alienware M15x vs M17x

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cougarsoccer

Gawd
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Oct 31, 2006
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im looking into getting one of these laptops and i have them speced like i want them to be. i was trying to find out if i could get some kind of input. i will list the specs below. the main think that concerns me about the M17x is the processor(see below). the M15x uses i7 processors and the M17x still uses intel core 2 quad. but the upside of the M17x is better video card options, bigger screen, etc. can some one give me their thoughts on the M17x and M15x. i mainly want to know if the increase in price, for better video, and so on, and mainly how these two processors will compare against each other.

I will mainly be using this computer for school work and gaming. i play fallout 3, dragon age, stalker soc and clear sky, crysis, tropico 3.

M15x specs $1934
Base System Color:
Alienware M15x, Cosmic Black DFBLKN 1 [224-6812] 1
Processor:
Intel Core i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache) 820QM 1 [317-2398] 2
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English AW7HP6E 1 [420-6436][420-9691][421-1400] 11
Service:
1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis S1OS 1 [421-1721][905-3017][906-0700][988-7347][990-8029][994-3730] 29
Video Card:
1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M GTX260 1 [320-0938] 6
LCD Display:
15.6-inch WideHD+ 1600x900 (900p) WLED LCD900 1 [320-0934] 5
Memory:
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz 4GB133 1 [317-2404] 3
Hard Drive:
500GB SATAII 7,200RPM 500GB72 1 [341-9754] 8
Optical Drives:
Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) DVDRWRX 1 [313-8565][421-1304][421-1305] 16
Primary Battery:
Primary - 6-cell (56Watt) Lithium-Ion Battery BTTRY6C 1 [312-0205] 27
Sound:
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio IS 1 [313-8944] 17
M17x spces $2398


Date 1/10/2010 4:34:49 PM Central Standard Time
Catalog Number 23 Retail 2236
Catalog Number / Description Product Code Qty SKU Id
System Color:
Space Black – Anodized Aluminum QSBLK 1 [224-5967] 1
Processor:
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q9000 2.0GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB) Q9000 1 [317-0820] 2
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English AW7HP6E 1 [421-1400] 11
Service:
1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis S1OS 1 [421-1724][988-7347][990-8029][994-3660][994-3730][994-7017] 29
Video Card:
Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 280M, 2GB – SLI® Enabled GTX280D 1 [320-0762] 6
LCD:
17-inch WideXGA+ 1440x900 (900p) LCD900 1 [320-8141] 5
Memory:
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz 4GB1333 1 [317-0859] 3
Hard Drive:
500GB 7,200RPM w/ Free Fall Protection 500GB72 1 [341-0004] 8
CD ROM/DVD ROM:
Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) W7DVDRW 1 [313-8977] 16
 
Alienware announced at CES that the M17x will be getting the i7 within the next few weeks.
 
Wests said:
Alienware announced at CES that the M17x will be getting the i7 within the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

didn't know this. i'm not looking to buy it right now. still waiting a few weeks and doing my research before i buy one
 
I have the m15x and I love it. The screen on the m15x is led and better quality than the m17x and upgrade your display to 1080p. You might do better to get an SSD and the base I7. Either way you won't be dissapointed.
 
actompkins said:
I have the m15x and I love it. The screen on the m15x is led and better quality than the m17x and upgrade your display to 1080p. You might do better to get an SSD and the base I7. Either way you won't be dissapointed.
Click to expand...

care to share your specs on yours and maybe some benchmarks?
 
If you're going to use the laptop for classes and such...then the m15x would be better suited for you simply because of the weight. And even then...the m15x isn't exactly light either. lol
 
largefarrva said:
If you're going to use the laptop for classes and such...then the m15x would be better suited for you simply because of the weight. And even then...the m15x isn't exactly light either. lol
Click to expand...

its not that im carrying it from class to class. im a mechanical engineering student and we use a very intensive program called solidworks. we mainly use it outside of class so its not like i use it at all the classes
 
Ah gotcha. I'll go ahead and agree with was already posted....if you can wait for the m17x refresh then wait for it with the i7 and then decide which one you'll like better. But if you were going to purchase right now then I'd have to recommend the m15x for sure...simply for the i7. :)

But I just rememberd...I'm not sure if they changed the m15x or not...but if having an HDMI port is important to you then you shouldn't get it because for some unknown reason Dell didn't include one with the m15x.
 
yea i have been trying to read when the refresh is coming. i have read sometime in the next few weeks
 
cougarsoccer said:
care to share your specs on yours and maybe some benchmarks?
Click to expand...

