CNET Editor's rating: 8.4 out of 10
Reviewed by
Michelle Thatcher
Review date: 10/23/07
Release date: 09/27/07
The good: Dual SLI graphics; strong mobile gaming scores; 10-key number pad; integrated Logitech GamePanel LCD; multicolored, built-in LED lights play along with music and games; backlit keyboard; can play media files without booting up.
The bad: Similarly configured laptops are faster on some tests; plastic lid and creaky hinges don't scream (or sound like) luxury; the albatross that is the massive power brick.
The bottom line: With a redesigned case that's chock-full of cutting-edge technologies, the Dell XPS M1730 tops our list of our favorite gaming laptops.
The latest revision to Dell's flagship line, the massive XPS M1730 features a redesigned case that combines familiar touches, such as flashing LEDs beneath the speaker grills, with newer elements, such as the integrated Logitech GamePanel LCD and 10-key numeric keypad. But, as with any gaming-oriented system, the most important features are inside the case. Like its predecessors, the XPS M1730 offers the highest-end components available--in the case of our review unit, a top-of-the-line Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, Nvidia SLI graphics, the first mobile PhysX processor, and two massive 7,200rpm hard drives. All that adds up to strong performance scores on our mobile benchmarks and chart-topping frame rates on our games tests--though a similar system with DirectX 9 graphics from Alienware did post higher scores on our F.E.A.R. benchmark. Still, when it comes to all-around features and technologies that can handle the latest in emerging games, the XPS M1730 is the best gaming rig on the market today.
Price as reviewed / starting price
$4,024 / $2,999
Processor
2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X7900
Memory
2GB of 667MHz
Hard drive
400GB (2x200) at 7,200rpm
Chipset
Intel 965
Graphics
Dual 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT in a scalable link interface
The tanklike XPS M1730 may be the first Dell laptop that obviously has been influenced by subsidiary company Alienware. At first glimpse the glossy black plastic case (you can also choose white, blue, or red), patterned to look like the surface of a liquid, reminded us of the Alienware Aurora mALX we reviewed more than a year ago. And while the M1730's lid includes the familiar XPS branding from previous iterations, Dell has added a glowing logo as well as an LED-lit sculpted ridge that echoes Alienware's sculpted alien eyes. Also glowing: the touchpad and speaker vents, which can be programmed with your choice of 16 color shades and four light effects (or turned off, if you're the ascetic type). It's all a bit over the top, which frankly we like in a $4,000 machine. What we don't like in such an expensive machine: creaking hinges and a squeaky plastic sound that we heard every time we moved the lid. (Dell assures us that this problem has been remedied since our early review unit rolled off the production line.)
As you'd expect with any entertainment-oriented desktop replacement, games and movies look phenomenal on the XPS M1730's 17-inch wide-screen display. The 1,920x1,200 resolution provides sharp image detail, while the glossy finish adds depth and richness to colors with only a slight glare in moderate-light environments. Above the display sits a 2-megapixel Webcam and dual array digital microphones for video chats.
With the XPS M1730, Dell adds a 10-key numeric keypad--handy for controlling games--next to the full-size keyboard. As with previous versions, you can turn on keyboard illumination when computing in the dark. For the first time, the laptop also incorporates a built-in Logitech GamePanel LCD display above the keyboard; four buttons beneath the LCD let you navigate menus to toggle between system status, in-game statistics, and other vital information on the 0.8-inch-high screen. Also above the keyboard sits a button to launch Dell's MediaDirect software, which lets you play CDs and DVDs and access other media files without booting the system. You can control media playback via a row of volume and media buttons, located on the laptop's front edge for easy access when the lid is closed.
