m17x or m9750

Hey guys. So basically my m15x is going to be credited. So i will have 3,050 to spend on alienware. I would one of thier powerful desktops but alas, i need a laptop right now, and i dont really care about pc gaming that much.

Theese are My options, my main concern is build quality and features. Not really power. However is a 2.0 ghz cpu good engough for medium gaming?


[1] Area-51® m9750

Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Video/Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® Series - Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8700M GT - SLI Enabled
Enables DirectX® 10 Graphics and up to 100% Performance Increase!
Chassis: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology - Stealth Black
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 512MB
System Drive: Dual Drive Configuration (Non-RAID) - 128GB Solid State Drive + 500GB 5,400RPM (8MB Cache)
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Sound Card : High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Mobile Essentials: Alienware® Orion Backpack

$2,914.00 + Tax i might have to add.

or...

[1] Area-51® m17x

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8700M GT – SLI Enabled
Display: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p) with Clearview Technology – Black
Includes AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design!
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Blue
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 2.4GHz (3MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 512MB
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Internal Digital/Analog (ATSC) TV Tuner
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 120GB 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Mobile Essentials: Alienware® Orion Backpack

$2,839.00

im off to college but ill be back at 9:00 pacific to check out the thread thanks btw i wil be upgrading the ram myself of course... the epic hd config on the 9750 is not a big neeed for me but it sounds really cool to have. i like the design of the m9750 more but not having a lited keyboard may be weird now lol.

 

I would suggest the m17x if:

1 - you want a laptop that is able to use 4+GB ram;
2 - use ram eating programs;
3 - going to upgrade graphics to 8800GTX to be able to stay, at least, mid high graphics for "short future" coming games;
4 - not buying a laptop in the next 2 years period.

The m9750 only if:

1 - the "short future" of the laptop being as a write machine / dvd player;
2 - no hardcore gaming/programming;
2 - want to give it as a gift to a friend;or
3 - gonna upgrade laptop in less that a 1 year.

Also the m9750 is a ancient platform (Napa) and there is no more room for upgrades on it duo platform limits.

 

m17x

 

Neither you are paying too much for inadequate gaming in my opinion. I know this sounds like such a FANBOY answer but if you go for the Clevo 15" OR 17" you are going to be getting a BETTER processor and a BETTER GPU for OVER $800 less.

I like my CAPS

 

Though stone has some good suggestions, I don't think those options would be available for lethal since he will be getting store credit from AW

 

Get an Alienware M17x with only the 8800M GTX and maybe the 1920x1200 (no upgrade for ram and all that stuff), then buy the ram online for much cheaper and maybe an X9000 for about $350, maybe nice pair of 7.2k hard drives from ebay or elsewhere and voila! you just saved $1,500.

 

I suggest the m17x. It's really a great machine with great build quality, specs and cooling system. I say go for it!

 

wow all this hate for the 9750, i almost ordered it... all well. know im really considering the desktop.... the m17x might have the m15x's problems...

 

not another m15x??? aren't people kept saying that there is new chassis of m15x??

 

not so much hatred for the M9750, back when it was released, it was one of the best gaming notebooks out there. Now it's sort of outdated compared to the competition and the high premium you pay for Alienware products doesn't justify it anymore.

 

i dont know if i could stomach getting the 8800 cards they seem like there going to be replaced soon.

 

No Lethal, the m17x does not have any problems like the m15x. The only problem is...it's huge and heavy. Well, it's a desktop replacement so it is something to expect from a machine like that.

 

Sell your m15x for 2.2-2.5K.

Then buy an OCZ whitebook from xoticpc, same chassis as the 9750 except with

Intel p9500
Cfire 3870
640GB Hdd (Dual)

etc

even comes with the lightings!!!

