The Official M9750 Owners Lounge

As I said in a previous post, I've also got the new MacBook Pro on order. I think they are great machines, but they really aren't in the same league as the m9750 for gaming. I'm expecting my MBP to function fine for some games, but that's not the primary reason I got it.

 

halogod- maybe I should speak to a supervisor......

 

Do i have a lot of overclocking options with this system? im looking to overclock the cpu and ram.

 

I don't mean to be pushy here but the Area-51 7500 is a desktop and this is the M9750 Owner's Thread. Feel free to create an Area-51 desktop owners thread in our dedicated Desktop Hardware forum.

 

No offence but you wont be seeing many games (especially DX10) coming out on the Macs, and I think you mean LCD screen which by the way any glossy screen looks good but with the 8600 you wont be seeing eye-popping DX10 GFX as the desktop 8800GTX is already under huge strain trying to play company of Heroes in DX10 mode. Processor and RAM is good but if you want to game then OSX is NOT the way to go.

 

This is the latest I got from Alienware, from a email sent saturday.


Dear Mike Magri,
There will be a slight delay in your Alienware order, because the part(s) listed below are temporarily backordered.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and assure you that we are doing everything in our power to expedite the process of obtaining the part(s). Once the part(s) have been obtained, your order will be processed.
1- AREA-51M 9750 17" WUXGA W/ CAM BLACK ........................ Expected Date: 6/30/2007
2- 9750 INTERNAL MINI CARD TV TUNER WITH COAXIAL ............... Expected Date: 6/30/2007
If you have any questions regarding your order, please do not hesitate to contact our sales department by replying to this e-mail.
Thank you for choosing Alienware.

 

Ever heard of bootcamp? It is a program officially made by Apple that allows Mac computers to run both OSX and a Windows based operating system. Allows mac users to get the best of both worlds, except Macs still will never be designed with gaming in mind like the Alienware M9750. That's why you will never see a Mac with a Go 7950 GTX graphics card much less SLI or a high end DX10 card.

 

While I agree with the comment that Macs are not going to compete with the m9750 or similar gaming rigs, it's interesting to note that Apple did highlight renewed gaming development for Macs by EA at WWDC. A start, anyway.

@ Phritz - the new MacBook Pros do come with an LED/LCD screen.

 

Its still LCD, the backlighting is just from LED's, its not an actual screen comprised of LED's like the 15 meter jumbotrons

@-X-29: Macs are to overpriced to buy for gaming the be, I don't wanna have to BUY service packs (its true, thats all Leopard is and panther... and tiger... etc.) in addition to buying Vista. Not only that but the standard warranty is pitiful. Its good that one company supplies the OS and Hardware because then you don't end up with the manufacturer and Microsoft blaming eachother for problems. With Panther Apple announced 150 breakthrough new features, the most notable was a new Finder a way to see all your open windows at once and some video-messaging software.... what the hell are the other 147 breakthrough new features? (No offence to mac users though, there are plenty of reasons as to why they're better than PC's but I have managed to find more for PCs than Macs

 

Agreed. I am writing this from a mac computer, but am looking for a gaming notebook, and it will definitely be a PC for me. Just don't know if it will be this Alienware M9750 or an XPS M1710.

Never thought of Lepord and Tiger as service packs. That is actually a really good point.

 

If you're looking for a laptop with a 7950GTX then don't go for the Dell, its the most expensive of the lot, the cheapest 7950GTX lappy I've found is the Prostar 5724
http://www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage=productdetail&model=5724

If you want SLi capability then the Alienware is actually the best deal

 

Which Alienware - the m9750? The Sager NP9260 is a much better deal in my opinion:
http://www.powernotebooks.com/specs/Sager/9260specs.php

 

It depends.

The Sager may be a better price... but is it a better deal? The Alienware is almost 4 lbs lighter. This will make it easier for hauling around, and preventing my legs from going numb (I have a lapdesk designed for these DTRS).

The Sager has a desktop processor, vs the Alienwares mobile. You can purchase a more powerful processor as well for the Sager, but you have to deal with desktop power draw and heat. The Alienware, with a mobile proc, may have better battery life, and less heat output as well. This is a plus in my book. My previous system was a Sager 9860. It died after a year due to poor power management and heat. I won't buy another laptop with a desktop processor.

The alienware is thinner. Lower profile, its less of a brick.

The Sager can have 3 Hard Drives. Big plus for the Sager.

You can order the Sager with the 1680x1050 screen. A size I want, but the alienware only has 1920x1200, or 1440 x 900. I chose the 1920x1200, but really wanted the 1680x1050. Plus for Sager.