Dell XPS M1730
Average for desktop replacement category
Video
S-Video, DVI
VGA-out, S-Video
Audio
Stereo speakers, microphone, dual headphone jacks
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data
4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader
4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, multiformat memory card reader
Surprisingly, Dell has jettisoned two USB ports with the XPS M1730; this latest version of the gaming flagship scales back the number to just four. Another space-saving step: HDMI, VGA, and S/PDIF-out all require adapters, which are included with the system. Of course the HDMI won't be much use unless you order the optional Blu-ray drive, which would add $550 to the laptop's price. The stereo speakers along the XPS M1730's front edge sound great, even at higher volumes. Two other features worth mentioning--borrowed from Dell's business-oriented Latitude line--include the useful Wi-Fi Catcher button, which lets you determine whether you're within range of a wireless network without booting the system, and a gauge on the laptop's base that tells you the charge status and health of your battery.
As we've come to expect from the XPS line, the M1730 includes the highest-end mobile CPU and graphics available. In the case of our review unit, that means an overclockable 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X7900 processor and two 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT graphics cards in a scalable link interface. The laptop's two 200GB hard drives spin at a brisk 7,200rpm. And this configuration includes the brand-new Ageia PhysX 100M processor, which works with certain supported games to provide additional processing power for in-game physics, leading to bigger explosions and more interactive environments, among other effects. In fact, about the only component that wasn't maxed out in our configuration was the memory; though the XPS M1730 can support up to 4GB of RAM, our review unit included only 2GB.
It's no surprise, then, that the Dell XPS M1730 finished at the head of the pack on CNET Labs' mobile benchmarks--with the exception of the RAM-intensive Photoshop test, where it trailed the HP Pavilion HDX stocked with twice as much RAM. (Boosting the Dell's RAM to 4GB adds $375 to the price.)
Given the high-end graphics in the XPS M1730, we'd expected it to burn through our gaming benchmarks. And it did post a chart-topping 100.7 frames per second while playing Quake 4 at 1,024x768 resolution. However, the XPS M1730's frame rates dropped to 76fps when playing the more challenging F.E.A.R. at the same resolution. That's absolutely nothing to sneeze at--in fact, it's by far one of the highest F.E.A.R. scores we've seen and particularly impressive for a Vista machine--but it falls significantly behind the 133fps posted by the Alienware Area 51 m9750, which included two previous-generation GeForce 7950GTX cards. The Alienware's cards may have more raw power, but the XPS M1730's current-generation cards support DirectX 10, which will come into play with the very latest PC games, such as BioShock or the upcoming Gears of War. In short, the Dell XPS M1730 represents the future of mobile gaming.
On our DVD battery drain test, the Dell XPS M1730 ran for 1 hour and 27 minutes--about 15 minutes more than the Alienware m9750, but still a short lifespan. Nevertheless, we hardly expect a system of this size to spend much time at all away from the power outlet. Those who intend to use the M1730 as a true desktop replacement should also note that its 3-pound power brick takes up as much room as some external hard drives.
Though Dell has moved to a 90-day standard warranty on its less-expensive models, the company covers the XPS line with a one-year warranty, which provides free parts and labor with on-site service. Upgrading to two years costs $199, while three years cost $299. You can get help through Dell's 24-7, toll-free tech-support number, with special reps exclusively for XPS owners.
Multimedia multitasking test (in seconds) (Shorter bars indicate better performance)
HP Pavilion HDX
Windows Vista Home Ultimate Edition (64-bit); 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X7800; 4,098MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI HD2600-XT; 100GB Hitachi 7,200rpm / 100GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Alienware Area-51 m9750
Windows XP Media Center Edition; 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 512MB Nvidia GeForce Go 7950GTX; 300GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Dell XPS M1730
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X7900; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB (x2) Nvidia GeForce Go 8700M GT; 200GB(x2) RAID 0 7,200rpm
HP Pavilion dv9500t
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS; 120GB Western Digital 5,400rpm; 80GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Velocity Micro NoteMagix X25
Windows Vista Home Premium, 2.6Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo 6700, 2048MB DDR SDRAM 533MHz, 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT, 200GB Hitachi 7200rpm
Intro:
This configuration of the Dell XPS M1730 is a 10.6-pound, mainstream notebook computer.Compared to other consumer level notebooks on the market, it is expensive at around $3,545.Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in.Features NVIDIA GeForce 8700MGT graphics with 512MB of video RAM.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 17 screen size, which is considerably larger than some similarly priced notebooks.Also, this notebook has 1920 x 1200 native screen resolution, which is somewhat higher than some similarly priced notebooks.
