$2200 3D build? - (forgone Alienware for proper PC)

[nvekmauvia]

Hello all. Sorry for the incoming wall of text, but I think it would be better for me to be specific.
I've been using the same old laptop for over 7 years now, and have recently saved up ~$2500, and have decided to use this cash on a new gaming rig.
Now, I know its an inefficient concept, but I would really like to get a gaming laptop.
More specifically, the Alienware m17x. Specs as follows:

i7 2720QM 2.2-3.3GHz
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
4GB RAM
....3D screen.
Now this is a big one. For various reasons, I have decided that I NEED 3D gaming, and Dolphin's compatibility was the icing on the cake.
This is one of the main reasons why I chose the pricy Alienware - no other gaming laptop comes close.

Now my questions are, if someone could kindly answer:

1. Would it actually run well? How about with 3D enabled? Thinking of games like Xenoblade (have it on the wii, wanna go through it once more in 3D <3)

2. Pricing issues? The above rig costs around $2200 - $1700 if I buy refurbished. (I am also considering getting a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M instead, but that adds a hefty $500......worth it?) How much would it cost for me to get the same performance (or better) on a desktop? 3D, of course.

Thank you very much in advance.

[YouHaveRROD]

Hello all. Sorry for the incoming wall of text, but I think it would be better for me to be specific.
I've been using the same old laptop for over 7 years now, and have recently saved up ~$2500, and have decided to use this cash on a new gaming rig.
Now, I know its an inefficient concept, but I would really like to get a gaming laptop.
More specifically, the Alienware m17x. Specs as follows:

i7 2720QM 2.2-3.3GHz
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
4GB RAM
....3D screen.
Now this is a big one. For various reasons, I have decided that I NEED 3D gaming, and Dolphin's compatibility was the icing on the cake.
This is one of the main reasons why I chose the pricy Alienware - no other gaming laptop comes close.

Now my questions are, if someone could kindly answer:

1. Would it actually run well? How about with 3D enabled? Thinking of games like Xenoblade (have it on the wii, wanna go through it once more in 3D <3)

2. Pricing issues? The above rig costs around $2200 - $1700 if I buy refurbished. (I am also considering getting a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M instead, but that adds a hefty $500......worth it?) How much would it cost for me to get the same performance (or better) on a desktop? 3D, of course.

Thank you very much in advance.

You could get a much better desktop for at least 2/3 of the price.(Though you'd have to get a 3D monitor and glasses,which is expensive)

And FYI,the 6990M is better than the GTX580 for much cheaper.

[dolphininja]

Hi,

I have a m17x with a i7-2720qm, 8gb ram, and a 9970 2gb video card and I'm able to run every game that i wanted (zelda, mario kart, super mario galaxy, sonic...etc) with the right configuration. If you NEED to get a laptop for portability and want to play dolphin as a side note like I did, go for it...You'll get some lag if you max out everything on some games. But if you are just getting a computer for dolphin, get a desktop...you'll be able to max out everything and be more happy with it.

[NaturalViolence]

and a 9970 2gb video card

That video card does not exist. Please try again.

[nvekmauvia]

Thanks for all the replies.
The reason why I chose the GTX 580 over the 6990M is because only Nvidia drivers support 3D vision...or am I mistaken in this regard?
Either way, Dell only sells its 3D laptops with Nvidia GPUs, so yeah...

>.> Can anyone give me some pointers as to what a good desktop PC configuration would be for 3D gaming? ~$2200

Once more, not to sound grovelling, but thanks muchy.

[dolphininja]

and a 9970 2gb video card

That video card does not exist. Please try again.

6970m.

[NaturalViolence]

>.> Can anyone give me some pointers as to what a good desktop PC configuration would be for 3D gaming? ~$2200

You could get a near top of the line desktop setup for half of that. Some things you must consider before you go for the laptop:

-gaming laptops are A LOT more expensive on average than building a desktop (it's hard to engineer a laptop with high end parts)

-desktops hardware is A LOT more powerful than laptop hardware. Especially the cpus, and dolphin demands a powerful cpu to run the heavier games at fullspeed. SMG/SMG2 for example can only be run at fullspeed on a high end desktop cpu. (high end hardware can't be used in a laptops due to space/heat/power consumption limitations)

-desktops offer the ability to easily upgrade any hardware to stay up to date (instead of wasting money buying a whole new system every few years)

-building desktops is fun as hell

-gaming laptops tend to have piss poor battery life (due to the powerful hardware they have which draws lots of power from the battery)

-gaming laptops usually get extremely hot to the point where the burn your lap while you are gaming on them (more electrical power = more heat)

-gaming laptops tend to be quite large/heavy by laptop standards. Especially alienware laptops. (more heat = more space needed for proper cooling and ventilation)

-and probably more, I can't be made to think right now

-the ONLY benefits you get from using a gaming laptop instead are portability and that fact that it is pre-assembled. If you build a desktop it will take you about a day to get it fully up and running. If you have never done it before you may be frightened about possibly screwing something up. However you must realize that hardware these days is fairly idiot proof.

The reason for this is because making a PC portable requires certain design sacrifices (some of which I listed above). Only choose the laptop when you need a portable system.

I'll make you a parts list on newegg in a minute.

[nvekmauvia]

Still, *if* (in theory) I get the Alienware m17x, will I be able to have satisfactory 3d gaming/dolphing?
Price be damned, alternatives be damned, *if* I have one, could it play SMG in 3D in 1080p? 780?

*twiddles thumbs while whistling*

Hurray for altruism! Looking forward to the parts list!

[NaturalViolence]

Ok I just finished two different builds. A $2,200 build based on your original budget. And a lower budget $1,500 build. Both include the 3D monitor.

Unfortunately even though I marked the builds public newegg usually takes a day or two before they show up in the public list. So if you want them now what I'm going to do it PM you and ask you for your email address so I can send them to you (DON'T POST YOU EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE FORUMS).

Make sure you have private messaging turned on so that you can receive it.

Edit: Annnnd he's offline. I'll post links on the forums when the public links become available.

[YouHaveRROD]

Ok I just finished two different builds. A $2,200 build based on your original budget. And a lower budget $1,500 build. Both include the 3D monitor.

Unfortunately even though I marked the builds public newegg usually takes a day or two before they show up in the public list. So if you want them now what I'm going to do it PM you and ask you for your email address so I can send them to you (DON'T POST YOU EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE FORUMS).

Make sure you have private messaging turned on so that you can receive it.

Edit: Annnnd he's offline. I'll post links on the forums when the public links become available.

Cool,i wanna see the builds and see if i can ''optimize'' them : p