Trade M17x R2 for X7200? Opinions requested!

[DR650SE]

I found someone who is willing to trade their X7200 for my M17x R2. I sold my 6990s so the trade would be for my R2 with 940xm and 5870 crossfire. I will also throw in my custom white painted chasis as well as the spare silver chasis. Maybe if the guy doesn't want the white painted chasis I'll keep it. Not sure yet.

The X7200 comes with 485m SLI and an i7 980X CPU. I Iove the idea of a hex core and the ability to have 4 HDDs. I'm thinking if we trade, I'm going to keep my SSDs and 1TB drive. Then I'll set the X7200 up with an OS SSD, gaming SSD and 2x1TB HDDs for storage. I may use the second 1TB drive as a backup of my 1TB storage drive. Either way I would remove the optical drive in exchange for another HDD.

The things on the M17x that I hate to give up are RGB and 19x12, as well as the design and back lit keyboard. I'm not sure if that is enough to keep me from getting the other things I'd like, such as the extra HDD, hex core CPU, triple channel memory. Also the X7200 has native USB 3.0, and I wouldn't have to use an express card slot. Which the X7200 doesn't have anyway.

Anyone have any idea what the X7200 screen is like? My guess is just average.

Another thing is I never use the M17x R2 on battery or even on my lap. I like to have the ability to move it, but never use it if I can't plug it in. So the battery life of either system isn't real important to me.

So what are your opinions? Am I being an idiot?

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[StamatisX]

What about warranty?

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[DR650SE]

Good question. M17x has 264 days remaining of complete care, and the X7200 has no warranty.

I'm not planning to get a new system until after my next deployment in April so early 2014 is when I'll be in the market for something new. I may upgrade GPUs on the X7200 however, after researching.

I figure the warranty on the M17x should still be good, even if I changed the Chasis. Part of the reason I'm including a stock chasis with it. The system is rock solid so it shouldn need warranty service, and I wasn't planning to extend it either. Also will be throwing in the i5 520M, and stock memory it came with. Figure I can use that as a bargaining chip to get his Samsung SSD and keep mine lol.

[Xonar]

For the screen:

17.3" CCFL Glossy 16:9 1080p (1920x1080)

HannStar HSD173PUW1

What kind of tasks will you being doing with the notebook? You won't see any tangible gains with a hexcore if all you're going to be doing is gaming.

I'm not sure if memory serves correctly, but, I think the x7200 GPU's are barely upgradable. I think Clevo had two different versions of their cards (485m) with one of the versions having a 'special vBIOS' for the X7200. I'd definitely research into that before making your purchase.

[DR650SE]

Yea, I'll need to check gpus. I think at the moment the 485M would suite any gaming needs I have. They are on par with 6990s which were fine for me. As far as what I'll be doing, mostly video encoding, converting/ripping. My son was just born so I got a new HD video camera and that's been my latest toy. Also probably run the system with folding@home in the background.

But with my son being born a month ago, I don't really get much time to game lately. Haven't played BF3 in 6+months :-(

I think part of it is that I am/was pretty maxed out on the R2 and as a result have grown a bit bored. Probably just looking for something new to customize.

I also know the x7200 could have 6990 crossfire, as that was the cards I had in my R2, an X7200 crossfire kit. But in my case with folding and cuda I think nvidia is a better option. To bad it doesn't have 580M SLI in it.

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[Chetoz Guillen]

Hmmm Hardware speaking the x7200 wins, the R2 is better-looking (some people may consider this important), you should check the cooling aspects you don't want to burn your hands, the warranty is a little bit risky... have you tried the computer you are trading?

[Michael]

i personally wouldn't trade tbh, due to warranty mostly. It's quite risky to grab a used laptop w/o warranty, you never know how it was treated before you.

[Brian]

Well the lack of warranty is a concern but if you can make a deal with the other guy that you can return the system within x amt of days if it is non-working, then I'd go for it. The specs are obviously better than the M17x-R2 and it has a lot of potential. I think the screen on the X7200 is nothing special but you can probably upgrade it to a 90% gamut LG panel.

[DR650SE]

You guys bring up some good points and I will work out a personal warranty with the guy since he's getting my warranty. Also if I trade, when I get the laptop, it will be undergoing a series of stress tests and will be subject to a full disassembly, repaste, and cleaning. Also the 90% LG screen sounds liek a great idea, and something I'll be researching.

[widezu69]

The X7200 is still a last gen machine. SATA II (although you also had SATA II in the R2) but advantage is in the fact that the LCD can be easily replaced, naturally the desktop CPU as well as probably the most important - more lenient bios protection; it is easily unlockable so I've heard, and it does not blacklist GPUs like Dell does with their bios releases. This is particularly important if you wish to use a 3D display. Other advantages include triple channel memory and what looks to be enough room for waterblocks if one is dedicated I had once thought about getting the X7200.

