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What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

post #1 of 27
9/19/09 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
I need a Laptop solely for Video Editing and Animation stuff:

Heres the List of software's that i want to run on my machine:
Adobe Master Collection CS4 all software's
Autodesk MAYA
3D MAX
MUDBOX

After Research of nearly 2 weeks, countless brain storming sessions with dell sales people, I've finally narrowed my search to these ones...


Here are the 2 configs..

Alienware M17x with
Processor: Intel® CoreTM 2 Quad Processor Q9000

OS:Genuine Windows® Vista® Home Premium (64 bit)

RAM:4GB Dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB)

Diplay:17.0" Beyond HD 1200p WUXGA (1920x1200) CCFL Display with TrueLifeTM

Gfx Cards:SLI Dual 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M

Batt:9-cell Primary Battery



Dell Precision M6400 laptop with
Processor:Intel C2D p8700 2.53ghz FSB 1066mhz

OS: Genuine Windows® Vista® Home Premium (64 bit)

RAM:8gb DDR3 1066mhz

Diplay:17" UltraSharp™ WUXGA (1920x1200) LCD Display

Gfx Cards: NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M, 512MB Discrete

Batt: 9-cell Primary Battery

GUYZ i've must have posted this in at least 10 forum's and still anyone has not given me a response.

This forum is my last resort..
So Guyz plzzz help!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S the dell people said the my laptop choice depends on my software, as in, my software's can run in multiple threads or somethin' like that.... Don't have NE idea abut dat too......


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post #2 of 27
9/19/09 at 3:29pm
you will get some feedback here. hopefully davep will chime in. He has an M6400 and just ordered the m17x. I don't have much to say other than the M6400 won't game well, but is smaller, lighter and better as a workstation. The M17x is a top gamer and very heavy. given your software list, the m6400 seems to be the better match up, but if you want to game, the m17x is the way to go. if you are a pro, and you might be given the software that you have, you might want to get the fx3700m.
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post #3 of 27
9/19/09 at 4:31pm
I mean no question the AlienWare is more powerful. But it is also a 17" beast and you are comparing it to 14". Hardly fair.
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post #4 of 27
9/19/09 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by powerpack View Post
I mean no question the AlienWare is more powerful. But it is also a 17" beast and you are comparing it to 14". Hardly fair.
the m6400 in 17", not 14"
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post #5 of 27
9/19/09 at 5:19pm
OK "m" opps! Not E6400.
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post #6 of 27
9/19/09 at 8:47pm
For the software your running,go with the Precision,it will be faster and more stable due to the Quadro.
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post #7 of 27
9/20/09 at 1:58am
Thread Starter 

RE: What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

1 more question 2 u guys the processor in the M17x is a quadcore while the one in the Precision is a C2D will dat make a difference in rendering times...... apart from gfx cards and ram?
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post #8 of 27
9/20/09 at 3:46am
from what I've seen in cinebench,a quad is considerably faster rendering,that was comparing an X9100 c2d to a QX9300 in the same notebook,I would imagine the Q9000 would still be well worthwhile when your talking about hour's rendering scene's

Ideally imho,you would buy the precision with a quad.
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post #9 of 27
9/20/09 at 4:27am
Thread Starter 

Re: What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

I've have to chose from these two machine configs only, i'm not allowed to extended my budget more den this!!!!!!

Now tell me which shud i go for guyz?????
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post #10 of 27
9/20/09 at 4:59am
I vote the precision,you can alway's get a cheap quad down the road a bit.It's smaller,lighter for the same size display,presumably has a 3 year warranty v 1 year.....I would put up with slower rendering to have the quadro stabilty and performance when modeling...but then I don't do any rendering.....

