Now with i5

I just noticed that they added an option with an i5 on the US Dell site:
Alienware M14x Laptop Details | Dell

Does this make it a better value than the i7 considering the gpu bottleneck? Or is it still better to go with the quad core?

 

I don't think it's a better value. Adding two extra cores + another 4 threads is a big deal (only $100), especially for games like the witcher 2 which I'm SURE will have a FPS difference between the two. Multitasking will be smoother as well with the quad. Had a hell of a time multitasking with SC2 on my i7-620m (dual core) compared to my i7-2820qm

but still options are always good in my book.

 

Indeed. If pricing is a strict limitation on your budget then I would do with the i5 or look for another computer with an i5 that can be found at a cheaper price point.

With the slew of new games coming in this year most of them are now a days CPU and GPU dependent. Going with the quad core is never a bad idea. Especially if you want to game and have multiple programs open at the same time.

 

about 12 fps between 1.6 ghz and 2.6 ghz on witcher with 8 threads. If you feel 4 threads is enough I don't know what to say

 

Eh, for only 100$ I dont get it. They shouldve brought it down with i3's and i5's to go down to 999$. That'd make it pretty sweet for budgeters.

 

IMO, yes.

I'm like a broken record but people are really underestimating the power of SB.

The i5-2410 is PLENTY FAST. I have one and use it daily.

Look at Passmark scores if you want some figures.

 

The 2410 is much faster than the 620.

 

yeah, the 620 had a seperate memory controller based on the P45 controller... it seriously tanked the Clarksdale/Arransdale performance vs the lynnfield counterparts in many aspects. Most of the time, it was allright, however.

But the main reason is power savings vs the quad core... it might make it a lither less noisy, too (though a good TIM application may help?).

 

The I5 2410 is not going to be enough for newer game releases. If possible ask someone to keep track of each person getting the I5 and then when Battlefield 3 or Skyrim releases ask each to rate how they feel about the performance.

Even right now with Witcher 2, cpu counts. If 100 bucks saving is really worth that large of a drop in performance then why buy alienware?

 

I understand that, but it still won't get you extra processing cores or threads when you want it. Games here on out will utilize it. I'm not saying no one should get the i5, but if we're talking about price to performance, $100 isn't that much to go up to a quad core SB, especially in a gaming laptop where people are already paying the premium. There WILL be performance difference here compared to other options like a 1.5GB vram to 3.0GB vram "upgrade" for example. Like I said above, options though are ALWAYS welcomed.

 

Did what you suggested and looked at the passmark scores, yes the passmark score for the 17 is about 6000+ compared to i5 about 3000+

The question in everyones mind is will this be a large drop in frame rate or a large enough increase in battery life to go for the i5 even if the money is not a issue?

 

I am more interested in temps and fan noise. If the i5 allows the laptop to run cooler and at a lower fan rpm I would choose this option.
So far the only games I play that require a quad is BFBC2 and the i5's hyper threading does a good enough job that I can manage with it. I guess BF3 will likely be that same

 

Just a thought, but it may be possible since the current draw is lower with the i5 it may be possible to up the GPU performance while gaming on battery?

 

You wont be able to up it on battery with the bios that will be on it unless you flash the old bios which may not be compatible with the processor.

 

I would flash back to the old bios sometimes the newest is not the best one. If only Dell was not such a nannny about the settings with the new one.

 

The i3 and i5 were offered in Dell Mexico since launch. I'd assume the BIOS has always supported the CPUs.

 

Do you think that the 100usd price diffrence of the i5 will make more people buy it than the i7. battery life and the 900 screen.