NP9170 vs M17X R4 ATI 7970M

I'd like some help to choose between the two i made two build for the sager on Xoticpc and the alienware on Btotech
(The main specs, if not included then just the standard setup.)

NP9170 Xotic:
- Display: 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Matte Screen.
- Processor: Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP)
- Graphics Video Card: AMD Radeon HD 7970M (2048MB) GDDR5 DX11
- Ram: 16GB - DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (4 SODIMMS)
- Primary Hard Drive: 750gb 7200rpm (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- Second Hard Drive: None Standard
- Operating System: ~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Sub-Total: $1,719.01
International Estimated Rates - (A Shipping Quote will be provided after the order is placed) (15 lbs) (UPS International): $249.00
Total: $1,968.01
Discount Coupons:cashrebate: -$59.04
( that's around $1,898 with international shipping+coupon)


Alienware M17X R4 btotech:
- C.P.U.: Intel® Core™ i7-3610QM Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.30 GHz)(i7-3610qm)
- Display: 17.3" Glossy FULLHD 1080P 1920x1080(17_inch_glossy)
- Video Card: AMD ATI Radeon 7970M 2GB GDDR5
- Memory: 16gb DDR3 1333MHZ
- Hard Drive 1: 750GB 7200.4RPM
- Hard Drive 2: none
- Windows: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed.
Sub-Total: 1,849.00
Estimated Shipping & Handling UPS Expedited International: $160
Total: $2009.00
CashRebate = 40.18 (a possible $50 more discount)
( that's around $1969 with international shipping+coupon or $1916 with the $50 discount)



Comparing

NP9170
pros:
- The matte display.
- Fingerprint Reader.
- DVI port
- low key look.

Cons:
- Some say the fans are noisy.
- No carry case included.
- No Global warranty as an international user i'd have to ship the item back and forth International shipping $$$$

M17X R4 ATI 7970M
Pros:
- Global Warranty by dell as i can transfer the warranty from USA to where'ever i'm and get my service there without "International Shipping"
- Full HD webcam.
- HDMI In ( this will be very helpful as a portable screen that i can plug what ever i want in)
- Design could be a con and could be a pro not sure yet.
- also i think the keyboard is scaled up a bit.

Cons:
- VGA Port instead of DVI.
- Also does not include a carry case
- np9170 is cheaper.

I actually didn't know they were this close in price i use to bash Alienware for their laptop prices but i guess the international shipping evened them out some how.

 

Where are you shipping to? You would save on that if you have more local resellers.

 

What makes you say no carry case is included with XoticPC? AFAIK, all Sager resellers and Clevo builders throw a basic case in for free. I know for certain Malibal does, anyway. Send off an email to confirm with Xotic if no one else who bought from them confirms, though; they respond quickly.

 

I'd go with the AW if the price is so close then.

 

Local re-sellers don't have the 7970m, with like the 580m it costs around $3,183.00 which is ridiculous.

I was also surprised as i remember seeing that it included a basic carry case but not anymore i think only the 9150 includes it now the 9170 and 9130 don't for some reason ?

one thing that worries me with Alienware is the high range of people receiving defective hardware.

 

Do you plan on doing a lot of video encoding? Because for gaming you don't need that much RAM.

By virtue of the fact that you are posing this question on Clevo forum I sense that you are leaning towards Clevo and want people with a similar viewpoint to echo your sentiments. Figuring out which machine has more pros than cons is something that's ultimately up to you. But since you are an international buyer for the sake of warranty going with Alienware might be a financially wise choice.

And from where did you get the news that Alienware products tend to be frequently defective? Is this information factual or merely anecdotal?

 

Firstly ram wise yea my main reason of getting this laptop was because i'll be video editing on the go.

second i was fairly leaning towards clevo but really two pros that just keep tipping the scale to Alienware is the global warranty and the HDMI Input which could venture very useful to me.

and i've seen most of the recent releases on the forums or new unboxing videos the m17x R4 came with a defected GPU (that might be a case of a bad batch of gpu's) and in a couple of cases i saw some report none working LED's but mostly the defected GPU really.

Thanks for the response btw.

