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Talk me OUT of Sager & Dell and INTO an AW m5700, please.

post #1 of 89
2/10/06 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
Hi fellas. I am new to the forums but I've been reading quite of bit for the past month or so. I must say this is an awesome forum to gain info and find answers to tech questions. Now I need your help though.

I am a college student in the Animation / Illustration field at San Jose State University, and I've been reasearching laptops for the past month and I am going to take the plunge now. I've always been fond of AW products but never owned one due to their notorious high prices that they pre-established when the company first started. But I soon discovered they're more reasonable priced then before and their laptops shocked the hell out of me. Not only are they high end, but are competitive in prices. I am leaning toward an AW M5700, but still keeping in mind the M5500, and other competetors.

Let me explain my usage: I am an advent gamer, no doubt. BF2, Doom 3, HF2, ect ect. I am typicall the type that can't stand to "settle for less" either (another reason to obtain the AW, right?). But being an art college student, I also have a budget. I will be running tough apps such as Photoshop CS 2, Illustrator, Painter, 3D rending programs, ect. And of course, movies and music during the downtimes. I have a fairly nice custom built desktop at home, just an FYI. I will be toting around the laptop about 50% of the time while in school (6-8 hours a day). So I don't want a brick powerhouse like some chasis' are designed to be. This leads my consideration into the M5500 over the M5700, but the power differences continue to sway my struggle.

First, you guys being AW guru's, I have a couple of general questions.

1) Is anyone using a M5500 or M5700 for 3D rendering apps and/or Adobe Suite apps? And if so, how well do they run on it?

2) When buying Windows XP from AW, does it come with the actuall CD? Because I want to upgrade my XP home on my desktop to XP Pro, utilizing the CD and the CD Key. So what exactly is given? You can use 1 CD key on up to 2 computers, right?

3) Those of you with the M5500, is the Creative Labs Audio Card worth the buy for general use (not just hooking it up to a speaker system. More so for the laptop speakers or headphones)?.
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My laptops to chose from and their builds.
Standard upgrades: First of all, for these builds, I orignally plan to buy these upgrades because they are quite a bit of a cheaper buy. I want your guy's opinion on this as well:

<B>mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Notebook Memory Model 991479 - Retail [/b]

HITACHI Travelstar 7K100 HTS721060G9SA00 (0A25025) 60GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Notebook Hard Drive - OEM

With shipping and Tax for both = $346

Another quick question. As for HDD's, is it really painfully slow to downspeed to 5400RPM? I never owned a laptop, nor a HDD with 5400 except for back in the days when 7200 RPM didn't exist. And how is that duel Raid 0 with 2 5400?

Alienware
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[1] Area-51® m5700

Processor: Intel® Pentium® M 760 2.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache 533MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Display: Alienware® m5700 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD - Xeno Grey
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 915PM + ICH6 Chipset
Wireless Network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 b/g Wireless Card
Memory: 256MB Single Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 1 x 256MB
Hard Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 40GB 5400 RPM SATA
Video Card: 256MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go 6800
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio
Additional Battery: Alienware® m5700 8-cell Lithium-Ion Smart Battery Pack
Optical Drive: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet
Modem: 56K Modem with V.90 Technology
Alienware Exclusive Offers: GameFly - Unlimited Game Rentals for 15 days - FREE TRIAL
Alienware Exclusive Offers: 10% off your next EB Games online purchase
Alienware Gear: Alienware® Clear Acrylic and Stainless Steel Tumbler
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager

= $2,064.00 and w/ Newegg Upgrades: $2,410
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[1] Area-51® m5500

Processor: Intel® Pentium® M 760 2.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache 533MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Display: Alienware® m5500 15.4" WideSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD - Xeno Grey - Now Shipping within 5 days
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 915GM + ICH6 Chipset
Wireless Network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915 a/b/g Wireless Card
Memory: 512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 256MB
Hard Drive: 40GB 5400 RPM ATA100
Video Card: 256MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go MXM 6600
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS PCMCIA
Additional Battery: Alienware® m5500 6-cell Lithium-Ion Smart Battery Pack
Optical Drive: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet
Modem: 56K Modem with V.90 Technology
Alienware Exclusive Offers: GameFly - Unlimited Game Rentals for 15 days - FREE TRIAL
Alienware Exclusive Offers: 10% off your next EB Games online purchase
Alienware Gear: Alienware® Clear Acrylic and Stainless Steel Tumbler
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager

= $2,011 and w/ Newegg upgrades: $2,357
------------------

Competetors: DELL INSPIRON 9400:

Notebook CPU Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB)
Notebook LCD Panel 17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™
Notebook Hard Drive 60GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Notebook CD/DVD/CDRW 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer write capability
Notebook Memory 512MB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
Notebook Batterie 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Notebook Video Card 256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 7800
Notebook Networking Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card (54Mbps), for Inspiron 9400/E1705
Operating Systems - Dell Microsoft Windows XP Home (Operating System)
Operating Systems - Dell Microsoft Windows XP PRO (Operating System)
Warranty 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr At-Home Service, and 1Yr Tech Support

All of this for $1,915. + Newegg adds: $2,261. That's a nice price. Especially for a 7800.

