To M11x or not to M11x - this is my Q ?

Greetings,
DELL currently has a pretty sweet deal on Alienware M11x R2 i7 with free 8GB RAM for around 1200$.
It's been a while since I've started looking for a light heavy weight laptop and even though the M11x came very close- it seems to have few pitfalls (mainly the screen quality and lack of Gigabit Ethernet for me) and reliability issues (Hinges anyone!?).

Since I'll use it mainly for medical image analysis and scientific tasks on the go (not a serious gamer...yet...) I utilize CPU and especially CUDA GPU power for calculations - so will defiantly benefit from an upgraded 4xx series GPU .

I know it's a never ending story - but I wonder if I should grab one at good price (is it?) or shall I wait just a couple of month for a new revision hopefully with significant upgrades and problems free.

I should also note that I'm not a US resident - so while the warranty is valid - it's still a big PITA to have it fixed since no "at home" services are available locally and I'l have to send it to a central lab or something - so reliability is a priority...

So - to M11x or not to M11x?
Is the current deal really as good as I think it is?
Would you expect the new revision to cost much higher?
Worth the wait?

Thank you guys'
Gal

 

Wait a few weeks and you can buy my R1 for a little over half price...

 

Agree w/steve owens.

Yes, the Alienware M11x is a good laptop for your needs. But I think you're spending too much for the Core i7. For your needs, go with the MUCH cheaper M11x R1 version.

And don't bother waiting for the next version of the Alienware M11x R3. I am willing to bet money that it's not coming anytime soon (within the next 12 months).

 

Honestly, I'd go with the dual core. From what I've heard the i series processors don't go above and beyond the C2D and Optimus is a pain (for some).

 

The core i5 is about on par with the C2D.
The core i7 does have a performance increase, but it isn't really all that impressive.

 

The R2 has the advantage of getting future driver support from nVidia. They will be focusing driver development on Optimus, and not switchable graphics. If driver support is something that is important to you, then the R2 has a considerable advantage over the R1.

 

Do we know for sure nVidia will eventually support the M11x without modifications? If not, then both systems will have to go through the effort of modifying drivers. Also if not, aren't the systems on par in terms of performance of the GPU, since they have the same GPU? I don't see a 335m in an Optimus layout as being potentially faster than one in a hybrid layout, unless I'm missing something.

 

nVidia driver packages released on the website to date are 100% compatible with the Optimus technology on the Alienware M11x R2. The only caveat is that you needed to replace the included INF file with a modified INF file to get it to properly install on the Alienware M11x (a relatively simple process).

If you have an Alienware M11x R1, then you need to wait for nVidia to create a package specifically designed for switchable graphics. I don't know of a simple way to take the general nVidia driver packages, and get it to work with switchable graphics like you can with Optimus.

Future driver releases will heavily favor Optimus, because future nVidia mobile products will pretty much all be installed on laptops that use Optimus. Intel CPU's based off of Arrendale architecture (which includes current mobile Core i3/i5/i7 CPU's) have Intel GPU's integrated into the CPU package itself. Intel will continue this trend with its next generation of CPU architecture (Sandy Bridge) as well.

So every laptop that has an Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or later CPU will automatically have an integrated GPU already on it. Laptop manufacturers no longer need to choose between using an nVidia/AMD GPU **OR** and Intel GPU. They now automatically have an Intel GPU, and must decide whether they want Intel GPU **AND** nVidia GPU.

Optimus is nVidia's play to stay relevant. Their message is "Hey, use an nVidia GPU alongside of your Core i3/i5/i7 CPU - use the integrated Intel HD Graphics GPU for 2D tasks to save battery; and use Optimus for games, applications, and CUDA applications that demand a more powerful GPU." They are investing a lot into this strategy, because it's one of the only ways they will stay alive against Intel's approach to integrate the GPU directly into the CPU package.

In general, you are right. They are the same GPU, so the GPU itself will perform identically between switchable / Optimus technologies.

However, the model of the Alienware M11x that runs switchable graphics (the M11x R1) also runs a Core 2 Duo-based processor. The Optimus capability is on the Alienware M11x R2, which runs Core i5/i7 CPU's. Because the Alienware M11x R2 has a faster CPU, benchmarks show about a 10% increase in gaming and benchmark performance over the M11x R1.

Note, that this is primarily due to the more powerful CPU, rather than due to Optimus vs. switchable graphics technology.

 

I'd go with C2D or look at another Notebook device.

If you're happy with the existing GPU performance you don't really need to chase nVidia upgrades for those few extra fps.

M11xR2 is fine, but price versus performance may be questionable going forward.

Wouldn't buy another as it's had it's time. Me not being a gamer and all.

I have a sub 12" wide rule for a notebook and thus the limited options at the time.

Still happy with mine but.