Alienware's done it...dual 5870's

Just in case you wanted to see the cream of the gaming laptop crop, Alienware has captured the current crown with dual HD 5870s in Crossfire on the M17X line of laptops....

http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/108/1086090p1.html

To upgrade from the single 5870, it will set you back another $300....not as bad as I would have expected, to be honest. If I were planning on getting a new M17X, I think that I would be willing to spend it. Of course, if you're getting a pimped out M17X price probably isn't that much of a factor. I wonder how they handle the heat =S

 

For about 5mins before alienware pulled them from half the worlds websites lol.

 

Better than dual 285's

 

Must be for people thats always on the run ? I'd just get a desktop and a decent laptop (Like i have now i guess).

EDIT: Kamin, how did i bypass the language filter? You should censor the word instead, i didnt bypass anything !

 

Agree. I want a laptop with a good mid-range GPU and CPU that doesn't break the bank, and an OC'ed-to-hell ghetto-gaming-rig desktop (that also doesn't break the bank). These two solutions work for me.

Unfortunately I can only afford one solution at the moment, so the laptop it is.

 

Good part I believe is that current M17x owners may be able to just buy the HD5870s and install them themselves. But maybe not since HD5870 stock may be low and already reserved.

 

old news, last week noted in alienware thread
will upgrade myself when my dual 4870 won't take the load anymore.
but only singe card configs are delivered now. no dual cards spotted yet with crossfire connector.

 

all the comments on that page from people about 'why do they need dual gpu on a 17 inch screen'... 'laptop gaming is stupid'....

some people are just fools

 

wow, omg i wonder how much better then the dual 285 this is

 

I'm guessing 30-40% as that's how it is for single vs single right now. The current CF 4870s are still faster than SLI 285, so should be even more substantial.

As for dual GPU in laptop, depends on user I think. Some just need something small form factor that doesn't take up much room, but have no plans on moving it from desk then it's fine. If you plan on moving it a lot, work, school, friends, then it defeats the point of portability.

Just about how you want to spend your money. Personally if I had the money to buy a Dual CF Alienware, I'd pass on it. Build a desktop that will smoke it and buy a MSI GX740. And probably have some money left over for a few games. Have you seen the speeds on the volt modded HD5870s from Asus? Insane.

 

I saw yesterday the dual 5870 on the norwegian Dell page, however they are removed now, only single 5870 to choose from as of yet.

Now at least here in Sweden the Asus G73 is 4000 swedish kronor more expensive than the Alienware M17x with a 5870 and Core I5 2.4GHz. That could mean that the dual 5870 setup when they start to sell at least here in Sweden costs the same as the Asus G73 but with Dual 5870 instead.

I have always thought Alienware is expensive, but seems like when Dell bought them the prices has lowered quite a bit.

 

Well from what i've heard is manufacturing the 5870 is going quite slow atm so they'l be back soon, maybe alienware just flashed them

285's are nothing in comparison to these beasts.

 

Yes probably there is a backorder of them.

 

Not suprised to be fair,

Personally though, i'd have been mega happy to settle for a 5850 sli machine, because they are turning out to be quite nice monsters in the MSI's too .

 

would be nice to know how much a decent one with dual 5870s would cost but so far , the one is saw on dell.com had single 5870 and i don't believe this story yet.

 

It's only $300 more to upgrade from a single 5870. A nicely furnished one that I "made" cost $2700 USD. Here's the specs:

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Intel® Core™ i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
1 Year Basic Service Plan
Dual 1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 4870 in CrossfireX™
17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
640GB Raid 0 (2x 320GB 7,200RPM HDDs)
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card
Lunar Silver - Anodized Aluminum

Of course you could always make a super decked out version that costs $5500 that looks something like this:

Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, English
Intel® Core™ i7 920XM 2.0GHz (3.2GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
3 Year Basic Service Plan Includes a $50 Dell Promo Gift Card!
Dual 1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 4870 in CrossfireX™
17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz
512GB Raid 0 (2x 256GB Solid State HDDs)
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Burner (BR-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Intel® Ultimate N WiFi Link 6300 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology
Lunar Silver - Anodized Aluminum

 

A single 5870MR without CF connector itself cost around 350USD, and knowing dell, they will probably overcharge it to around 400-500USD.

Anyways, by the time CF 5870MR is out, I'm expecting the Nvidia's 400M answer soon, how good it will be though I can't say for sure, though expectations are not high, nvidia could just surprise us for all I know, the next stage of competition to most power laptop will be Clevo's 480M SLI vs Alienware's 5870x2.

 

Well for one a few people in Europe have been able to order the crossfired 5870 systems before it got taken down and got the cards at $50 cheaper then the 4870's, it's very possible that could all change when the US comes out with them and prices them, but I pretty much think they'll be the same price as the 4870's.

Second AW rep already said it will be implementing Nvidia's next GPU's when they release. Once again AW will just win VIA overclocking.

 

some of us actually go to the gym and are capable of lifting 15 lbs with two arms(or just one for that matter).

 

ditto.

i never got how anyone could complain about any laptop's portability. especially these "men" around here.

 

any info about how many 3dmarks06 with 2x 5870?

 

3dmark06 won't be all that different since it's really cpu dependent, and the best cpu will still be the i7 920xm, but Vantage should be a lot better.

 

Thats odd. On their website they only have single hd5870 and dual 4870. No dual hd5870