Sager has a 7 in 1 card reader. Alienware has a 4 in 1. Plus for the Sager.

Both machines are excellent machines, but I still believe the Alienware is the better deal. I am VERY wary over another desktop crammed into a laptop case, and I am very much looking forward to having a laptop that looks, and weighs more like a laptop.

I configured both a sager, and the alienware. Similarly configured (Not exact due to different processors), the Sager came out $250 cheaper. I think the alienware makes up for that in weight, size, and branding.

 

I was comparing based on performance only. If you're buying a notebook this size then you should be prepared to deal with the size. In my opinion the extra weight of the Sager is justified by the expansion options and faster processor.

I am currently using the NP9260 - it runs only lukewarm to the touch. The cooling is excellent. Mine is equipped with an E6700, dual 80GB 7200RPM hard drives in RAID 0, and dual Go7950GTXs with 512MB DDR3/each. This machine is also very quiet. Look for my full review next week.

 

Well after starting this thread a month ago, I have reached a crossroads. I have decided to cancel my m9750 order tomorrow.

I have been sitting in my hotel room in Houston, watching it rain for days. The bad weather has kept us from flying missions, so I have been getting restless. It doesn’t help that a Fry’s is just down the street, and I purchased a P182 case and started assembling a new home gaming system in the room. I guess I will have to wait awhile for a new mobile gaming platform, and just suffer with the work laptop for a while. For the kind of money I was spending on the m9750, I have put together a killer gaming system. This rig should be future proof for quite awhile, with a lot of green left over!

I wish Alienware would have been more honest with me about delays on this system, but I understand they want to make sure a fully tested and trouble free system leaves their facility.

Good luck to the rest of you guys, I’m sure it will be an outstanding product. I will continue to monitor this website to hear your opinions of this gaming monster when it hits the streets! Thanks,

Mike

 

Good luck with the desktop xplane.

Anyone else still waiting on an m9750?

 

I'm still waiting. Called Alienware yesterday, and they said it should ship in a week or two...
It better!

 

@ Chaz --- The Sager looks fine, and I'm glad you're finding that it doesn't run hot. But I really don't think it's a fair comparison to the m9750. Based on my user experience with the m9700, it's still a "notebook" computer, not just a DTR. You can use it on your lap, and it's not that bad to carry around.

It's good we have options. Good luck to those awaiting their m9750s! Here's hoping they will be as stable as my m9700 is.

 

I think he just hates Alienware.

 

That is probably the most untrue statement I've heard in a long time. See my Alienware reviews:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3134&article=Core+2+Duo+Performance
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3165&review=Alienware+Area+51+m5550
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2841

I really like their products and I would like to own one of their machines. However, I am not brand loyal; if I can help someone to get a better machine for their needs then I will.

 

Chaz ... I guess it just seems to me that I've seen lots of posts in the recent past where your first response is ... "check out the Sager XXXX." One of the reasons I started spending a bit more time here is because of the fair manner in which you moderate. Glad to hear that your views haven't changed, and you're just presenting other options.

I don't think the Sager 9250 is a direct comparison to the m9750 - but it is certainly a fair one if someone is just looking for a DTR.

Believe it or not, I'm not blinded by brand loyalty - just feel that the positive side of Alienware should be presented, since they do produce some nice machines.

 

Exactly. The NP9260 is definitely not the same but it is along the lines of the M9750 and they were designed for the same purpose (gaming).

Why thank you. I do my best to keep my comments objective and part of being objective is presenting a range of options. It's hard not to recommend a Sager sometimes because they do offer a lot for the money. I have absolutely no problem recommending Alienware (and I like to), but I just can't recommend only their products.

I agree. Like I said, I enjoy using Alienware products and in real life I promote Alienware a lot more than I do here. Remember when this forum used to be all negative comments? I'm really glad this forum has turned around and is now filled with a more accurate representation of Alienware's user base.

 

Looking at the prices of SLi Laptops you're much better off getting a good desktop with a productive, cheap laptop instead of a laptop thats hardly movable - might as just well get a small for factor PC. Thats why the 9750 scores a big plus in my books because it is a lot more portable (and reliable? the 9700 seems to deal with heat really well and from what I've read its ver stable) than the Clevos. I disliked Alienwares decision to go with the Clevos during the Pentium 4 era because then it just felt like you were paying for the Alienhead on the case, I mean the grey was downright ugly and it just wasn't uniquel; in addition the desktop Pentium 4's were prone to overheating problems etc. thus lowering the quality of the final product). Snagging the Arima Chassis breathed some life back into Alienware, and so did the Airbrushing on the mALX - Alienware felt unique again (god, I would pay a premium for the paintjob on the 9750).
Like I said in another thread, I'm willing to pay the 200-300$ (with the proc, vid cards and HDD I'v chosen) extra for the stability, quality and size

Can't really comment about the desktops though, mainly because I was uninterested due to the price premium - I have no problem playing lego with comp parts.

