e1705 vs XPS M170

I've been doing quite a bit of research and currently neither of these laptops meet exactly what I want, but both are close. So what do you guys think?

Dell New
Option 1:
M170 w/ P-M 760 2Ghz
Truelife Screen
7800GTX Go
1G Ram
60gb 7200rpm HD
$1650

Dell New
Option 2:
e1705 Duo Core 2Ghz
Truelife Screen
x1400
512Ram
60gb 7200rpm HD
$1050 after coupons

Dell Outlet Refurbished
Option 3:
e1705 Duo Core 2Ghz
Truelife Screen
7800 Go
1G Ram
60GB 7200rpm HD
$1649

Dell Outlet Previously Ordered New
Option 4:
e1705 Duo Core 2Ghz
Truelife Screen
7800 Go
2GB Ram
80GB 7200rpm HD
$2600

So given new option, is the M170 better for a mostly gaming/media laptop?
And given outlet options, is a refurbished model worth more than a new model? The Previously Ordered New model is closest to what I want..but not for $1000 more in price.

 

Yes, the M170 is a great gaming machine. No the refurb is not better.

The previously ordered new has a lot of upgrades that are costly. Look at new with coupons and upgrade aftermarket.

 

So given Option 1 and 3, being the same price and everything the same besides processor and graphics card. The M170 has a better graphics card with a processor that's not..future proof. And Option 3 with a better processor and a graphics card that's been..well limited.

Which one? I do want duo core..just refurb is holding me back. And obviously the lack of duo core is holding me back on the M170.

 

I would opt for the M170 for game play. From what I understand most if not all games will not take advantage of dual processors. The GPU in the M170 is a more powerfull one so for games at least you will be happier with the M170.

 

This is an interesting thread of someone who is putting a Dual core chip in his M170. http://forums.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=44596

 

Yinlun, I'm interested in purchasing an M170 and was just wondering how you got the cost down to $1650 new. Cheapest i've got it down to is $1800 and the wife isn't quite happy with that so if i could get it down to $1650 I think she would take the bait Thanks ahead of time.

 

Whoa there Gshocker!! I am not putting a dual core in my XPS, that would require a new mobo, which would be next to impossible to find, and a pain to do. Actually, I am putting a 1.8 400Mhz PM in my computer, so a SLOWER processor!! If all goes well though, the pin mod will have it running at 533Mhz, and I will have a 2.4Ghz processor. It won't be dual core though, just to clear that up

 

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mes...threadid=590751&highlight_key=y&keyword1=m170

 

Thanks much for the link to the $1650 price. Its the best deal i've seen on the M170 so I think I might just have to pull the trigger on this one.

 

Yea I think that's the one reason why I'm so stuck on it. I think after starting all these threads on this forum I'm going to order a xps myself too. Just searching that video card alone is about $500-$600.

 

Very good deal. I saved the cart in case I have a problem with my refurbed e1705. =)

 

Whoops. must be the lack of sleep when I first read that one. Thought you would need to change more than the chip for that one.

 

If you mean gaming, I'd go with option 1, even though it's single core, 7800GTX Go is the best choice for today's game

 

I ended ordering it with 2G's of RAM which made my total: $1874