 

(looks up if M17x has hdmi input) Huh i thought it was only the M18x that had an hdmi in i was planning to get a Sager NP9170 but id like to have that hdmi input.
Well the first thing id like to say is You dont NEED 16 gigs of ram but i see you said youll be video editing so
Since your international then yeah what anotherusername said the M17x is probably your best choice cause of the warranty plus youll then own an Alienware
The NP9170 has a standard black carry case included at least on xoticpc it does (it doesnt anymore Sager removed it )
What about the screen? 9170 has Matte M17x just glossy does that matter to you?
Yeah the last batch of gpus alienware got was defective new batch should arrive soon
Thanks you gave me something to think about i think ill wait a bit more and see about the next batch of amd cards alienware gets and if their good ill most likely be getting myself an M17x instead of that NP9170 cause the way i had it configured its only a couple hundred more and i really want that hdmi input . Im so glad both of them have the power input on the back

 

Just to confirm the included carrying case has been removed from Sager computers. Sadly no more

 

If they are this close in price i would go with the Alienware..

 

do the people that pre ordered with the standard case still get it?!

 

Really? When did this happen? I've seen the new NP9130 Review Video you guys posted in your YouTube channel, and it shows the unboxing of the notebook, and the case was still there... Was that video recorded some time ago?

 

The included case was removed by Sager on all of their models earlier this week. The ones who ordered when it said it included it, will get it included.
Yes the NP9130 was recorded pretty much right as the NP9130 was released.

 

I don't think it has been confirmed that M17x is linux friendly. Supposedly the sager model is. But if you don't know linux then no biggie, go with AW.

 

Tough choice considering the price.. but since you are on a clevo forum I would suggest the clevo haha but I won't argue about the fact that the 720p webcam Alienware has is quite the benefit..

 

The looks of the Alienware are the big detractor for me personally. If you can get past that, the Alienware seems like it might be the better choice for you because of the HDMI input and global warranty for you as you say.

 

If you like aliens and flashing lights, go with AW. If you don't, go with Sager.

 

Where are you shipping the laptop to? The shipping prices seem to be making the difference making the final price more or less equal.

Also you can get a 50$ off on all Sager laptops on config's above 50$. Chk tis link here.

Custom Laptops, Gaming Notebooks, Custom Gaming Laptops | XOTIC PC

 

my opinion is that AW is worse because of the lack of matte screens options.

even in home, sun reflections can be annoying.

 

I'm still thinking it over, so far as some mentioned the Glossy screen and some what none professional look of the AW is a draw back to me but since i'll mostly be using it in door i'm somewhat oky with it but would still prefer a matte screen.

I'll be shipping it to either Bahrain or UAE depending on where i'll be when i make my decision, they both cost the same shipping wise.

Also i will not be using Linux so that doesn't matter to me.

I'm more leaning for the AW at the moment just for the things you guys mentioned Global warranty + HDMI input which is a big plus, i guess i'll just give it a little time and keep an eye on how the new batch of m17x and if they are defected.

 

This is very true i remember shifting my desktop setup so it won't face the window just for that reason but i guess with the laptop it's easier to just move so i won't get sun reflection since i'm using it in doors.

but i still think the light reflection will be there from the lamps.

Edit: sorry double post.

 

It's a tough call, to be honest I would also go with the Alienware if it wasn't that flashy and big. As far as I know the Alienware is larger than the Clevo.

I was once faced with a similar choice, I choose Clevo and I'm not sorry. But the main reason why I am happy with my Clevo is because I treated this laptop like a desktop and it performed brilliantly. I am not sure how well an Alienware would have survived my internal butchering. Also for me warranty is useless, I lost it after 6 months of buying the laptop due to changing components.

 

Alienware

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

 

I have the NP9170 P170EM or NYX1712 any name will do, tested with skype and bisoncam app the webcam will record full 30fps @ 1920x1080 no hitch, I can confirm it's HD too

 

I'm stuck with the same choice...i've got $2,000 to spend and I'm using XoticPC to buy. The sager completely dominates the alienware configuration. specifically with the Msata Boot drive, the full 16gb 1600mhz ram, raid0 HDD etc etc for $100 less than the alienware....but i mean..come on, it's an alienware. Just can't decide. Better looks and better feel? (in the sense that alienwares are built better) or better performance?

 

One thing to keep in mind is the possible/potential issues with sager (clevo's) with 7970M utilisation. At the moment, with enduro being terrible, neither laptops is able to utilise the full power of the 7970M in games, but for the alienware laptops, you can disable enduro completely. Because of the way the clevos are designed, you can't, therefore at the moment, alienware laptops may (potentially) have better performance. But I'm relying on the anecdotes of other clevo owners, I don't own one myself (at the moment).

Of course, this issue should be fixed by decent drivers, and they should be coming out soon (hopefully), maybe within a week. Just something to keep in mind.