[Help]Msi Gx660r Vs Alienware M17x [Help]

Hi there can someone help me with this comparison for which is better please? - Comparing this:

Specifications

CPU Intel Core™ i7-740QM 1.73GHz Processor
OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
Chipset Intel PM55
Memory 6GB DDR3 1066 MHz
LCD Size 15.6" FHD 1920*1080 TFT-LCD Display (LED Backlight)
Graphics ATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870M
Graphics VRAM GDDR5 1GB
HDD 2x500GB in RAID 0 SATA
Optical Drive Super-Multi DVDRW
Audio 2 Theater Class Speakers +1 Subwoofer

- HD Webcam
- Card Reader XD/SD/MMC/MS
- LAN 10/100/1000
- Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth V2.0EDR
- D-Sub (VGA)
- HDMI
- 2x USB 2.0 port
- 2x USB 3.0 port
- eSATA
- 120W AC Adapter
- 9 cell Battery

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Too This
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Alienware M17x Stealth Black
Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 2630QM (2.00Ghz, 6MB, 4C)
English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560M
4096MB 1333MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2x2048]
320GB (7,200rpm) SATA Hard Drive
17.3" (44 cm) WideHD+ (1600 x 900) WLED LCD
DVD+/-RW (DVD, CD read and write)
Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 - EUR
Primary 9 cell Li-Ion Default Base Battery

So basically I've got up to £1050 to spend on christmas for me to get a laptop, I don't know which to decide for out of the specs above, I can either get the Msi gx660r for a base price of £950.00 at christmas, Or I can get the Alienware m17x at christmas for a base price of £1130 - (Normally £1300 - But my coupon runs out on the 12'th so Base Price is: £1300) Now I see that the graphics card, processor, and wireless card (Killer) are better than the Msi - Not including the extra 1.5inch screen size, Although I don't know which to get out of them because the Gx660r is cheaper, and I know that I can definitely get it if I want to, Yet for the alienware I have to hope there is a coupon, Which one would you guys think is best for me?

I like alienwares design style because they are a nice sleek design with relative ease to use in my opinion, Yet there has been quite a few faulty M17x's being sent out,

Yet the Gx660r Has more ram and has RAID 0 capability with the hard drives, and a 1080p screen (Included in the base price) But heres the problem:

The Processor is slower than the alienwares i7-2630qm, and the graphics card is not as good as the gtx560 (Gx660r has the mobility 5870) - But is there that much of a difference between the price of the machines?


Because for me personally I like the alienware, Yet the Msi Gx660r is from a reliable and good customer serviced website, With good reviews, Yet its smaller, not as powerful, but is cheaper, Which do you think I should get?

Since its £1300 base price the M17x is overpriced in my opinion, And the customer service is said to be bad, So I liked the Gx660r - But:

--- How much better is the GTX560 to the Hd5870?---

Is it worth paying the extra £300 in base price difference for the m17x? - especially when you get more things for your money with the Gx660r?






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Also another question if I may, The alienware m11x - I made another thread on it asking a comparison between the specs of the m11x and the xps 17 --- Now see I don't mind notebook/netbook (Small :L) computers, Especially the M11x because it is still really good compared to its size, So comparing the M11x to the two laptops above -- Should I consider the M11x at £750 if it includes:

I5 - clocked at 1.63ghz ( Supposedly with turbo boost increase as well )
1gb ddr3 gt540m
4gb ddr3 ram (1333 mhz I think)
1366x768p screen
Killer 'TM wireless card
Windows 7

?

Sorry for such a long question, But I really need help. Out of the above spec wise - Which one should I get --- With relation to Size ( I don't mind large or small computers imo ) and performance to the cost?

If anyone could answer it would be a great help, Thank you =)!



^^^

Edit: Also - Can you replace the ram on the 11" and 17" laptops? - Like is it possible to fit Tri-Channel 2000mhz ram into the DIMM slots?

 

Personally, if you are going to get an M17x get a better graphics card like the HD6990m which will have a noticeable impact in performance. The GTX560m is basically on par with the HD5870m and both can be overclocked decetly so its not really about which one is better... they are basically on the same level.

the GX660r is cheaper and a great machine overall, but the downsides at this point are the CPU and the screen. Everything else is great, and the sound is just superb. The CPU might be slower but at least it has one last upgrade in its lifetime to a powerful CPU which should be able to hold up, but that means investing more money on an old machine. Out of stock it works great tho and while not as fast at all compared to the 2630qm, it is still plenty fast.

but paying 300 more for a bigger screen and a better cpu only might be a bit too much?

Both are great machines, and hell, I still have my GX660R and for the first time in a long while, I actually plan on keeping it, that already says alot. I would get the alienware but only to get a higher end GPU. Otherwise you can try the M15x which might come cheaper.

Eh, the MX11 is a nice gaming almost netbook but performancewise is completely outclassed by the other two offerings. If you do rather serious gaming, the MX11 will be bottlenecked first.

 

if you plan on upgrading components later on then I'd say go for the M17x as you can put in new Sandy Bridge cores into it, even XM ones as to overclock and pretty much any GPU you want (with a a little modding obviously).

And the M11x is in a different category than those 2 so no I wouldnt consider it.

 

If you dont mind the large size and weight, id say go for alienware, its more upgradeable in the future if you wanna keep it for a long time. Especially if you need some cpu power for now or in the future, sandy bridge is definitely the way to go.