Getting a replacement for my XPS M1730. Any advice?

I am getting a replacement for my XPS M1730 after several hardware repair and replacements.

Dell said I would receive a refurbished machine but I notice they don't offer the XPS M1730's anymore through the outlet.

The only other 'gaming' notebooks I see are the Alienwares and I won't accept anything not categorized as a 'gaming' notebook in comparison.

They would give me any specs yet but told me I would be getting an upgrade and better computer than the XPS M1730.

I don't know much about the Alienware since Dell took them over so if anyone could give me any advice as to which model is most comparable to the XPS M1730 I would appreciate it.

Are any of them known for having the video card problems that the XPS M1730 has been plagued with? I have had 5 video cards replaced in 3 different M1730's so was curious if any of the Alienware models after Dell took over are also plagued with that same disease.

ok thanks, will post specs once I get an offer.

as far as the GPU's, yes, it really sucks that they burn up. I own 3 XPS M1730's and the one Im on now I've had the video card replaced twice, on the 3rd card now. The other one is on its 3rd video card, and the other one is on it's 2nd video card.

Then I also have an old Alienware m9700 w/ a fried GPU.

I am being offered an XPS L702X 245M1 with the following configuration as exchange...

1 245M1 Base,Notebook,Extreme Performance System,Configure To Order,L702X
1 0HTGR Module,Documentation,Studio Xps,England/English,Dao/Bcc,L702X
1 0T7XH Service Install Module,Software,Network,1030,L702X
1 0VJFK Module,Label,Dell Energy Offering,ESTAR 5.0
1 188HP Service Install Module,Software,Extreme Performance System,L702X
1 23T8J Module,Battery,Primary,56WHR,Vmware 6 Core Processor,SIMPLO
1 4GF1R Module,Software,Synchronous,UP
1 4WYVT Module,Software,Quick Fix Engineering,WIN7SP1,No Bios
1 61YKY Module,Software,DSO,2GB-FREE,2.0
1 7F99P Service Install Module,Software,WIDI,Intel,L702X
1 88PVP Module,Label,Intel,Notebook,CI52
1 8V934 Module,Liquid Crystal Display,17.3HDF+,White Light Emitted Diode,True Life,CMI
1 8X15M Module,DIMM,4GB,1333MHZ,DDR3,2X2G
1 99RFP Module,Software,DSPRT-CTR,3.0
1 C07F0 Module,Cover,Liquid Crystal Display,Standard,Extreme Performance System,L702X
1 C112J Module,Documentation,SERI/WSI English,DAO/BCC
1 CY6K3 Module,Solid State Drive,256G,S2,#1,Case,PM810
1 DKH6P Module,Shipping Material,SXPS17,Color,Expanded Polyethylene
1 FGP67 Module,Assembly,Base,Display,1G,L702X
1 GV0CP Module,Software,WINDOWS-LIVE,WAVE4,Consumer
1 J6XND Module,Software,W7HP64,Digital Video Disk Drive,Multiple User Interface,NO-E
1 M239M Module,Software,LTG DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
1 M7F7R Module,Card,Network,1030,Consumer Notebook,Worldwide
1 MM2CC Module,Processor,I5-2520M,2.5,Java Compliant,SNB
1 MX962 Module,Information,NO MEDIA
1 N96VP Module,Software,OFC-2010,Factory Install
1 P6XPR Module,Software,CRRS,Multiple User Interface
1 P99RH Module,Keyboard,101,United States,English,C12N,World Wide
1 R609C Module,Cord,Power,125V,1M,C5,United States
1 T7VMF Module,Dvd+/-Rw,8X,Hitachi Lg Data Storage,BARE,Inspiron
1 TD3P3 Module,Information,North,Wireless Wide Area Network,L5/701X
1 TG4MT Module,Software,W7HP64SP1,English,Dao/Bcc
1 U451C Module,Adapter,Alternating Current,Flexible,130W,3P,WorldWide
1 VR08H Module,Software,Certificate Of Authenticity,W7HP32/64
1 W3HMK Module,Label,Microsoft,Notebook,Windows7
1 XM544 Module,Software,PC-RESTORE Transactional Line Of Business
1 YFYT6 Module,Card,Input/Output,RING2,W/OTVT,L701X


This is the old configuration on the XPS M1730 which is being exchanged.

