Alienware for uni...

Hey guys,

I am considering buying an Alienware M14X for uni...

Also on the table is to build me a gaming comp for around 600 which would be cheaper and use my current laptop which isn't bad...

I do like the look of the alienwares a copious amount of coupon/student discounting, I could get a decent model for sub 900 I think. Especially if I order over the phone.

I won't be buying till summer anyhow, do you guys know if dell do a back to school campaign like apple? I wanna squeeze them for as much as I can. I even considered ordering from America (much cheaper there), shipping to my aunt who is coming over anyway, but I ten thought that if she gets done in by customs I'm screwed...

Cheers guys

Reply 1

username612415

21

Alienware are generally poor value for money, you'd be far better off doing a self build.

Reply 2

117r

9

Check out this:

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/optimusIV-15/

Reply 3

Glitch96

1

Original post by moogoomonkey

Hey guys,

I am considering buying an Alienware M14X for uni...

Also on the table is to build me a gaming comp for around 600 which would be cheaper and use my current laptop which isn't bad...

I do like the look of the alienwares a copious amount of coupon/student discounting, I could get a decent model for sub 900 I think. Especially if I order over the phone.

I won't be buying till summer anyhow, do you guys know if dell do a back to school campaign like apple? I wanna squeeze them for as much as I can. I even considered ordering from America (much cheaper there), shipping to my aunt who is coming over anyway, but I ten thought that if she gets done in by customs I'm screwed...

Cheers guys

I got an M17x in october and its fantastic, my only complaint is thats a little plasticy considering the money you are spending as cost cutting removed its adonized aluminium shell (except on the the uber expensive M18x :frown:

) but damn does the plastic feel soo soft and smooth xD. If you get one, don't get AMD as the drivers are appalling.

Coupon/discount
* don't expect to get any over the phone deals, maybe if you speak to an american you might (not to be rude, but the other call centres usually stick to the script, IE no bargaining.
* I managed to get about £400 off mine via a discount code (10%, or was it 20%?) and a weekend deal (again, either 10 or 20% cant remember) by dell
* student discounts are not advertised, you may be able to ask but i dont think so.
* back to schools are done, yes.

desktop VS laptop
* since you already have a laptop i'd say build a custom desktop, so you'd have both and not have to get a mid way compromise on mobile graphics cards that will soon get out of date
* for laptop based power Alienware is one of the better ones, it may be over priced but that can be soothed by some deals

america
*you WILL get done for import duty if you import it in original box for about a couple hundred xD
* unless it was unboxed and is in old bag before sending, but it is illegal to avoid import tax so i wouldn't

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 4

zed963

16

Get a self build. Desktops are much more convenient for gaming. If you want a laptop just buy a standard one.

Reply 5

Sol1dShot

Dont be a tool. Alienware these days are RUBBISH. AVOID.

Reply 6

Iqbal007

19

Original post by moogoomonkey

Hey guys,

I am considering buying an Alienware M14X for uni...

Also on the table is to build me a gaming comp for around 600 which would be cheaper and use my current laptop which isn't bad...

I do like the look of the alienwares a copious amount of coupon/student discounting, I could get a decent model for sub 900 I think. Especially if I order over the phone.

I won't be buying till summer anyhow, do you guys know if dell do a back to school campaign like apple? I wanna squeeze them for as much as I can. I even considered ordering from America (much cheaper there), shipping to my aunt who is coming over anyway, but I ten thought that if she gets done in by customs I'm screwed...

Cheers guys

DONT, DONT , DONT..........................the other major issue is that warranty may be limited to america, so if something goes wrong then your done for it.

As others have said, Alienware isn't what it used to be since Dell bought it, they have ruined the reputation of it.

You got 2 options, a custom laptop from pcspecialist or just a build a dedicated gaming desktop which would have much more gaming power.

Just ask for help when you decide :smile:

Reply 7

Dan1909

12

If you want a gaming laptop, you'll (probably) get a lot more for your money going for a Clevo/Sager based laptop. PCSpecialist (linked a few posts earlier, I think) are a pretty good place to get them from!

Reply 8

Sgt.Incontro

20

Original post by Dan1909

If you want a gaming laptop, you'll (probably) get a lot more for your money going for a Clevo/Sager based laptop. PCSpecialist (linked a few posts earlier, I think) are a pretty good place to get them from!

This.

Clevo/Sager are really good.

Reply 9

moogoomonkey

OP

1

I did look at that but then I thought, eh I'm mainly buying alienware for looks tbh :P... The PC specialist one just looks sickly...
I'm still mulling it out... I have a while anyway!

Reply 10

Iqbal007

19

Original post by moogoomonkey

I did look at that but then I thought, eh I'm mainly buying alienware for looks tbh :P... The PC specialist one just looks sickly...
I'm still mulling it out... I have a while anyway!

There will be a huge difference in terms of gaming performance and price.

Reply 11

Dan1909

12

Original post by moogoomonkey

I did look at that but then I thought, eh I'm mainly buying alienware for looks tbh :P... The PC specialist one just looks sickly...
I'm still mulling it out... I have a while anyway!

