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    Trading my M15x for an M14x

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by BigDgamer, Jan 5, 2012.

  1. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys,

    Id like your thoughts of trading my M15X(specs as listed on my profile) for a second-hand M14x from a pawnshop in my suburb. I havent got any details on the m14x yet, but Im thinking of taking down the service tag of it and check it out with Dell Support. Im a pretty mobile gamer and like to play a lot of the latest games, especially Battlefield 3. Is it worth while?

    Cheers,
    CoHmS.
     
    BigDgamer, Jan 5, 2012
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  2. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Well bottom line it is your decision on what you need or want. But if it was me, I would keep the m15x throw in a SSD up the ram to 8g 1333 with that done you would have a fast new system. Now the m14x comes with Nvidia 555, ATI 5730 spec wise the 5730 takes the edge. You can always upgrade the 5730. I think you have a known system that can be upgraded to a pretty nice unit. But like I stated it is up to you if you want a m14x instead of your m15x.
     
    alienwolf, Jan 5, 2012
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  3. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

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    IMO the M14x is a downgrade in every sense from the display to build quality and performance. You can stick a 6990M in the M15x already and have it be as fast as an M17x-R3! That alone smokes the M14x in every conceivable way.
     
    5150Joker, Jan 6, 2012
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  4. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    I'd rather recommend to get a M17x if possible because as a M14x users, we now having a lot of problems like heating issue for example. And yes as other people suggest, trade for a M14x is a major downgrade, because the GT555M is just not powerful enough, and even if Dell willing to throw in a GTX, the laptop ventilation wouldnt be able to handle the heat anyway.
     
    CGSDR, Jan 6, 2012
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  5. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    Thanks very much guys. Ill keep mine. Dont need to bother noting down the service tag then!

    Cheers,
    CoHmS.
     
    BigDgamer, Jan 6, 2012
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  6. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Good choice, upgrade yours like joker said and you'll have almost a one of a kind m15x.. :eek:
     
    alienwolf, Jan 6, 2012
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  7. Mexic00ls

    Mexic00ls Notebook Deity

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    yeah good choice, and I would say upgrade your gpu and storage. And perhaps work on upgrading your m15x like mine :D
     
    Mexic00ls, Jan 6, 2012
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  8. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Ouch! now that is one serious m15x.. :eek: You should be proud of that beast. Like I said he could have almost one of a kind. Good job on the upgrades and + rep to you. :cool:
     
    alienwolf, Jan 6, 2012
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  9. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    :eek: I regret getting the HD5730M. Hardly knew anything about graphics then..
     
    BigDgamer, Jan 6, 2012
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  10. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    the HD 5730M, is like the entry level for the 5700M series, but is not the entry level of the entire 5000M series though, you still be able to get an ok to good performance out of the card but you wont see a fancy thing in game. Luckily the graphic card on the M15x can be replace/upgrade, so all you need to do is to find a good reasonable GPU replacement, that what I like about the M15x (and higher series).

    Good thing you ask before you get the M14x too, because for M14x, the GPU is a dead end, you cannot upgrade it, because the GT555M is soldered on the motherboard itself and there is only one fan for ventilation because of the size of the laptop it would take if Dell put two fans in it. That's also the reason I suggest to keep the M15x and if you want a new one, either to get the M17/18x instead, the only thing you can upgrade on the M14x is the CPU, RAM, and HDD, it is very limited option should you want to upgrade after sale.

    As for Gaming, the two most important and main thing to upgrade is the CPU and the GPU, but for me I think GPU is more important because it determine the graphic quality of the game, so the better the GPU, the better graphic you will get in game.
     
    CGSDR, Jan 7, 2012
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  11. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    I thought the the M15x and the R2 only supported 8gb of RAM?
     
    Mechanized Menace, Jan 7, 2012
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  12. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    You are correct my wife's m17x R2 only supports 8gig with 2 slots when built. That was when 4 gig sticks were the largest not long ago. Now I do not know if that is only 4 gig's per slot or could you install 8 gig's per slot for a total of 16? Never thought about it, anyone know the answer? ;)
     
    alienwolf, Jan 7, 2012
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  13. Mexic00ls

    Mexic00ls Notebook Deity

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    Per Intel specs, yes your right. But as you may or may not know intel specs aren't always correct. I didnt even know they made 8gig sitcks 5months ago, let alone 2 years ago. But you do your research, remain open minded, half a little faith and are willing to spend a bit of money on upgrades and everything will be alright. Anyway m17x r2 users have already confirmed this before we did, and here is some proof M15x 16gigs and that is 2 x 8 sticks
     
    Mexic00ls, Jan 7, 2012
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  14. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Now that is nice to know. :eek: I was not aware, not for sure anyway. I see some 8gig sticks coming my way. lol ;)
     
    alienwolf, Jan 7, 2012
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  15. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    Hmm.. No wonder the M14x only had one vent at the back.
    Any suggestions of where I can get a gtx460m to replace my hd5730m?
     
    BigDgamer, Jan 7, 2012
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  16. Mexic00ls

    Mexic00ls Notebook Deity

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    Mexic00ls, Jan 7, 2012
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  17. Mechanized Menace

    Mechanized Menace Lost in the MYST

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    Ya, I definitely had no idea that this was possible thanks for the link...have some rep!
     
    Mechanized Menace, Jan 7, 2012
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  18. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    BigDgamer, Jan 7, 2012
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  19. Mexic00ls

    Mexic00ls Notebook Deity

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    check under my sig its there
     
    Mexic00ls, Jan 7, 2012
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  20. BigDgamer

    BigDgamer Notebook Guru

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    Oops, didn't pay enough attention. My bad. PM Sent.
     
    BigDgamer, Jan 7, 2012
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