Advice Wanted : XPS m1710 vs Area-51 m5790

I'm buying a laptop and after looking around, I've settled on either the Dell XPS m1710 or the Alienware Area-51 m5790. I'm buying to replace my myriad of aging desktops as well as a dog-slow Dell D600 laptop (work provided) in a single machine.

I intend to use the machine for...

- 3D Gaming
- Graphic Design and Digital illustration
- Multimedia Content Creation
- Software Development
- Additional Work in VPC Environments
- Presentations/Demonstrations at Client Sites

My current main desktop machine is a P4 3.0ghz HT with 2gb DDR and a 128mb GeForce 6800. Given the configurations I've outlined below, either of these machines should provide a significant performance increase in each of those applications.

One last issue, I am buying through a purchase program that my employer offers. They will provide an interest free 36 month loan for a computer (up to 3000.00USD) so long as it carries a 3year warranty, has a modem port (I know, the policy is a little behind the times), and I buy it direct from manufacturer or an established 3rd party vendor already affiliated with the company.

Okay, all that said, here are the contenders...

Shared Configuration Components
- 17" WUXGA (1900x1200) LCD
- Intel C2D T7400 (2.16ghz 4mb)
- 2GB DDR2 667mhz RAM
- 100gb 7200rpm SATA Drive (Seagate I assume)
- 8x Dual-Layer DVD Burners
- Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet + Modem
- Internal Wi-Fi card (B/G is all I care about atm)
- 3yr Warranty

Dell Only Configuration Components
- 512MB Nvidia GeForce Go 7950 GTX
- Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal
- Planted Tree
- Rugged Good Looks that oozes testosterone and makes you wonder which port the hair will grow from.

Alienware Only Configuration Components
- 256mb ATi Mobility Radeon x1900
- Alienware Branded fUnc pad
- Tee Shirt!
- Super Sleek Style that looks just corporate enough to gain entry to the board meeting, but subversive enough to undermine the director's authority.

Because of a corporate arrangement with Dell, I'm able to get the XPS at a decent discount. We have no such agreement with Alienware.
Below are the prices as configured.

Dell XPS m1710 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2977.34USD
Alienware Area-51 m5790 . . . . 3144.00USD

Obviously, the Alienware is a bit more expensive, 167 bucks or so, 144 that I'd have to front (in addition to accessories like the backpack, extra AC adaptor and battery, etc etc)

But the real difference between the two configurations are the GPUs, 512mb GeForce Go 7950 GTX and the 256mb ATi Mobility Radeon x1900. I can't seem to find a real convincing determination between the two for long or even short-term gaming value of one over the other, but I'm getting the idea that maybe the x1900 is the better GPU even with it's 256mb memory deficit. I'd really appreciate some clarification on that point.

So there are other factors as well. The Dell has those front panel media touch buttons, which I'd probably use occasionally. The Alienware would probably get more chicks, which I'd probably be envious of (Why can I be an Alienware?!?!).

Battery power, and Heat are also concerns, as well as screen quality (though i suspect they are similar if not the same exact parts).

I'd like to steer clear of ATi and Nvidia Fanboi wars, but I am leaning towards the Dell right now from a common sense standpoint (512mb providing additional graphics benefits, as well as the lower price), though my heart is pining for the Area-51. If price were equal, and the evaluation of the x1900 vs the 7950 GTX were equal, I'd be buying the Alienware without hesitation.

I've read Sub's m5790 Review here, and I found it helpful, but perhaps not enough to make my decision in and of itself. I'd like some comparitive data from both platforms if possible. I've got a week or two to make my decision, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

-jp

Well, like I said, I'm sort of leaning towards the Dell, but I'd like to see a comprehensive comparison between the 512mb 7950GTX and the 256mb x1900.

One other noteworthy thing, if configured with a Blu-Ray drive, the configuration options lean in favor of the m5790.

For example, to get the Dell with the Blu-Ray, you have to jump up to the C2D T7600 (2.33ghz) and the List Price skyrockets to $4422 USD ($3622 USD after my discount).

Matching that on the Alienware, and you have a $3994 USD list price, but can back off to the C2D T7400 (cheapest C2D I would recommend) and end up with the same configuration I listed in my original post for $3694 USD.