Weaker Features:
Has a 10.6-pound weight, which is somewhat heavier than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Lenovo ThinkPad X61, at around $3, 150, has only a 4.4-pound weight.Also, this notebook only has a Core 2 extreme processor, which is considerably less efficient than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Panasonic ToughBook 30, an 8.4-pound notebook at around $3, 185, has a Core 2 Duo processor.The Dell XPS M1730 comes with simple word processing software ? if you often create complex documents you will likely need to upgrade to a full-fledged office suite.
Suitability:
Suited for those who just need a basic notebook.Preserve favorite home movies for future generations by saving them onto DVD with this computer's DVD writer.With 512MB of dedicated video RAM, this machine will do tremedously better than most other notebooks, when it comes to multimedia applications and games.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled notebook.
Value:
Overall, this notebook's price seems hard to justify, with respect to its features.
Suggestions:
(1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Internet more conveniently from any room.(2) To get the most out of this computer's Bluetooth capability, you could have a Bluetooth-enabled headset, PDA or other device, and be able to link it wirelessly to your computer within a range of 20-or-so feet inside the same room.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Totally Objective Review of XPS M1730
KNOW WHY YOU ARE GETTING THIS I will start by saying that this "laptop" is not for everyone. It is ...
KNOW WHY YOU ARE GETTING THIS I will start by saying that this "laptop" is not for everyone. It is pricey and has more than many need/want in a notebook. I bought this because I play the latest games, because I?m a heavy user of programs like Adobe CS3 suite software, and, let?s face it, I love gadgets. I also move around and have numerous business/professional needs as well. So, if you looking for a notebook that has to horses to handle all of your projects and satisfy your gadget lust, this is the best all around notebook for the price at the moment. It is not perfect. With that said, ANY rating under an 8 should be disregarded or ignored.
QUICK SUMMARY If you don?t want to read my long review, this paragraph is a basic summary. PROS: this laptop is fast and quiet, it allocates memory and processor usage efficiently, multitasking is superb, graphics are unbeatable for a laptop, it is a great value for the price (despite being pricey), LCD panel. NEUTRAL: Huge and heavy, weak battery life, most software not yet advanced enough maximize this machine. CONS: unnecessarily huge power brick, struggled with Crysis on everything above medium settings, Dell bloatware, Vista issues. Overall gets an 8/10 (due to power brick, Vista, bloatware).
FEATURES I won't reiterate all the features others have discussed but it is worth noting a couple of key features and key specs of mine for context:
2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme Processor 400 GB hard drive each at 7,200 rpm 4 GB RAM at 667 MHZ Blu Ray player/DVD burner (w/out Blu Ray burner)
Every M1730 has a PhysX processor as well as dual SLI 256MB Nvidia 8700 GTS and WUXGA 1920 x 1200 resolution. As of this review, no other notebook packs all these features into one package. Feature junkies, your lust is warranted, this thing has it all.
NEUTRAL ISSUES: This laptop is huge and heavy. It has to be to do what it does so this shouldn?t count against it. Also, depending on your previous notebooks/desktops, you may not be ?blown away.? This is because only software written with dual processors sharing the load, dual graphics cards, PhysX, etc. in mind can take advantage of it. Again, this is not Dell?s fault so it?s a neutral.
CONS: The gigantor power brick is a MAJOR con. Some might say that this should be a neutral but there is no reason why Dell couldn?t have stuck with the size of the already huge bricks on other models. This limits the portability of the notebook. Believe it or not, the notebook size itself is manageable if you want to move around. However, once you tack on the brick, good luck finding a case, bag, etc. If Dell fixes this (which it will have to), I?d give this thing a 9. Some, who won?t be moving this around at all, won?t mind. For you guys though, I would STRONGLY consider a powerful desktop ? at the end of the day, there is no reason to buy a notebook unless you desire at least some mobility.