Good luck with whichever you decide
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post #11 of 27
9/20/09 at 5:33am
Thread Starter 

re: What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

So yer saying dat i can upgrade the processor of M6400.. later on..
in dat case
Which are possible options of quad processors dat i can buy separately and put em in this machine..
n is it possible to buy n replace the Quadro gfx cards to?
likewise with the edge to edge LED diplay?
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post #12 of 27
9/21/09 at 4:48am
Q9000,Q9100,QX9300 will work.

Only quadro you could swap to is the FX3700m which is the other OEM option for the M6400,can't imagine what dell would try and charge you for it though,you basically have no choice but to buy the Dell graphic's card as it is in dell's own form factor
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post #13 of 27
9/21/09 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 

RE:What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

IS it Not possible to change to A QUAD CORE PROCESSOR like buying it from some where else n putting it in the notebook?
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post #14 of 27
9/22/09 at 1:00am
Thread Starter 

RE:What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

Sorry for the previous one....

My question actually was, Wud the processor bought from somewhere else work properly with Precision, as in will der be any problems after swaping it? Compatability? drivers? O.S problems?
or it wud be as easy as swaping the system RAM?
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post #15 of 27
9/22/09 at 1:20am
Hi

As long as its the mobile version of the Q9000 Q9100 or Q9300 QX9300 it should drop right in, I upgraded my M6400 from the P8700 to the QX9300 no problem.

Also the M6400 has 4 memory slots to expanding the memory say to 8 GB is easily done with the much cheaper 2 GB sticks.

If you wanted 8Gb with the M17x you talking 600 dollar 4 GB chips, compared to the 45 dollar 2 Gb sricks.

The FX3700 GPU is a very good one, and in terms of benchmarks 3DMark06 scores around 11K, compared to 14K for the GTX260 in Sli. (average scores)

but the FX cards are designed more for the work you have in mind.

I am selling my M6400 and going for the M17x more for the gaming power (and the Sli GTX280 GPUS)

over all I am very happy with the M6400, if you goto the Dell section - Laptop reviews you can see a few there on the M6400 laptops

Good Luck
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post #16 of 27
9/22/09 at 1:51am
Thread Starter 

RE: What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

THANK you guys for all yer support.......
some last remaining doudts.....

Shud i go with m6400 COVET base pack instead of the above mentioned M6400 config...
and den upgrade the notebook with RAM & processor?
wud this be cheaper as the covet(base pack) comes loaded with LED display & fx3700
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post #17 of 27
9/22/09 at 10:21am
The only consideration to upgrading the laptop is unless you buy the parts from Dell (which is typically more $$$) they would not be covered under warranty.

I would at least get the FX3700 and what CPU you can, and go from there.

I would also suggest upgrading your own memory unless Dell offers a nice deal - which they do now and then.

Also - as a note, in my M17x build I got the 250 GB SSD Drive for $ 500.00 - which is a great price from Dell.

So unless they offer a great deal on the hard drive selection - I would go with the base config on the drive and buy them separate.

Last point software wise you can run XP on the M6400, the M17x is Vista only. Make sure that running vista only is not going to be an issue, if it is, then the M6400 is your best choice.

as far as Covet goes, again it comes down to price. Check wat they are offering against the online build IE configure a non covet laptop with all the options you want and see how it prices out.

I can tell you this the M6400 config in my sig prices out around $5500.00 in Canada, if you built online. But Dell plays with the numbers all the time.
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post #18 of 27
9/28/09 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 

RE: What should i buy DELL Precision M6400 or Alienware M17X?

Have changed my decision Now i'm sure buying the new Alienware M15x with a faster CORE i7 Processor

Is this okey. guys? wud later on.... after i guess 1 1/2 years wud be changing the laptop as i dont make a intense use of video editing.... for now....... atleast
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post #19 of 27
9/28/09 at 12:56pm
Sure, if that is what tickles your fancy

Give us a personal review when you have it!

cheers ...
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post #20 of 27
10/4/09 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 

Yo.......

Y not guys........... sure.......
wud be posting pics n detailed preview.........
stay tuned.....
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