AlienWare vs Dell XPS, also Win 7 anyone?

[imashination]

What gfx card is in the dell?

You should be aware, both of those are likely to be flimsy plastic fantastic. The last XPS I saw, I got the impression they spent more on the flashing LEDs behind the speaker grills than they did on actually making the case.

[Kaja]

Yes, Ive heared that DELL's casing and keyboars r quite cheeesy... I'm warried about that. Im used to ACERs, SONYs and MACPros - but MAC PRO start at my max price range, and then I have to fight with dual boots and bootcamp. Havent touched an alianware yet Heared old one couple years ago were awsome, dunno whats up with them now.... :)

Video Card is about the same as in AW as in DELL. Big decision is RAM vs Processor.
What will I use more concidering im not planing to render much on it - if at all ?!?

I'll use this rig mostly for photoshop, Illlustrator, painter and Maya w Silo but mostly for Modeling, rigging, uv,s and textures. Not gonna animate or render much.

[biliousfrog]

You know that Dell owns Alienware?

I'll ask the obvious question...do you need a laptop?

[Jettatore]

Could you post aprox prices with those Dell/Alienware configs you listed? Personally I'm not a fan of either of those brand names, but regardless, it would help to know the price.

I'd take a look at Asus and Lenovo machines as well, and also consider that Quad-Core laptops shoul be available in your listed budget range. Depending on prices of whats out there atm, and the prices of the machines your showing us here, you may have better options given that your intended budget is quite reasonable.

If it's just between those two configs, without considering prices or the look/design/construction of the machines , just the listed specs, I would go with Alienware with the bigger monitor, and know that I could always upgrade RAM later. Still, I think you can do better.

Biliousfrog's question "do you need a laptop" is also something to consider seriously. If you need a portable computer, specifically for high-end CG work, then yes your in need of a laptop. If however, you don't need a portable CG workstation specifically, it's not the greatest idea to get a laptop, especially not in place of a dedicated workstation.

[Kaja]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies, yes I do need a laptop!

I travel alot! I fly with 17in laptop and 24in monitor whereever I go lol.

Not a big fan of Lenovos, never was imresses with them. Also 17in workstation replacement thinkpad with only 2GB ram starts at 2799 Canadian $ - over my budjet with less ram then I need and ships in at least 4 weeks - longer then I need it in!

Yes I know dell's got AW. but in the old days AW was better, so I kinds live in hope....

this is ACER 8930 - AS8930-7665 Genuine (http://us.acer.com/genuine/eng) Windows Vista® Home Premium - there one problem, although maybe the website isnt updated but I certainly want 7 or XP downgrade ; 64-bit version; Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9000 (6MB L2Cache, 2.0GHz, 1066MHz FSB); 4GB (2/2) DDR3 1066 SDRAM; 500GB hard drive; integrated Blu-ray Disc™ drive / Super-Multi drive combo; 6-in-1 card reader; Acer® CineCrystal 18.4" WUXGA (1920 x 1080) TFT LCD; NVIDIA® GeForce® 9700M GT graphics - Id rather have a 1GB card; 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WLAN, Bluetooth®, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem, webcam; fingerprint reader
It seems to be more of a gaming/multi media toy then workstation. about 1400$ Canadian. Dunno if I can add more ram into it ... ACERs - you get at the store, no custom builds, no hardcore workstation replacements.

Ferrraris dont come with huge screen or over 512 video cards either.

I gotta say though Ive had acers and was very happy with them. My other option is to get that acer and start saving for a MacBook Pro with XP on bootcamp drive ;)

[Jettatore]

Could you go back and answer the rest of the questions I asked you, since your asking for help here? Did you check into Asus, not Acer? You say you don't like Lenovo's, which is weird as they make some of the nicest laptops in the industry, have you looked at their current models? You didn't mention the prices of the original machines you posted which I'd still like to know. You say you want a machine with more than 512mb of dedicated graphics memory but then you say you may just save up for a Mac Book Pro which currently max out at 512mb...

