Dual 8800 gtx video cards vs single 8800 gtx videocard

Hello Techies



I'm trying to decide whether to buy a maxed out 1730 dell vs Aienware m15x.

And im sort of new to this sli dual videocard technology. It's been a while since I bought a new system, I only buy a system every few years and I didn't have a dual videocard system yet.

But my question is, would my computer be that much faster with the Dual 8800 gtx video card + overclocked extreme core 2 3.4 ghz vs the new AW m15x system maxed out + non overclockable extreme core 2 d uo.

I read a few things about dual cards that they don't make that much of a big difference. Also will my dell 1730 be a lot more powerful system compared to the m15x?


Thanks guys

 

Those are two VERY different notebooks, they are similar in hardware only. Make sure you read our review of the XPS M1730 and check the Alienware forum here for user reviews on that. One more notebook I suggest you consider is the Sager NP5793:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4235
Best 17" single GPU gaming notebook on the market in my opinion.

SLI is not worth it, see our analysis here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4121

 

I know they are both two different notebooks chaz, but I want to know how much faster will the dell be with the stuff I listed so I can determaine if the money is worth it, heard dual cards wasn't that good and never functioned to its 100% potential.

And sagers don't have financing

 

Dual cards is better and some games really benefits from them. Crysis for example likes SLI. So if you plan to play Crysis. I didn´t have a single game that didn´t benefit from running SLI. I would choose the dual 8800GTX SLI anyday over the alienware. It is more future proof.

 

personally, I wouldn't worry as much about the video cards as the portability. The Dell is a very heavy laptop. Its bulky and not very comfortable to move around.

If you dont mind moving around a heavy laptop, go for the Dell. If you want to be able to take your gaming with you everywhere then go for the alienware

 

if this is your first 'gaming' 17" then be prepared to be overwhelmed by sheer size and weight. if portability is not an issue then XPS M1730 is a solid choice.

 

sli never gives 100% scaling

normally around 80-90 for games that like sli, and sometimes as poor as 40-60% for games that don't like sli

some games don't benefit from scaling at all cause of crappy nvidia drivers

the dell won't be that much more powerful.

processors that fast usually are not the fps bottleneck (maybe in RTS games at low res it will be)

 

You'll be fine with a single 8800M GTX for the next 1.5 - 2 years I'd say.

SLi is still VERY new and hardly any games support it, and makes hardly any difference

 

Thanks for all the feedback guy,


How long do you think untill the 1730 is a little outdated and how long do you think till the M15x till it gets a little outdated?

Also the price of the 1730, its $3900 shipped to my house with maxed out specs (except blueray) + 4 year warrenty + 4 year accidental coverage and not to mention its processor is can be overclocked to 3.4ghz without me worrying because of ym warrenty.

The maxed out specs on the M15x with max specs is about $3799 with a 1 year warrenty, but its portable

what do you guys think?

 

i'd say go for the 1730.

more power, better warrenty at the expense of looks (i think its fug) and portability is worth it

its not THAT super unportable, just can't use for class and stuff, but still fine for lan parties, etc...

 

Some games benefit more from SLI than others, however most games use SLI if you have it enabled. I´d say go with the M1730, it will last you longer than the alienware with the single 8800m GTX.

And if you want to play in 1920x1200 for sometime definitely the M1730. One single 8800m GTX if very fast of course but two GPU´s will last you longer than one.

I ordered the M1730 a second time now with the dual 8800m GTX SLI. The M1730 isn´t that bulky, it´s easy to take with you to LAN parties if you want unless you are a very weak man/kid who can´t manage to carry it at all

 

Yeah if you have problems lifting and sometimes carrying around a 14lb laptop then you really need to hit the gym.

I agree that it will be a pain to carry with you all the time and using it a lot on the go, but just picking it up and moving it around a little should not be a problem for any normal human being.

 

Eh, you know, I work out 5 days a week and my C90 is still a bit hard to carry for extended periods of time I think the sager sounds nice but I wish MXM would adhere to their standard as promised, not make multiple types of MXM to essentially continue to keep laptops from being able to be modified as easily as we would prefer. It's an improvement, but WTF? Keep it to 1 MXM type, and we would be far better off. Not 4. MXM = 1 standard. MXM 1/2/3/4 = 4 standards. X_X (I work for a standards company and I wish I had been there when Nvidia started this and I would have definitely consulted them away from it)

As far as for an SLI laptop right now? Pass. With tri-sli and other things coming, I don't think dual SLI is as futureproof as some may think.

 

Yeah like I said in my post I agree that carrying it for a while might be hard even on someone that's in shape and whatnot, but simply lifting it and moving it a little should not be too much of a strain unless you're an 87 year old woman.

 

It will probably take some time until we´ll see tri sli in a laptop. So for now SLI is futureproof to some extent.

 

To be blunt you are just fine with the M15x at base specs. There is little point to spending an extra $1000+ on expensive upgrades.

 

I am going to be a dissenting vote here. I currently have a 17 inch xps lappy and it is NOT very portable if you want to use for class and what not. A 17 does not sit on a desk. the power supply is huge.

Now in regard to the extra GPU. The extra GPU will most likely be used for the high resolution. if you get the m15x get the 1440 by 900 resolution as it will be great for its size. You would never benefit from SLI on a 1400 by 900 resolution monitor. SLI almost exclusively benefits AA/AF and higher resolution. People saying its more "future proof" are pretty wrong on this.

Dont think you will get dual cards and run games much better at 1900 by 1200 vs 1400 by 900. I dont think the difference in IQ between the resolutions is that justified IMO; especially since the 1400 by 900 is on a smaller screen.

 

ok from my experience, SLI is screwed really, only very few games takes more than 20% advantage in SLI, its just a waste of money, if there was some sort of a time machine. id go to the past and choose 1 card only, in some times i only get 3FPS increase over single GPU in Modern games . so i dont know if you are willing to waste a price of a new desktop for an upgrade from single card to SLI, then its your choice, go for the m15x ftw

 

3700 for the m15x seems a bit too much, perhaps u should post your configuration to see if you have some extra bulk. also you should get at least 2yr warranty.

At the end it comes down to how much portability do you need.