How is this possible? : http://www.compudirect.com/
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Last but not Least, Sager NP5720C:

17.0" WIDE VIEWING ANGLES WSXGA+ ACTIVE MATRIX LCD DISPLAY WITH SUPER CLEAR GLOSSY SURFACE
CPU Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 / 2MB L2 Cache, 2.0 GHz, 533MHz FSB
Video Controller Nvidia GeForce GO 7800 GTX PCI-Express 16X Graphics with 256MB DDR3 Video Memory
Memory 512MB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz - 1 X 512MB
Primary Hard Drive 80.0GB (SATA 7200rpm) SATA 150 Hard Drive
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM 8X DVD / 24X10X24 CD-RW Combo Drive & Softwares
Battery Smart Li-ION Battery
Modem Integrated 56K V.90 Internal Fax/Modem
Network Adapter Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet LAN & Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g Module
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Warranty 1-year standard warranty from Sager

Total - $2,224. Now w/ Newegg Upgrades (The HDD is cheaper on Sagers sight then Neweggs, thus I only need the RAM) + $160 Grand Total = $2,384

My orignal budget was $2,300 but seeing that I can get a handful for a bit extra, I'll allow up to $2,500 and not a cent more. My pocket will be hurting after that. What do you guys think? I want all the info you can spoon feed me. It is HIGHLY appreciated. I thank you for reading all of this ahead of time. So thanks. Opinions please!


-Logiks
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post #2 of 89
2/10/06 at 8:14pm
if you really want the best and have a tight budget go with the sager 5720
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post #3 of 89
2/10/06 at 8:44pm
if you're primarily running adobe apps like photoshop, why not get a mac and game on the desktop you have? Just curious.
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post #4 of 89
2/10/06 at 9:06pm
Between the Alienware computers, I'd opt for the 5700. But for gaming, I'd have to look seriously at the Sager, as you can get the 7800gtx with Sager. I personally would avoid Dell like the plague.

With the AW's, you get an Alienware recovery CD that is actually a windowsXP cd with an Alienware label. I believe you can put XP on two machines, but you should contact microsoft and make sure first if that's a deal breaker.

If you do go Sager, buy it from PCTorque, they're the sponsors of these forums.
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post #5 of 89
2/10/06 at 9:30pm
what is so bad about the dell xps 170 hh?it is fast and cool looking and has a 7800 gtx and everything youy can want.i know it is kinda over priced but what is so bad.dont worry i am not favorig dells side i was just wondering (i am not buying a laptop for at least 4 months because i just got my 360)
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post #6 of 89
2/10/06 at 9:49pm
Sad to say right now the Dell will be the fastest one of those you listed because of the Core Duo. Unfortunately neither AW nor Sager has yet rolled out Core Duo for their lappys.

As a result, the fastest and best notebook out there right now is probably the Macbook Pro, with its Core Duo, 667Mhz RAM and Radeonx1900 video. But then you have to ask if you want to go the Mac OS route (not dissing the Mac OS, but you need to go into something like changing OSes with eyes open).
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post #7 of 89
2/10/06 at 9:53pm
Because they are loaded with crap right when they arrive with your door... tons of ads and whatnot. Plus there is the overall build of a computer that makes it good. How everything is put togeather. They phail at this. Also they only support intell and AMD owns intell in every way immaginable as of typing this so yea dell sucks. I have one and hate it.
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post #8 of 89
2/10/06 at 10:06pm
It is a hard choice. Since you plan to carry it around for 6 hrs a day, I would think portability is important. Add to this that you have a good desktop system, and this points to the m5500.

If you really want the 17" system, I'd have to recommend Dell, Hypersonic, or Sager - as they all give you the option to get the go7800GTX video card. The only downside to the m5700 is it only comes with the go6800 card (still a good card, but not a 7800).

I've been using a Dell XPS2 for the past 6 months (with the go6800Ultra) and it handles everything I throw at it - and while I can play F.E.A.R. on it, prefer my desktop for that. With the 2.0GHz CPU, I am quite happy with its performance using Photoshop (while I've got the CS suite on it, admittedly Photoshop is the one I use the most). The 1920X1200 display is also nice.

So - now you know I am biased to a desktop and notebook combo. I have an m5500 on order (256MB go6600, 1680x1050 display, 2.0GHz CPU). I'm wiling to sacrifice some performance for gaming on the go since I have a desktop. I found the 17" notebook just a bit awkward and heavy - looking for something that's easier to carry and use on my lap. I'm not expecting it to handle games as well as the XPS2 or my SLI Desktop, but I think it will be fine. You may also want to check out the Review section - see the reviews by Guntizzle, Charivari, and _j_.