[Jettatore]

I don't know how to give you a 1:1 ratio because your shopping from Canada. But currently the US dollar is worth slightly more than the Canadian dollar and at least from here in the US, I can get a Lenovo Thinkpad for a very nice price.

$2,364.00 USD
Ships within 9 bus. days

Vista 64 Business with free Windows 7 64 upgrade.

17" Widescreen
4GB RAM
512MB Graphics (Quadro 2700 almost top of the line for any CG laptop, 1GB 3700 step up is out of your range)
3.06GHz Core 2 Duo (with Quad options in range of your budget)
250GB HDD with space for a 2nd internal drive

It's also one of the nicest looking laptops I've ever seen and has a built in Wacom tablet and a slight out dual screen for your secondary menus. You can get it even cheaper $1,864 if you don't want the slide out dual screen option, which would put the 1GB Quadro in range.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:expandcategory?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=F2A3EC7C45634AE8AB0F26CCAC867854&tab=4#tab-container-5

It may not be the same for you in Canada, I don't know, but that's right off the official website for me in the states.

[Kaja]

Hey Jettatore (http://forums.cgsociety.org/member.php?u=289131) sorry must have missed some of your questions in replies, both dell and aw 2500$ CDN

Lenovos Ive encountered wernt OMG Impressive - they were nice but were nothing to madly fall in love with. Also Lenovo starts at 2799CDN with 17inch screen and 2GB RAM - and I need 17in with at least 4GB RAM. already way over my top price range + would need more ram.

Just looked at asus site - ferrari is awsome but waaay too expensive, rest of the site was great pain to digg through... a variety of fairly fast machines in 1500$ range but again more gaming or multimedia oriented rather then worstation replacement - even in the versatile preformance section. - unless Im totaly crazy and I missed something

[Kaja]

that thing looks great Im trying to find it in Canadian site now!
Thank You
- hope I can get it there. Slide out would be nice although I do plug in 24IN second screen unless im working from starbucks :)

[Jettatore]

That's why I was surprised when you said you weren't impressed with the Lenovo's. I re-logged into Lenovo's Canadian website, it's not quite in your price range unless you buy it in the US. Reguardless, if your going to save up for something, I'd save up for one of these over a MacPro any day. Built in Wacom, Dual Screen and a real Quadro graphics card, not some mobile ATI jank, Quad Core options and it's cheaper to boot. They also have nicer, non-gloss color correct displays, with built in Pantone calibration.

The other thing that may help you. Is REGARDLESS which vendor you end up going with. If you buy the RAM upgrade separately, an install it yourself, you will save a bundle of money.

[Kaja]

ThinkPad W700 with discrete graphics From:$3,412.00*Sale price:$2,729.00* and thats withut second screen, only 2 GB RAM + 13% tax to add - sadly out of my price range at that point, especially with RAM upgrade - we r getting ripped off in canada ! and Canadian $ almost equals US $ now ! GRRRRR !

[Jettatore]

Well, if RAM is the only concern you can get that later an install it yourself without breaking the bank. For what you need this is probably still your best bet if you can squeeze out the extra couple of bucks to get the base model but yeah, Canadian dollar is only like $0.05 less than the US dollar at the moment and over here that machine is very reasonably priced with the new sale pricing. If not however, I can still show you some other options available from Lenovo or other manufactures, like Asus, that should technically be in your price range but is a bit unclear for me with the Canadian to US conversion and availability and sale price differences.