 

I have to say that after using the Sager NP9260 for about a week now, it is an absolute monster in terms of size. If I was planning to buy a machine that big I have to say that I would be seriously considering going with the M9750 because it is thinner/lighter. Not to mention it looks better/cooler. The reason I supported the NP9260 on page 22 was because of performance only. The NP9260 wins in some areas (performance) but loses in others.

 

I had a Sager 9860 for over a year. BEAST of a machine. And the 9260 is even bigger I believe. I opted to go for something a little smaller, but still delivered the high-end performance. Thus the m9750.

 

WTF!!!!! Now the ultra xga screen costs a whopping 300$ to upgrade, is the m9700 still 100$?

 

Alienware may be trying to discourage customers from upgrading to that screen because they are short on supply, or they could also be trying to steer some people to get the M9700 so they can clear out stock.

 

Wow. I keep checking the configuration, as I kept expecting the price to go down... not up!

 

barging in on the thread.

would it be wise for me to purchase an m9750 now considering that the mystical 8800m (with SLI capabilities ;D) will be eventually released for the m9750?

 

After sitting at Phase 4 for one month, I finally just moved in to Phase 5, Production Phase 1 - Assembly....Looks like the end of June my laptop will be shipped

 

From what I hear the 8800M probably won't come out until towards the end of the year. Nvidia has already released their high-end card for the moment, the 8700M-GT. However I wouldn't expect to see that in laptops until the end of July, so that means a late August delivery if you order one then.

If you need the laptop now, buy it now. You're not missing out on a whole lot by not getting a DirectX 10 graphics card because all games coming out in the next few years should have a DirectX 9 version.

 

when did you order yours? I ordered on 5-4 and mine is still in phase 4

 

The DX10 cards will be really expensive, especially in SLI, in addition you have to factor in the extra expense for RAM because of Vista

 

April 29, but they lost my first check, so I didn't move thru Phase 1 to Phase 4 until May 21

 

I'm BACK to Phase 6 today. But then I ordered on April 2nd. If I move off of phase 6 soon, I'll be happy.

 

Just moved into Phase 6 today....things are hoping along!!!!!

 

Yeah. I have been on phase 4 for WAY too long. LOL Oh, and just stick with the single 7950 GTX for now. Might as well wait till the 8700m is out so that you can do directx10 games. Otherwise you will only be able to do directx9 stuff with two great cards. For me it is worth the wait for the 8000 series. Hopefully they will get some people on phase 5 soon seeing as I preordered the end of APRIL! *sigh*

 

I'm still phase 4

 

mike, are sure that you want to get Vista Ultimate with only 1GB of RAM.

Its great to hear things are finally moving along, the sooner you get yours the sooner I order mine

 

Phritz, when I got my area 51 5550, I upgraded that to 2gb of ram, so I'm just going to swap them. Thanks for lookin' out though!

Im still in phase 4, so I hope it moves along soon.

 

Ah, ok, its just that Vista with Aero turned on takes up 700-800mb of RAM vs XPs 100-200mb

 

Can the m9750 with vista premium fully use 4 GB of RAM?

 

Vista 32-bit will only "see" 3.24GB of RAM if you put in 4GB. However 64-bit Vista will see all 4GB.

If you're looking for RAM, check the RAM deals thread. I bought 4GB of RAM for my new notebook for under $190.

 

The m9750 configurator is live on alienware's us site (from the main notebook page.)

 

Also, I just got off the phone with them and they claim my order will be in production within 1-2 days.

They also said that the orders will ship 6-7 buisness days after entering production.

 

wooohOO!!

I guess I will not be cancelling now...

Cannot...FRIGGIn...WAIT!

 

On another note, they added a Blue Ray option for 600 bucks.

 

it's finally released. this makes me want to purchase it immediately. I'm still rather unsure, though! D=;

 

anyone have respawn, it wasn't offered when I bought my first Alienware.
and it wastn't offered with my preorder of my m9750.
I have a few days till it's built, to order it, but is it worth the $50.
if I don't get it, what do I get - image on hard drive or a Windows cd?

 

There are certainly other ways to back up your system like imaging it but for $50 at least to me it is worth ordering. It just is nice to know you have it all backed up direct from the macufacturer.