M11x good choice?

Hello, I now have a vostro 3550 i5 with the amd 6630, would an m11x r1 be a huge downgrade?

What should I expect in games, daily performance...? I might consider buying one second hand or save up for the r3 or upcoming r4.

Another question, is the gpu which will be coming in the r4 a major upgrade compared to the gt540m in the r3 now?

 

1) The nVidia 540M GPU in an Alienware M11x R3 is slightly faster than an AMD 6630M GPU. I'd say it's about 25% more powerful, on average.

2) In games and daily performance, expect about the same performance as what you're getting now. The difference in CPU (downgrade) and GPU (slight upgrade) is not going to be ground-breakingly different.

The real difference with an Alienware M11x is the size and portability - not the performance.

3) Since the Alienware M11x R4 hasn't been announced yet, nobody knows. In fact, Intel and nVidia haven't even released their next generation of parts that would even potentially go into the Alienware M11x R4. So we can't even make a guess compared to current-generation parts.

There are two rules I have for buying any kind of computer part: The best time to buy is always 6 months from now. If you play the game of "waiting for the next-best-thing that is just around the corner", you will be waiting forever. So just buy what you need, when you need it, and call it a day.

 

An r1 would be a downgrade but in return you would gain more portability and some cool light up effects!

 

This is what I am looking for, it's a laptop for next to my gaming computer so it doesn't needs to be top of the line, but I want some power.

I also found a job for in my holiday which makes me able so save up then for the R4 when I go to college.

I will probably be going with a second hand R1, since this comes the nearest to my budget, might be able to find an R2, anything which I need to look at buying second hand (apart from fakers).

 

If buying second hand, ask for full details on the condition of the hinges (creaking, loose, home repairs i.e. superglue etc...)

 

I got my m11x R1 last april for $480 from dell outlet, and my friend got one second hand for like $400. they are really cheap if you can find one. I plan on upgrading to the R4 though, I hope it comes out May-June, but we'll see. My dream model would have an Ivy Bridge CPU and a Kepler GPU.

 

My advice to you: Do not buy an Alienware M11x. It is not the right laptop for you.

The ideal buyer for the Alienware M11x would consider portability as one of the top 2 criteria when selecting a notebook. You are looking for a gaming-capable machine that is a good deal.

The M11x models that come within your budget would be a used Alienware M11x R1 or M11x R2 for about $500 - $600. And both the Alienware M11x R1 and M11x R2 are not going to be performance upgrades over what you have right now. You get the benefit of increased portability... but then again, you never mentioned the word "portability" even once in any of your posts.

I think you'd be happier with a gaming-capable 14" Asus laptop, than with an Alienware M11x. You get a lot more gaming power for your money than with an Alienware M11x.

 

I am looking for the portability though, I normally go to friends with my laptop (do some gaming), go to a small lan with friends, check a movie in the living room etc. But my 15" isn't like that portable that I just pick it up in one hand and walk down the stairs and place myself on the sofa .

I might get an M11X R1 with these specs :
-Pentium SU4100 core duo 2x1.73GHz
-8 GB DDR3-1066
-NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M and Intel GMA 4500MHD Switchable Graphics
-11.6" LED Backlit WXGA (1366x768)
-640 GB 7200rpm HDD
-battery 8-cell 63Wh
-HDMI
-Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
-Warranty untill june

As I said I might get the R4 before I go to college, since I will have the funds for it then .

 

Yup, something to watch for though: it says the CPU overclocks to 1.73 but for some of the r1s it doesn't work and Dell won't do squat about it. If that's the case then you are stuck at the stock clock of 1.3 ghz. Also, the 1.73 is BS, it only goes to 1.6

 

The cpu is not a huge deal compared to battery for R1. At this point all the batteries are old. It can be "new" but it will still be old and there is only so much shelf life. Portability if relying on battery will be compromised if batt is worn.

 

The seller says it is still going 5-6 hours on battery.

Would I be able to find a third-party battery on some chinese site or isn't that possible for AW laptops?

 

Found the M11X r2 i7 version, person is willing to trade his AW against my Vostro 3550. Seems like a better deal to me then buying the R1.

What do you guys think?

 

I think you should find out why he wants to trade you a portable gaming laptop (Alienware M11x R2) that he bought for a non-portable non-gaming laptop (Vostro 3550).

It seems too good to be true. And that makes me suspicious. I would think that there is something that this guy knows that he's not telling you.

 

Well, he is willing to travel 150km to trade if I give him around 30 euros for the transport. I could ask the serial number to check if he has had any problems on his model.

He was asking 650 euros to sell his, so I offered him to trade with my laptop.