The Vista issues (which are a separate topic) really take away from the initial joy of this machine. That, plus Dell?s bloatware (which you should/must uninstall) take off another point. Again, there are workarounds (i.e. XP but not DX 10) but the software that Dell installs like roxio, media direct, dell support software all cause problems with Vista so I have to ding Dell for that.
There are some minor cons like no keyboard shortcuts to shut of the lights/LCD and I was disappointed with the debut of Crysis on this machine. It took me two hours to get the settings to a point that was playable and that point is far from max. As I understand it, this is the case for nearly every gaming rig so I don?t hold these against Dell too much. But, I want to feel like nothing can slow me down and I didn?t get that joy. I?m also not blown away by the ?flashy? design.
PROS: This is without a doubt the best computer I have ever owned, desktop or notebook (including my wife?s MacBook Pro, iMac, etc.).
Memory and Multitasking The 400 GB hard drive finally allows for the space today?s computers need, plus they?re at 7200 rpm. With 4GB RAM (of which only 3.16 is usable), you won?t have ANY real issues with multitasking (CS3, Lightroom, Office, etc. just hum). Those who use editing and rendering software will love this even more than gamers. Plus it is relatively quiet and well vented.
Graphics and Blu Ray The graphics this notebook delivers are clean and crisp ? even with Crysis, once I got that game running. Other games and media look great too. Blu Rays look stunning (but you have to use Dell?s media direct which is a clunky setup).
LCD Panel I was initially lukewarm about this feature, but I?ve come to like it. Think of it as your window into how your computer is ?feeling.?
Price Some might not agree, but this is a pro. My setup costs about $4300 ? WOW! That?s a boatload of money for any computer. But it will be at least 3 years before I need even a minor upgrade. Also, if you tried to build this rig yourself today, you wouldn?t get all of this for this price. And, I used Dell?s 12 month same as cash financing which helped. I admit I?m rationalizing a bit, but considering the amount of time I spend on a computer, I might as well enjoy it, right?
FINAL THOUGHTS If you made it this far, I'm impressed (and sorry so long). I would recommend this notebook to anyone, with the caveats I've discussed. I know price is an issue, but you can bring it down to earth if you can do without blu-ray, can manage with 2GB RAM, and don't need a 2.8 GHZ processor. With these slight mods, you'll be in the upper $2Gs but you are still rocking. You will not find a better notebook anywhere right now, even though this notebook isn't perfect.
Read more
by joonbeams (see profile) -
December 14, 2007
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Top-notch machine
I have only owned 2 brands of computer: Apple and Dell. For the past 10 years I've been using ...
I have only owned 2 brands of computer: Apple and Dell. For the past 10 years I've been using exclusively Dell computers both at home and at work. Dell isn't perfect, but I wouldn't be choosing to stay with them year after year if they weren't darn good.
Usually I've been getting more home-office oriented computers and this is the first system I ever bought that's designed from the ground-up for gaming. I chose (actually, waited for) the XPS M1730 for being available with DirectX 10 running on Windows XP. My other computers all run on XP and I was delighted not to be forced into Vista.
If you're used to business machines, the XPS M1730 is an absolute BEAST. I hadn't actually seen one before I ordered it and, even knowing about the 17" screen, it was bigger than I expected. I wouldn't call it a laptop unless you have a really big lap. It is wicked-fast and has a beautiful display. By the way, I didn't experience the hinge-creaking reported by the CNET reviewer.
All the juice the M1730 must take does require a huge power brick. I also found that the AC cord pops out of the back more easily than other laptops... probably due to the weight of the thicker cord. These are minor problems unless you're shifting it around a lot (like if you actually are trying to use it on your lap).
