I have often asked myself why I still have a big, bulky desktop computer when it is clear that laptops and other mobile devices are the future of computing. The answer is simple – gaming. Even the best gaming laptops can be easily outperformed by a properly equipped desktop – and at half the cost.
However, there are certainly some formidable laptop gaming systems out there – and the Dell XPS M17 can be found near the top of that list.
SPECIFICATIONS
Chipset: 2.26 GHZ Intel Pentium M 780 processor
RAM: 1GB PC 4200 DDR SD (Installed/ 2GB Max)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX
Hard Drive: 80GB (installed)
Dimensions: 1.7inX15in
Weight: 8.6lbs
Screen: 17in 1900X1200 max resolution
Battery: Lithium Ion
Price: approx $3,642 (depending on features)
CNET writes that its lab “gave the XPS M170 a full workout, and it burned our benchmarks to ash. Its SysMark 2004 performance was on a par with high-end mobile gaming rigs equipped with desktop CPUs, such as the VooDoo M790 and the HP zd8000. Further, the XPS M170 dominated in our gaming tests, thanks to its state-of-the-art graphics chip. It turned in a jaw-dropping 87.5 frames per second on our demanding Doom 3 3D benchmark test–significantly ahead of any other laptop we’ve seen so far, including the previous XPS Gen 2 model. In our battery drain test, the XPS M170 lasted for 145 minutes, about the same as the XPS Gen 2 and not bad for a desktop replacement.”
So, the bottom line is that if you can afford it, the XPS M170 is a top of the line gaming laptop and certainly worth picking up. However, keep in mind that if you want a warranty that lasts beyond the standard year – it will cost you an additional $340 ( 4 years plus in home service.) They still have their 24hr customer support line as well as an addtional line especially set up for XPS owners but, in my opinion, Dell customer support is completely worthless at this point – so I wouldn’t count on them if you run into some trouble.
Posted by Sean
