OK folks, looking at getting a new Alienware laptop to replace my ageing Inspiron 9400. This is going to be both my dev machine and the one that I sling around on airplanes, GDC, and client sites.

I'm already pretty sold on getting an M17x. The question is all the different types of processors. There are 2 models of i5, 3 types of i7, and 2x i7 "extreme" available on the M17x. However, getting up into that extreme range is ridiculously expensive. For example, the "extreme" stuff is almost $1000 more than the low-end i7.

Here's my current config:

Space Black - Anodized Aluminum
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64bit, English
Intel® Core™ i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
4GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 2GB DDR3)
150 Watt Adapter
17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 5870
500GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card

I'm only planning on keeping this new box for 2-3 years. Can I get away with the low end i7 (or for that matter, the i5) and be done with it?

FWIW, I'm going to be throwing a 1GB video card and likely 4GB of RAM (maybe 6 or 8) in there.

Thoughts?

I'd just say, go look at some alternatives(newegg), cause AlienWare has always seemed overpriced for what they were giving you.

Quote: Original post by KulSeran
I'd just say, go look at some alternatives(newegg), cause AlienWare has always seemed overpriced for what they were giving you.

Well, the model you linked to isn't remotely what I have listed above. If I select a product that is comparable, I end up with an HP that is actually slightly more expensive than what I tricked out at Alienware.

Still, with regards to processors (which you didn't address), my question still stands.

Quote: Original post by InnocuousFox
...

I have always liked Toshiba, and my sister-in-law just got a new one. She had to have something replaced on it, and the warranty service was excellent. She has a Satellite model, and uses it for WoW. I wish I knew the exact model, but she's not available right at this second. :(

What's super cool is the facial recognition login software!!! No more typin in passwords every time. I'm so lazy, and impressed by simple things. :)

I sense that you are trying to get away from Dell. In case I am wrong about this interpretation, I really must say STAY AWAY FROM DELL!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a Gen 2 XPS, and my wife has the latest model. We've had nothing but hell trying to get warranty work done on our machines. EVIL. EVIL. EVIL. I used to love Dell's stuff with a passion about 10 years ago (like, to the point where all 1000+ machines in the organization where I worked were Dell). Now I just hate them, and it's totally deserved.

This doesn't exactly answer your question, but I had a Laptop with an Intel Core 2 Extreme and now I have a Laptop with an Intel Core 2 Duo. The Core 2 Extreme was far more expensive (probably $500), but in terms of things I actually run on the CPU that take more than one hour, my current laptop is actually faster in almost all cases. I don't notice any significant difference in things that run in real-time, either.

I can't promise that that's true on the i7 processors, but I would still be reluctant to get the Extreme version.

I also have to say that I've never really heard anything good about Alienware. You may want to see if there is a ThinkPad W series model that suits your purposes, because they seem to be pretty much indestructible.

Quote: Original post by cowsarenotevil...

/me seconds the possibility of going IBM/Lenovo. I've heard a lot of good things, but not a lot of bad things.

Quote: Original post by taby
I sense that you are trying to get away from Dell. In case I am wrong about this interpretation, I really must say STAY AWAY FROM DELL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dell bought Alienware back in 2006


You probably won't see a huge "real-world" difference in the processor choices. If you were doing a lot of CPU intensive actions (encoding video, decimating large polygon scan data sets, etc.), you might benefit from having one of the extreme versions. In other words, if you find yourself doing a lot of long-running, CPU intensive tasks, you might want the faster core, with more cache, to knock off a few minutes of calculation time. I think you'd be perfectly fine with the 720QM. Anything above that, you're paying for "cutting edge".

And just for the sake of informations: from the i5 520M (the base choice) to the i7 940XM (top choice), they all still only support dual channel memory.

My personal pick would be the i7 720QM.

Quote: Original post by AverageMidget

Quote: Original post by taby
I sense that you are trying to get away from Dell. In case I am wrong about this interpretation, I really must say STAY AWAY FROM DELL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dell bought Alienware back in 2006

Ick. Well, I hope they don't control the finances or the manufacturing / customer service aspects. Ha ha.. ha... :(

Quote: Original post by taby

Quote: Original post by AverageMidget
Dell bought Alienware back in 2006

Ick. Well, I hope they don't control the finances or the manufacturing / customer service aspects. Ha ha.. ha... :(

They do, which sucks. However, Dell's build quality in the high end models (including the alienware lines) has gone way up over the last few years - they aren't that much behind Sony and Lenovo at this point.

Dude, I just went to Dell/Alienware and configured that laptop... grand total is $2,354.00 USD

In all honesty, I think this is ridiculously overpriced. It appears you're basically paying an enormous premium for the system's ability to crossfire, but I guess that could be worth it if you know you're going to shell out for the extra card. Buying a two thousand dollar laptop and then upgrading it from 4GB RAM to 8GB is just- it just hurts my face.

Less than three weeks ago I bought a Lenovo Y560 (linky to notebookcheck review), which compared to your notional system, has a worse graphics card (an HD 5730), lower screen resolution (1366x768), but 8GB RAM (and otherwise similar, i7 720qm ). Price? $999.00 USD

I would seriously consider lurking techbargains and the like for a little while, you can save a holy crapload with a little patience. But you will have to settle with something less capable than an Alienware, which I don't think should be that painful since you're running an older Inspiron right now.