*Official* Alienware Launch Discussion Thread

Yes, DDR3L runs at 1.35v vs normal 1.5v memory. Kingston do manufacture their low voltage memory, tagged as 'Lo Vo' so I would not be surprised to see Dell using it. Not sure if Samsung/Hynix do the same low voltage 'tree-hugger' memory, but Dell had use those brands for a LONG time now. Performance is supposedly the same as normal voltage ram, but the Lo-Vo stuff might lose some headroom if overclocked, not that it would make much noticeable difference. However, as we are now seeing, there are a LOT of changes, so at this point, nothing would surprise me......except if Freddie Kruger jumped up behind my sofa as I'm typing this!

 

Alienware 17 Review

:hi2:

 

Man I got a tonne of laptop memory that I want to test out - 1600Mhz CL9, 1333Mhz CL7 as well as limited edition 1600Mhz CL7 and 1866Mhz CL9 that I'm using at the moment

 

Two words - Thaiphoon Burner. :thumbsup:

 

what`s this: Broadcom 4352 802.11 ac 2x2 and BT Driver - it`s better then Killer Wireless or Intell wireless card?
end i cen`t choose color...i want Nebula Red..... it`s possible future?

 

Can't answer the color question (although I doubt it will change), but I can answer the wireless card question. 802.11 ac is the next infrastructure (as n was newer than b/g). It is apparently way faster than current b/g/n networks, but has not been adopted, and is not likely to be adopted for a few years. There were some rumors that the new AirPort Extreme would be ac, but I haven't really looked into it. As far as I can tell from the Broadcom website, this wireless card will be compatible with 802.11n networks, and it should deliver similar speed to the Killer cards. However, it seems like it is easy to replace, being a 2x2.

Some Numbers:
Throughput: 1 gigabit per second (multistation), 500 megabits (single-link)
Wider RF band, up to 160MHz
IEEE 802.11ac - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

cant wait for WD 7mm black SSHD and put two in raid and test in alienware.
@widezu how you got 1866mhz at CL9?

 

Alienware 14 Quality of the housing and keyboard (inner components) - YouTube

An alienware tech says that the keyboard is mechanical in this video.

 

If this is true for the 17", I have another reason to upgrade...

 

haha what u think guys which this model.....i like to buy this model for 2199$

Alienware 17: Performance



i cen`t found this model at that price

 

So I'm trying to haggle Alienware right now via chat. I told them I went over my $5,000 budget by $200 and a manager is about to call me with a new quote (they said I might have to reorder though). Thanks for the haggling tips guys! I will report back in 10 minutes to let you know how it goes...

 

I think the 16 days added to order may be from customizing. I tried getting estimates on a few different rigs and with the 17 all I changed was an upgrade to the 780 gpu card and it increased its ready date by about 16 days. When I just added a preset configuration to cart after getting a shipping quote wounded up being the 2nd.

 

I wouldn't take the shipping quote too seriously. Ive ordered from Dell twice before, the first came before the quote, and the second after the estimate. In any case, it would seem they don't have the GTX 780m GPU's on hand right now going by their quote changes.

 

I was comparing dell.ca and dell.com with the same 18 configuration

i7 4930XM, GTX780M SLI, 16 GB RAM, 750GB HDD + mSata, win7, 2 year warranty and accidental protection

Canada: $5130
US: $4757

$373 difference. Still not including the discount they were getting

 

The lowest price for a 780m is $2199, with 1080p display and 16gb of ram, I can dig it

Under the $1999 model, you can get the 780m for an additional $200


The $1999 model lets you choose a 780m, WIN!

 

I'm eyeing that configuration too. It makes me wonder if buying from xoticpc will be better though. I'm assuming you can haggle with them and not have to worry about tax. Haggling with Dell is nice, but the tax seems to cover the discount.

 

Update

CHA CHING!

I was able to haggle $250 off. All they had to do was cancel my order and reorder. Thanks for the tips guys!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

nice job, buddy!

is there a SPDIF-out on the 18? Any have any idea?

 

Sorry, I'm a little new to this. So you're saying the 780m is better than 765 SLI, and is also "miles above" the 770?
Which of these 3 is the best bang for your buck in your opinion? Probably ordering tomorrow and could really use some help! tempted by the 18 "IPS" screen though... thoughts????

Option 1: M17 with 770m for $1,900 with upgrade screen and 8GB
Option 2: M17 with 780m for $2,200 with upgrade screen and 16GB
Option 3: M18 with 765 SLI for $2,100 with 8GB (so does the 18 have the nice ISP screen, or no, or just a rebadged ISP of some sort... kinda confused)

Which option is the best for performance/value????
Thanks!

 

Say what?

Also they actually gave me a second quote which was about $250 off, they gave me free overnight shipping as well. Nice!

 

Under the $1999 model CPU is 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4700MQ not 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4800MQ end i cen`t found 256GB Lite-On SSD...but u are rigth.

 

Well I am in the same boat but I am under the impression that the m18 with the dual gpu's would be the best value and for future upgrading. The 780 single though does look to be the better overall. I'm most likely getting the 18 with the dual 765's then maybe in a year or so see what top single gpu's are available and then upgrade one or both.

 

I know, I'm so torn between the two. I'll likely not end up upgrading the 765SLI if I got the M18.... So I might just the M17 with 780. I don't know..... ugh!

 

If you can afford it then there's really no reason to get the 17 over the 18. 18 will give you a lot more power and future proofing. 18 all the way!

 

Talked to dell today. Got a pretty good deal on a 17, 150 off, with a 5% off as well, and 15% off my next purchase with 200 cash back as well.

Buuuut... The 18 just seems to be the better deal. Because of future upgrading. Only part I'm wondering now is battery life.

