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m9750 and directx 10

post #1 of 37
7/20/07 at 2:44pm
Thread Starter 
I recently bought an an alienware m9750 and it cost me an arm and a leg so I want to make sure that it will be directx 10 compatible. I heard that there was going to be drivers released to support the directx 10 compatability. Does anyone have any info on this?

System Specs:
Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go 7950 GTX - SLI Enabled
Chassis: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology - Stealth Black
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7600 2.33GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 2048MB
Operating System (Office software not included) : Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Tuners and Remotes: With USB Mini Media Center Remote Control and Single NTSC TV Tuner
System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 400GB (200GB x 2) Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ NCQ & 16MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: Dual Layer Blu-Ray/DVD±R/W/CD-RW Burner
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card: High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Mobile Essentials: Belkin® AC Anywhere 300W Vehicle Outlet Adapter
Mobile Essentials: Alienware® Area-51 m9750 12-cell Lithium-Ion Battery
Warranty: 2-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service


This is like buying a small car all I want to know is if this is worth my money and directx 10 compatible. Thanks everyone.


Alienware promises DirectX 10 SLI laptops



Posted at: 12:00am 28th June 2007 By Ben Hardwidge


Shortly after launching the Area-51 m9750, which comes with SLI GeForce 7950 GTX graphics, Alienware has told Custom PC that it's planning to upgrade the laptop to feature two DirectX 10 graphics cards in SLI in the future.

Mat Bettinson from the cutting edge PC maker told Custom PC that 'Alienware will provide an upgrade programme from the current Nvidia 7950 GTX graphics cards to forthcoming Nvidia 8000-series graphics cards, both as single cards and SLI configurations.'

Bettinson said that the company 'is aware that customers will be looking forward to upcoming DirectX 10 games, so DirectX10-capable graphics in notebooks is an important consideration.' He also said that the laptop chassis should have no trouble handling the new chips, because of the way it's been set up with regard to thermals, as well as the graphics card socket system, which is proprietary but based on Nvidia's MXM standard.

However, there is no launch date or price as yet. Watch this space.
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post #2 of 37
7/20/07 at 3:23pm
Well okay you have to be careful with the terminology you're throwing around. Your current 7950GTX of course will support DX10 games like you said with a driver update, as would be true for all other DX9 hardware.

To get the full benefit of DX10 you'd need to get that 8000-series upgrade so that you have a card that is natively DX10 and can therefore run a DX10 game, such as crysis lets say, in all it's DX10 glory.

I think what you're wondering about is whether you can really go up to the 8000 series when it's out and released by Alienware, and the answer to that (as far as I know) is not 100% definitive, but most likely will be. All signs seem to be pointing to some type of upgrade path, although it still remains to be seen how cheap or expensive that may be.
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post #3 of 37
7/20/07 at 3:29pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the response. Yeah, I'm still learning all the termanology. Do you think that it makes sense to wait for the new graphics cards to be released by alienware? Is there any news of when or if that is going to happen? Thanks
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post #4 of 37
7/20/07 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
When i say released by alienware I mean offered in their customization options
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post #5 of 37
7/20/07 at 3:47pm
Well there is no current time frame at least right now on when that'll be for sure, My guess would be sometime this fall like many others. But again, that's not for sure, but a pretty good guess going by what a lot of other people are saying.

Should you wait for the upgrade, well that's kind of tough in that how long can you actually afford to wait for the update? Some also claim that there will actually be a santa rosa update altogether when the new GPU's come out, but again that is still speculation.

I suggest you just buy it when you need it and when you feel you're getting a system that suits your needs. I mean if DX10 support is a huge thing for you and you want it now, you'll obviously need to wait. But if you feel the 7950 is fine for your needs today and it'll do everything you want it to, no harm in buying it now. I'm sure alienware will have you covered for some kind of upgrade path, although like I mentioned before it remains to be seen how $$ that will be.

My basic message is: Get it now if you think it's what you need and will be happy with it today, or wait for it if you want all the new toys in there too. I doubt you'll be waiting too long, but we are talking up to several months at the worst I think. So keep that in mind. Me personally, I'd wait to see how well the new 8000-series stack up, but that's just me. That and I have no problem with waiting since I don't need a laptop right away, but yeah.
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post #6 of 37
7/20/07 at 4:33pm
nobody knows when or if alienware will release a high end 8 series card as an upgrade. first nvidia has to release one and then it needs alienware certification, only after that would it be potentially available. if you really want one you need to be patient and wait. but as it sits you are better off with the cards currently available anyway. thats because the go7950gtx mops the floor with all the currently available 8 series mobile cards.
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post #7 of 37
7/20/07 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fidget View Post
thats because the go7950gtx mops the floor with all the currently available 8 series mobile cards.