I have I7 720, 4 gigs of 1333 ram, 256 gig intel ssd, 1920x1080 screen and 260m graphics card. Scores 12100 in 3dmark2006. It plays Crysis and Dragon Age with no problems. My buddy has the m17x and although there isn't a huge difference in the 2 screens there is a noticable one. Temps never get above 45-50 degrees even when gaming.
 
largefarrva said:
Ah gotcha. I'll go ahead and agree with was already posted....if you can wait for the m17x refresh then wait for it with the i7 and then decide which one you'll like better. But if you were going to purchase right now then I'd have to recommend the m15x for sure...simply for the i7. :)

But I just rememberd...I'm not sure if they changed the m15x or not...but if having an HDMI port is important to you then you shouldn't get it because for some unknown reason Dell didn't include one with the m15x.
Click to expand...

It does have display port though and you can get a cable with hdmi on one end and display port on the other if you need it, I believe. Not sure why they didn't include it on an HD display either.
 
With a laptop that pointlessly powerful wouldn't it be a waste without an SSD? I mean you've already spent a retarded amount on it already right?
 
one thing you may want to watch out for with the dvi to hdmi cable is there is no sound going out that cable. If you are planning on using it to watch HD content on an HD display you are still going to have to figure out a sound solution unless you don't mind listening to it through your laptop speakers.
 
Rossi~ said:
With a laptop that pointlessly powerful wouldn't it be a waste without an SSD? I mean you've already spent a retarded amount on it already right?
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guess i just dont know that much about them. i have never used one or anthing guess i could read up on them
 
cougarsoccer said:
guess i just dont know that much about them. i have never used one or anthing guess i could read up on them
Click to expand...

They are arguably the best and quickest way to upgrade a computer. I've heard of people having boot times into windows 7 at like 12 seconds! When the prices come down to a more reasonable level I'm pretty sure I'll be getting some for my computers.
 
Worst time to get either. Mobility Radeon 5000 series and i7 upgrades imminent.
 
No just a bad time to get the M17x because of the i7 incoming in about a week.

Dell screwed most users on the new M15x because they made the i5 as the base CPU and increased the price $100 if you wanted the i7 back.

Also the i5 can only use the GT240m and not the GTX260m.

Personally I would wait until they stick a 5870 into the M15x because the GTX260m is nearing the end life cycle.

Also I'm seeing that for the M15x you picked 1600x900 which is perfect for the GTX260 but in the M17x you picked dual GTX280ms but at 1440x900 :eek::eek:

That is OVERKILL unless you output to a 30" with 2560 x 1600 resolution. Also it will look ugly as *****. Have you ever seen 1440x900 on a 17"er? It looks like ass - everything is so large.

Also stick with the base i7 not the 820QM. For a reference the base i7 is 85% of the power of the 820QM - not worth $400. Also for the RAM, notebookreview forums have proven that there is little to no difference using the base 1066MHz RAM vs the 1333MHz, but for only $25 why not.
 
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Rofl people were emailing xoticpc to see if they can remove the RAM down to 4GB to get a discount.

The new G73 was hyped even before it was announced. The 5870 in a 17" is good, but it cannot compare to sli or crossfire graphics in the Alienware.

The 5870 is crippled by the 128bit bus - not an terribly big issue since it uses GDDR5, but it could have been so much more powerful. People who don't truly understand the issue were freaking out over their pre-orders and were canceling on notebookreview forums.

I think a 5870 in a 15" is just so much win it's insane, but in a 17"...........stuff two of em in there.
 
yea i think it was last night i was reading somewhere about the m17x refresh. im just gonna wait a few weeks for those
 
Well they just refreshed the M17x, but only two options of graphic cards.

4870 or 4870x2.

They also added the insane beautiful RGB LED display with 130 degree viewing angles.
 
Armoured said:
Well they just refreshed the M17x, but only two options of graphic cards.

4870 or 4870x2.

They also added the insane beautiful RGB LED display with 130 degree viewing angles.
Click to expand...

no refresh. those video cards were already options. pretty sure the screen was too
 
why are you buying Alienware?

Sager Notebooks or Xoticpc are better

you do know that Alienwares are rebrands, right?

you're basically paying out of your nose for a shiny alien head on your laptop
 
Alienwares are not rebranded; though they used sell rebranded laptops prior to the new MX lines.

They used to used to use Clevo chassis, but now the M15x and M17x are all original designs.

Based on what you said above, most of what you can get at xoticpc (I love them btw) are re-brands except for the Asus's.

Sager is the definition of a re-brand as they specificly use Clevo chassises.

