Help - XPS16 or Alienware m15x, Why the price difference!? Options

[waxer]

I've had a Dell XPS1530 for about three years now, and I love it - great machine, never had any major complaints, and plays all my older games (BF2, Medieval TW, Company of Heros, etc) very well. Struggles under the load of newer titles like ARMA II and the new total war title.. but otherwise a great work machine that I can game with when possible.

I'm thinking of updating, and looking at the XPS16 v Alienware M15x - I'm stuggling. I've always wanted alienware - but just can't get over the feeling I'm being ripped off price-wise for the sake of a little glowing alien-head on the casing, and the brand-name.

Now - when I compare these two models online - I see very little difference. In fact the XPS16 looks like the stronger build with 6GB RAM - yet is CHEAPER. So I could possibly get a blu-ray drive or other goodie's and still be on par with alienwares base build.

So my question to the community is:
1 - am I going mad.. why would anyone go Alienware vs this XPS16 spec????
2 - Is the ATI graphics card the difference I'll notice? I've been an NVIDIA zealot forever, so don't know enough to make a comparision decision on this item
3 - Does the i7 mobile chipset mean that these things are TPM (trusted platform module) enabled by default?? No one at dell has been able to answer this. I will want to use bitlocker to encrypt my drive for work stuff.. but without TPM it's a pain in the rear. I have read that the i7 has TPM integrated due to the changes in design - but the dell sales rep went into a coma when I asked, and I had to explain what TPM was to them. No answer came back.

Base Specs from Dell site here:

XPS 16 - $2,199
Intel® Core(TM ) I7-720QM Mobile Processor (1.6GHz, turbo up to 2.8GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit
6GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (1 x 2GB + 1 x 4GB)
500GB SATA 7200RPM Hard Drive
15.6" Edge to Edge Full High Definition (1080p) Display with TrueLife(TM )-Obsidian Black
ATI Mobility RADEON® HD 4670 - 1GB
Slot Load 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with DVD+R double layer write capability
Dell 1520 Wireless-N card

Alienware M15x - $2,499
Intel® Core™ I7-720QM Mobile Processor (1.6GHz, turbo up to 2.8GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit
3GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (1 x 2G+1 x 1G)
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
15.6 " Full HD (1080p) WLED (1920 x 1080) Display with TrueLife(TM )
1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M
Slot Load 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with DVD+R double layer write capability

[mudg3]

All though i love alienware and would love to be able to tell you to get it. The Dell XPS wins here in value for money. You get a 4gb stick of ram which is awsome because then you can cram 2gb sticks into the other slots if you needed too ( though I doubt it)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobil...70.13881.0.html bench mark for the 4670

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForc...0M.14559.0.html bench mark for the 260M


The 260 is a better card but the 4670 isnt that far behind and it will do everything you throw at it.

BTW on the i7 chipset TPM is enabled by default you will be able to bitlock your drives.

[lunchbox1988]

Honestly, I wouldn't get either, but if you want one of those two, get the Dell to save the money.

I would get ASUS due to my problems with Dell in recent times.

[waxer]

Honestly, I wouldn't get either, but if you want one of those two, get the Dell to save the money.

I would get ASUS due to my problems with Dell in recent times.

That's an interesting point LB - I've been scoping the Asus site, and the G50, 60, 70 series all look interesting, but when it comes to finding somewhere I can configure one online, and get a price on it - I struggle. They're .com.au homepage also seems a little out of date, as a couple of the models are 'discontinued' when I go looking at somewhere like PCMarket.

Any guidance on where I could spec one of these online for comparison would be cool.

All though i love alienware and would love to be able to tell you to get it. The Dell XPS wins here in value for money. You get a 4gb stick of ram which is awsome because then you can cram 2gb sticks into the other slots if you needed too ( though I doubt it)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobil...70.13881.0.html bench mark for the 4670

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForc...0M.14559.0.html bench mark for the 260M


The 260 is a better card but the 4670 isnt that far behind and it will do everything you throw at it.

BTW on the i7 chipset TPM is enabled by default you will be able to bitlock your drives.

Hey thanks heaps mudg3.

I figured as much... aching for the alien, but it just doesn't stack up does it.

Thanks on the TPM too... why this kind of detail isn't available on the dell site astounds me.

[mudg3]

Yeah you cant customise asus laptops.

Perhaps check these guys out.


http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/

They have a few really nice models.

[Apocrypha]

Defintely the Studio XPS. They are a) much better looking, b) cheaper and c) more powerfully specced for less money.

If you want one, PM me and I can apply some of my coupon wizardry to reduce that price tag even further. (I work for Dell...)

[mudg3]

Couldn't you get a discount for the alienware then?

[Apocrypha]

I can, but not as good a discount. Even still, the Studio XPS is a nicer machine IMO, easier to explain to onlookers and passers-by, lol.