Ugh, M15x or M17x

It's just so hard to choose! I need a laptop for school and gaming (MW2 to be exact), but I dunno which one to choose. I really need this laptop to last 4 years and I have no idea which one has a better build quality. The M17x has a better graphics card, but it's 3 pounds heavier than the already somewhat hefty M15x! The graphics on the m17x might suffer from micro-stuttering and the m15x won't. The M17x has a better screen but the M15x can come with a SSD (for my budget).
*TEARS OUT HAIR*

Please help.

Here are the specs on both:

M17x
i7-620m
4GB 1066mhz
5870 CF
250GB 7200RPM HDD
6300 Wireless Card
9 Cell Battery
Space Black

M15x
i7-620m
4GB 1066mhz
5850
256GB SDD
5300 Wireless Card
9 Cell Battery
Nebula Red

Both are around 2.3k.

 

Hi miahsoul,
I'm sure you'd be happy with either system. However, for the purposes that you described, the M15X might benefit you a little more. The small form factor of the M15X, although it is still heavy, will make it easier to pack up for class. Also, you are correct in that anything crossfire/sli related will suffer from micro-stutter. Most systems with a single graphics card perform a lot smoother right out of the box. In addition, you may want to consider extending your warranty to cover the 4 years that you want it to last. Most notebooks are, on average, lasting no longer than 1-2 years before requiring some sort of repair.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

Okay thanks for the reply! Though, I'm not sure about the warranty upgrade. My family's laptops have all lasted in excess of 3 years with minor damage, with the exception of one which got fried a a few months during a thunderstorm.

 

I would go with the m15x considering the m17x battery life only last about 1-2 hours. Not enough time to finish a movie to be honest.

 

I agree on all points. The M15x runs a bit cooler than a M17x as well, which will help in component longevity. However, If you *really* need it to last 4 years, buy a good warranty as suggested (or one that covers it for 4 years at least). Even though their initial quality is super, the simple fact of the matter is that the M15x has DTR components in it which do get very hot, add that to a hot-natured platform and you get a higher than average MTBF than the IGP powered laptop.

 

im about to pull the trigger on a smiler build

17x
i7 720qm ( is the 820 extra 2mb cache worth the 300$?)
8gb DDR3 1333
Crossfire X Ati 5870
1920x1200


is this a good start for graphic design purposes ? meaning is the 8gb ram overkill for the processor? or should i just get 4-6gb ram?
money is not really an issue when it comes to my everyday business demands. i deal with ALOT of macro photo work with 21megapixles
or would i benifit more with the 920xm with crossfire 5870?

my other build would be the 15x
same specs as the above listed 17x except single 5870 and 8gb ram

i use photoshop, lxi master plus, and flexsign-pro everyday with multiple instances of flexisign and photoshop, along with firefox...

i also have two printer/plotters that run via Ethernet

thank you

 

If you're comfortable with upgrading this yourself later,then no, it's not. a 920XM in OE packaging can be had for $450-550 on ebay.

 

how hard is it to inall new processors? im new to the inner workings of computers

 

It's not hard at all. It's basically unplug old, plug in new, and play. =]

 

You'd benefit more with a better processor from what I've read. Most programs won't need more then 4GB. Unless you do heavy multitasking. Then you should get the 6-8GB.

Right now I'm going for the M15x and I'm cutting the 256 SSD to the stock 250 GB HDD so that I can get a 4 year warranty. Is the performance with the 7200 RPM HDDs decent?

 

*All* major components are accessible by removing the baseplate, which is removable via 4-5 screws in itself.
Alienware M15x unscrew action 260M graphics and i7 processor | Free Tech & Gaming Videos - Watch Tech & Gaming Videos Online | Veoh

Even if you're not familiar with laptops it's cake. If you've worked with any kind of computer hardware, you can install a processor (or gpu for that matter) in a M15x.


The M17x by comparison is *much* more complex, and requires removal of the magnesium top half of the laptop and the plastic palm cover. As well as the careful disassembly of the control panel which is prone to break if not handled carefully. Then there's a slew of small cables to disconnect, ~ 1-2dozen screws to unscrew ect..ect.. By the time you get to the CPU your laptop will look like this:
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz56/blmlozz/100_1244.jpg

It's tedious, it's not fun, and I've done it a dozen times or so and it still takes me 30-45minuites.

 

its actually simple.

1. Decide on budget
2. Configure both laptops with that budget
3. Pick laptop with best configuration

Apparently the size difference between both laptops is not much. I went with the M15x, only because of budget.

