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Alienware Aurora m9700 or Acer Aspire 9800

post #1 of 12
6/23/06 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
Ok Im wondering which do you guys think is a better computer notebook to get The aurora I'm thinking of getting would be configured like this:

Aurora m9700
17 inch Screen
Turion ML-44 Proccessor
1920X1200 Screen
200 GB 7200 RPM raid 0 array
256 MB Nvidia Geforce Go 7900 GS (only one)
2 GB DDR memory
8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Windows Media Center Edition w/ Tv tuner and remote
Price: 3320.00
If you need any more info on the Aurora just ask

The Acer Aspire 9800
20.1 Inch WSXGA+
1680X1050
2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 ram
Nvidia Geforce Go 7600 w/ 256 MB Ram
HD DVD rom drive
Hybrid digital/analog TV Tuner
Windows Media Center Edition
240 GB 5,400 RPM raid 0 array
The acer supports these DVD and Cd-rom drives and speeds
Modular variable-speed HD DVD-ROM:
Read – 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 24X CD-RW, 8X DVD-ROM, 8X-DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD-R DL (double-layer), 4X DVD+R DL (double-layer), 4X DVD-RW, 4X DVD+RW, 3X DVD-RAM, 1X HD DVD
Write – 16x CD-R, 10X CD-RW, 4X DVD-R, 4X DVD+R, 4X DVD-RW, 4X DVD+RW, 3X DVD-RAM, 2.4X DVD+R DL (double-layer), 2X DVD-R DL (double- layer)
Price: Between 2600-3000 (not released as of this date)
Im just wondering your opinions on which laptops (Im not a big gamer so the graphics card dosent matter, and price isnt much of an issue)
If you need any other info here is the website for the acer: http://us.acer.com/acereuro/page9.do...crc=2619769406 (copy and paste link)
Im assuming most people on the alienware board know where to find the Aurora M9700 website area.
Please post any opinions and what you people think I should buy
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post #2 of 12
6/23/06 at 8:18pm
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post #3 of 12
6/23/06 at 8:36pm
Thread Starter 

I plan too...

Most of my programs arent very graphic intense, and Im not a very heavy gamer (i may do light gaming but nothing that would call for some serious graphics cards,) I do do multiple applications at once, and often they can put some serious strain on my computers. They arent graphic intensive so their's no problem with the graphics card. Also Im going to college in about year so I want something that will take the place of most of my current objects (the dorm isunfortuneately small so I need something to replace my TV among other things) I could use it as a DVD player, plus HD-DVD is an added bonus. It also comes with a digital TV reciever, which is nice. It's also costs far less than the Aurora m9700 (although it dosent matter for price, but Im kind of a cheapskate on these things :P) Screen resolution isnt a major problem (even my current desktop which has a native resolution of 1920X1200 the text is waaaaay too small, so I often put it at 1680X1050 resolution) Im just wondering what you think is best (I know your an expert on alienware computers Hammerhead, and you often give good advice when buying computers plus your the first person to reply too my thread in about 7 hours) So if you need to know anything else, just ask but so far that what I plan to do
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post #4 of 12
6/23/06 at 8:44pm
wow, wow, wow, wow, wow...If your going to be moving this laptop around, i'm assuming that because your going to go to college. I would not get a 13 lb laptop and carry it around to college with me. You know how tiring it will be? You may not think it will be heavy but carrying around a 19" or 20" laptop...wow! I would just go with a 15" laptop with core duo. 15" is big enough to have two windows open at the same time. For the little amount gaming that your going to be doing, you could go with like a dell 1505 with like an x1400 or like the area 51 5500 with a go6600 but i would wit for alienware to put core duo on the area 51 5500.
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post #5 of 12
6/23/06 at 9:01pm
Thread Starter 

well actually

Im going to MIT, and I have a much smaller laptop (ultraportable, no optical drive) it has around a 7 hour battery life, which is mainly for just taking notes and stuff (very very small hard drive), the larger one is for much more intensive work, and putting stuff to discs and such. Anything else you would like to know?
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post #6 of 12
6/23/06 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nano_Computer
Most of my programs arent very graphic intense, and Im not a very heavy gamer (i may do light gaming but nothing that would call for some serious graphics cards,) I do do multiple applications at once, and often they can put some serious strain on my computers. They arent graphic intensive so their's no problem with the graphics card. Also Im going to college in about year so I want something that will take the place of most of my current objects (the dorm isunfortuneately small so I need something to replace my TV among other things) I could use it as a DVD player, plus HD-DVD is an added bonus. It also comes with a digital TV reciever, which is nice. It's also costs far less than the Aurora m9700 (although it dosent matter for price, but Im kind of a cheapskate on these things :P) Screen resolution isnt a major problem (even my current desktop which has a native resolution of 1920X1200 the text is waaaaay too small, so I often put it at 1680X1050 resolution) Im just wondering what you think is best (I know your an expert on alienware computers Hammerhead, and you often give good advice when buying computers plus your the first person to reply too my thread in about 7 hours) So if you need to know anything else, just ask but so far that what I plan to do