[DR650SE]

Very true, although I doubt my wife would let me fund a custom cooling project. However a screen may be something I could swing for. Though probably not 3D. Too gimmicky for me.

[mw86]

Save your dukets imo. Warranty would be there if you ordered new. Sixx core and triple channel doesnt make up for all the great things you are giving him. I feel widezu69 stil make a strong point. Sata 3, last gen etc. What if you just buckle down for a Ivy base 3960X, triple channel, sata 3 and 22nm vs 45nm 980x i think? I just think for raw power your looking for you would be better on a new build in the future rather than an outdated build now. I know you plan for a new syst besides this in 2014 so what if you just tried to sell it closer to the date you were going to order a new one? you can add a screen but seems like your losing money in this deal and losing money buyimg more parts for it. You sold your 6990ms if you sell the R2 maybe you can get enough funds to buy one of those Eurocom,MSI, Clevo mobile workstations soon. I mean some have 3960x or Xeon support, triple chan mem, dual or even the crazy quad gpu beast StamatisX wrote an article on, all capable of quad hard drive and multiple levels of raid if your interested so not raid 0/1 but the performance and mirroring setup raid 5/10. Thats what I may go to quite a few years from now... Though bios is often locked there would already be a mass amount of untapped power still accessable. But if I am to think of it more Im guessing you need to stick to Clevo or Alienware vs MSI,Eurocom for more of an unlocked bios possibility.

if your willing to lose a bit of value to gain 2cores and triple channel +1 more hard drive then I would say go for it if it suites the work you need it for. As above X7200 has greater performance but your system has the better build quality and perks. Testing of the system aside no warranty is still a bad idea, if he does keep true to word and you guys swap back after problem thats good but what if a month or two later after sometime has passed it breaks.... Your out a superior computer and cant move forward without adding money to it and that would effect 2014 plan a little. Your decision is soley up to your needs but tread carefully with anything used. Cheers buddy

[mikecacho]

No trade, the R2 has been proven to run the latest Video cards... i see no gain only a loss IMO.

[Chetoz Guillen]

About the warranty I don't know how close you are to him or her, you can ask him or her to give you a warranty I don't know 90 days perhaps depending on his or her reaction you will know if something's wrong with the laptop, it has its risks switching laptops mostly on the warranty issue... well good luck with that I hope you make the right choice. Cheers.

[harmattan]

I'd do it. I've owned several m17x r2s and several x7200s. For your needs, and particularly since you don't move the laptop, the x7200 with SLI'ed 485ms is going to give you around 75% more GPU power than dual 5870s. I'm actually really surprised the guy is willing to do a 1:1 trade for your m17. The drawback is obviously the loss of the RGB screen, but the x7200 screen is not that bad.

[DR650SE]

Well... I did it. I shipped my R2 off today. I've traded my R2 for the X7200. The X7200 comes with the 980x, 485 SLI, Intel N6300, Win Ult, Samsung 256GB SSD, 1920x1080 B+RG LED 90% screen. I will be custom painting the lid. Either Candy white like my R2, or a metallic Gunmetal gray. I will also be throwing in 24GB RAM, and a Killer 1103. I will also be using 4 HDDs. Probably my two 160GB Intel drives in Raid 0, a 256GB gaming SSD and a 1TB storage drive. I haven't totally decided. Maybe 160GB OS drive, 160GB gaming drive, and 2x1TB drives

Definitely ready to put a heavy load on the system. It'll be an excellent F@h system too with the Nvidia GPUs and hex core. System should be here Friday.

I'll miss my beloved RGB, but at least the X7200 has the upgraded LG panel at 90% gamut. I'll be missing 1200P too. I also kept my SSDs and in the process gained a new SSD . May be sticking it in the wife's Inspiron.

Good bye old friend...

Candy White Alienware M17X R2 | i7 940XM | AMD Crossfire 6990M | BIOS A10 MOD | 320GB Intel X-25M RAID 0 | 1TB Internal HDD Drive | 16GB 1333MHz | 1900x1200 RGB LED | Killer 1103 | USB 3.0 | Win 7 Ult | Linux Mint | NuForce uDAC-2 Audio | Blu-ray Burner (Converted to External) | Vantage: 25399 | 3DMark06: 23720 | 3DMark11: 7939

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[Brian]

Grats on the new system, looking forward to your comparison. Hopefully you can at least upgrade to 7970m xfire. Seems some are making progress on 680m sli as well.

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[mw86]

Good by DR650se M17x R2. We had some sick overclock sessions. Hd5870m @1ghz+ FTW

I look forward to reading of your next endeavors. Good times bro. Hexacore plus 4drives ftw. Good by Alien. I cant wait to see how you paint it. Would be cool to see hexacore plus 7970m/680m

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[DR650SE]

Thanks guys. Definately eager to get it and get some painting done.

Yea it looks like 680M SLI is making some progress, so if I could get my hands on a pair at a decent price, that would be great. Not only for gaming, but I bet those cards are Folding monsters.