I can echo the experience that, even having it in my lap, the M1730 runs a lot cooler than I expected... cooler than my Inspirons.
I'm not really a big fan of all the LEDs. Nice gingerbread I guess, but I'm a little worried about how the laptop will look when some of them eventually burn out. The lightup keyboard is occasionally helpful. The LCD panel built into the top right corner gets a lot of praise, but so far I haven't found it useful for anything other than looking pretty.
I do really like the audio and other control buttons being on the front edge of the base, though.
I bought it with almost all software choices declined (including anti-virus, which I get free from my Comcast service). It still came with a few things installed that I didn't necessarily want, but I wouldn't call it seriously bloated.
Bottom line on this machine is that does a really great job at the niche it's targetted to: it's a high-performance, desktop-replacement gaming machine.
Read more
by winter1022 (see profile) -
November 15, 2007
8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Best gaming system I have ever had
I'm not sure what combination of luck and inexperience caused Annette so many problems, but that seems like an ...
I'm not sure what combination of luck and inexperience caused Annette so many problems, but that seems like an absolute worst-case scenario. Now, I'm no veteran on these boards, but I do use CNET a lot. Annette was a newly created profile with no other reviews, so take that for what it's worth. I'm not saying her experiences were false, but generic "won't boot" issues are not specific to the M1730. Also, why would someone buy a high-end gaming notebook for "business use?"
I do know that in order to boot XP you have to make two changes in the bios, changing ATA to emulation mode, from AHCI, and toggling a flash cache setting. To boot to Vista you have to change it back. Linux doesn't care what setting this is in, it boots fine. So I can tell the difference between poorly written software (Windows) and hardware issues (which I have had none).
Yes this is a beast of a system. Not as portable as most other notebooks, but that's not the point. I consider it "Relocatable Gaming" in that I can move to different rooms in the house, or using the broadband modem play games anywhere, go to LAN parties, etc. I only use this system for gaming, though, and it does what it says, and does it good.
My only gripe is the limited choice as far as software. I didn't want all the bloatware (but who does), but also didn't want anti-virus (I use avg), or even Windows. After battling Vista's endless issues (this software is not ready for prime time), I ended up putting XP and Linux (Fedora 8) on it. Since your choices are limited, I would recommend XP. However, 64-bit Fedora 8 runs WoW, and all my Steam games perfectly, so I'm extremely happy.
The price is very competitive, while not "cheap," it certainly won't require a second job. I do wish I could use a Fn key combo to turn off all the LEDs, but that has to be done in software. The backlit keyboard can be toggled with Fn+right_arrow, however. Lastly, I must say that the system running at full resources doesn't get near as hot as I would have thought.
Read more
by ogreinside (see profile) -
November 14, 2007
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular "its a beast, great for working on"
I am very happy with my Dell XPS M1730. It needed to replace the power of my desktop and it ...
I am very happy with my Dell XPS M1730. It needed to replace the power of my desktop and it did. I do a lot of digital graphics, so I use game editors, 3ds max, maya, adobe CS3 etc. I installed Unreal Tournament 3 and it runs fine on min settings. Lags slightly on max settings, but I cant complain since I use it mainly for work. I keep it on a note book fan to keep it cool, but I haven't had any problems with it over heating. I love the feel of the keys and the screen is the best I've seen. (I'm very picky when it comes to screens as I depend on it for my art/work.)
My only complaint is that Dell sent it to me with Windows XP already installed on it. They gave me a CD for Windows Vista Ultimate 32 bit OS to update. No 64 bit CD was found and I couldn't upgrade to the 64 bit version. So I had to buy my 64 bit version of Windows Vista and install it. I know I shouldn't have assumed it had the 64 bit CD with it. But I wish Dell gave more options as to what OS could be installed on it before shipping. I would have paid for the difference so I could mix the added hassle. I
Over all awesome! The computer it self I've had no problems with and goes over the top of my expectations. If I could give it a 9.5 I would. But because of Dell with the OS issues I couldn't. Honestly if your looking to replace your desktop, don't mind the 10lbs weight or the cost of it, this is the laptop for you.
