limited warranty, while my $4000 M17x has a 2 year warranty with complete care. Then there is the hard drive which is probably about a difference of 130. I believe the micro center price is in American dollars?

I don't know what the Canadian dollar is at right now but I would guess the deal is about 2,800 Canadian.

Oh and the $4000 includes tax.

 

thats one expensive extra year of warranty. and it will come out to be more around 2500 canadian, oh well I was just trying to lay out all the options.

 

Oh, I wasn't talking about the Microcenter deal, I'm just saying its cheaper to buy the HDD's from dell and have them set everything up instead of buying the HDD's elsewhere and doing it yourself.

The Microcenter deal is hands-down amazing but don't forget he has to pay customs and taxes and lots of other fees. Still might be less than ordering from Dell, but it's a risk with such an expensive item.

 

In response to Alekx post:

Ya I know and I appreciate it. I would just like to order direct from Dell so its less complicated, plus I am hoping to whittle the cost down some by ordering via phone, I saved a couple hundred doing that with my desktop.

 

I might want to order from dell too mainly for the nameplate reason, but the prices after looking around just arent worth it.

 

You guys are lucky, we don't get the customizable nameplate in Canada..only the M17x one . I'd really like to have my name engraved so I can prove it is mine..

 

Ya I noticed that. I am hoping maybe they just forgot to include the option or something so I am going to ask when I phone.

 

I did ask, it isn't available for us .

 

Argh >.< Did the guy say why?

 

Nah, just said it was only available in the States.

 

Cmon guys you're buying a computer. It's not a watch. Is it that important?