Good luck with your decision.
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post #9 of 89
2/10/06 at 10:18pm
as shazza said its a tough choice... i have a 5700 and i have an xps m170 and i love them both
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post #10 of 89
2/10/06 at 10:27pm
I also have an m5700 and it games really really well. and it has the same set-up basicly. 1gb ram 2.0 proc 60 gb hard drive. id say go with the aw.
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post #11 of 89
2/10/06 at 11:32pm
dude whatever you decide... there 3 pretty neat sounding machines you have posted there....

im sure you will end up happy in the end

happy hunting and let us all know what your final decision/thoughts are


best of luck
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post #12 of 89
2/11/06 at 12:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bucktoothviking
what is so bad about the dell xps 170 hh?it is fast and cool looking and has a 7800 gtx and everything youy can want.i know it is kinda over priced but what is so bad.dont worry i am not favorig dells side i was just wondering (i am not buying a laptop for at least 4 months because i just got my 360)
He's not looking at the XPS as it's quite a bit more expensive.

All Dells have Dell mobo's in them. IMO Dell built the XPS as minimal hardware to support the 7800, so you will get good frame rates out of the thing, but you won't get the quality hardware you'll get with these other companies, especially regarding screens and motherboards. Every review I've read on Dell mentions the motherboards, and not in a good way...

Many people are happy with their XPS's, Shazza has one here and she loves it, but if you want all the components to be top notch, you should look at the high end companies too. Alienware 7700's for example have frequently been less expensive than the comparable XPS.

And for gaming, I think the 7800 vid card is much more important than dual core processors, but you should consider that too.
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post #13 of 89
2/11/06 at 1:03am
actually i got the exact same specs but the dell had 2.0 ghz and the alienwre 2.93 and had 1 gb ram adn 7800 gtx and the alienware was 2,964 adn the dell xps was 2,628 dollars.ha my point is proven hahahahah hammerhead
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post #14 of 89
2/11/06 at 1:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bucktoothviking
actually i got the exact same specs but the dell had 2.0 ghz and the alienwre 2.93 and had 1 gb ram adn 7800 gtx and the alienware was 2,964 adn the dell xps was 2,628 dollars.ha my point is proven hahahahah hammerhead
I wish I knew what you were trying to say.
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post #15 of 89
2/11/06 at 2:00am
i configured the dell and the alienware to have the same specs and the dell xps 170 was 2,628 and the alienware was 2,964 dollars.the dell is cheaper alot cheaper then the alienware
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post #16 of 89
2/11/06 at 9:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bucktoothviking
i configured the dell and the alienware to have the same specs and the dell xps 170 was 2,628 and the alienware was 2,964 dollars.the dell is cheaper alot cheaper then the alienware
just to put my 2 cent's worth in...hammerhead also said that the XPS m170 was built with the minimum in mind, that is to say that Dell built it just barely good enough to squeeze out a 7800 GPU. although I must say that the Dell XPS m170 is a little off topic based on what his main needs are. I actually am completely indifferent, I almost went for the XPS m170, but decided against it and will soon be ordering an Aurora m7700 with all the trimmings (see thread: should I get the Aurora m7700???!!!) after viewing the testimonials for both products on these forums. let's just face it: Dell has a reputation for having questionable products, to say the least. plus, their support is about as seaworthy as a brick of lead. Dell is a mainstream company (who likes mainstream? anybody?) that builds computers for the average American family on a tight budget, who wants simply 'to get the job done'.

thank you for your time.
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post #17 of 89
2/11/06 at 10:08pm
i know alienware makes better gaming laptops because they have been in the gaming laptop/desktop buisness for a longer time.i ws just saying that the dell xps is cheaper then the area 51 7700.ALIENWARE IS WAY BETTER THEN DELL, ESPEACIALLY FOR PORTABILITY (when i say portability i mean gaming laptop portability)
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post #18 of 89
2/11/06 at 10:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bucktoothviking
i know alienware makes better gaming laptops because they have been in the gaming laptop/desktop buisness for a longer time.i ws just saying that the dell xps is cheaper then the area 51 7700.ALIENWARE IS WAY BETTER THEN DELL, ESPEACIALLY FOR PORTABILITY (when i say portability i mean gaming laptop portability)
the why are you even mentioning Dell at all? even when it has completely no relevance to the original thread. think before you post.
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post #19 of 89
2/11/06 at 10:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bloody_psycho
the why are you even mentioning Dell at all? even when it has completely no relevance to the original thread. think before you post.
UHM... but the thread reads:

Talk me OUT of Sager & Dell and INTO an AW m5700, please.


think before YOU post!!!!!
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post #20 of 89
2/11/06 at 11:28pm
All I know is I'd rather tell someone I had an Alienware than a Dell. A friend of mine bought a Dell laptop. He finally had to buy a new copy of XP and format his hard drive to get all the crap off of it.
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