Alienware 13 w/ AGA vs Alienware m17xR3 Recommendations

Hi all,

I have been reading over numerous threads and there seems to be lack of information/misinformation and benchmarks when it comes to the Alienware 13 and the Graphics Amplifier. I realize there is a bottleneck with the CPU and will not get the full speed of the GPU but looking for some options/recommendations.

I currently have a Alienware m17xR3 with a 6990m that has served me very well but starting to show its age. I picked up a Alienware 13 to replace a m11xR2(still miss that laptop) for travel and work.

So now I'm looking to upgrade/replace the m17xR3 and thought that maybe using the Graphics Amplifier with my 13 could be a suitable/cost effective upgrade.

My questions/options are:

• What GPU is best suited for the AGA and the 13? Max performance, bang for the buck ect.
• I could replace the GPU in my m17xr3 but not sure I want to take the risk on that with compatibility issues
• I could just get a new Alienware 17 with a GTX980m but not sure I want to drop that much money at the moment.

Any comments/recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

best bang for the buck is a GTX 970 (any version nearly, go with brand loyalty, cheapest, etc - I'd recommend the reference card from Nvidia directly, which is available from best buy for 379 off sale, 329 on sale).

With the 13" model, there will be bottlenecking that occurs for a couple of reasons. 1) your CPU will not hang as far as the graphics card will be able to. 2) the AGA will only run at 4 lanes instead of 8 (on the 15 and 17 models) versus 16 on an actual desktop and not an eGPU.

Knowing this, you will still see a vast improvement in game playability using this combo, and have the enjoyment of a dockable computer. Throw a nice monitor onto the AGA, add your favorite gaming keyboard and mouse, overclock till your delight.

The reason I'd suggest the 970 is simply because it has so much headroom for overclocking. You get 1100 core MHz on the base. It default boosts to 1232 MHz on the reference card (not OC by default). Depending on your card, many hit 1500 core and 8000 MHz on the memory when tuned. Mine is currently running with a 17R2 in an AGA at 1552 MHz core, 8100 MHz memory, stable temps are 76 on the highest side with this setup, with a custom fan profile that is not super aggressive. But this is running a custom vBios that allows for 135% power, and a constant voltage.

Good luck.

 

Slight correction. The GA only has 4 lanes, so it runs at 4 lanes even for the 15 and 17 R2. The big difference, though, is that the 15 and 17 R2 run at PCI-E 3.0 as opposed to PCI-E 2.0 that the 13 has (CPU limitation).
This means the 13 has about half the bandwidth compared to the 15 and 17 R2 with GA through the PCI revision as opposed to the PCI lanes. Roughly, the GTX 970, for example, would lose ~15 to 20% (rough numbers; trying to finalize this) on average compared to the 5 to 10% loss from the 15 and 17 R2. This includes the CPU. Had the CPUs on the three be the same or in a mostly GPU-only game, in theory, the GTX 970 would only lose 10 to 15% on average (roughly).
In a sense, if the OP gets a GTX 970, he pretty much has about the performance of the GTX 980m, something not feasible in the m17xR3.

 

http://www.3dmark.com/compare/fs/4978776/fs/5189259

Here's a quick comparison of the top scores for your CPU with the GPU you are running 860m versus a 970 in a graphics amplifier.

in contrast here is what I get from a 17 R2 980m and the 970 in a graphics amplifier with it

http://www.3dmark.com/compare/fs/5224553/fs/5189969

 

A 970 is probably your best bet as stated above. I've OC'd mine (+150/200) and I get near stock 980 performance. Around ~7800 in Fire Strike with the 5500u.

Really easy to move around (I travel with a spare 90 watt adapter), and the weight and size are just right to toss in a backpack and stand in airport lines 2x weekly. Plus, the 860m gives me enough power to game at medium settings with acceptable frame rates.

 

Thanks for all the replies, exactly the information I am looking for. @Zarfol do you use a external monitor at home? Just curious the performance difference between external monitor vs laptop screen.

Thanks

 

score is greater when using an external monitor on my setup.

 

Yep, I'm using an external monitor. Have my aw13 and the GA works good as a dock, with mouse, kb, TV, and monitor all hooked up.