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    need help.. XPS17 or M17X???

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by azuazu, Oct 5, 2011.

  1. azuazu

    azuazu Newbie

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    hi guys!!

    i need help choosing which laptop would last longer, has better performance, and is worth paying for? :D

    most of the things i would do with this computer is CAD, some rendering with 3dsmax and vray, photoshop, and of course some gaming..

    i know a desktop is still the best for all of this workload. but i move alot and don't really have a permanent place yet. so i'm looking for kind of a desktop replacement.

    So i'm choosing between:

    Dell XPS 17
    Specs:
    +2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz
    +17.3" FHD (1080p) with 2.0MP HD Webcam
    +8GB3 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
    +1000GB hard drive (7200RPM)
    +NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M 3GB graphics with Optimus
    +Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
    @ US$1,199

    or

    Alienware M17x
    Specs:
    +Intel® Core™ i7 2670QM 2.2GHz (3.1GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
    +17.3-inch WideHD+ 1600 x 900 60Hz WLED
    +4GB3 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
    +500GB4 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
    +1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
    +Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
    +free bag and tactX gaming mouse
    @ US$1,599

    need your opinions and suggestions...
    anything i need to add?

    and which cooling system is better?
    should i worry about XPS's heat? would it last long?

    thanks guys!
     
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Why not consider a Dell Precision mobile workstation? CAD is best done with professional GPU's and drivers tailored to it (Quadro or FirePro).

    M17x has a better cooling system but the 1600x900 screen is pretty low resolution to fit a ton of stuff in it. Though people are swapping in the 95% color gamut AUO screens into the M17x.
     
  3. edit1754

    edit1754 Notebook Prophet

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    Don't buy the M17x unless you're getting the 1920x1080 display.

    Dowgrade the GPU or whatever, but you should never buy the M17x with the 1600x900 display. That's the one thing that kills the configuration.

    For CAD especially, but for general multitasking and for image quality as well.
     
  4. Mihael Keehl

    Mihael Keehl Notebook Evangelist

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    If you are willing to spend money like that on either of these machines, I would recommend either getting the Dell Precision M4600/M6600 or HP Elitebook 8560w/8760w, either of those laptops should help you with what you need to do.
     
  5. Speedyr16

    Speedyr16 Notebook Consultant

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    Well since have made up your mind between these 2..
    and lot of great guys ve suggested better ones for the money I will just give u what I think about the config u ve put up.

    Now gtx 560 is a world ahead of gt555 I think it def s worth a couple of 100 bux..

    But again on a 900p...that.really brings it dwn..
    FHD is important...and that too u get it for a cheaper price...i mean gt555 can run most of the games at med or low.settings and others at high..
    So there u ve it .. :)
     
  6. Tech_Freak

    Tech_Freak Notebook Enthusiast

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    I would personally choose the M17x only if you were to upgrade the screen to 1080. The Ram can be upgraded outside of Dell cheaperm, plus the video card is a bit more advanced than the 555M on the Dell Xps.