Alienware m17 vs m17x

[woolsheep]

Hey guys im buying a new laptop soon and its going to be alienware, i dont want to hear your problems with alienware im dead set on getting one + i have the money. I like the m17x's sleek design but from what i have read it is not as powerful as the m17 am i right, i would also like to state that i will be running games like cod 4 and 6 (when it comes out) crysis world of warcraft and serching the web and stuff like that. i dont wanna have to buy another pc for at least 24 months. if ya could, could ya please provide a good build im pretty inexperienced with computers, thanks

 

[lostandwandering]

No, whoever told you the M17 was faster got themselves mixed up. The M17 with dual 3870's or 4850's is slower than the M17x with dual GTX280's. Even with the dual GTX260's the M17x should be faster.

How much are you looking to spend?

 

[woolsheep]

About 3500 - 4000 australian, i thinks thats about 3400 USD. ok thanks cus i did like the m17x's overall look and if you say that its faster and more powerful than the m17 then that just about makes up my mind. Do you know what the battery life would be like for both?

 

[ashmista]

Battery life for these things would depend on how many of those graphics cards youre going to have and other things such as game settings or how long youre gunna play. But i'd say thet the m17x (9cell battery if im mistaken) would last 1:30 mins gaming. The m17 would last a little bit longer but again, depends on the set up you choose.

How many hardrives, ram, cpu, and graphics

 

[lostandwandering]

Battery life for these things would depend on how many of those graphics cards youre going to have and other things such as game settings or how long youre gunna play. But i'd say thet the m17x (9cell battery if im mistaken) would last 1:30 mins gaming. The m17 would last a little bit longer but again, depends on the set up you choose.

How many hardrives, ram, cpu, and graphics

You're pushing it. The reviewer at NBR got an hour max in Power Save mode w/ wifi turned off and that was just 2 9800GT's: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4656

The review is a tad bit old, but I would expect much better than an hour and a half while surfing the web. And certainly not much more than an hour playing games. Dual GPUs require far too much power for that.

For your budget, I would at the very least bump the CPU up to the P8700 (2.53ghz) and get dual GTX260's and the WUXGA screen ($2299 USD). From there you can decide to add Blu-ray, an SSD or jump on dual GTX280's.

edit: oh wow, the config on the aussie site is completely different. I don't think I would change much to the base aussie config.

 

[woolsheep]

hey guys i just made 2 builds that would suit my price i could also go a little higher if needed. could you guys please check them out and see if ive done anything wrong or anything, also witch one is better overall and what could i do to make either one a better build, thanks


M17



512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (Penryn) 2.26GHz (3MB Cache 1066MHz

FSB)
Black Skullcap Design - 17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p)
Illuminated Keyboard with Numeric Pad - Alienware Exlusive Design -

Fusion-Red
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1067MHz - 2 x 2048MB
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1

plus Free Windows 7 Upgrade Option
Single Drive Configuration - 160GB 7200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall

Protection
8x Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW Burner
Wireless LAN RealTek b/g (Full mini-Card)
1-Year AlienCare Warranty Return To Base + Toll-Free Phone Support
AlienRespawn v2.0 Recovery DVD – Windows Vista Edition Only
Norton™ AntiVirus™ 2008 OEM
None
Additional Battery - 12-cell Lithium-lon Battery
AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $99.99 Value -

FREE!
Alienware® Mobile Owner's Manual + Binder, Alienware® Mesh Cap,Alienware®

Mousepad, Alienware® Sticker, Alienware® MC Panel Overlay - Quick Guide,

Protective Sleeve Cloth Bag.


Quoted Price: $3605.09 AUD







M17x

COLOR OPTIONS: Metallic Space Black Base edit
PROCESSOR: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66GHz/ 1066 FSB/ 6MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium 64-bit SP1 Edition (English)
MEMORY: 4GB Dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB)
HARD DRIVE: 1TB 7200RPM SATA RAID 0 (2 x 500GB)
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8X DVD + /-RW Drive with DVD + R double layer write capability
VIDEO CARD: SLI(TM) Dual 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 260M

WARRANTY & SERVICEK: 1-Year Premier Service
SECURITY SOFTWARE: McAfee(R) Security Center(TM) - 24 Months OEM
DELIVERY CHARGES: Standard Delivery: Delivery 9am-5pm - Monday to Friday (excl. public

holidays)




HD DISPLAY 17.0 " Beyond HD 1200p WUXGA (1920x1200) CCFL Display with TrueLife TM
BATTERIES 9-cell Primary Battery
POWER OPTION Power Cord (ANZ)
WIRELESS NETWORK CARD Dell Wireless 1510 802.11n Half Mini-Card
BLUETOOTH Dell(TM) Wireless 370 Bluetooth Internal mini-card
Keyboard AlienFX(R) Illuminated Keyboard (English)
Dell Services: Remarks Laptop Batteries Carry 1 Year Warranty Only From Invoice Date
Dell Services: Remarks Dell's Terms and Conditions apply
Item included in the System ExpressCard Slot, (DOES NOT SUPPORT PC CARDS)
Item included in the System Alienware Customization Software
Item included in the System Alienware Nameplate
Item included in the System CyberLink PowerDVD Software
Item included in the System Nero Software
Item included in the System Alienware Command Center Software
Item included in the System CyberLink YouCAM Camera Software
Freights NB-OL-CTO Handling & Insurance charges(Australia)
Label Options Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Label
CARRYING CASES No Case
Automatic Update Automatic Updates On
Power Setting Alienware Power Setting - Default


$3,862.801 AUD

 

[lostandwandering]

The M17x is far superior and for only 200 AUD more, is worth the money. It has a decently more powerful CPU, far better graphics and a higher resolution screen. The only down side is going to be battery life, but hey you are after all buying a gaming laptop.

