Alienware, i'm guilty

Steve066 · Sep 18, 2014

Ok, I bought an alienware m17x from QVC. I was desperate with no credit and they let me pay it out over 6 months. My question is: Why, when i run a diagnostics on the machine does it show i have 2 different video cards? It shows the Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 and then it shows the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M. So which is running my games. I'm not a hard core gamer. I still play WoW and Eve online but Eve online is a memory hungry game and requires something called a shader 3 technology. I don't know. My alienware does the job i expected it to do but now after 2 years, I'm thinking of building my first machine ever. Suggestions? Specific class I should take? Website that will help me learn to build a better machine than this alienware? Thanks in advance for not coming down to hard on an old man.

justcallmetom13 · Sep 18, 2014

The reason the computer is showing 2 graphics cards is because the CPU has it's own integrated graphics processor. The 660 is a dedicated graphics card so If you're having graphics problems it's probably because the integrated graphics is doing all the work.

Shader 3 is probably a shading system for games.

I would recommend making a whole new thread dedicated to making a PC. The people here will be more than happy to help you make your build.

GRUxTSAR · Sep 18, 2014

What's your budget? I can suggest a parts list for you

xSamaru · Sep 18, 2014

Create a new thread tell the budget there and we ll help you

Seeking Solace · Sep 18, 2014

You can use PCPartPicker to help find parts, prices and compatibility for a new build.

There is a guide to posting here on the forum that gives you a template which I think not only helps us figure what you are looking for in a machine but helps you figure it out yourself. It can seem like and endless list of possibilities, factoring in budget, parts preferences and a target performance can help narrow that list down significantly.

Pinhedd · Sep 18, 2014

Steve066 :

For what it's worth, I have an Alienware M17X R3 laptop that I absolutely love. Great investment.

In any case, if you're in the market for a desktop consider whether or not your laptop will do the trick. You can hook up a nice big display using the laptop's HDMI port or DisplayPort port and then hook up a mouse and keyboard via USB.

If you wish to build a better machine and have the finances to do so, just hang around here a bit to get a feel for what's what. If you have a budget to work with, make a post in the Systems forum and someone will be around in about 30 seconds with a parts list.

Steve066 · Sep 18, 2014

GRUxTSAR :

I'm going to say that in about a month, I'll have a $1300 budget.

I'm a complete noob at all this. I've always trusted the guys/girls at Best Buy when buying a computer until I decided to get the Alienware.

Any specifics will have to be "dumbed down" for me.

Steve066 · Sep 18, 2014

Thank you to everyone here. I'm going to be hanging out doing a lot of reading and asking a few questions.

GRUxTSAR · Sep 18, 2014

Steve066 :

Do you plan on overclocking?

Steve066 · Sep 18, 2014

GRUxTSAR :

I don't have any idea what overclocking is. Of course I'm going to google it now to see what you are speaking of but since I don't know, I'm sure I'm not going to be.

GRUxTSAR · Sep 19, 2014

Steve066 :

This would be a good starting point for you. This would max any game at 1080p OR 1440p

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