m15x - Pulling the trigger

I hope I don't live to regret this. I haven't had a decent gaming laptop in YEARS, and if I'm going to drop the cash on one I want it to be one of the best. I've always had small laptops, and I've gone back and forth making the decision between size and gaming ability, also considering the budget 17" gaming monsters. In the end, the m15x won me over with the versatility, aesthetics, and the best graphics card in a 15.4". I know I could get a 3870x2 for roughly the same price, but putting up with a larger machine isn't worth the small bonus in speed, and the -really- great options are too expensive.

My buddy bought an NP8660, the typical alternative to the m15x, and I played with it in person; even though I know it's more future-proof with Montevina, I didn't really like the keyboard, touchpad, or "quirks" I saw, like the power cable dropping out all the time.

I know there are build quality issues with the m15x, but I'm willing to take my chances. I mean, worst-case scenario, I send it back for repairs, right?

So, here goes.

 

Hey you have nothing to regret about. I've had my m15x for almost a year now, and I can still say that I love it! You did have the oppurtunity to play with the NP8660 so it's not like you rushed into this decision. And you are right if anything goes wrong, just send it back for repairs. And repairs don't cost a thing since they are part of the warranty. I mean if you take care of your laptop it will take care of you. oh, and congrats. :yes:

 

Thanks for the confidence boost! I was going to configure it with the T8100 (cheapest) and grab an X9000 off of eBay, but if there do turn out to be issues I'd rather not have the warranty voided. So I'll order with a T9300 and upgrade to an X9000 (or whatever the fastest 800MHz socket P is by then) when I start to feel the hurt. I'm primarily gaming, with only light video/audio/photo work, so I can't imagine the T9300 > X9000 difference should be that noticeable.

If all else fails, I can always flip it on eBay in a year and get a massive discount on a new lappie. But I have a feeling I'm gonna like it.

 

I'm in the same boat as dhoang, purchased since July of last year. No problems until now.

The build quality and overall feel of the chassis of the laptop could have been done better, but like you said, there is no laptop with this kind of flexibility in the market as of now.

 

So, before I order, I'm trying to gather together all my potential discounts.

6% - Xbox Live Diamond (just found out about it)
5% - Student discount (community college - do I HAVE to have a college email?)
?% - Dell Employee Purchase Program (I work for a company that gives Dell discounts)

I suppose it'd be too good to be true if they stacked...

 

yeah, i don't think you'll be able to stack them.

 

no stacking, unless they have the free shipping at the same time...this is how i got my % plus free shipping....

i do not think the Dell EPP would qualify as AW is still a seperate entity from the parent company. Dell just owns it now, but AW still operates independant from them at this time, less a few quirks.

WELCOME ABOARD

(resistance was futile anyway)

 

No you will not be able to stack them. It will only take the best one. I tried to stack discounts when I bought my M17. Only took one.

 

the m17 runs laps around the m15x sorry guys but its a good laptop as long as the hinges hold im waiting for my 4870's to break 20k.....if i had a quad core

 

Yes you can get the Dell Employee discount if you are a Dell employee.

 

...until the battery is dead after about one hour - at which point i keep going for another four or five

 

naw mine last 2 and a half hours with brightness on mid and not gaming

at which point i smash it to peices with the useless club i have now

 

I dont believe it lasts 2 and a half

 

it can to just be gentle to it no gaming or stuff i used lan not wifi to

 

Well apowers, congrats.

You're getting yourself, what I feel, is still an awesome NB. And you're joining a tight group of owners. The m15x owners really do look out for each other.

BTW, will you go for the Skull or Ripley?

 

Thanks for the warm welcome. And Ripley all the way. I might have gone for something more...conspicuous?...when I was a bit younger, but now I'm a huge fan of minimalism and would have tried to pry off the manufacturer badge from whatever laptop I got anyway. The Ripley is the perfect mix between aesthetics and minimalism for me, and even so I may still try and find a way to do some cosmetics mods to make it more unique. Maybe a custom badge that fits in the slot where the alienhead goes that glows in the same way? I'll have to look into it.

True that - I just finished chatting with AW support. Unfortunately, I only just now found out about the Live Diamond thing, so now I have to wait for it to arrive in the mail before I can order the laptop. ;\

I'll be going for the WUXGA screen, T9300 CPU, 9800m GT, and I'll bump the HD up to 500GB 7200 and the RAM to 4GB aftermarket. That and some updated drivers should poke me right over 10K 3Dmarks, yes? I'm pretty sure I saw someone else with a 9300/9800GT reach that.

Also, I keep hearing that the m15x only supports DDR2-667. There's no way of getting it to accept 800? No big deal I suppose.

Again, thanks guys. I feel like I joined a Mac community, except my laptop is actually going to be useful and everyone doesn't seem to be a jerk. ;D

 

Apowers: Easily over 10000k

 

you can put 800 in it, it just downgrades to 667, but the latency improves usually by a factor of 1.

 

...not that you'd notice this.

 

meanie....

 

it's true.