Alienware M17x CPU Decisions Need Help

[Greenmantis]

I am very seriously considering Alienware M17x laptop purchase. Although if there is an alternative for a better price with similar features, I would be willing to consider that as well.

My budget is in the $2500 - 2800 area. The problem that I am having is choosing the correct processor. I can not afford the i7 920XM processor ($1000 is a bit steep for a CPU) this leaves four possibilities:

i5 540M 2.53GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 3MB Cache)

i7 620M 2.66 GHz (3.33GHz Turbo Mode, 4MB Cache)

i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)

i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache) + $400 to current config price.

This is configured with 2x 4870 GPU's and 4GB Ram.

While I am interested in saving money as that it is ALREADY a very expensive machine, I need to know which one of those CPU's is the best choice for a gaming machine and I would appreciate community input on the question. I really appreciate your time.

P.S. I am in the military and will be deployed soon and need to make a decision in the near future, so Dell can build this thing for me before I leave.

TYVM
Greenmantis

 

[buwish]

For the set up you currently have and for gaming purposes, I think that you would be just fine with either the 720 or 820.

Check this link out for more info:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

 

[p1n3apqlexpr3ss]

Personally id go with the i7 620m

 

[Maziar]

I would choose the i7 720QM.
i7 620M is good too and its faster in single threaded apps but in multitasking and also in apps and games which are multi-threaded 720QM performs better

 

[shiftstealth]

get the 720, dont spend the extra like 200-300 dollars to get the 820 as its the same as the 720 just with 130mhz faster and the alienware bios lets you oc if you want, thats the only difference.

 

[Greenmantis]

Best answer selected by Greenmantis.