1G461CBASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP)..., NOTEBOOK..., CPEN, T9300, M1730
1P219DProcessor, T9300, 2.5, 6MB, Core Penryn, C0
10293DMODULE..., CORD..., POWER..., 120V, 6 FT
19R578Module, Information, DELL HOME SYSTEMS..., High, Value
1C912CModule, Label, Intel, Notebook Core Merom, Core Penryn
1CW774Service Install Module Software, Inspiron, M1730
1CY416Module, Software, Dell Media Direct, 3.5, Operating System
1CY419Module, Software, Dell Media Direct, 3.5, SIBERIA
1D050DModule, Software, VHP32SP1 Consumer Notebook, England DAO/BCC
1JN197Ship Group, Notebook, United States, M1730, DAO-MDS
1DP434Module, Card(Circuit), Network DW1395, Inspiron, Dell Americas Organization
1FM172Module, Hard Drive, 200G, 7.2K Free Fall Sensor, SE100, INS
1FT348MODULE..., ASSEMBLY..., BASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP)..., M1730
1GT655MODULE..., LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 17WU, W/CMRA, M1730, SHAR
1H081DModule, Software, Quick Fix Engineering, VHP32SP1, Consumer Notebook
1HR105Module, Card, Graphics IUPGA5D, G84, SLI
1J019DMODULE..., SOFTWARE..., DELL-DOCK, CONSUMER...
1JN197Ship Group, Notebook, United States, M1730, DAO-MDS
1K838FModule, Software, VHP32SP1 Digital Video Disk Drive, MUL5 Dao/bcc
1M019RModule, Software, Powerdvd, 8.3, Digital Video Disk Drive, Business, Factory Install
1NW220MODULE..., DVD+/-RW..., 8X, IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS) ..., M1730, TOSHIBA SAMSUNG STORAGE TECHNOLOGY...
1P166FMODULE..., SOFTWARE..., VHP32/64, CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY...
1P350DModule, Software, Dell Media Direct, 3.5, Kit, M1730
1T013CMODULE..., SOFTWARE..., WORKS..., 9, ENGLAND/ENGLISH...
1TC714Module, Dual In-line Memory Module, 4G, 667, DDR2, 2X2G, 200
1UU467Module, Insert, Plastic, Red Liquid Crystal Display, M1730
1UW429Module, Keyboard, 101, United States, M1730, Dell Americas Organization
1UY392Module, Information, Liquid Crystal Display, Cover, WCMRA Corsica/Gilligan/Sapporo/Yebis
1W871NMODULE..., SOFTWARE..., WINDOWS-LIVE, CONSUMER...
1WP008Module, Accessory, Binder, M1730 England/english, Dell Americas Organization
1KC433Module, Label, MSLOGO WINDOWS XP64, Combo Large
1WX695Module, Adapter, Alternating Current, 230W, Delta - Ac Adapt World Wide
1XG487Module, Battery, Primary, 80WHR 9C, SANYO
1XM544MODULE..., SOFTWARE..., PC-RESTORE, TRANSACTIONAL LINE OF BUSINESS...
1Y573CModule, Software, Roxio, 10.2 Dell Edition
1C0374MODULE..., SOFTWARE..., Soft Contracts..., BANCTEC SERVICES CORP....
Edited by romes - 11/15/11 at 9:21pm

Hmmmm. Not sure it would be worth it, depending on which i7 they gave me. The i5 2540M still ranks higher than a lot of the i7's in benchmark testing according to http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html The i5 2540M is 35th where I see many i7's ranked below it.

I think I would rather ask them to keep my old M1730 for parts as I still own and use two M1730's and would the spare parts would be more valuable to me as I know for a fact I will need the video card. I don't see any reason they would need it seeing as they don't sell any notebooks with the M1730 parts anymore and don't even sell the M1730's refurbished anymore.

Ok, I got the replacement system yesterday. I do not like it and am probably shipping it back. Still undecided but can't see how they consider it a comparable system.

The main issues I have are.

- The best resolution I can get with the new system is 1600 x 900. The M1730's have a 1920 x 1200 resolution.
- I cannot use the Nvidia card for some things. By default it uses the Intel built in graphics and you can only assign it to 'certain' but not any or all applications.
- The keyboard sucks. You cannot reach the keyboard and the mousepad at the same time. You actually have to move your hands to go from one to the other and can't reach the keys and the mousepad from one position unlike with the keyboards on the M1730's.
- The video locks up when you go from a video in windowed mode to full screen. You can still hear audio playing and the video playing in the background, but on the screen the video is frozen and doesn't render. Only way to resolve it is to flip back and forth from windowed to full screen until it unfreezes. Does this randomly.
- The touch keys above the keyboard are too sensitive. Even moving a finger over them starts the application and you get windows that pops up, so you might want to open one of them but just going to reach for it starts the other ones.
- It doesn't look like a spaceship when I turn it on .

For now I have both systems and am still going back and forth with their agents. Will let you know what happens.

Wasn't able to get a better upgrade or keep the old system, however I was able to talk them into replacing the 1600 x 900 display with a 1920 x 1200 display so have a service order to get that done.

im sorry, 1920 x 1080 is what they were able to offer. Im happy with that.