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    M15x upgrades for GW2

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by wohast, Aug 14, 2012.

  1. wohast

    wohast Notebook Consultant

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    Computer Specs:
    M15X
    Intel i7-720QM
    4GB, DDR3 1333MHz
    1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5850
    500GB HD

    Graphics Card Upgrade: GTX 460M - 180$

    Ram Upgrade: 8gb x 2 (16gb) - 90$

    In the future I will want to upgrade to a 920xm or whatever is around that 350$ price range at the time.

    Computer is only used for Guild Wars 2 gaming. The game works fine right now, however running it windowed and doing other things in background lags things up.

    For the time being, I can definitely afford the 16gb ram upgrade. But will I notice any difference and is it worth it?
    *edit* thinking of definitely doing a cheap 35$ upgrade to 8gb of ram now, then buying the graphics card upgrade next when i can. is there really any point for me to just go for the 16gb instead of the 8gb?

    I can probably afford the graphics card upgrade soon. Im sure this would give me the biggest bang/buck for GW2 performance. Is the 460m worth upgrading to right now or is there something else that has just come out/is coming out worth getting instead around the $200-250 range?

    And should my final upgrade be the processor?



    Thanks.
     
    wohast, Aug 14, 2012
    #1
  2. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    Get the 6990M for $270 here.: http://forum.notebookreview.com/computer-components/683387-fs-amd-dell-oem-hd6990m-video-card.html

    Twice as powerful as the 460M hands down and only $20 more than your set budget.

    The best CPU is the 920xm which in ES/QS flavour (just as good as OEM but cheaper) comes in at around $200-250.
     
    King of Interns, Aug 15, 2012
    #2
  3. gta0004

    gta0004 Notebook Enthusiast

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    How intense is GW2? I really want to play it. I have an i3 330m @ 2.13 ghz, ati 5730m 1gb, 8gb ram. Is that decent enough?
     
    gta0004, Aug 15, 2012
    #3
  4. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

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    Going from a 5850m to a 460m is like flushing your money down the toilet. As for the ram upgrade, why not look to see how much ram you are actually using when you have the game windowed with other apps open. Imho i would do a ssd and cpu upgrade first if my ram wasnt being maxed. 8gb could possibly be enough for you, just depends how much you are using at the moment.
     
    khetik, Aug 16, 2012
    #4
  5. onego

    onego Notebook Consultant

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    There wont be any significant difference in gaming performance with the 16GB upgrade. It's best to upgrade to a 6970/6990m if you want to play GW2 smoothly.
     
    onego, Aug 16, 2012
    #5
  6. txsizzler

    txsizzler Notebook Geek

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    I agree with both of the previous posters. The 460m and 5850 run neck and neck. Memory upgrades won't hardly do anything. I would go that 6990m route as posted above, or look at a 660m Kepler card. Down the road, go for the 920xm CPU upgrade. You should be set!
     
    txsizzler, Aug 16, 2012
    #6
  7. hluo87

    hluo87 Notebook Enthusiast

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    i just bought a 940xm qs, $220, still waiting :cool:
     
    hluo87, Aug 16, 2012
    #7
  8. khetik

    khetik Notebook Deity

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    $220 is a great price on a 940xm.
     
    khetik, Aug 16, 2012
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  9. ryguy12290

    ryguy12290 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've seen 2x GTX 560m's go for under $120 on ebay in the past little while,

    That's what I have and it plays GW2 like a champ!!
     
    ryguy12290, Oct 14, 2012
    #9
  10. Anphant

    Anphant Notebook Enthusiast

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    This thread has officially poisoned myself to get a 920xm.

    :(

    Well, that's because I play GW2 too..
     
    Anphant, Oct 15, 2012
    #10
  11. Anphant

    Anphant Notebook Enthusiast

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    double post
     
    Anphant, Oct 15, 2012
    #11
  12. Daverish

    Daverish Notebook Consultant

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    If those are the blue pcb ones they won't work.

    And yah my 920xm runs Gw2 much better than my desktop with e8400 and 470gtx no matter the graphic settings. Although this might be me, mostly game know my aw

    Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
     
    Daverish, Oct 15, 2012
    #12
  13. ryguy12290

    ryguy12290 Notebook Enthusiast

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    nope, green and all (I've been through the nightmare of having to trade the blue for the green)
     
    ryguy12290, Oct 17, 2012
    #13