 

Thank you all

another question

how much if a difference Beween the Ati radeon 5870 vs nvidia
260 m

 

Just in case it helps your decision, I play MW2 as well (on a dual card ATi config, although the cards are significantly weaker) and get no micro-stuttering whatsoever. Not sure if the 5870 would be any different but I doubt it.

The odd thing is that I would sometimes get jumpy gameplay back in CoD4, but haven't seen ANY in MW2.

Pretty big difference actually. You could see about 30% or more difference in most games, quite possibly a difference in the area of 40% for some. And the 5870 supports DirectX 11.

 

lol were in the exact same boat. im buying it for mw2, bf2 and graphic desinging. iv opted for the 17" purley for the crossfire and personally for me, the larger the screen the better. After watching moo's video on how to swap over cpu's, i am now buying it with a i7 720. Then purchasing an additional i7 940xm off ebay and doing it myself. i get a more powerfull processor and saving roughly $500 in the process.

M17x Allpowerful CPU guide on Vimeo - video link

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/401382-how-change-your-m17x-cpu-guide.html - thread link

enjoy...

 

I was in a similar situation so I ordered an M15x originally. It was much bigger than I thought it would be and was not easy to lug around to class. In the end I decided to return it for the M17x and I'm so glad I did. It's not that much bigger and is about the same PITA to lug around however, now I have CF 5870's (awesome!), RGB LED screen (I originally didn't care about this but now that I've seen it, the difference is amazing!), full keyboard with numberpad, etc.

Honestly, if class and battery are a concern you're probably better off with the M11x. But if you're like me and willing to lug around a big laptop, the M17x might be worth it.

Also, all of my classes have power plugs at every desk so I didn't have to worry about battery time.

 

As someone who has had an M15x-R2 with a 720qm, and an M17x-R2 with an 820qm, I can tell you that the $300.00 is really not worth it. A few frames better, but nothing to write home about. The SLI setup in the M17x is where all the power really comes in for gaming. FWIW, microstuttering is very minimal if unnoticeable in a tuned system, I certainly wouldn't avoid a system due to that.

I will say this for sure, I would take the difference in cost, get the M17x since you plan to keep it for four years (same here), and get a single card but get the RGB LED screen in the larger size. The screen to me for long periods is just too small, but then I am an old man

 

When I bought my laptop I also planned to use it for 4 years, and to be honoust...I was sick of it after already 1 year eventhough it could still play all the games (not on maximum though).

Ask yourself this, what will last you longer? 1 m15x which you buy for €1500 now and can play all games, and replace it with another €1500 brand new 15 inch AW system after 2 years which will also be able to play the games of that era at high to max settings.
Or, a €3000 m17x with 2 graphic cards which will play most games at their highest settings during the first 2 years. But forget that you will be able to play the newest games on high settings after 3 or 4 years.

I would go with the first option. It looks more cost efficient in my opinion and will more likely be better for playing future games (with real/decent direct x11 gpu's that'll come the next years). 2 is better than 1, if you can live with the fact that you don't have the best gaming laptop at this moment, and prefer overal better performance over a longer time span.

 

Thank u guys

I think I'm going for the 15x with 720qm, 6gb ddr3 1333, ati 5870
and probley get an external moniter....

 

The micro stuttering problem really makes me worry though...

 

Would there be a huge difference between 1 5870 and 2 in XFIRE? How many games support XFIRE, there really isnt a good concrete list anywere. And a final question do you think if I phoned dell and asked really nice theyd sell and install a 5870 for the m15x? I can do it myself, just would be more convenient, and im sure it wouldnt void my warranty

 

search/most/no/

 

Lol just talked to a dell rep, absolutely not haha, ahwell im glad i can do it myself, now I have arctic silver, would something else be better for the job?

 

Each to his own, it's a matter of priorities, not a calculation

Hmmm.. I'd say compare the benchmarks for the M15x vs the M17x in crossfire and then think about this argument that they are effectively equivalent in processing games, and which will last longer. For a lot less than 1500 euros you can upgrade the M17x and probably easily outpace the M15x for at least three years if not four.

Actually my hope was that the M17x would take a rather nasty turn after three years and let me get an entirely new system for next to nothing with new technology under Complete Care

 

Never forget that the primary purpose for the SLI configurations is to allow for nearly equal performance at higher resolutions with two cards than a significantly lower res with fewer AA options, etc with one. Two horses pull more, but less efficiently often, same is true with SLI.

 

Lolololololol I should do that

 

Check this thread out, http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/483831-2010-alienware-m15x-vs-m17x-let-poll-begins.html, hope it helps you in making your decision.