The Great Dilemma

Hello,

I have the funds to buy either the M17x with 260m SLi or M17 4850 Crossfire. Which is the better option? I'm looking at all factors i.e. build, screen, performance, cost, etc.

Cheers,

 

m17x

Better all around, particularly in build quality.

 

M17.

No, I don't really have an opinion. I just wanted to be first in line on the ensuing back-and-forth battle.

 

M17x. The M17 is pretty much at the end of its lifespan in terms of upgrades.

 

M17x


10char

 

The M17 is extremely capable so if someone just really preferred the looks then that is the choice to make.

However.........if you're not hell bent for the looks of the M17 over the M17x, then the M17x really is the best choice. Newer tech, smaller AC adapter, also includes integrated graphics etc, etc.

 

Get the M17x.

We don't know how well the M17 will actually handle the 4850s with a single fan, while we know the M17x has equal/better performance, better cooling, and can better handle a quad-core CPU.

 

The choice is really up to you. Both systems perform excellent, and will scream through anything you throw at it. Its really just going to boil down to your personal preference. Do you prever nVidia or ATI is the prime example.

Please describe to me how the M17x is built better than the M17. For starters, I can swap my CPU on the M17 a helluva lot faster then any M17x Owners. Both are solid machines in design and build.

 

Hello

Just thought I would say that I dont understand people that say the M17 is past it compared to the M17X. As far as upgrades go the ony bonus the M17X has is that of possible GPU upgrades. Chipset and such is exactly the same as the the M17 ie Montevina so when there are no more CPU upgrades for the M17 then its also the same for the M17X. Just odd to hear people talking about the M17 as if its a dinosaur now and the M17X is some massive jump up when clearly it most certainly is not.

 

Point taken. I suppose I was thinking more on the line of graphics cards and future support of the system as a whole. But who knows.

 

In computer and IT 1 year = 65 million Biological years.
So yes it's a Dinosaur

Just kidding, differences are so small that's hard to justify for m17 to switch to the M17X. But if you should buy a new one? Hell yes! M17x has the latest module for mxm.

 

While you're right that they're both Monty platforms the chipsets on the two models are completely different.

M17 has an Intel PM45 chipset (Northbridge and Southbridge) that does not support any integrated graphics.

The M17x has an Nvidia MCP79 chipset (a.k.a. ION, NB+SB on a single chip) that has 9400M graphics integrated and supports switchable graphics.

 

And yet just about every single M17x Owner disables the integrated graphics card...

 

Maybe when they're plugged in because they want to use the best Dox nvidia drivers available for benchmarks.

But the 9400M is still there in the BIOS to turn back on when they want to run the machine on battery or when the best drivers properly support HybridSLI.

 

If one was obviously cheaper than the other I would say get that one. Since neither are I would go with the latest tech. If you prefer the ATI cards then wait a little longer to get the 4870s. Simple as that.

 

Well I had a post yesterday on a comparison between the M17 and M17x prices. I'll just attach it at the end of this. The M17 is more expensive if you live in the U.S. The M17x is newer, lighting is amazing, and (supposedly) will support both Nvidia and ATI (never buy something based on FUTURE upgradability, I learned the hard way).

 

build quality has nothing to do with how easy it may or may not be to swap out equipment. Overall the M17x has a better build quality. All anodized aluminum, well supported keyboard, well designed cooling solution with dedicated fans for each gpu as well as the cpu pulling air from the bottom and blowing out the back instead of the top or sides as most laptops. AlienFX lighting is well done, Looks to me are also improved over the M17 and the thing weighs like a brick but it also feels like a brick.

Also it doesn't seem hard to get to equipment in the M17x anyways.

 

M17 - Well supported keyboard, I like my "rubbery feel" as opposed to anodized aluminum that shows fingerprints. Cooling system works just dandy, pulls air from the bottom and blows out the sides. And oh btw, I like the webcam I can move up and down, the Skullcap lid, and my Fingerprint reader which the M17x doesn't have. The M17x weighs more than the M17. I'll give you the AlienFX lighting functionality is nicer on the M17x though.

Like I said though, it really comes down to personal preference and what you want in your laptop.

Don't get me wrong, the M17x is an awesome machine and has many attractive features (and that red M17x lid is wicked), but the M17 is still an attactive option especially with the 4850's.

 

And don't forget that the M17 overclocks better than the m17x AP. Other than that, Marvie100's post above about sums up my thoughts as well.

 

It does? Why? M17x has the bios OC.

 

I didn't say that one can OC and other cant, I said that one OC's better (as in further - higher clocks)

Yes you have to use software to OC on the M17 (with a non Alienware BIOS), however the final clock speeds tend to be higher with the Intel chipset.

Frankly I have been absolutely more than satisfied with my whitebook (same as M17) so far. Much more so if/when I can get my hands on some 4850's.

And my OC in sig is not representative of most m17 owners with a qx9300 - I got a lemon of a CPU

 

But what are you basing that on? A specific processor or the GPUs?

 

CPU overclocking. Sorry if I wasn't clear. Mainly the QX9300. It seems to hit a ceiling right around 3 GHz on the M17x where it seems much more common for people to hit 3.2 GHz or higher on the M17 (or systems using the same chassis - as high as 3.4 GHz has been done) I believe the x9100 can also be clocked further using the M17.

 

Was the stuttering ever fixed for Quadcores beyond a hardware mod on the m17 ? not everyone is up to the task of doing it.

Personally i would not invest in the M17 this late in the game but thats not to say its not a great machine either .

4850s are going to be an awesome upgrade for existing owners .

 

I've gotten up to 3.6 with my x9100 but the difference people are getting are more based on their actual CPU rather than the system. Just like you've said you've had issues with yours.

 

Ya I know that the cpu does cause a large variance in OC - but from what I have gathered the average OC seems to be little higher on m17. Don't get me wrong, if I wasn't already in so much $$ on this notebook I'd buy an m17x lol (cant switch now or the girlfriend will FREAK).

The stutter issue actually is not hardware related AT ALL Quad. It's software. I have not stuttered in about a week after the changes I made. Out of the last 100 3Dmark06 runs I have done (I pretty much loop them these days to try for a high score haha) they have all been in about a 300 point range for each setting, a stutter would put them WELL below that small range, so I am concluding that I don't stutter. Initially I did stutter, so I know the difference.

Hope this clears it up.

edit: and I never copper modded my NB although I did perform some other cooling mods

 

I thought i saw thread for Ovrclock350(think his name is) that said he may have found the cause of the stutter but i wasnt certain it fixed it for all .

If it did though thats fantastic .

 

He was referring to DFFS, which the conclusion is that it does not fix it. I posted that upping my pci-e freq (over 100 MHz) seemed to help my system not stutter, but that is the only hardware change I did and I wasn't even trying to stop stutter, just wanted a better OC haha. And this also has yet to be confirmed by other users.