Help me decide

So I bought an M11x 2 weeks ago, great machine, but now I'm having second thoughts. While I'm not a heavy heavy gamer, mainly RTS and RPG, i like my purchases to last me quite some time. I don't usually travel with my laptop, and usually it's just hooked up to my 24" monitor. However it is nice to be able to game on battery for almost 3 hours while being a couch potato. While i know the M14x has just been released, I am seriously considering picking up an M15x from the outlet with the i7 proc and 5850 for about 1200. My reasons for going with the M15x would have to be longetivity/upgradability, and of course more power. I would much rather spend $1200 on a laptop that can last me a few years with minor upgrades along the way. My dilemma is the battery life, could i at least get an hour of gaming, mainly SC2, and Rift on the M15x? I have heard the 5850 gets pretty hot and consumes a great deal of power. Or should i look for a slightly lower spec model with the i3 or i5 procs with the 5730? Thanks Guys.



Please don't recommend a desktop, as i do need portability on ocassion, just not enough to warrant a M11x.

Reply 1 : Help me decide

Ok just to say that all the top gaming machines by Clevo, Alienware, MSI and ASUS will all clock down to a crawl when on battery (or use the integrated IGP). You will get more battery but only with doing basic tasks. Even if you manage to hack your laptop to make it run full power on battery, it will be depleted within 30 mins. Then after long use like this, your battery with shrivel up and die. Unless you are playing a classic game like Doom, recent games will hardly run even on lowest settings on battery.

Still I do recommend getting a M15x if you want the portability provided you only game with it plugged in.

Reply 2 : Help me decide

I was torn between the M11x and the M15x to. I ended up purchasing the M15x but had I waited I probably would have bought the M14x. My biggest concern was that the screen on the M11x would be too small for me.



The M15x is great and has plenty of power but I almost always have the ac adapter connected. Installing an SSD improved the battery life but the time on battery is still quite limited.

Reply 3 : Help me decide

That's why I want to get an M17x as it has switchable graphics. I know I would never game on battery so the IGP is a great feature. Still though, the M17x R3 costs a bleeding bomb so guess I'll have to wait...