Between these, which would you pick?

So, I'm getting a laptop for my next year of college. I have narrowed my options down to the following couple notebooks. I would like some opinions as to what you would buy if you were in my situation.

What I will need to do with it.

Gaming. I want to be able to play whatever game I want on the max settings. (specifically Crysis 2, since I've been addicted to that for the last few days)
AutoCAD. For the first part of an Engineering-type course.
SolidWorks. For the same reason.
Any 2 of the above at the same time.
Hard drives don't matter, I have a huge external.
Cost does matter

Here are the options.


Dell XPS17

i7 2820QM [quad core::2.3clock, 3.4 turbo, 32nm]
Nvidia Geforce gt 555m w/ 3gb
8GB dual channel 1333mhz

$1800


Sager NP7280

Dual Nvidia gtx 580m SLI [256bit, 2gb gddr5(4total I think)]
i7 990x [3.46~3.73, hexacore, 32nm]
12gb 1333mhz triple channel

$4200


Alienware M17x

i7 2820QM [same as above]
8GB dual channel 1333mhz
2gb gtx 580m

$2800 or $3000 for 12 gb of ram


Battallion 101

i7 990x
12gb 1333mhx dual channel
gtx 560m 1.5gb gddr5
80gb SSD

$2600



X7
i7 990x
12gb 1333mhz triple channel
2x gtx 560m sli 1.5gb, 3gb total.
SSD

$3500

Feel free to suggest others.


Use Passmark if you wanna know how the two processors compare.

Thanks. =]

 

Limitless budget, the $4k one.
otherwise the xps, but if you can downgrade the processor and upgrade the gpu(IMO)

 

Alienware? my friend has one and he had no problem with games/ anything.

 

Oh and btw, SLI doesn't double the memory, it just shares it so there'd only be 2gig gpu mem(it's not like you need more then 1gig unless your running eyefinity anyway.

 

I mean, the x7 is superior but a lot more expensive.

You can't go wrong with building your own computer. If you don't need a laptop I would highly suggest a desktop.

 

Why downgrade the processor? Just for cost? I do suppose it's relatively the same thing, just clocked higher and more expensive.

And upgrade the gpu from what? What would you suggest other than dual 580m's? Do you think I would be able to run whatever I want with those? I wish I could get a couple hd6970m's but I haven't found any yet in a laptop. And xps comes with just one, not-as-good gpu. I'd like to stay within the top 5-10 mobile GPU's.

Superior to what? I would have to say the Sager is the best of the bunch, just because of the GPU's. And, I have a beast desktop that I built, but I am in need of a laptop.

Basically, can the cheaper ones on my list still do everything I want them to? I don't really know much about mobile GPU's or how much the programs (CAD and Solidworks) use your gpu.

 

Ill put it like this, if you have good money to spend then get sager np7280.

If not get the M17x one of my favorites.

EDIT: If you don't need a laptop pm me i will link you to a custom built pc part by part for around $1500 could run any game do anything you want at the fastest speed possible.

 

Nevermind, ya no upgrades to the xps 17 with gpu :/
go with whatever fits ya proice range

 

Ahh alright =\

Would the 2x 560m's run everything the 2x 580m's would run? The 580m's aren't on the site I use for benchmarking.

 

Sager has the best spec.
Alienware is just a fancy brand, like Gucci.

If you're looking for value for money get the dell.

 

As far as I can tell, you get the best Bang for the Buck with either an Alienware 17x, or a Battalion 101. Though honestly, with those prices, Your budget isn't really that small and you could go with the Sager as well

 

2x 560ms would run most stuff at high i would think. I'm not heaps good with lappie gpus tho.

 

If I had a gun to my face, I'd buy the first one then another, cheaper laptop that doesn't sound like a fighter jet when you turn it on.

 

I'd suggest the AlienWare just because they have quite a good reputation for computer performance especially when it comes to gaming.