Dell m1730 vs AW M15x. Opinions?

So - I am currently purchasing a notebook. My final choices are between the xps m1730 with dual 8800 gtx's - 2.4 ghz, 120gb 7200 rpm hd, 2g ram - OR - The Alienware m15x with One 8800 gtx, 2.5 ghz penryn, 200gb 7200 rpm hd, hdmi output, 2gb ram.


I know the m15x is portable and I would be able to take it places.. but I am also mainly using it for gaming.

How much of a difference would the dual 8800 GTX Make... and is it so good that I should sacrifice portability? How do you guys feel? =]

 

lots. and lots if the game supports it. i would say way more.

essentially you have a the same if not better than the alienware for normal games, then when sli is supported you can DUST them HARD>

 

Actually, not very many games support it, and those that do don't necessarily implement it that well. However, more games in the future will probably support SLI. The drivers are also not that great right now. Give them a few more months to mature.

If portability is an issue (and your circumstances allow it), get a cheaper laptop (like the M1530) and build your own gaming computer and then you'll have a portable laptop and a computer much more powerful than either of the 2 laptops you're looking at now.

 

Always an option, but i move around alot

 

The M1730 blows the alienware out of the water.
If youre purchasing a machine for portability alone then get the alienware.

Otherwise the obvious answer is the XPS

 

You really don't want to carry M1730's powerbrick around, but I would get whichever's cheaper.

 

Any other opinions?

 

I'd choose the m15x.
None of the very few games I play can make use of SLI.
And the m15x allows you to switch from the Nvidia card to onboard graphics to save battery life. If you do things other than game with your laptop, and do them where there are no power outlets handy, that feature can be useful.

 

I'd have to say the M15x, Aestitically it looks way better, even if it is quite chunky. The M15x also has a lot of cool features like alienfx , light up keyboard, removable disc drive to swap for extra battery/hard drive. In other words i'd pick the M15x because it seems cooler And that SLI is good on the games it is supported by but to be honest not many do and i'm sure one 8800gtx would happily let you play on high settings on most games

 

The M15x is available with 1440x900 screen (and I think most buyers are picking this option). There is a BIG performance difference between running a game at 1440x900 and 1920x1200.

In the M1730, sli will bring your performance up (when games actually make use of it, and drivers are good), but the screen res will bring it down.

So I really don't think there would be a huge difference in performance between the m15x and M1730.

Obviously if you are prepared to run the M1730 in non-native res it should smoke the m15x, but the blurriness is completely unacceptable imo.

The m15x is a good machine, it's performance should be close and it is much more portable and better battery life. Plus it has the Penryn, so you are not buying 'last gen' tech. It would be quite a difficult choice to decide between them i think, but you will be happy either way so best of luck.

 

I'd go with the m15x..