 

To confirm the new Airport express from apple is wireless AC. Also some routers have started adoption I know Belkin have an AC out now

 

I know it's expensive but if you can, go for the 780 SLI. You won't be disappointed and it will still work out cheaper than upgrading 765's in the long run.

 

while that would be ideal, 2100 is already pushing it. I saw the lowest price I could get the 780 SLI is around 3000. If I called over the phone and haggled what kind of discount would be available? Also a little worried it will push back the ship date.

edit: also there is the 770 sli for 500 more.

 

You could probably get $200 off, I was able to haggle $250 - didn't want to push it too much and just said my budget was $5,000 but spent $5,250. Just say your budget is tight and that you'd order it if it was just a little cheaper. If they say to just use cheaper parts then say you don't want it and you have your heart set on what you picked (they tired offering me cheaper parts but I just said I might cancel and then they gave me the discount). Mention a competitor or something and say you might buy elsewhere ect. Rehearse to yourself a little bit and use the LIVE CHAT instead of calling so that you have more time to think about what you're gonna say and what not. It took me around 30 minutes to get $250 off. (haggling on live chat, waiting for a manager to call me back on two different occasions). Give it a shot, it can't hurt...if they won't do it then order it and then threaten to cancel a couple hours later like I did, I'm sure they would hate to lose that sale!

 

I got 12% (over $300) off of my 17, which was $3049 before the discount. I suspect that you could get a further discount, as they gave me that one with pretty much no effort (maybe 15 minutes on the phone). They're surprisingly willing to deal for such a new product. Also call during US business hours (9-5 CST) to get a hold of a US rep. They're much easier to deal with and will get you the better deal.

My negotiation basically stated that I had priced identical systems from Sager/Clevo and MSI that came out to $2400-2500. Told them I would take it for $2550 right that instant, which they said they definitely couldn't do and came back with $2850. I didn't particularly want to deal with them for a long while, so I gave them my "top" price of $2630, at which point the rep went to his manager for 3-4 minutes and came back with a counter offer of $50 more, which I took, provided I got free overnight. The 5% gift card more than makes up for paying a tad bit more than I wanted to. Probably could've gotten a slightly better deal going through some family friends that are high up at Dell corporate, but I always feel terrible asking them to get me stuff for cheap, and I felt like seeing what I could do with haggling. Happy with my purchase either way. Love the M14x R2 I bought for my bro and my step dad's M17x R2.

 

Thanks guys for the support. I think I will try and get the 770 SLI over the two 765s if I could get alteast a couple hundred off the 2600 price tag will probably go with it. What was your estimated ship day for your 17?

 

Mine says July 19th, but my rep told me it will hopefully be done quite a bit sooner. The less stuff you add to the base model, the quicker you'll get it, and the 780Ms seem to add a bit to the build time over the other GPUs as well.

 

Looking at the 18, 770's are pushing it for me as well, might have to just buy a base model :/

Course a 17 with a 780 is only 2,300... I MIGHT be able to pull that off easier than a 2,500 machine but If 2 770's are better than 1 780, I'd have no problem buying the 18.

 

Nice. I probably should have tried for more but I didn't want to push it. They let me return my old one after 60 days so I could get this new model. They didn't charge me the $750 restocking fee with little hassle so I guess I made out great in the end! Lol...

 

If its a case of m17 with 780m vs m18 with a lesser SLI, I'd definitely go with the m18x. You've atleast got room to upgrade down the road.

 

I would still like to know if anyone has heard, especially from people who have just already ordered one by talking to a rep, if there are any plans for nebula red and/or space black being offered as color choices again.

 

Sure, here we're trying to keep the most updated list out there.

 

There will not be a red or black. Also the silver is pretty dark, it's more like a gray.

 

I live in India. I called up Dell asking about Alienware 17. They said they didnt have it and they didnt expect to get it in about a month. THEN i can order it. ;( Anyway i can order Alienware 18 or 17 (preferablly 18) and pay in cash like I would in a normal store?

 

The new look is starting to grow on me, but too bad the cover is only one color. The m14x seems a little thick though.

You guys better write reviews!

 

The new 17 looks good to me but I do mourn the loss of the alienhead power button. Small thing but it was another thing (USP) that set AW apart - flashing eyes during disk access - cool! Guess it's another dell cost saving, and along with the reduced ability to build what you want has put the competition back in the frame for me - although support is still the best selling point for me - if they drop the dedicated AW support I am definitely done

 

Dropping dedicated support would be asinine unless Alienware also dropped prices significantly.

 

Yeah you're right, they obviously have a huge investment in support (and we pay for it!) so I don't see me going elsewhere any time soon. Other OEM's I have used have let me down on support too often

 

Anyone else still in pre-production?

 

With the new fiber optic lighting system I could care less bout the Nebula red, its much more subtle but equally flashy. I like the silver look to the laptop aswell

 

I ended up deciding on the base 18 model at 2099.00 only managed to haggle a 5% discount to 2000.00 included with the 5% advantage loyalty program. So that is what I am happy with, about a 10% overall. This was over chat (don't like talking over the phone ~.~) I talked to about 3 or 4 reps one gave me a discount to 2047.00 moved on to next one and gave me a discount of 100 off.

 

Glad to hear it buddy, told you "250-500"

 

Now they are saying estimated ship date of 24th of July. I am thinking of just getting an MSI that would be available with rush building in 1-4 days o.o.

 

Mines on the 19th of July. However i doubt it will take more than 3 weeks.

 

I just ended up ordering the Alienware 18 with previously mentioned discounts. The 1 month or so wait was almost a deal breaker. But I wanted that sexy 18.4 inch screen! Hope it is worth the wait. Will post pics on arrival and boxing.