Except perhaps 8700M GT, which should come quite close.
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post #8 of 37
7/20/07 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your guys imput... because I have 0% apr for 15 months on my new credit card I think I am going to conitinue with the order. Gotta love the 0%, dont want to waste it waiting for new directx 10 compatible video card. I just hope that the new video card setup wont be available a day after I recieve my shipment. THat is usually how it works.
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post #9 of 37
7/20/07 at 7:49pm
I´m waiting till february 07 for m9750. now i´m waiting for the 8800M cards. Somehow i have a strange (unnamed) feeling, that it in September we will see the new cards on m9750
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post #10 of 37
7/21/07 at 1:53am
The 8700m GT is just an overclocked 8600m GT. With only a 128-bit memory interface and and a narrower bandwidth, it can't compete with the 7900 GTX, let alone the 7950 GTX.
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post #11 of 37
7/21/07 at 2:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by squidney2k1 View Post
The 8700m GT is just an overclocked 8600m GT. With only a 128-bit memory interface and and a narrower bandwidth, it can't compete with the 7900 GTX, let alone the 7950 GTX.

that was exactly what i was going to say... still no card around that can compete with a 7950gtx yet, and its gonna be a few months until one is out.
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post #12 of 37
7/21/07 at 3:38am
Everyone posted interesting thoeries but everyone failed to mention the most important factor of all to him. In order for him to take advantage of directx 10 he needs VISTA And according to his order info he has XP. His first order of business is to upgrade to Vista before even considering DirectX 10. XP does not support it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if u still have a chance change XP for Vista just to furture-proof ur purchase.
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post #13 of 37
7/21/07 at 1:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GOD_OF_WAR View Post
Everyone posted interesting thoeries but everyone failed to mention the most important factor of all to him. In order for him to take advantage of directx 10 he needs VISTA And according to his order info he has XP. His first order of business is to upgrade to Vista before even considering DirectX 10. XP does not support it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if u still have a chance change XP for Vista just to furture-proof ur purchase.
Yes, I am aware that I will need vista however, there are not drivers available yet that support the SLI configuration so that is why i chose to go with media center for now. Thanks for the heads up though.
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post #14 of 37
7/21/07 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccbettcher View Post
Yes, I am aware that I will need vista however, there are not drivers available yet that support the SLI configuration so that is why i chose to go with media center for now. Thanks for the heads up though.

yea no problem I just figured id mention it just in case you weren't aware. you should be able to upgrade to the 8xxx series an hae access to directx 10 in the near future so don't worry. just be sure when the upgrade is available that u purchase vista as well.
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post #15 of 37
7/23/07 at 7:49am
By the way, I think you might find this interesting: http://www.elitebastards.com/cms/ind...1&limitstart=1
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post #16 of 37
7/23/07 at 5:01pm
Thanks for the link, Aowpr.

I think everyone will agree that any difference between the screen shots using DirectX 9 and 10 is insignificant. I couldn't see a difference and the reviewers could see little if any difference.

I read an article about DirectX 10 and I believe it will make it easier to develop pc games but as long as developers have to make their games backwards compatible, which will be years, it won't make much of a difference. Based on this, I really don't care if my new pc is DirectX 10 native or not.

dt
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post #17 of 37
7/23/07 at 5:22pm
I can only see a tiny difference in lighting and roof tiles.
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post #18 of 37
7/23/07 at 6:24pm
It's just one of those things that gets better implemented with time I'm sure. But as mentioned before, just because of the sheer volume of DX9 hardware out there today, it's not looking to be anything all exclusive anytime soon (unless the developer is asking for their sales to get pretty screwed over).
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post #19 of 37
8/6/07 at 2:30pm
Those screens are just poor examples.....look up some Dx10 vs. Dx9 screens for Crysis, Call of Juarez, and Lost Planet...you'll definately see differences in those games.
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post #20 of 37
8/6/07 at 2:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by squidney2k1 View Post
Those screens are just poor examples.....look up some Dx10 vs. Dx9 screens for Crysis, Call of Juarez, and Lost Planet...you'll definately see differences in those games.

lost planet would be a bad example, since it's a "ported' dx9-dx10 game....so the differences aren't all that drastic...

I would say Crysis would be something you will see a difference between DX9 7 DX 10

info can be seen here for Lost Planet
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