Read more
by charfade (see profile) -
July 2, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
7 out of 10 - Very good Response to "question for the ones with the glowing reviews"
A previous reviewer asked why someone would bother with such a monster of a laptop when it still can't ...
A previous reviewer asked why someone would bother with such a monster of a laptop when it still can't equal the power of a reasonably-priced desktop. I think it's a reasonable question. As someone who will never buy another desktop machine, I can say that even with a huge, heavy laptop, the fact is that you still can travel with it and it is simply more flexible overall. Despite it's bulk, it still goes into a backpack that you'd take as carry-on on an airplane, and you can even get some gaming in on the flight before the battery conks. More importantly, you can take advantage of seats in the waiting lounge next with nearby outlets, opening further gaming possibilites. Around the house, you can still move it from one location to another, and even if you don't, it duplicates the functionality of a desktop PC with 17" LCD monitor and a VERY large UPS using a small fraction of the space and wire clutter, in addition to some smaller advantages. It is, of course, a compromise, so it's appeal is subjective.
Read more
by chaibacca (see profile) -
January 2, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
5 out of 10 - Average Why spend the money on this?
i give you the reason. as i'm dedicated hardcore player, i need very good computer to play games. so, ...
i give you the reason. as i'm dedicated hardcore player, i need very good computer to play games. so, i'm workin away from my home country, have desktop pc here. now, when moving back to homeland is coming up, i need to pay aroun 130£ for getting my desktop computer transported to there. also, nothing guarantees, that i stay there, maybe i move again from one country to another. so, if you are quite lot moving around person, you might want gaming notebook instead of desktop computer.
Read more
by vella (see profile) -
January 17, 2008
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
5 out of 10 - Average Should/Could be an 8 or 9
This is really a nice laptop and I would have easily given it an 8-9 if it was not for ...
This is really a nice laptop and I would have easily given it an 8-9 if it was not for the lack of driver support this system is getting from Dell. The official Dell video driver has not been updated since its September release and its current game/Sli performance is very poor considering its hardware configuration. I am hoping Dell will get their act together and let this laptop live up to its potential.
Read more
by GadgetBoi (see profile) -
January 16, 2008
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Best of dell
Excelent with Gaming & 3D anumation. Actualy a mobile desktop
Excelent with Gaming & 3D anumation. Actualy a mobile desktop
Read more
by offcodes (see profile) -
July 7, 2008
8 out of 10 - Excellent great quality at a premium price
well build computer, smooth software bundle. computer run fast quiet yet very little heat even doing benchmarking. sound quality is ...
well build computer, smooth software bundle. computer run fast quiet yet very little heat even doing benchmarking. sound quality is super, i dont know any other laptop has 5.1 channel. screen is at 1920x1200 beautiful glossy screen. the overall quality is just all around good, unlike inspiron or latitude models, always has some flaws in their systems.
but then, dell m1730 weights 10.4 lb, i put it on a weight watcher. thats quite heavy to move around. also the pwoer adaptor is big & heavy, i dont think u can find a regualr bag to carry both computer & adaptor. the price of 1730 is also make any1 think twice about buying this gaming machine. i bought one for $1250 from dell outelt, with 8700m 256mb includes ageia. unlike desktop, u can buy a quad then overclock it, comp shall last 3 years, the performance wwont lagging behind newer intel chips. laptop cpu cant be overclocked, thus ppl change laptop quite often, myself upgrades twice per year , intel chip ccycles :S. imho, all laptops includes premium ones like dell m1730 shall build for the short term and lower the price significanly . or make the alptop aprts upgradable like desktops.
Read more
by robertobiggio (see profile) -
May 18, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Extremely Fast Machine
This machine is extremely fast. I have had it for about two months now. My system has the Penryn X9000 ...
