Durability, Lifepan and Hardcore gaming sessions with the 9260

I apologize if this has been asked - I did not see anything on this.

I have a small laptop I use for work and such and am planning on getting either an Alienware 9750 or a Sager 9260V pretty much strictly for gaming with the ability to take it on the go. I am a couple of months out from purchasing this, so I have time to deliberate and consider opinions.

I like the idea of the E6700 setup in the Sager and will eventually get a second graphics card to take advantage of the SLI (I am told the 9260 is SLI ready and that I only need to buy a matching card to use it, and that it is reasonably simple to upgrade). Alienware assures me of the same thing.

My question is, has anyone used a Sager long enough to speak to heating, etc.? I don't get a lot of gaming time, so when I do, I typically play for 20 hours straight. I know from my old gaming rig that computers can get terribly hot doing these marathon sessions. Can the Sager take it? The desktop chips, the 7950 (or two), etc. do concern me a bit, although the power and the price attract me.

Alienware, despite some problems with other models, has gone with the mobile 7600 chips - do they know something Clevo doesn't?

Finally, for heavy FPS graphics and RTS gaming, how much do you guys think I'm giving up if I decide to go with the AW?

Also, I would love to consider a desktop solution, but my life takes me many places on the road, so the laptop is the only way I'll be happy.

 

The Clevos are workhorses. I wouldn't be worried. I would definitely get some sort of cooling pad though (The Zalman is a great one) and toggle the fan speed to max in those marathons . These laptops do come warm during gaming, but since the intake for fans are under, just make sure the surface on which the laptop sits is fresh.

Oh yeah, another note - this is not your usual carryable laptop . It's big and heavy .

 

Thanks for the comment. I plan on using my little travel laptop for day to day work, so the Sager will only be for gaming/entertainment - it's more than mobile enough to allow me to move around as my work does!