Poll: Alienware laptop or PS3?

[RhombusHatesYou]

Gaming PCs don't suddenly become obsolete in a year. I built mine in 2007 and it's still going fine, running most games on high settings

Even older rigs can still cut it if you're not going overboard. DX9 is still supported for most games, dual core CPUs are only now becoming a standard requirement and the RAM requirements for most games are still reasonable.

My main rig runs a pair of HD 3870s (oh the shame of running GPUs 2 generations old!)and it hasn't given me hassle with most titles I've thrown at it.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Seeing as you own a 360 according to your profile, a large number of high profile titles are split between the 360/PC, due to Microsoft being involved on both platforms, a PS3 seems the better option for variety.

 

[RicoADF]

My friends have had issues with Alienware where as none have had issues for PS3, so from experience I recommend the PS3, but can see the appeal of a laptop instead.
Also as Onyx has pointed out (and why I have a PC/PS3), between the 360/PS3 or PC/PS3 thats 99% of games most people play.

 

[DarkShader]

Personally, I'd get a desktop PC. You can get a really drool worthy system for $1200 or so last time I bothered to check for places like Newegg. And as a bonus you can upgrade them later which Alienware and laptops unfortunately are unable to do so without ... issues.

If you convert those specs to a desk top PC, you're laughing. If I had the time, I could whip a system up for you now... but I'm a bit busy with festivities atm.

 

[RicoADF]

Actually I agree with DarkShader, however considering you mentioned a mac pro with the PS3 I'm guessing u want portability? Perhaps a netbook with a good desktop?

 

[Delusibeta]

I'll link to Notebook Check's review of what I presume is the laptop you're looking for. [http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Alienware-M15x-Gaming-Notebook.22280.0.html] Personally, I feel that you can get better bang for your buck elsewhere, although I would go for a laptop over a PS3. Hell, I'm planning on buying a laptop myself (just not one of the "gaming" laptops that cost a thousand quid).

 

[RicoADF]

Yeah Alienware are a ripoff from what I've heard, you can get far better for your $$.
Also, in general a console will last longer then a PC will, even a PC of higher specs. The rules arn't the same between them.

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

Can you add a third option for a custom PC of equal value but better performance?
With Alienware, like Bose, Skullcandy or nike you're paying for the name over anything else.

If all i had was a choice between the two, i'd probably still get the Alienware simply because PCs are more versatile.

 

[Master Kuja]

I myself own an M15x, albeit with the 240m as opposed to the 260, it still runs everything like a dream.
However, looking over at the Alienware site as it stands, I'd avoid them, I theorise they've been hit somewhat hard by the recession as of late as all the tech seems to be quite severely downgraded since the last time I checked, case in point being my processor.

When I ordered this, it came with an i7 whatever at something like 3.8-4ghz as standard, and that's just one aspect of the thing.
Still, I've had no hardware problems, only a brief issue with my AC adaptor, but it didn't give me any major problems and it doesn't really run all that hot.

I will warn you though, it's bloody heavy and with the 260m in, it'll run like a friggin' furnace.

 

[Kurokami]

I might have to buy a new laptop, so either way I end up spending around $1600 on some new tech. Either I get rid of my PS3 and the 10 or so games I have for it and buy an Alienware laptop, or I buy a 15" Macbook for schoolwork and stick with my PS3. (NOTE: I already have a couple computer games I'll be playing, and will only buy one or two new ones to replace the old games I lost.)

The Alienware laptop I'll be getting will also be 15", and will have the following specs:
Intel® Core? i7-620M 2.66GHz (3.33Ghz Turbo Mode, 4M cache)
1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
500GB SATAII 7,200RPM
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

I'll admit, I'm not very computer savvy. If my laptop is going to get phased out of gaming faster than my PS3 based on the specs above, then I won't buy it. If they're going to last around the same time, I'll get the laptop.

Also, if it helps at all, the games I like to play include RTS games, FPS games, and very few RPGs. (Read: BioWare. I'm pretty biased in Alienware's favor here, considering Starcraft 2 is coming out soon and I'll have no way to play it if I don't buy this computer.)

