Alienware M17x R4 Pre-Order Configuration Questions... Ask HERE

[katalin_2003]

The purpose of this thread is to guide new customers into purchasing their new M17x R4.
Lets not fill up the forum with these type of threads.

Reference the M17x R4 Documentation before posting as it may answer many of your questions:
Documentation

Processor

• 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3610QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.3GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
• 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.6GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
• 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3820QM (8MB Cache, up to 3.7GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)

Operating System

• Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit
• Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64bit
• Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit

Memory

• 6GB DDR3 at 1600MHz (2DIMMS)
• 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (2DIMMS)
• 12GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
• 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
• 24GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
• 32GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)

Video Card

• 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660M
• 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 7970M
• 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 675M
• 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M

Display

• 17.3-inch WideHD+ 1600 x 900 60Hz WLED
• 17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
• 17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 120Hz NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle

Audio and Speakers
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard)
2.0 Speaker configuration
Audio Powered by Klipsch®
7.1 Digtial Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port .


Networking and Wi-Fi Options

• Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC (Standard)
• Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 2230 With Bluetooth 4.0 (Standard)

Hard Drive

• Up to 1000GB hard drive (7200RPM)
• Up to 1000GB Solid State hard drive

Optical Drive

• Slot-Loading 8x SuperMulti Drive (DVD±R/RW) (Standard)
• Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BD-ROM, DVD±RW, CD-RW)

Power

• High Capacity 9-cell Lithium Ion (90whr)

Camera

• 2.1 Megapixel Full HD Camera with dual digital microphones

Ports, Slots & Chassis

External Chassis Connections

• (1x) Power/DC-in Jack
• (4x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Ports
• (1x) eSATA 3Gb/s + USB 2.0 Combo port (with PowerShare Technology)
• (3x) Auto-sensing jacks for Line-out (2 line out; 1x SPDIF/Headphone)
• (1x) Microphone Input jack
• (1x) RJ-45 (10/100/1Gb IPv6)
• (1x) HDMI-1.4 output with Audio
• (1x) HDMI-1.3 input with Audio
• (1x) mini-Display Port
• (1x) VGA Port (DB-15)
• (1x) 9-in-1 Media card reader

Color Options

• Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
• Nebula Red with Soft Touch Finish

System Dimensions

• Height: 44.5 mm (1.75 inches)
• Depth: 304.30 mm (11.97 inches)
• Width: 410 mm (16.14 inches)
• Starting at weight: 4.26 kg (9.39 lbs)6

Keyboard

• 4-Zone, multi-color RGB, 82 key keyboard with AlienFX lighting controls

Customizable Feature

• Laser-Engraved Nameplate

Software

• Alienware Command Center
• AlienFX™
• AlienTouch™
• AlienFusion
• AlienAdrenaline

[BiH115]

Was curious about the sound card and the network card. I noticed many users are getting the recon3D as sound card choices, but when I ordered my system on 4/24 I didn't seem to have that option. Also the Killer Networks cards people seem to be getting, wasn't an option either. What gives?

[Wolfpup]

Does the R4 use Floptimus with either the GTX 660 or 675? I can't see any reference to it, so I'm HOPING that means it doesn't.

If it doesn't, this looks pretty perfect...nicely loaded it's just over $2000 with a 675 and a 2.6GHz Ivy Bridge + Blu Ray.

It's a little weird that the 675 is actually a last gen part, while the 660 is newer...but who cares if the 675 is more powerful! (And they're both SM 5.0 I guess!)

I guess the M17x really comes with a second drive caddy/cable already installed even if you only order it with a single hard drive? (I'd order it with 2 if I had to to get the second cable/caddy but obviously I don't want to since I'd just be pulling it out and swapping it.)

[widezu69]

To answer your questions: to overcome Floptimus, just get the 7970m. It is cheaper, performs 60% better than the 675m. Yes you will get two caddies no matter what.

@BiH the creative sound card comes as standard. It is built into te mobo and controlled via the drivers. Don't worry you are fine. As for the Killer card, Dell is probably waiting for Bigfoot release the 3 antenna version of the 1202.

[BiH115]

To answer your questions: to overcome Floptimus, just get the 7970m. It is cheaper, performs 60% better than the 675m. Yes you will get two caddies no matter what.

@BiH the creative sound card comes as standard. It is built into te mobo and controlled via the drivers. Don't worry you are fine. As for the Killer card, Dell is probably waiting for Bigfoot release the 3 antenna version of the 1202.

Awesome, thanks for the clear-up.

[SroieS]

can i upgrade myself later to the bigfoot killer when it release ?

[katalin_2003]

Yes, definitely.

[SroieS]

and it easy to do or complicate ?

[SlickDude80]

and it easy to do or complicate ?

you have to remove the keyboard to get at the wireless card. Its not hard. There are tutorials online

[katalin_2003]

and it easy to do or complicate ?

A link to the manual is available in the first post, it will help you draw a conclusion wether it is easy or not