 

so after hours of dilberation i settled on this




[1] Area-51® m9750

Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: With Media Center Remote Control and ATSC TV Tuner
Video/Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® Series - Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8700M GT - SLI Enabled
Enables DirectX® 10 Graphics and up to 100% Performance Increase!
Chassis: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology - Stealth Black
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 512MB
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 120GB 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Sound Card : High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mesh Cap
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mousepad
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mobile Binder
Alienware Extras: Owner Identification Card
Avatar: Alienhead 3D
Window Style: Default Window Style
Mouse Pointers: Standard Mouse Pointers
Power Plan: Standard Power Plan
Automatic Updates: Automatic Updates On
Time Zones: (GMT - 5.00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)



30'' Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP Widescreen Flat Panel


total 3150 + tax yes i will have to add some money, but i needed a tv/moniotr anyway, then i will upgrade the ram and possibly drop in a second hard drive.

 

considering you upgraded the ram from your m15x. why dont you just take the ram out of the m15x and put it into the m9750.

 

why you are gowing backward into a m9750??? :|
Why not the m17x? It is so much better and cool?

Well... Just as long as you are pleased with it... we all are!
Good luck with sorting everything out.

 

Dude, 3k on a really really old system? Why???... WHY???

Get the m17x before you make this mistake. Its way better to upgrade, and its going to retain its value. You wouldn't be able to sell this m9750 on ebay for 3,000$ even if you never opened the box and it was mint condition. It is old technology and you're losing a whole lot of money on this.

Get an m17x, there is no question about it, you really should not be debating this.

 

He is right... I think it's really not a good decision going for such an old laptop.
It has no value right now and you will just regret it in the future...
The m17x is one step back of current technology... The m9750... years of regression!

 

what so old about the m9750?the fact that it is reliable and has amazing build quality? sure the cpu is a little slow and had 4mb cache, not that big deal. i want to love the m17x but i just cant its bigger, unproven, with the possible faults of the m15x. i still might get it though. the solid state drive is whats making it 3k.

 

Napa platform is unable to see more that 3.2GB ram (with or without 64bits OS), so you will be limited to a big 2.5GB ram (since Video deducts ram from that 3.2GB).

Also, there is absolutely NO ROOM for self improvement upgrades (no quadcores, no intel turbo memory, nothing beside a humble 8800GTX upgrade).

And there is also a m17x review out, and it states it has better build quality that the m15x: http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Alienware-Area-51-m17x-Notebook.11062.0.html

I would only get the m9750 if i hadn't to add $$ on it. On the contrary, get the m17x.

 

As he says... Getting the M9750 would be a very bad move from you.

The m17x seems completely different from the m15x.
Get one HDD, 1GB RAM, the 8800GTX SLI, and upgrade your laptop latter... But please, get the m17x.
There is no indications that the m17x is not properly build. Actually, there are so few people reporting problems with it, that that alone should reassure you.

I like you... get the m17x! The other would be a really bad move.

 

My dear chap, let's have a heart to heart, just you and me. Please realize that one 8800M GTX will easily outperform 8700s in SLI. In fact, SLI'd 8700m make baby Jesus cry, because baby Jesus can't play his Crysis very well with crappy 128-bit graphics processing units. Also, Quadro FX 3600M = 8800m GTX, which of course means 3600M > 8700 SLI. Why would you spend so much for so little return?

Choosing the m9750 over the m17x is, in this case, madness.

Edit: 3600M = GTS, not GTX.

 

^^^ actually it has been proven that the Quadro 3600M is equivalent to a 8800M GTS.... not GTX.

the 3600M, as well as the 8800M GTS, has 64 shaders.

an 8800M GTX has 96 shaders.

 

Ah okay, pardon the mistake. But it's still safe to say FX 3600M > 8700m GT SLI?

 

It would be close... in overall performance... maybe the 8700M GT SLI might get the slight edge in average resolutions (like WXGA 1280x800), while the 3600M will have the better edge in higher resolutions (WSXGA 1680x1050 and up).... since the 3600M has a 256-bit memory interface.