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    Replace XPS M1730 With????

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by phoenix1972, Sep 15, 2011.

  1. phoenix1972

    phoenix1972 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Trying to decide if I should do various upgrades on my M1730 or replace with it with another Dell/Alienware.

    Just got my family a Inspiron 15 with a 2nd Gen i5....WOW...speedy!!!

    My XPS 1730 specs are as follows:
    2.8 X7900 Extreme Processor (running @ 3.0)
    4GB Memory
    512MB Dual Nvidia 8700 Graphics Card
    128MB PhysX Card
    Intel 3945 Wireless ABG
    200GB & 120GB 7200RPM Drives
    DVD Read/Writeable

    Was originally looking at doing the following hardware upgrades to the 1730
    Increasing the memory from 4GB to 8GB
    Upgrading the Wireless from 3945ABG to 6300BGN
    Get bigger hard-drives...500GB or larger


    While there isn't anything wrong with the 1730, figuring I might as well get a new system that's under warranty.

    Should I replace the 1730 with another Dell or go right with the Alienware M16x/M17x/M18x.

    I'd welcome any suggestions for what, if any, Dell systems are good for gaming.
     
    phoenix1972, Sep 15, 2011
    #1
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    If you want dual graphics again, I would consider the M18x. It'll run circles around your M1730 (no offense meant).

    I wouldn't put any more money into the M1730 (has a whole host of issues, mostly GPU, which the 8700M GT was affected by the Nvidia BGA issue).

    I would put that money for the upgrades into a machine that is still in warranty, perhaps sell the M1730 to recoup some of the money you spend on a new laptop.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Sep 15, 2011
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  3. alinad

    alinad Notebook Consultant

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    Yes. Alienware M18X With I7-920XM, and 16G Ram, +SSD 500G Harddisk.
     
    alinad, Sep 16, 2011
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  4. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    If you have money to burn then get a m18x or if not perhaps consider another xps.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Sep 16, 2011
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  5. bluke424

    bluke424 Notebook Geek

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    I'd get a XPS 15 with a Sandy Bridge CPU and a GT 540M GPU, it will be more powerful than your current M1730. Also, try getting the 1080p screen as it's much better than the other.
     
    bluke424, Sep 16, 2011
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  6. phoenix1972

    phoenix1972 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Aside from the drop in screen size...and yes..i've grown used to the 17"...why go with the XPS 15 and not the XPS 17?

    Was looking at the M17x...but checking out the forum here...it seems that the M17x has as much issues/problems as the 1730 did

    Like the M18x...but don't have deep pockets
     
    phoenix1972, Sep 16, 2011
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  7. zjacobss

    zjacobss Notebook Consultant

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    The XPS 17 would be a good choice in my opinion.
     
    zjacobss, Sep 16, 2011
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  8. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    XPS 17 have nowhere near the gaming horsepower of the GPU's offered on the Alienwares. Alternatively, you could pick up a refurbished M17xR2. You still get a beautiful 16:10 WUXGA RGBLED screen, SLI/CF GPU's, i7 Extreme CPU's available. I'd def take the older R2 M17x over the new R3.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Sep 16, 2011
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  9. concat

    concat Notebook Consultant

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    Does the XPS 17 have a high gamut display like the 15 does? My thoughts are it doesn't... which is one reason you might like the 15, aside from the extra portability.

    Neither one is a gaming laptop though. Still, the 550m and the 540m do a respectable job.
     
    concat, Sep 16, 2011
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  10. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Define gaming laptop... The aw m14x has the same gpu as the xps 17 and its classed as a "gaming laptop" i think the 540 up will suit any casual gamer.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Sep 16, 2011
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  11. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    A gaming laptop would be a laptop that should be able to fluently handle the latest games with moderate/high level of detail at it's max resolution of the laptop.

    Unfortunately the XPS got reshuffled from extreme gaming laptops to consumer/multimedia laptop when Dell acquired Alienware. The last true enthusiast gaming XPS was the M1730. Everything after that (Studio XPS, newest generation XPS) has been multimedia oriented. You'll watch HD movies, and do casual gaming. Dell did not want competing laptops outselling each other so Alienware of course took up the extreme gaming platform.

    Alienwares do not have the high color gamut screens anymore, which is why I suggested the R2, as the 1st gen Clarksfield i7 quad cores are still overkill for gaming but still offer high end SLI/CF video cards.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Sep 16, 2011
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  12. phoenix1972

    phoenix1972 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wanted to thank everyone for all the great suggestions!!!!!!

    Had some time and went on ebay and did a quick search and came across these M17x R2 with Extreme CPUs....OH MY!!!

    M17X-R2-LAPTOP-EXTREME-920XM-SSD-5870-CROSSFIRE-RADEON

    M17x-r2-Core-i7-920xm-EXTREME-1200p-Crossfire-DUAL-GPU-Laptop

    M17X-R2-i7-940XM-Extreme-Quad-Core-4GB-320GB-1GB-ATI-Radeon-HD-5870

    These all sound great...the first one has upgraded components...gladly welcome comments...I can forsee a bidding war LOL
     
    phoenix1972, Sep 16, 2011
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  13. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well the xps 17 can do this and probably the 15 aswell. If your talking about extreme gaming then yes thats what aw is.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Sep 17, 2011
    #13