afag

Allow me to explain the logic behind my opinion.

Are you aware of Dell XPS, particularly Dell XPS desktop? I do not mean the current Dell XPS laptop. Dell XPS was the high-end leading-edge performance machines from Dell, dedicated to hardcore gaming. That was before the acquisition of Alienware. Back then, it was a direct competitor to Alienware, Sager and so on.

In Dell Community Forum, a user mentioned that he had a high-end Dell XPS desktop, bought way before Dell acquired Alienware. Recently, the desktop malfunctioned and no amount of part replacement can revive the gaming beast. Thus, Dell Alienware provided a high-end Alienware Area 51 desktop as a replacement for him, as the warranty of Dell XPS desktop is still valid. After all, high-end Dell XPS desktops are not longer in production.

The Dell XPS desktops that are still in production are just average gaming computers, ranked below Alienware computers. They are deemed not an equivalent replacement for the faulty computer, but the Alienware Area 51 desktop is.

Again, I stresses that such instances are quite common in USA. Whether this can happen or not here in Malaysia, I am not sure. To all M15x owners, keep your fingers crossed, so that we may obtain a M17x-R3 or M18x in the future.

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 4 2011, 05:05 PM

The warranty of all Dell computers can be extended up to a maximum period of 5 years, from the date of the computer purchase. Nothing more. Based on this warranty period, your Dell computer must be working properly without any problem. Of course, this warranty does not cover damage in computers due to acts of God, natural disasters, theft and you faking an accident to damage the computer. The computer must suffer malfunction by its own, without any external influence, in order to be eligible for computer replacement. If your computer is working fine for the first 5 years and suffers malfunction on the 6th year, sorry that your computer will not be eligible for any replacement.

The reliability of computer generally follows the Bathtub curve. In short, computers tend suffer to malfunction either in the first year (beginning of life) or the fifth year (end of life). So, you see that Dell has been very clever in setting 5 years as the maximum warranty period. That is the time when some (not all) computers start to suffer serious malfunction. If Dell sets it as 10 years, then every computer is eligible, but that is not the case.

The thing is that you pay hefty fee in extending warranty up to 5 years. If you sums the cost for 5 years, the total sum is nearly to the material cost of new computer. Probably based on this reason, Dell can afford to give a new computer as a replacement for the faulty one. It is a great way to build a sustainable long-term customer relationship and greatly reward your loyalty to Dell.

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To sum up, if you are planning to buy a new laptop within the next 3 years, just do so. It is safer and risk-free that way, and you certainly obtain a new computer.

For someone who cannot afford to procure a new laptop in the future, like me, just extend the warranty for the sake of securing the laptop. For that, you really have to commit yourself in paying the warranty up to 5 years. I mentioned before the main reason of extending the warranty is to enable the laptop remain functional for 5 years, not to hope for replacement by the end of 5 years. If somehow your computer remains functional after 5 years, then you are not eligible for the replacement. Luckily, putochip123's replacement of M17x proved that it is possible too in Malaysia. Again, I agree with putochip123 that it is judged on case-by-case basis and not everyone can get a replacement computer.

Actually, I am quite envy of you guys changing laptop, say every 3 years. I am an average person, without ample financial capabilities at my disposal. Thus, I cannot immediately fork out RM 3000 at one go. But, if you ask me to spend RM 600 per year, for 5 consecutive years, then it is feasible for me.

A few years ago, I will not believe that I will own an Alienware laptop which is quite expensive. It was a dream came true when I managed to bought one. However, since I exhausted nearly all my money in buying the Alienware laptop, I do not think that I will be able to buy another Alienware laptop in the future. It could be my first and the only laptop I have. For that, I did the next best thing: extending the laptop warranty, hoping that it remains functional after 5 years. If it does, I am happy and grateful, although I may have slight regret that I do not get a replacement. If my laptop somehow becomes faulty within 5 years and numerous attempts of part replacement still cannot revive it, then I must be given a replacement new laptop, as stipulated in the warranty agreement. Let's just hope for the best.

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 5 2011, 03:29 PM

When M17x-R3 was first released with AMD HD 6850M or GTX 460M, it was touted by Dell Alienware as the "worthy" successor of M17x-R2 with dual GPU. While in the background, they are secretly developing M18x.

I really have no idea why Dell continues to deceive us with this absurd statement. I remembered that at the event when they introduced M17x-R3, they kept on insisting that GTX 460M can match dual HD 5870M crossfire. We here did not believe that, but sadly the less-informed customers will. It is one thing that they were marketing it to make profit, but it is definitely a lie that M17x-R3 is the worthy heir of M17x-R2.

Dell, please don't deceive us this way. We are not that dumb. Any more lie without any decent truth will continue to degrade your reputation further.