The Clevo based laptops are definitely less "flashy" than the alienware counterparts, but you're looking a a fair few hundred pounds in difference for the same parts (and obviously therefore the same performance).

Original post by Iqbal007

There will be a huge difference in terms of gaming performance and price.

Can you expand on the difference in terms of performance a bit more? It'll vary massively depending on what he buys obviously, but you can get the Clevo laptops with better performance than the alienwares, for less money, or the same performance for a lot less money.

Reply 12

Iqbal007

19

Original post by Dan1909

The Clevo based laptops are definitely less "flashy" than the alienware counterparts, but you're looking a a fair few hundred pounds in difference for the same parts (and obviously therefore the same performance).

Can you expand on the difference in terms of performance a bit more? It'll vary massively depending on what he buys obviously, but you can get the Clevo laptops with better performance than the alienwares, for less money, or the same performance for a lot less money.

Based on the same price, you get more for your money from pc specialist.

For example a base model m14x specs are for £872.09:
English Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
Intel® Core™ i5 3210M (3MB Cache, up to 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0)
1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M
6144MB (1x2GB + 1x4GB) 1600MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
500GB 7,200rpm SATA 3Gb/s HDD
14.1" WideHD (1366x768) WLED with TrueLife
DVD+/-RW (DVD, CD read and write)
Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 2230 with Bluetooth 4.0
Primary 8-cell 63W/HR LI-ION
Anti Virus Not Included
1 yr Next Day In-Home Hardware Support
No Accidental Damage Protection
Alienware M14x Cosmic Black

Something similar from PCspecialist is about £602

So for £872.09 for the price of the M14x, easilly pick up something with a much more powerful graphics card and cpu.
, even a small ssd.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 13

moogoomonkey

OP

1

Original post by Iqbal007

Based on the same price, you get more for your money from pc specialist.

For example a base model m14x specs are for £872.09:
English Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
Intel® Core™ i5 3210M (3MB Cache, up to 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0)
1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M
6144MB (1x2GB + 1x4GB) 1600MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
500GB 7,200rpm SATA 3Gb/s HDD
14.1" WideHD (1366x768) WLED with TrueLife
DVD+/-RW (DVD, CD read and write)
Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 2230 with Bluetooth 4.0
Primary 8-cell 63W/HR LI-ION
Anti Virus Not Included
1 yr Next Day In-Home Hardware Support
No Accidental Damage Protection
Alienware M14x Cosmic Black

Something similar from PCspecialist is about £602

So for £872.09 for the price of the M14x, easilly pick up something with a much more powerful graphics card and cpu.
, even a small ssd.

Tbh yesterday I used loads of coupons, along with the alienware sale anyway, got the base spec, i5 etc... quoted for 748.99... So yeah. PC specialist don't do discounts either really, just those rubbishy 15 quid ones in Custom PC.

Reply 14

Dan1909

12

Original post by moogoomonkey

Tbh yesterday I used loads of coupons, along with the alienware sale anyway, got the base spec, i5 etc... quoted for 748.99... So yeah. PC specialist don't do discounts either really, just those rubbishy 15 quid ones in Custom PC.

But even with those discounts, that's still £150 more expensive than the PCSpecialist equivalent. £150 extra on a £600 laptop is almost 25% more expensive, that's not something to be overlooked lightly!

Reply 15

Iqbal007

19

Original post by moogoomonkey

Tbh yesterday I used loads of coupons, along with the alienware sale anyway, got the base spec, i5 etc... quoted for 748.99... So yeah. PC specialist don't do discounts either really, just those rubbishy 15 quid ones in Custom PC.

Still a better deal at PCSpecialist.......and at that discount price you could pick up a gtx660m or so

Reply 16

DDDenniZZZ

Original post by Glitch96

I got an M17x in october and its fantastic, my only complaint is thats a little plasticy

Have the same laptop and ordered around october too :smile:

luckilly got the nvidia GPU too, ATI wasn't available on the offer I was using. It is a bit plastic, but I don't mind, it would be heavier made out of aluminium anyways...

Tbh Alienwares are expensive, but only if your stupid enough to pay FULL retail price. There is always a rep (notebookreview has one) who will cut a decent deal, or a random sale where the RRP will be cut by ~£200 and then a discount code ontop (10% usually).

Buy basic RAM/HDD and upgrade screen/CPU/GPU that would be my suggestion for any custom laptop.

Yes there is student discount, but its not that good tbh, you will be able to negotiate a better deal over the phone with a rep.

When I bought my laptop, having looked on other custom 'blank box' laptops which I've never heard of (random makes, usually made on barebones Clevo laptops) I paid an excess £100 compared to a similar specced machine (I had a GTX 680m) Worth the extra money for me to buy a decent brand a their warranty. Also Dell/Alienware warranty is global, but the service quality varies, I know in the UK we still get next business day in home support for any hardware issues.

Alienware for uni...

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you