M14x Pre-Order Configuration Questions... Ask HERE

[Laux]

I'm not sure if he can still be reached, I heard his last day is tomorrow. Info on reaching him is in the last post on page 236 on the thread titled "AW/DELL Ordering Advice - How to save $$$" in AW general forum. As for price reduction, it's very much based on price of your system, the more expensive the system pre reduction, the more that is possible for discount.

[anveshs]

I'm not sure if he can still be reached, I heard his last day is tomorrow. Info on reaching him is in the last post on page 236 on the thread titled "AW/DELL Ordering Advice - How to save $$$" in AW general forum. As for price reduction, it's very much based on price of your system, the more expensive the system pre reduction, the more that is possible for discount.

Thanks for the advice!

[Soprano187]

Hey All,

Looking for some advice want a Alienware M14x but not going to spend a fortune.

Is this one
Dell.com/Alienware14x Deal

Worth the extra £200 over the base model or would the £200 be better spent else where?

I'm in the UK too, where'd that deal come from? When I look on the Dell UK site myself, there's no mention of it

[kLay]

Alienware M14x Deals, E-Value Codes and Special Offers

[Soprano187]

Wow great deals! Thanks!

[technoboy]

I really like the m14x but have a few questions. First I hear it runs hot, would ordering the ssd cool it down any? I've heard the hot spot on the chassis is over the hdd bay. Next how easy is it to swap out the dvdrw drive for a second hdd? Also, can you use the hdd caddy made for the m15x? Thanks!

[artisticspaz]

Okay I haven't ordered it yet, but this is my current configuration I'm looking at for my M14x:

Processor:Intel® Core™ i7 2760QM 2.4GHz (3.5GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

--RAM:4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
--Video Card:1.5GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™ technology
--Hard Drive:500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
--LCD Panel:14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
--Wireless card:Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax
--Sound Options: Soundblaster® X-Fi™ Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled


The current questions I have about this set up are as follows:
1.) I don't really see needing more than 4GB of RAM. Should I upgrade it to 6 or 8 or should I keep it at 4?

2.) Should I downgrade my processor to the "Intel® Core™ i7 2630QM 2.0GHz (2.9GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache) ", or keep what I got?

3.) Is the "Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO for Gaming & Video" worth the extra cost or should I keep what I got?

4.) Is there any possible change or add-on to my set up you would recommend?

5.) I was also considering picking up their "Alienware TactX Mouse", should I choose another mouse?

My use of the M14x will practically have a complete gaming focus, mild skyping and MOD downloading will also factor in. Money is not an issue, I'm just aiming for a 1400-1700 price range. I will not be finalizing my order until I know the System Requirements for Skyrim, because I want to make sure my system can run that nicely.

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

[technoboy]

Hi, I'd go for 8gb of ram. Also I hear the Killer wireless cards are way faster than intel's, except for the intel 6300 card. Hope this helps!

Okay I haven't ordered it yet, but this is my current configuration I'm looking at for my M14x:

Processor:Intel® Core™ i7 2760QM 2.4GHz (3.5GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

--RAM:4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
--Video Card:1.5GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™ technology
--Hard Drive:500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
--LCD Panel:14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
--Wireless card:Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax
--Sound Options: Soundblaster® X-Fi™ Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled


The current questions I have about this set up are as follows:
1.) I don't really see needing more than 4GB of RAM. Should I upgrade it to 6 or 8 or should I keep it at 4?

2.) Should I downgrade my processor to the "Intel® Core™ i7 2630QM 2.0GHz (2.9GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache) ", or keep what I got?

3.) Is the "Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO for Gaming & Video" worth the extra cost or should I keep what I got?

4.) Is there any possible change or add-on to my set up you would recommend?

5.) I was also considering picking up their "Alienware TactX Mouse", should I choose another mouse?

My use of the M14x will practically have a complete gaming focus, mild skyping and MOD downloading will also factor in. Money is not an issue, I'm just aiming for a 1400-1700 price range. I will not be finalizing my order until I know the System Requirements for Skyrim, because I want to make sure my system can run that nicely.

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

[TwelveV]

Hi, I'd go for 8gb of ram. Also I hear the Killer wireless cards are way faster than intel's, except for the intel 6300 card. Hope this helps!

Easy to upgrade the RAM by yourself and you'd save over $100 doing it.

[yamanote]

Hi, got an M11x-r2 and a VAIO Z2 right now and looking for something with a bit more graphical grunt and a larger screen, so am considering a M14x.

Base specs here in Hong Kong are:

Processor- 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2760QM 2.4GHz (3.5GHz with Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

Operating System- Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit Multi-Language (Traditional Chinese / English)

Memory- 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 4GB)

Hard Drive- 750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive

Display- 14" (35.6cm) WLED HD+ (900p) display (1600X900)

Video Card- 3.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™ technology

Optical Drive- Slot Load 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with DVD+R double layer write capability

Wireless- Intel® Ultimate N WiFi Link 6205 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology

Sound- Internal High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio with WavesMAXX Audio, 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Powered by Klipsch

Security Software- McAfee® Security Center promo - 15 Months Version

Primary Battery- 8-cell Primary Battery

Warranty- 1-year Premier Service with 1-year CompleteCover

Price is HK$14999 (US$1925, GBP1233). Seems a bit high compared to the sub-1500USD models one can get in the US but I guess the specs are slightly higher.

Anyhow, I'm looking to get the following upgrades:

Processor- 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2860QM 2.5GHz (3.6GHz with Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache) [add HK$1,886.00/US$242/GBP155]

Not sure about this upgrade... is the difference between the 2760QM and the 2860QM worth nearly $250?

Security Software- McAfee® Security Center - 36 Months Version [add HK$277.00/US$35.6/GBP22.8]

Normally I wouldn't, and just use MSE, but this is pretty cheap so I figured why not?

Warranty- 2-year Premier Service with 2-year CompleteCover [add HK$695.00/US$89.2/GBP57.1]
-OR-
Warranty- 3-year Premier Service with 3-year CompleteCover [add HK$1,390.00/US$178.4/GBP114.2]

For my M11x I only got the standard 1-year warranty with CompleteCover. It's failed 3 times since I bought it (hinge broke twice, hard drive failure). Just for reference, Dell is quoting HK$1000 per year to extend my M11x's warranty so it looks like it's much cheaper to extend it when ordering. Yay or nay, and 2-year or 3-year (if yes)?

Wireless- Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video [add HK$358.00/US$45.9/GBP29.4]

Not that expensive, and from what I've read, is much faster than the stock Intel card. True or not, and worth $50?

Sound- Internal High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio with SoundBlaster X-Fi Audio [add HK$72.00/US$9.2/GBP5.9]

The X-Fi is just software if I understand it correctly, but some people say it works well with external speakers (which I do, on occasion, plan to use) so for $10, is there any reason why I shouldn't get it?

I am also considering the 256GB SSD upgrade. Dell are running a promotion right now where one can get the SSD upgrade for HK$1999/US$257/GBP164. I'm not so much as interested in the shockproof qualities as the speed, after experiencing the quickness of the SSD in my VAIO Z2, I'm tempted. However, my most major concern is how much user-usable space there is at initial boot? The SSD in my Z only had 222GB total, ~180GB usable at initial boot which was a bit disappointing. Once again, should I go for it? Is it worth it? Or is the 7200rpm HDD fast enough for gaming and transferring files from USB3.0 ext-HDDs?

(total, including all above-listed upgrades (except for 256GB SSD), is HK$18287/US$2346.7/GBP1503)

My worries and thoughts are underlined and italicized in the above quote- can someone help me out with my purchase?

Thanks very much