[Kaja]

Hey Thank You so much for doing the extra research for me ! I really appreciate it! and yes, now I would love to save up for one of those !

afraid to play much with upgrades now, cos Im traveling and spending a lot of time in Israel for a while. Will be in Toronto for 2 weeks soon and then back here, - dont trust buying anyting here he he... feels like most parts r made under cover in deserts of Geeza lol. May look for a way to order it online, ship it to US and have friends from NY ship it to me - then BIG problem is customs, and sometimes these sites dont let us place orders at US site with Canadian credit card... but will definately research the possibility of that! or I have to drive to NY, install junk on laptop, scratch it up a bit so it wount look new, spill some coffee on the lid (ok just kidding about coffee) and try to bring it through customs without paying crazy charges and tax and getting black listed for 5 years at customs :)

[Kaja]

hey, yes I would really appreciate some other suggestions - as much I would love to get this baby with a few little upgrades including 4 GB RAM - Im at 3120$ + 13% tax which is another extra 450$-ish

Im really wondering now if I should get a 1300 - 1500$ laptop (like the acer Ive mentioned earlier or maybe theres a good asus or levono you can sugest in that range) just to last me 6 months and then hand it off to my boyfrind who by then should be hasband and use some leftover wedding gift $ (evil plan he he he) to get myself a crazy levono with a pull out screen. Or maybe I should put that laptop as #1 desired thing on the wedding regestry LOL!

Again Thank You ! I really appraciate your help!

[Jettatore]

Sure would still be glad to help you find a temporary rig, that will do the trick for the time being, as well as possibly hold some of it's value if you sell it later. In particular keep in mind, almost every single laptop currently being sold allows you a free upgrade to Windows 7. So you really just have to make sure your notebook comes with a 64 bit version of windows, either a Vista 64 license, or a XP 64 license off the back of a Vista downgrade, both of which, get the free Windows 7 upgrade for most cases.

Specifically let me know what your budget for a "temporary solution" would be, if you end up needing one.

[Kaja]

Im thinking 1100-1500 max. Maybe a gaming rig would do for a while...

maybe something like this Acer (http://us.acer.com/acer/productv.do?LanguageISOCtxParam=en&kcond61e.c2att101=40249&sp=page16e&ctx2.c2att1=25&link=ln438e&CountryISOCtxParam=US&ctx1g.c2att92=447&ctx1.att21k=1&CRC=3755518342) this laptop I can probably get for around 1100 or 1200$ Canadian. something in the same range maybe from Asus...

[Jettatore]

Check these out. This website does buisiness in Canada, I've worked with them before both in the United States and in British Columbia Canada. It's a very reputable vendor that has been around for a long time and has very competitive pricing. If your just getting an intermediary/temporary step solution until you get your dream portable workstation, you'll likely find the best value here.

http://ncix.com/notebooks/

Make sure to switch your location to Canada in the upper left.

Otherwise the Aspire you listed, if it has bout the same specs mentioned earlier should be fine at that price if your going intermediary step, and don't have a problem not getting exactly what you want when your current budget is so close as it is. It's got a nice design to boot, and you should be able to sell it fairly easily and get some bucks back after the step up.

[Kaja]

Hi, Thank you, I contacted these guys to get their Toronto info, everything on their site is BC but they mention Toronto office too. Ans yes they;ve go the Aspires, even the tpo of the line model they seem to have with a very good deal :) Hopefully I can get it when I get back to Canada. Thank You once again. Really appreciate your help!

[z3phon]

Sorry if I'm using your thread for my own question but I thought it would be better to use an existing thread for my question rather then creating a new one.

I'm planning on getting a laptop for myself on which I can use Maya 2010 and Zbrush. My main use will be modeling and texturing. I use Zbrush quiet alot so I want a system which will be good for Zbrush.
Here's the system I've configured for myself what do you guys think. Will this be good enough for my needs?

Alienware M15x, Cosmic Black
Intel Core i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, English
512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 240M
15.6-inch WideFHD 1920x1080 (1080p) WLED
6GB DDR3 at 1333MHz
500GB SATAII 7,200RPM
Primary - 9-cell (85Watt) Lithium-Ion Battery

[Kaja]

how much ar ethey charging for it?

[Kaja]

ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4670 with 1 GB VS GeForce GT 240M 1GB
any thoughts about these 2 cards?

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