Question:
Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
With an almost 4k Hefty price tag (Fully maxed out with the 3yr warranty)does the Aleinware m9700 deliver the highest end performance it so claims? I am a fan of AW and would like to own one but here are my concerns.
1) There is no option for a duo core processor.
2) Memory is at 400MHz.
3) FSB is 800MHz.
Why would an SLI enabled machine operating 2x Video not have the duo core processor? Although the Turion ML44 is respective I think it would hold back the overall performance of the video causing some bottlenecking. Are there speciffic reasons why AW has chosen this over duo core? Is it better for this type of configuration rather than the duo? I just don't want to invest that much money into a product only to find out that a duo core processor will be avail in the near future for this configuration. Btw this will be my first laptop ever so if I ask a question that may sound really basic is why. Thank you.
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
the memory of 400mhz is typical of AMD based machine, it is one with low latency so its good! the processor does cause bottleneck though... i personaly wouldn't buy them at this point, as dual core processor will take over, oh btw, alienware did not make its own notebook, they bought the m9700 from an ODM called Arima and stick them with alienware badges, only toshiba and Asus, and maybe some other, make their own laptop, thought u might wanna know.
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
2) Memory is at 400MHz.
3) FSB is 800MHz.
2) The memory is very fast, considering it is DDR400. It is faster than DDR2-533 thanks to low latencies.
3) AMD processors do not use Front side buses. They use HyperTransport links. The HT link in the Turion 64 processor is 1600MHz. Alienware's site is wrong there.
Why would an SLI enabled machine operating 2x Video not have the duo core processor? Although the Turion ML44 is respective I think it would hold back the overall performance of the video causing some bottlenecking. Are there speciffic reasons why AW has chosen this over duo core?
wobble is right, the single-core Turion 64 is indeed a bottleneck. Even if it had a Turion X2 processor, the CPU would still be a bottleneck.
I wouldn't invest in anything that wasn't dual core right now . . best off waiting for the next revision of the m9700, if there is one. No idea if & when that will come out.
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
Thanks for the replies so far. Perhaps the m7700 would be the best bet over the m9700 for now even though it does not offer dual graphics I think it would be faster overall. Any suggestions?
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
The 7700 is better overall, and the 7900 GTX card is PLENTY video card. I know that there is minimal improvement from the 256 mb 7900 gtx and 512, but I don't know why AW doesn't offer the 512 card..
You should also take a look at Sager's version of the Clevo D900K (same thing as 7700). For Sager, it's the NP9750. That's the model I have. There are several reviews for the m7700 and NP9750 here. You should look them up.
I agree with Chaz though. I wouldn't buy anything short of dual core.
[edit]
Furthermore, I WISH the 9700 was available with the turion x2 when I was buying. I would have seriously considered it. That'd be awesome. Dual core, dual HDD, and dual gpu...all on a 17in. Awesome.. I'd even consider it regardless of the customer service!
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
Thank you for all the feedback so far. This leaves me with another question if I do choose dual core.
Is the Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 2.0GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB a good processor? Does this mean it will be 667x2 since its dual core? or should I be looking at 800MHz and higher?
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
You're probably thinking of the old Pentium 4 processors that used 800MHz FSBs. The Core Duo doesn't need a higher FSB than 667MHz, and if it were any higher, the power consumption would go up, which is something that neither the laptop makers nor Intel want. Yes, the T2500 is extremely fast, don't go any higher than that because they're not worth it for the money.
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
the m7700 is probably the worst decision one can make, in fact any laptop eqiuped with desktop processsor is a horrible idea! it will overheat, hav crackling and pop from all the electric interference inside, etc. heard a lot of problem with the m7700, chaz reviewed the m7700 and said that the screen is no good. if u wanna buy a laptop now, get a core duo based one.
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
the m7700 is probably the worst decision one can make, in fact any laptop eqiuped with desktop processsor is a horrible idea! it will overheat, hav crackling and pop from all the electric interference inside, etc. heard a lot of problem with the m7700, chaz reviewed the m7700 and said that the screen is no good. if u wanna buy a laptop now, get a core duo based one.
Well, you have to read the review a little more closely. ;)
I did state that the display was average for a machine costing that much - however, that was the WXGA+. I strongly recommended upgrading to the glossy WUXGA, which is a must-have if you are getting that notebook.
I also noted in the review that the machine ran extremely cool, with virtually no heat buildup in the notebook. It put off quite a bit, but not nearly as much as you would expect. The m7700 has a fantastic cooling solution.
Answer:
Re: Alienware m9700 Is it worth it???
hmmm... a lot of people has problem with the m7700 though