This thread is for anyone to tell me which side of gaming is better, and pretty much add anything possible to help me choose.

I own a PS3 and there is NOTHING you need it for. Any exclusive on the PS3 or Xbox can easily be outweighed by the fact that they either suck or simply aren't great enough to justify buying that big heap of hardware. Then again those wand things are coming out for PS3 and the demo I saw of them last year or the year before seemed promising (though they look ridicules). I suppose I still hold onto the hope that the PS3 and Xbox will eventually actually live up to their promise of supporting 'NEXT GENERATION' Games. I expected they would bring a new standard, but instead the standard lowered for everything other than graphics.

 

[xanith02100]

PS3. If you want an Alienware, get a desktop. Laptop =/= PC gaming best choice.

 

[omega 616]

Alienware are very over priced and from what I know (which isn't alot) laptops are harder to upgrade than a desktop.

I would say PS3, more dedicated to gaming and will be alot cheaper. You could make an Alienware desktop cheaper than buying one and laptops are even more expensive.

Alienware are very sexy though.

 

[Master Kuja]

Laptops are harder to upgrade than a desktop.

Actually, Alienware have a very good upgrade policy, last time I checked it was a simple matter of getting in contact with them, giving your account details, telling them what you want and then they'll check your system configuration and send out a technician to install the part/replace the motherboard if needed.

 

[Sebenko]

Gaming PCs don't suddenly become obsolete in a year. I built mine in 2007 and it's still going fine, running most games on high settings

Even older rigs can still cut it if you're not going overboard. DX9 is still supported for most games, dual core CPUs are only now becoming a standard requirement and the RAM requirements for most games are still reasonable.

My main rig runs a pair of HD 3870s (oh the shame of running GPUs 2 generations old!)and it hasn't given me hassle with most titles I've thrown at it.

I'm running a single 8800GT and Q6600 processor, no overclocking. Needing to upgrade every couple of years is a myth. In fact, it's bullshit of the highest order.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Laptop, nevermind hardware spec. You get Steam and rts games, so you can join the Escapist Steam and TF2 groups!
Alienware stuff's pretty expensive, but also well made and Dell's customer support is pretty good (Dell owns Alienware). As far as upgrading goes, laptops are muc heasier to upgrade now than they ever used to be, theirs a decent range of laptop specific parts around now.

Heating was the problem I had with my last laptop. What would you guys suggest I do to minimize any and all chances of having my system melt again?

Find your nearest metal workers/building materials merchant and buy a flat chunk of Aluminium Billet wide enough to sit your laptop on and about half an inch thick. That will give you a heatsink big enough to help any overheating problems. Don't sit it on blocks of wood!

Alternatively, check the laptop before your buy it, Alienware stuff usually runs at a decent temperature. Cheap 'gaming' laptops often have crap fans in them, watch out for that.

 

[MimsySnark]

Either I get rid of my PS3 and the 10 or so games I have for it and buy an Alienware laptop, or I buy a 15" Macbook for schoolwork and stick with my PS3.

I don't get it--you already have the PS3, so why do you have to get rid of it? It seems like you can keep the PS3, and get the laptop, anyway!

Well, regardless of what you do with the PS3, I would recommend the gaming laptop. Great portability, and a greater choice of the kinds of games you like to play.

 

[Nomanslander]

Alienware is notorious for building their PC/laptops off of cheap parts that break easily.

Plus they have the worse customer service known to man...0o

 

[DancePuppets]

I'm a bit of an Apple fanboy these days, but I would advise getting yourself the Macbook instead of the Alienware laptop and using your PS3 to play most of your games on, just because the Macbook does have some fairly useful features that Windows currently lacks (although most/all of them can be added using freeware). On top of that games are beginning to be released for Apple computers, mostly via direct download and Steam will be coming to Mac very soon. Not saying Apple computers are necessarily better though, just that they've been more useful to me over the last few years than a windows computer would be, as my consoles provide my game playing machines while my mac is very good as a work/photos and stuff machine.

 

[sephiroth1991]

Alienware is stupidly expensive

Get a normal Laptop
or
Get a ps3