Alienware M17x r2 customization and ati 5870 M

[tichondrious]

I'm thinking of buying the Alienware m17x, with the i7 720qm, 6gb ram 1333 hz with the dual ATI 4870's ($2600).

I will be using it solely for gaming. Does anyone know if will Alienware be offering the m17x with the new ATI 5870 x2 and is there a timeframe for that?

Also is it really necessary to buy 8gb ram and the i7 extreme 920m for an extra $1100?

thanks for all responses in advance.

 

[buwish]

A few people have asked the same thing recently. Your best bet is to get ahold of Dell (Alienware) and see if they will tell you when they plan on including the 5870 before you buy.

 

[buwish]

#(#*#$& spammers.

 

[lostandwandering]

#(#*#$& spammers.

I just reported it, should be gone soon.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

*poof*

 

[welshmousepk]

this thread is now very confusing, i assume thanks to Ape and an unkown spammer...

@OP though, Alienware are not usually that quick to offer the latest laptop parts in their Mx series. you may want to keep an eye on iBuypower or origin too.
as buwish said though, its probably worth emailing dell (though last time i did so, i was ignored entirely)

 

[tichondrious]

I called dell and they were clueless, couldnt even help me customize. I also emailed info@alienware and got an automated reply saying this communication channel is no longer available, call dell.... :-(

I know that i can get a cheaper brand with better parts for the price, but I promised myself after buying my last HP which was out of date the week after i bought it, i wouldnt cheap out.

But wondering if it worth buying the extreme chip and buying the 8mb ram for $1100?

 

[welshmousepk]

buying from ibuypower is not 'cheaping out'

alienware don;t offer better components than anyone else, they just charge a royalty for the alienware name. you aren't buying quality, you are buying an alienhead badge.

the extreme chip would be more powerful yes, but probably not worth the added cost(thats a choice you have to make though). 8gb ram would certainly be a waste, 4gb is the sweet spot right now.

 

[tichondrious]

Ipower does look good, along with anus. what do you think about having two video cards?

 

[welshmousepk]

Ipower does look good, along with anus. what do you think about having two video cards?

it depemds on what you expect.

if you want a laptop that can play the latest games at the highest settings, then two GPUs is almost essential. a single more powerful card is usually a better choice, but here thats not an option.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'm starting to see the 5870 offered more and more on laptops now.....here's one with three options:

http/www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage=serial-price&serial=W870CU&promoteid=90000321&screenid=13118100&cpuid=30123300&hdid=40105526&cdromid=20074665&ramid=80113903&batteryid=10031877

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M w/1GB DDR3 [subtract $45.00]
ATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870 w/1GB GDDR5 DX11
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M w/1GB GDDR3 [add $55.00]

 

[welshmousepk]

I'm starting to see the 5870 offered more and more on laptops now.....here's one with three options:

http/www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage=serial-price&serial=W870CU&promoteid=90000321&screenid=13118100&cpuid=30123300&hdid=40105526&cdromid=20074665&ramid=80113903&batteryid=10031877

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M w/1GB DDR3 [subtract $45.00]
ATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870 w/1GB GDDR5 DX11
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M w/1GB GDDR3 [add $55.00]

problem is jack, the OP is waiting for a lappy with TWO 5870Ms. but yes, there are more and more offering the GPU, so im sure it won't be long til we see a dual GPU config.

 

[tichondrious]

Does anyone know of any other laptops offered with dual graphics cards?

 

[lostandwandering]

This one: http/www.xoticpc.com/sager-np8120-built-clevo-x8100-gaming-laptop-p-2768.html

 

[tichondrious]

That is a nice machine, how do u think the nvidia gts 285 compares to the new ati 5870m?

 

[lostandwandering]

A single GTX 285 is a little weaker than a single 5870, in the the case of the laptop I linked you are getting two GTX 285s instead of the one 5870 you would get with the Asus G73. And, no one is currently offering a laptop with 2 5870's.

You can try and wait a month and see if anyone comes out with one, but I can't guarantee that it's going to happen. So it basically comes down to: Do you want a laptop with a single HD 5870, get good performance and the DX 11 option. Or do you want a system that will provide a little better overall performance, but lack the DX 11 option.

 

[tichondrious]

The ultimate dilemma, thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[tichondrious]

Best answer selected by Tichondrious.

 

[ndrake]

Just wanted to add that the 4870s trump the 285M also which exist in the current M17x. The x8100 is a weaker gaming system with a much worse LCD.

285M < 4870 < 5870

 

[lostandwandering]

Just wanted to add that the 4870s trump the 285M also which exist in the current M17x. The x8100 is a weaker gaming system with a much worse LCD.

285M < 4870 < 5870

Based on what benchmarks? I know notebookcheck.net isn't the end all, be all but they have the 285M slightly in front of the 4870. I'll gladly look at anything you've got.

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

edit: or did you mean dual 4870's versus a single 285?