The Official Alieware Area51m 7700 Thread - Page 13

The graphics cards since its has a PCIe are upgradeable :-)

I just recieved my new laptop!!!
Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Case: Area-51m 7700 Case with 17" WideSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD Display with Built-in Camera - Xeno Grey
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 560J w/ HT Technology 3.6GHz 800MHz FSB 1MB Cache
Motherboard: Intel® 915P Chipset Supporting PCI-Express
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Video Card: Area-51m 7700 ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON X800 with 256MB of DDR 3 memory
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS PCMCIA - OEM
Hard Drive: Extreme Performance - RAID 0 - 120GB (60GB x 2) 7200 RPM ATA100 - Hitachi
Optical Drive One: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Floppy Drive: USB Floppy Drive
Ethernet NIC: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Wireless Network: External Wireless 802.11a/b/g PCMCIA Card
Modem: 56K Modem with V.92 Technology


It was Built and Delilvered in 2 weeks.


All this goodenss for 3600 bucks, I cant accually use it for another 22 days since im currently deployed to Iraq.

Looks like the 6800 Go Ultra is in the configurator on AW's site for +220 and may delay orders.

yes but the million dollar question still remains to be answered, does it require a mobo upgrade.

Give sales a ring, doesn't really matter that much to me. But then again I'm using an X800. Maybe I'll give em a call and see what it'd take for me to send in my machine.

edit: I just got off phone with Adi @AW and was told the 6800 ultra is only available to "new" orders and not for upgrade yet. Was estimated one month before owners can upgrade. I asked if I would have to have the system sent in, to which she replied, "we could send the card out to you." So you can take that (i'd assume) that no mobo upgrade would be required. She had no pricing as it isn't available for upgrades yet. And for new customers, the card is on backorder already.

I guess I'll call and ask point blank whether it needs it. that's to much of an assumption 1. because you say "she" and I figure it's the same dunce I always end up getting, and 2. it's a sales person and has no technical mind.

what you guys have to understand is that if sager's 9860 was already proven to beed a motherboard upgrade, then its a fact we will have to do the same. They are the same computers.

Holy crap, A Desktop P4 combined with a Mobile Ultra. Talk about a portable barbecue...

tech support wouldn't answer, they transferred me to sales.....

If that's the case, then they need to tell their reps what's going on... this is who I talked to ..Adilia Aguilar. One would think that everyone in the company would be on the same page, but maybe I live in a dream world.

They are not exact clones, they are the same shell, but alienware could have already prepared the 7700 for the ultra, i am not saying they did but you cannot just state they are teh same computers because they have the same shell,

I just got off the phone with them and they told me that some MoBo's can take the upgrade and some cannot. Its so early to tell, this may again be more erronious information so don't get too excited.

Here is the thing, if they have to upgrade the board, its gonna be $$$ as expected. However, if what the rep told me was true and you have a board that will facilitate the upgrade, its only $220 to upgrade. That would just rock. Though I am banking on the $$$ scenario for now...

ULTRA here I come baby, DELL XPS 2 owners, let the spanking begin!!!

I told you guys the 7700 was the way to go, I had a funny feeling AW was gonna come through and they restored my faith! Thanks AW...

Hmmm, they actually said 220? Because that's the price difference between the non ultra and the Ultra. Or do you have to return the non ultra to them?

Nope, straight upgrade if you have the appropriate MoBo, assuming his statement is correct regarding the MoBo... So no returns, you simply spend the $220 and get the card IF what he told me was true. He said I needed to call back on Monday so that tech support could check the serial numbers on my 7700...

I know this is the the first modular graphics card. But the fact that is a PCIe card thats modular, The mobo shouldnt matter, The mobo has nothing to do with the graphics other than the connection. The only thing you have to worry about is the case.. if it fits.. ands second if the case can handle any extra heat produced. Also you can Go to Asus website and order the cards there. You dont have to get the part from alienware.

Just got off the phone with AW, the 6800 Go Ultra is available for purchase to existing users now. Can be sent to you for self-install. It's fully compatible with my 7700 which I received in mid-May (not sure if the mobo revision matters or not, but my revision is 2). Price I was quoted, $470.43 w/o shipping. Just an FYI.

WTF! $470.43? So the $220 has just doubled! I'm gonna PM JuanG and find out what the real price is......

Don't tell me you really expected it to come out at 200.00. Laptop parts always cost more than their desktop counterparts and you cannot find a 6800gt for less than 300...

New Area-51m 7700 System

I watched the thread for weeks and done my homework. This better be the best darn computer ever. It sort of feels like a tatoo, your not sure weather to hate it or love it.
Phase 1 10/15
Phase 2 10/16
Phase 3 10/17
Phase 5 10/21
Phase 8 10/27
Phase 9 10/28
Phase 10 10/29

Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Case: Area-51m 7700 Case with 17" WideSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD Display with Built-in Camera - Xeno Grey
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 560J w/ HT Technology 3.6GHz 800MHz FSB 1MB Cache
Motherboard: Intel® 915P Chipset Supporting PCI-Express
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Video Card: Area-51m 7700 ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON X800 with 256MB of DDR 3 memory
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS PCMCIA - OEM
Hard Drive: Extreme Performance - RAID 0 - 120GB (60GB x 2) 7200 RPM ATA100 - Hitachi
Optical Drive One: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Floppy Drive: USB Floppy Drive
Ethernet NIC: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Wireless Network: External Wireless 802.11a/b/g PCMCIA Card
Modem: 56K Modem with V.92 Technology

You'll like it. Just realize it's not going to be perfect, it'll take some tweaking and some learning on your part to make it really fast. Or you'll luck out and end up with a perfect laptop like most people.

Area-51 m5700 System

Already in Phase II, i just can't wait to have my hands over it!!



PHASE I - 12/13/05
PHASE II - 12/15/05