 

[woolsheep]

Yea you're exactly right thanks alot mate you've been a great help.

 

[lostandwandering]

Yea you're exactly right thanks alot mate you've been a great help.

No problem. That's why I'm here

 

[woolsheep]

Hey mate i made two new builds whatdoya think of them are both of em still a good gaming machine?


m17

512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (Penryn) 2.26GHz (3MB Cache 1066MHz FSB)
Black Skullcap Design - 17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p)
Illuminated Keyboard with Numeric Pad - Alienware Exlusive Design - Fusion-Red
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1067MHz - 2 x 2048MB
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1 plus Free Windows 7 Upgrade Option
Single Drive Configuration - 160GB 7200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
2X Blu-ray Reader / DVD±RW Burner
Wireless LAN RealTek b/g (Full mini-Card)
1-Year AlienCare Warranty Return To Base + Toll-Free Phone Support
Norton™ AntiVirus™ 2008 OEM
None
AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $99.99 Value - FREE!
Alienware® Mobile Owner's Manual + Binder, Alienware® Mesh Cap,Alienware® Mousepad, Alienware® Sticker, Alienware® MC Panel Overlay - Quick Guide, Protective Sleeve Cloth Bag

$3881.08 AUD


M17x


COLOR OPTIONS: Metallic Space Black Base edit
PROCESSOR: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66GHz/ 1066 FSB/ 6MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium 64-bit SP1 Edition (English)
MEMORY: 4GB Dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB)
HARD DRIVE: 1TB 7200RPM SATA RAID 0 (2 x 500GB)
COLOR OPTIONS Metallic Space Black Base edit
PROCESSOR Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66GHz/ 1066 FSB/ 6MB Cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium 64-bit SP1 Edition (English) edit
MEMORY 4GB Dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB) edit
HARD DRIVE 1TB 7200RPM SATA RAID 0 (2 x 500GB) edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load Fixed Blu-ray BD-ROM / DVD + /-RW Combo Drive edit
VIDEO CARD SLI(TM) Dual 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 260M edit
Accessorise My Dell
WINDOWS COLOR THEME Windows Colour Theme - Default edit
MOUSE POINTERS Alienware Mouse Pointer - Default edit
Protect My Dell
WARRANTY & SERVICE 1-Year Premier Service edit
SECURITY SOFTWARE McAfee(R) Security Center(TM) - 36 Months OEM edit
DELIVERY CHARGES Standard Delivery: Delivery 9am-5pm - Monday to Friday (excl. public holidays) edit
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
HD DISPLAY 17.0 " Beyond HD 1200p WUXGA (1920x1200) CCFL Display with TrueLife TM
BATTERIES 9-cell Primary Battery
POWER OPTION Power Cord (ANZ)
WIRELESS NETWORK CARD Dell Wireless 1510 802.11n Half Mini-Card
BLUETOOTH Dell(TM) Wireless 370 Bluetooth Internal mini-card
Keyboard AlienFX(R) Illuminated Keyboard (English)
Dell Services: Remarks Laptop Batteries Carry 1 Year Warranty Only From Invoice Date
Dell Services: Remarks Dell's Terms and Conditions apply
Item included in the System ExpressCard Slot, (DOES NOT SUPPORT PC CARDS)
Item included in the System Alienware Customization Software
Item included in the System Alienware Nameplate
Item included in the System CyberLink PowerDVD Software
Item included in the System Nero Software
Item included in the System Alienware Command Center Software
Item included in the System CyberLink YouCAM Camera Software
Freights NB-OL-CTO Handling & Insurance charges(Australia)
Label Options Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Label
Ctl 1st LTO2
CARRYING CASES No Case
Automatic Update Automatic Updates On
Power Setting Alienware Power Setting - Default

$3,965.201 AUD

 

[lostandwandering]

I don't see much of a difference between these two "new" ones and the two other ones. Either way, for only 100 more, the M17X is still the better system. The dual GTX260s far surpass the single 3870.

 

[woolsheep]

ok thanks again the difference was the blu rays do ya think that blu ray will be better in future because i think that soon games will be on blurays so then i will be prepared.

 

[woolsheep]

Hey can your guys tell me the major difference between

4GB Dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
and
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz

 

[lostandwandering]

^Just the speed. There isn't a huge difference though, probably noticeable or worth the money for the upgrade.

 

[woolsheep]

so dont bother paying 400 extra dollars for the better one?

 

[lostandwandering]

^$400 for a minor boost in RAM speed? Heck no. That's rather absurd.

 

[woolsheep]

yea lol im getting that laptop very soon and that was one of the upgrades thanks

 

[woolsheep]

yea exactly, i was looking at the american site and you guys get the option of a razer mamba with your m17x we get a crappy logitech one here in australia

 

[woolsheep]

hey guys what would be a better video card

a single 1792MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 260
or for $107 dollars more
SLI - Dual 1024MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTS 240

 

[lostandwandering]

A single GT 240M provides about half of the performance of the GTX 260M. SLI hardly ever results in double the performance, so I would say the the GTX260 would still come out on top. Plus, having a dual card set-up will absolutely kill your battery life.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html

 

[woolsheep]

oh its not for a laptop anymore i decided to get a desktop cheaper and more powerful so still single gtx 260M?

 

[lostandwandering]

oh its not for a laptop anymore i decided to get a desktop cheaper and more powerful so still single gtx 260M?

If it's for a desktop you are better off asking that question in the graphics card section of the forum. They would be able to help you more than I can.