Alienware m18x or m17x

[italy2200]

I plan on buying the both used with warranty, as there would be no point in wasting money on a new one... I need to know which one to go with, I just can't decide. (both have warranty)
Alienware m17x: $1000
CPU = Intel Core i7-3610QM (8 threads)
RAM = 16GB DDR3
Graphics = 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM Radeon 7970M
Display = 17.3-inch 1600 x 900 Screen WLED
Primary Hard Drive = Corsair Force 3 120 GB SATA 3 SATA 6.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive
Secondary Hard Drive = Seagate Momentus 7200 500 GB SATA 3Gb/s NCQ 16MB Cache
WiFi = Intel WiFi 2230 a/g/n

Alienware m18x: $1500
INTEL i7 2960XM @ 2.7Ghz
32GB RAM
1.32 TB
2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M VIDEO CARDS

I'm quite stuck... Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[Lohse54]

The m17x deffinitely, the GPU is a little better on the m17x and so is the CPU, and it has an SSD.. Go for it!!

 

[ikaz]

well mx18 has 580m in SLI so it actually *should* be faster but not sure $500 better I would say go with the mx17. Even 16 gig is not need for gaming not to mention 32gb.

 

[italy2200]

well mx18 has 580m in SLI so it actually *should* be faster but not sure $500 better I would say go with the mx17. Even 16 gig is not need for gaming not to mention 32gb.

Yeah, I'd try to negotiate some of the 32GB off, I definitely wouldn't need it. And I heard that the 580m is indeed faster in SLI, and the 2960XM definitely is.
Do you think that the m18x would be a better deal IF they were the same price?

 

[ikaz]

Yes but but xfire/SLI some games won't scale and the 580m is older tech compaired to the mx17 another question I'm assuming that the 580m has 2gig of memory. I would expect that the mx18 also uses more power however both probably should be plugged in while gaming.

 

[italy2200]

Yes but but xfire/SLI some games won't scale and the 580m is older tech compaired to the mx17 another question I'm assuming that the 580m has 2gig of memory. I would expect that the mx18 also uses more power however both probably should be plugged in while gaming.

Right right, I forgot that SLI and X-fire can only be used with some games, as not all have support! Looks like I'll be going with the m17x then. Thanks.