Screen resolution is important to me for games, but if you don't game it shoudn't really be an issue. tv is low res so it shouldn't matter for that either. I'm really not familiar with HD DVD yet, but I do know that you'll need HDCP compliant hardware, so you might want to ask if the Acer is. The digital tuner built in is also a benefit...

For what you describe, the duo core processor would be a big benefit for you. Running more than one application at a time will really make a difference between dual core and single core. I know Alienware will be offering dual core in the near future, but there is no solid date on that.

It certainly sounds like the Acer suits your needs better than the m9700 at this point. The only real benefit I'm seeing is the size for mobility, but if the computer will be used mostly in the dorm the larger screen would be a good thing. The m9700 is built for gaming performance and mobility, it doesn't sound like that is your priority.

I've had one Acer, a desktop that I bought back in 1996, and at the time it was supposed to be the ultimate multimedia machine. The computer itself worked fine, but the peripherals were a nightmare. They sent me the wrong monitor several times, and the sound system that came with the computer had a subwoofer that had to be replaced three times. I finally gave up on that computer when the onboard sound started humming and buzzing whenever the hard drives would spin up. I understand that their mobile line is well respected though, and though they don't tend to push the performance envelope when it comes to gaming and graphics power, they generally get good reviews.

Sounds to me like the Acer is more in line with your needs.

I understand the Acer isn't available yet, but have any hardware sites done any reviews of prototypes or anything?
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post #7 of 12
6/23/06 at 9:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nano_Computer
Im going to MIT, and I have a much smaller laptop (ultraportable, no optical drive) it has around a 7 hour battery life, which is mainly for just taking notes and stuff (very very small hard drive), the larger one is for much more intensive work, and putting stuff to discs and such. Anything else you would like to know?

Ah, well if the smaller laptop would be for mobility, the Acer portability isn't really an issue. It will certainly be more portable than a desktop with separate speakers, keyboard, monitor etc...

Sounds like the Acer is a good solution for you.
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post #8 of 12
6/23/06 at 10:31pm
Thread Starter 
Ok thanks for the help Hammerhead, and the Acer is HDCP compliant, oh and trusted reviews has done a review on a version with a slower proccessor and 160 GB hard drive and they mentioned it was a pretty good laptop and they want toe review the HD-DVD one when available (the only model that will be available in the US also) you dont have a choice with hard drives or anything though, so you get a top of the line model for about 3000 dollars (possibly less though many pre-order sites have it listed as 2600-2749)
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post #9 of 12
6/24/06 at 1:30am
The 7600 GT isnt that bad of a card. I can run F.E.A.R at around 40 fps with a 7600 in an Asus desktop. Don't know the exact specs but it runs pretty smooth

A 7900 GS will still blow it away though
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post #10 of 12
6/24/06 at 9:27am
Thread Starter 
Well at least it's a pretty decent card, and I kind of figured that out, like the 7900GTX will pretty much annhilate the 7900GS, and most other graphics cards as well
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post #11 of 12
6/24/06 at 8:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nano_Computer
Well at least it's a pretty decent card, and I kind of figured that out, like the 7900GTX will pretty much annhilate the 7900GS, and most other graphics cards as well

The big difference between the 7900gtx and gs is the power use. There are some minor differences with pipelines and geometry, but the main difference is clock speed and therefor power consumption. From what I've seen, the 7900gs scores about 75% of what the gtx does in 3dMark, but it uses less than half the power. That's why I think the 7900gs is a natural for mobile systems.

No doubt the gtx will kick it's butt, but it'll also get a lot hotter, run the battery down, and with the added heat probably won't last as long.

I'm not familiar with the 7600 at all.
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post #12 of 12
6/25/06 at 11:01am
Thread Starter 
oh wow, never realized the 7900GTX will use that much power, wow well I can see why very few laptops use it as a card, besides expensive gaming laptops
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