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 6 2011, 05:41 PM

Well said, putochip123! If I am not mistaken, the Sandy Bridge processors are of mainstream type. Even if Intel releases the enthusiast version of Sandy Bridge processors, it will not significantly improve the gaming performance, since most games are GPU-dependent.

kira-kun
Sorry for my harsh comment about Dell being not honest about M17x-R3. I am just pointing out that we customers must be wise enough to discern facts and myths. Besides that, we should not entirely trust Dell's marketing words.

Sigh, your M17x-R3 is making my M15x look outdated. I hope that you will get your gaming beast real soon, so that you can have fun with it.

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 7 2011, 02:06 PM

Thanks for pointing that out. Still, that is not really an important gaming genre for us. The more well-known gaming genres should be first-person shooter (Crysis 2, Counter-strike: Source) and Racing video game (Shift 2: Unleashed), all of them being GPU-dependent. That is why I did not consider flight simulation games.


kira-kun
At least in single-GPU laptop, you can brag that you have the most powerful laptop. Yes, GTX 485M is slightly more powerful, but the difference is not significant. I am glad that M17x-R3 suits your purpose well.

No worries regarding the difference in our respective opinion. We all have our own ways of using our laptops, thus our opinions may differ. Still, we are all in the same side, trying to squeeze the maximum gaming performance out of our beloved gaming beast.



Nothing really. M17x-R3 is the replacement for M15x and should be the most powerful single-GPU Alienware laptop.

Overall, the most powerful Alienware laptop of all is M18x (with dual GPU), which will succeed M17x-R2.


This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 7 2011, 05:14 PM

What do you mean by no demand for M18x? Don't we have enough rich kids in Malaysia who can use their daddy's money to buy M18x? By the way, I am just an average person and not rich.
Still, can we make special purchase for M18x from Dell Malaysia if we really want to? Buying M18x from other countries will make claiming warranty a more difficult task than it should be.

Sorry, could you clarify what you meant? Are you saying that your M15x laptop has GTX 485M in it? I believe that NBR forum members proved this card requires more power than M15x is capable of supplying, plus M15x internal heatsink cannot fit GTX 485M, thus GTX 485M cannot be used in M15x.

Anyway, could you show the steps to install and run GTX 485M in your M15x, along with some photos for clarity?

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 8 2011, 04:31 PM

[PF] T.J.
There should be minimal overlap, if there is. M17x-R3 only has single GPU, while M18x has two GPUs, for extreme gaming performance.

Lil Kiasu
There is nothing wrong with me being jealous of them. If I had excess cash to spare, I would have been the first in the line to purchase M18x with maximum specification. Sigh, it is just a wishful thinking.

I don't care whatever the reason Dell Malaysia has, but Dell Malaysia must bring M18x to Malaysia. Now that M17x-R2 is out of market, Malaysian customers no longer have the option of buying dual-GPU Alienware laptops. If there is a low demand for it, just keep a much lower stock level and the availability of M18x spare parts. To deny us the chance of owning M18x is cruel. Dell Malaysia, you own us a responsibility.

sweeann
I see your point. There is a remote possibility that the checked-in luggages may be lost or stolen. It is better to keep the power cables, external HDD and camera in hand-carry bag. Lugging heavy hand-carry bag is difficult, but it is better than facing the risk of losing the power cables in the checked-in luggages.

sweeann
If you are into frequent gaming, you should purchase M17x-R3. Yes, it is quite heavy, but you are well equipped with the best video card.

If you rarely play game, go for M14x which is lighter. Its video card should be just good enough for mid-detail gaming. Don't expect maximum game setting for M14x.

It is misleading to call M15x as a 15-inch laptop. Why?

M15x is not really a 15-inch laptop. M15x is actually a 17-inch laptop with 15-inch screen. Why? Its size is just slightly smaller than M17x-R3.

Thus, it would be wise to call "M15x" as M17x. It is my personal opinion, though.

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 8 2011, 05:20 PM

Unbreakable3131
What is the brand of the keyboard protectors?

Where can we purchase mobile processors? At Lowyat maybe?

Sorry, that was supposed to be just a harmless question. And yes, I meant Lowyat Plaza. I really do not know where I can purchase mobile Intel processor. Can it be purchased at physical stores at Lowyat Plaza, or through eBay for example? Please advice accordingly. Thanks.

I do admit that I have practically zero knowledge about tinkering with the internals of the Alienware laptop, other than changing RAM modules. Still, there is no harm knowing where to buy mobile Intel processor, as that information can come in handy, should need arise. Surely, when I want to swap my proceesor, I would certainly seek advice in this forum.

Grease, are you 100% certain that you are going to purchase M18x? I am looking forward to reading your M18x review in the near future.

This post has been edited by alvinkhorfire: Apr 17 2011, 11:07 AM