Given my discount, the Dell is still the cheaper buy (and a little more CPU for my money in this case), the difference in the retail price is staggering.

As it stands for me right now, I'm not willing to pay $500+ for a blu-ray drive (800+ in the case of the XPS because of the forced CPU upgrade) when I suspect they will be available for less than half that by the end of the year. So the Video Cards still represent the biggest purchase consideration at this point. I'm sure the 7950GTX will be plenty, but if the x1900 is better, then I just got an excuse to buy Alienware (a free Blu-ray drive would do it too, hint hint)

Anyone got any hard comparison data between the m5790 x1900 and the m1710 7950GTX?

That was actually a lot of help. Although, it clearly tilts my buying decision in favor of the XPS from a value standpoint.

I am only a little concerned about DX10, but only because I will have this machine for 3 years. It will probably be another year and a half at least before we start seeing DX10 titles at all, but given the slow adoption of Vista (Ballmer himself isn't impressed with rollout numbers), and the huge DX9 installed base, I'm betting I will see quality DX9 games being issued for the duration of the laptop's lifespan as my primary machine.

I was really hoping the Alienware would shake out the victor in some way shape or form, but it looks like MSFT and AirForceElite were totally on track.

I might yet try a phonecall to an Alienware salesperson to see if I can't haggle the price down a bit towards the m5790's favor. I'd love to come across an excuse to buy Alienware, but as it stands, the Dell is just plain the better deal (And I managed to configure it sub-3gs with the Formula Red which is bonus).

Thanks for all the replies so far, if anyone else has anything to add, by all means please do!

I don't really want this to turn into yet another m9750 hype thread, but it seems to me that the upcoming Aurora redeux is actually a far more direct competitor to the XPS I've configured, which sort of leaves me wondering exactly where the m5790 fits in in the Alienware Lineup after the introduction of the m9750, unless it's purely the case of a lower price point, or the m9750 isn't available in a single GPU config.

I'm sure I *could* wait until May to make a purchase decision (though I don't really want to).

I'm struggling here, what at one point seemed a very clear decision, is now fairly muddled. XPS m1710 vs. Area-51 m5790 vs. Patience + m9750.

Ugh!

Yeah well, patience was never my strong suit. I wonder what kind of price implications the new hardware will carry. I'll still be limited to a 3g budget, so I am concerned about how much I'll be able to buy for my money when everything is shiny and new.

Base configuration is targetted for $1999 if I'm reading them right.

Of course, I don't expect that to be with raid drives, sli video, or even 1gb of ram. I'm thinking bare bones. The suggestion that it will be the santa rosa platform is educated speculation, but speculation regardless.

Okay, I've been thinking about this enough. I'm buying the XPS tomorrow, and here is why.

Accidental Damage Protection.

I have a 4yr old, and just the other day I had to pull all the keys off my D600 because she had mysteriously dropped about 100 tiny necklace beads all over it. If I had a $3000 Alienware, and she did something worse, I'd be screwed. With the Dell, I get it fixed.

Even though I was beginning to waffle on the purchase in favor of waiting out the Aurora m9750 and any direct competitors, it seems to me that even if I were to buy in 3 months, 3 months later something else would make it partly obsolete, or even completely. I can't imagine me not being able to game on an XPS bought tomorrow at any point in the next 3 years. Besides, gaming is only half (or less) of what I intend to accomplish with this machine, and it should hold up to everything else just fine. If I find myself wishing I had better hardware down the road, I can always build out a desktop.

Way to go Rick, opent that can of worms again. Here I was, twitchy finger on the trigger, and you go and say something entirely too useful to ignore.

This forum has been a learning experience, that's for sure.

I did notive that the xVx Monstruo-M S400 (or Sager 5760, or Clevo whatever it is) could ship for a lot less with a lot more, but I'm hesitant to buy a name I've no experience with (especially to the tune of 3000 bucks). It also offers accidental damage protection, and an OS opt-out. Since I'm an MSDN subscriber, I have no need for an os pre-installed.

Thanks for all your help everyone, but alas, I bought neither.

I await shipping for my new xVx Monstruo-M S400 (Clevo 570u). So far purchasing this laptop has been a great experience, I'm hoping that doesn't change for 3 years!