Alienware 17 - need recommendation (Display/GPU)

Would love some input on choice of GPU / display for a new Alienware 17.

Initially I wanted to get a laptop with GTX 1080 to have it somewhat futureproofed,
this laptop will mainly be used for VR (Rift or HTC), gaming and watching movies (Netflix etc).
Will not use external screen.

I can only get the QHD (2560 x 1440) option with the GTX 1080 option,
while the GTX 1070 can have the QHD, FHD and UHD.

All opinions are welcome.

 

I'm wondering the same. I have an order in with the 1070 GTX and FHD screen, but I'm debating canceling as I think it might only be a 60hz screen. I've seen a lot of complaints with color banding and the horizontal lines with the QHD screen (actually one of the most active topics on Dell support forms) which is why I opted for 1080P.

 

I have a 120hz qhd, and i have the banding. I can only see it if i put my face about a foot away. I can see it at normal distance just barely in greys, but while on the machine, i dont even notice it honestly and it doesnt bother me. The screen itself is excellent for a tn, really good im actually super pleased. the contrast is good, and the blacks are even black, i dont notice the classic tn glow that much. Its not inky like a oled or ips, but really good. The colors have lots of punch, so if you dont like a more saturated screen and want something with better accuracy again the ips is probably for you.

I think it comes down to if you want to game mainly on it get the 120hz panel, the refresh rate with gsync makes an unbelievable difference atleast in my opinion. If you are doing mostly photo editing etc on it go for one of the ips screens, but you may be sending back 3 or 4 machines for the lightbleed issue.

 

QHD is a fast panel no denying that, the lines bugged me though. I sent it back mainly because of that and i didn't like the TN it looked so washed out compared to the IPS

but its down to personal preference i guess.

I had a laugh with a mate who's G-Sync high frame rate nuts, I got him to agree to do a blind test of 10 mins of BF1 at 60hz & 120hz he got it wrong 3 out of 5 times, then he said i'd rigged it and threw his toys out the pram.... we had a laugh though.

people on here that have tried have managed to get the 1080p IPS to overclock past 60hz as well upto about 80hz i believe.

Also bear in mind the G-sync models will halve your battery life as optimus is disabled due to the monitor being directly connected to the GPU.

If you do go 1080p no reason to get the 1080gtx really ( i Know u cant yet anyway yet but Frank azor has said they are working to get all monitors available with the 1080)

FHD - 1060 or 1070 for future proofing
QHD - 1070 or 1080 again for future proffing
UHD - 1080 ,..... Just about

sweet spot for me is FHD / 1070 but then again mine is more a toy really and not my main PC

 

I have a normal 60 hz ips monitor in which i overclocked to 100hz. It is not the same, the high response time kills it for me. I can see a huge difference, maybe your friends eyes are bad lol

 

..
On a more serious note, speaking strictly as an "enthusiast gamer," consider the cost and the fact that these systems are not upgradeable, how long you expect to own this laptop? If you would like to keep this computer for 3-4 years, I'd recommend avoiding the UHD (4k) display with ANY of the GPU options, simply because gaming at 4K will be difficult already, and most certainly become more so in the future (as games become more demanding). And let's be honest... You can't tell the difference unless you're "pixel peeping" on a 17" display...

That said, I would recommend the 120Hz QHD display with the GTX 1080. A higher refresh rate does wonders for gaming, even if you lower the resolution. And combined with the GTX 1080: 1440p, 1080p gaming should be smooth sailing for 3-4 years to come, even on the latest titles. Oh, and I'd recommend grabbing extra warranty, while it's on sale. Just do it. Protect your investment.

Good luck! Don't miss out on the sales.

 

Good point, what's the response time on the 60hz panel I wonder?

 

Something like 25 ms

 

Slow response time simply creates a ghosting effect. Example:





Now, response time is complete B.S value. Why?

It's because it has no standard way of testing, and to tell you that how much it's bull crap, the manufacture specs sheet mentions: "gray-to-gray", or "g-t-g".

This means, "we have picked 2 gray colors, of our choosing, including and not limited to the same one".



Here is an example on how useless these numbers. The following pictures (and the one on top) are from TFTCentral, an in depth monitor review site.



Dell U2410 - 6ms - IPS panel - 1920x1200 (note: LCD monitors refresh from top to bottom, so height the vertical resolution, the slower the response is automatically. Usually manufactures uses faster components and panels, raising the price, but needed to compensate)





Now let's look at ViewSonic - TN panel - 1ms response time - 1920x1080. So it's suppose to be faster? RIght?





Nope it's not, it's a hint slower even.



So, the best way to know if a monitor has fast response time, in real life, is to checkout in depth reviews of monitor where they have equipment to test the true response time.

Who really knows? More snake oil....... my eyes must be screwed but that Alienware QHD looks really bad to me and a lot of other people

 

On the flip side lots of people on reddit like it. It's all personal preferemce in the end. To me it looks great and I own some pretty expensive monitors already.

 

Nice one glad you like it, my OCD would have got the better of me in the end so i thought id better return it, plus i need the battery life of optimus as well.

when you play games as poorly as me all the response time in the world aint gonna save me anyways....

 

Anyone seen both? I am seriously torn in considering the 1070/4K IPS or the 1080/1440 G-sync. I'm even thinking of waiting for other 1080GTX screen options. Has anyone seen both and have input on one or the other? I have two IPS screens that I use at home and work but had a 17 R2 with TN that really wasn't that bad. I'm just hesitant about the color quality and the banding issue.

Can anyone speak to the differences and recommend one or the other? I've never gamed on a g-sync monitor and never used 120 hz. I mostly play WoW and even if it won't run at 4k, the 4k screen will scale down perfectly in pixels to 1920 x 1080 if I want to game at that resolution.

Any and all input is welcome and appreciated!

 

120Hz is amazing. I'll never go back! Couldn't care less about 4K. Can't even tell on such a tiny screen.

 

What about the banding issue? How about the color quality between the TN and IPS? Does it looked washed out?

 

The people I know with the laptop claim it's better than their external IPS displays. That's all I can say about the new R4. Although, I've owned EVERY past 120Hz model of the 17" Alienware and can say that the screens have always impressed me.

It will disable Optimus, so you won't be able to use switchable graphics to increase battery life.

 

Alrighty then. Think I might try it.

Thank you very much for the info. Buying something this expensive is troubling if you're not 100% convinced you're making the right decision.

Thanks again.

 

Happy to help. Best of luck! Be sure to grab some additional warranty while it's on sale. It will be worth it later on.

 

If I put my face within a foot of the screen I can see lines on everything, the best way I can describe it is that it looks like corduroy pants. But at a normal viewing distance I can't see it except maybe in the odd grey shade but I have to really focus on it and even then can barely tell something is off.

IPs is going to look better, it's just how it is. But the 120hz screen in my eyes looks really nice and s really smooth while gaming. Whichever screen you choose if you don't like it when you receive it just send it back and reorder.

 

I'm assuming this will vary depending on the display, too. Some are going to be better than others.

 

I would think they look pretty close to each other for the lines.

I wasnt being snarky, i was just saying it doesnt seem to be a random problem like the lightbleed, it seems to be just how that panel is made and they all suffer from it.