This machine is extremely fast. I have had it for about two months now. My system has the Penryn X9000 processor, which is remarkably fast, two 8800 graphics cards and 4GB of RAM. Needless to say, this is a lot of power. It will run Call of Duty 4 with all settings maxed out at 1900 x 1200, and it is extremely smooth with no jitters. Crysis is a bit more problematic--you have to set it at a lower resolution with medium detail settings to get acceptable frame rates. However, it still runs this game faster at these settings than a friend's quad-core desktop with a single 8800 GPU (I am unsure what other hardware he has).
Most of the "problems" with this rig are documented elsewhere, but the biggest complaint (bulk, weight, etc.) is simply something I will deal with. I travel frequently for work, and want to be able to take my games with me. I usually travel around once a month and am usually on-site for a few days to a couple of weeks, so the size doesn't bother me, as I am not moving the machine everyday. If I were traveling daily, it might be a different matter. Simply put, I can carry this around much easier than an Xbox 360 or Playstaion 3, and thus don't have to be without high-quality games when I am away from home. Daily travelers, however, might find this machine too much to deal with on a daily basis. Similarly, if you rarely travel, a high-end desktop would probably be a better choice from a price/benefit standpoint.
In short, I would highly recommend this machine for a gamer who moves location frequently, but doesn't travel on a daily basis.
Against my better judgment, I got this thing loaded with Vista Ultimate rather than XP (I wanted DirectX 10 support), but frankly I haven't had any big problems with Vista slowing this machine down--it has enough power to handle Vista with no issues (unlike my wife's recently purchased mid-range desktop, which struggles at times).
As I said, performance-wise, I have no issues with this machine. You do have to spend a few minutes tweaking the SLI configuration to unleash the full power of the Dual 8800's but this was relatively easy. I have also overclocked the X9000's to 3.0 GHz with no ill effects.
I don't really care much about the aesthetics of a computer, but a couple of points that might bother some users. The keyboard is a completely different color than the rest of the chasis (a silver-white color) and it seems to clash somewhat with the rest of the case. (I think it might be this color so the backlighting shows up better). Also, the lights on the top of the cover (as well as the keyboard) cannot change colors to match the other lights. As I keep the lights off most of the time, this isn't a big deal to me, but some people might find this annoying. Excluding those issues, this is a very slick looking computer.
I also was pleasantly surprised at the low levels of heat and noise generated by this system. It is surprisingly quite in operation, and the fans do an excellent job of dissipating excess heat. While there is a steady flow of warm air from the rear of the system, you won't notice it in normal operation. The case never seems to get more than a little warm.
All in all, a well built machine, and worth the money if you use it as I do.
Read more
by cbranno3 (see profile) -
April 14, 2008
Wireless LAN antenna,
Stereo speakers,
AGEIA PhysX physics accelerator card
Width
16 in
Depth
11.9 in
Height
2 in
Weight
10.6 lbs
Color
Smoke gray
Cellular WAN connectivity
Avoid spotty WiFi with this laptop's installed hardware that enables Internet access to more reliable subscription-based WAN cellular broadband networks.
Notebook type
Desktop replacement (7.5 + lbs.)
Screen type
Wide-screen
Wireless capabilities
802.11g,
802.11b,
802.11a,
802.11 pre-N
Processor
Processor
Intel CORE 2 Extreme X9000 / 2.8 GHz
Multi-Core processor technology
Dual-Core
64-bit processor
Yes
Data bus speed
800 MHz
Chipset type
Mobile Intel PM965 Express
Cache Memory
Type
L2 cache
Cache size
6 MB
RAM
Installed Size
2 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology
DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz
Environmental Parameters
Min Operating Temperature
32 ?F
Max Operating Temperature
95 ?F
Humidity Range Operating
10 - 90%
Shock Tolerance
143 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (operating) / 163 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (non-operating)
Vibration Tolerance
0.66 g @ RMS (random) (operating) / 1.3 g @ RMS (random) (non-operating)
Hide
Watch product review video
Show