Alienware might be expensive but their laptops are dead sexy and provide better cooling/quality/parts (RGB LED screen on 17") than your average gaming laptop (BSOD Asus G51).
 
Fail said:
why are you buying Alienware?

Sager Notebooks or Xoticpc are better

you do know that Alienwares are rebrands, right?

you're basically paying out of your nose for a shiny alien head on your laptop
Click to expand...

New ones aren't rebrands and when you figure in the cost of adding a OS to your Xoticpc Sager, the cost is about the same. I researched both companies up and down before I bought my m15x. Xotic will allow a maximum 3% discount and only let you use one discount. Dell will honor every discount imaginable. I got a 10% edp, 3% prefered customer and a Mini 10v for $99.00 Plus they upgraded shipping to Fed ex next day for free. Xotic wouldn't budge. I will say Xotic will give you an extra 2 years on their warranty. Stay away from Asus. Way too many BSOD and overheating issues.
 
Ugh I need a facepalm picture so bad right now for mentioning the Envy.

How can you even offer that opinion based on the choices he originally wanted which was either a M15x or a M17x........

The i7 envy overheats like no other, the 5830 is weaker than the GTX260 and don't even mention the DX11 bs.........

Just no. The only system comparable is the NP8690 GTX280M 15".
 
cougarsoccer said:
yea i see it now. its not avaliable for student discount. which is the website i was looking at
Click to expand...

Get your Alienware through Dell EPP. Don't go through Alienware or plain Dell. I got my best deal this way. When I tried Alienware all I got was some dude from team Blackhawk or whatever that tried to rip me off with no discounts.
 
Armoured said:
Ugh I need a facepalm picture so bad right now for mentioning the Envy.

How can you even offer that opinion based on the choices he originally wanted which was either a M15x or a M17x........

The i7 envy overheats like no other, the 5830 is weaker than the GTX260 and don't even mention the DX11 bs.........

Just no. The only system comparable is the NP8690 GTX280M 15".
Click to expand...


Oh come on, whatever the benchmarks of the 5830 may be, it won't be blown away by the 260. It just won't. Uses less power, and yes, it supports the latest generation graphics.

who gives a _____ what is out now, unless the guy is upgrading again in 6 months or a year, he will have it long enough to brush against some games that will support the latest dx11 features.

As for heat, nothing to come back with there, though he could go with the i5-540m and get very nice performance.


Not enough power?

Then get something like this

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/asus-rog-g73jh-launches-with-core-i7-radeon-hd-5870-bragging-r/



Or even an alienware with that card or the 5850 when available.


Call me crazy, but if I was spending 2 thousand dollars on a laptop, I would not want old generation anything inside it if I could help it.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-5870.23073.0.html

nvidia 260-280

no longer the speed champs, AND don't support the next generation api...

for 2 thousands dollars?... again, no.

If the guy has to wait a bit longer to avoid the 260 or whatever else in favor of the superior radeons, fine, but it makes no sense to me to go with nvidia for that much money.
 
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^^ I know right. I'm rolling with a 128MB x1600 and it's doing fine.

The newer Nvidia cards like the GTS360M will actually be slower than a GTX260m.

They will be using a 128bit bus and DDR5. Some say they will be less prone to problems like throttle issues and overheating BSOD issues but they are directly comparing it to a 9800GT mobility, which is in your words "old tech".

The 5870m will be arriving in March and by April/June Nvidia will finally release the GTX300 cards which will be based on the G200 not the G92b chassis. That will hopefully be a direct shrink from the desktop G200 architecture which will probably destroy the 5870m unless it also uses a 128bit bus.
 
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The new Alienwares are top end machines. Go check the BBB and look up "Clevo" and you'll find a whole lot of issues. That's why you stay away from the Clevo resellers which is all the other guys. Alienware is a good machine these days.
 
tybert7 said:
Interesting, based off the two systems you listed, I'd say go with


http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...ation.do?destination=review&config_id=4224401


CURRENT GENERATION GRAPHICS CARD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I can tell you want the latest and greatest from the choices. So unless you want that old rebranded nvidia tech, get something with the latest gen gpu.
Click to expand...

Yeah, right. 128-bit DDR3 for 25.6 GB/sec bandwidth, downclocked core (500MHz) and memory (800MHz). It might have 800 shaders, but it won't compete with a card with almost 3x the bandwidth.

Not to mention it's an HP which looks boring and has shitty reliability.

It's like back in the day pimping a laptop with a GeForce 8400 when the 7900 and especially the 7950 ran circles around it because the 8400 "is current gen" - aka horseshit.
 
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