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What to look for?

post #1 of 23
10/21/09 at 7:22pm
Thread Starter 
OK, so here is the deal. I found a local person here who has a decked out M17X for sale. Its about a month old and in mint condition (his brother died and they have no use for it). Has all the original packaging, invoice, etc. and will transfer the ownership/warranty right there on the spot to my name.

I built it on Dell's website and it goes for $4k, and he will take $2500.

Specs:
-Black Metallic
-Intel Core2 Duo T9800 2.93GHz (6MB Cache 1066MHz FSB)
-6GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz
-Mouse Pointers, STANDARD
-17in WUXGA, LCD, ANW, M17X
-SLI Dual 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA GeForce 280m GTX (NB10E-GTX1)
-1TB (500GB x 2) 7,200RPM (xMB Cache) - RAIDO
-ALIENFX Blue
-Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit edition)
-Avatar1
-Window Style, DFT
-ADOBE ACROBAT READER
-Slot-loading Dual Layer Blue-ray Combo (BR-Rom, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
-Internal 300Mbps Dual-Band a/g/n 2x2 MIMO

I plan on inspecting it to make sure its legit before I hand him a money order. My question is, what do I look out for? How do I know its not just an Alienware shell with random computer guts?

Please advise!

- I will probably sell the replacement I get from Dell...
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post #2 of 23
10/21/09 at 7:40pm
Check for the service tag and express service code on the bottom

Boot up screen - gives details of the laptop CPU, BIOS, and Model number etc

BIOS screen - will give you details on the config of the laptop

Check the service tag on Dells site and the config in the BIOS and the Dell site should be the same
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post #3 of 23
10/21/09 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, Bios for sure. Should I bring my screw drivers and do some surgery to make sure everything is the same?
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post #4 of 23
10/21/09 at 7:45pm
i would ask for the Service tag in advance, then you can print out the config, bring ot with you and then verify it is the same in the BIOS etc when you go see it

Remember you will need the complete info of the original owner to effect the warranty transfer
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post #5 of 23
10/21/09 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave-p View Post
i would ask for the Service tag in advance, then you can print out the config, bring ot with you and then verify it is the same in the BIOS etc when you go see it

Remember you will need the complete info of the original owner to effect the warranty transfer
Oh good call. I'll get the service tag from the guy tonight so tomorrow I can check it in the BIOS to make sure its the same.

According to dell, to transfer ownership, all you have to do is log into the dell account from the actual computer, then complete the ownership transfer proccess... Plus the guy has all of the info for his Dell account.
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post #6 of 23
10/21/09 at 7:52pm
So you get a bump in proc and GPU, nice!
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post #7 of 23
10/21/09 at 8:02pm
Thread Starter 
And hard drive, and Blue Ray rom and Operating System... considering I can sell my replacement "new in box" on ebay, and return the ram I bought, etc. etc. I am really looking at only spending about $200 give or take...
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post #8 of 23
10/21/09 at 8:06pm
Yeah I was only mentioning the important stuff.
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post #9 of 23
10/21/09 at 8:08pm
the 6 GB in memory is nice as well that 4 GB memory stick is worth a few $$$ as well.
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post #10 of 23
10/21/09 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I spoke with the guy over the phone and he sounded intelligent, so hopefully it isn't a scam... if it is, he won't get my money, but if its legit, it sure will make my weekend. I'll be burning it in and will get benchmarks and all that jazz for NWGuru and the rest of you all...
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post #11 of 23
10/21/09 at 8:35pm
You'll be able to push that proc to about 3.3Ghz.
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post #12 of 23
10/21/09 at 8:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NWGuru View Post
You'll be able to push that proc to about 3.3Ghz.
Hot! That bad boy is gonna scream
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post #13 of 23
10/21/09 at 9:21pm
How are you buying this? Craigslist?
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post #14 of 23
10/21/09 at 9:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NWGuru View Post
How are you buying this? Craigslist?
Yeah, and he happens to be local. It just seems like its too good to be true... and you know what they say...

The story is, it was his brother's laptop, and his brother passed away due to illness. They have no use for the laptop and they want to sell it.

I am thinking that they bought it for the brother when he was sick so he can enjoy it and now that he passed away, they just want to sell it... I don't know... sounds fishy, but if everything matches up like service tags, warranty, dell account, etc., its a great deal...
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post #15 of 23
10/21/09 at 9:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave-p View Post
i would ask for the Service tag in advance, then you can print out the config, bring ot with you and then verify it is the same in the BIOS etc when you go see it

Remember you will need the complete info of the original owner to effect the warranty transfer
I didn't have to, when I transfered my warranty.
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post #16 of 23
10/21/09 at 9:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nonya24 View Post
I didn't have to, when I transfered my warranty.
I am just doing this to make sure the service tag on the outside is the same as the inside to avoid getting scammed Nonya. If the dell website varifies the guts of the computer and its the same when I look throught the BIOS, its legit.
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post #17 of 23
10/21/09 at 11:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turmoil View Post
I am just doing this to make sure the service tag on the outside is the same as the inside to avoid getting scammed Nonya. If the dell website varifies the guts of the computer and its the same when I look throught the BIOS, its legit.
I was replying to Dave-P.

But anyway, make sure the 280M's have GDDR3 and not GDDR1
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post #18 of 23
10/22/09 at 12:05am
I known some members who Dell refused to transfer the warranty without the oringinal owners info including email address.

So it's better safe than sorry
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post #19 of 23
10/22/09 at 12:50am
Thread Starter 
Well, no suprise but the guy was suppose to get me the service tag by 7pm and we are sitting here at 9pm... so looks like I scared him a bit by telling him what i planned to do haha

EDIT: He gave me the service tag and it checks out. I won't be able to pick it up till Satuday, but now I am getting cold feet... I don't know if I want a used one... bahhh I we'll see...
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post #20 of 23
10/22/09 at 9:15am
Not worth the risk, IMO.
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