Sibling Rivalry: Dell vs. Alienware

[Wizard17]

I wonder if they had the XPS M1730 running in SLI for the tests?

When I first got mine I ran 3DMark06 and got a score of 4861 which I though was OK at the time as my desktop machine only got around 5600 running an FX60 cpu and a 7900GTX. BUT upon further checking it turns out that the laptop is shipped without being set to SLI. Once I figured that out I set it to SLI and I repeated the test and got 8308 with my XPS M1730. Yes I am running Vista Home Premium with 2gigs of Ram and the X7900 Core Duo Extreme CPU.

Almost forgot to add that I am NOT overclocking the unit either.....

 

[lostandwandering]

Couldn't tell you anymore since the link isn't working for me anymore. Pretty sure the numbers they had were correct for an SLI 8700 system. If I remember the system correctly, they didn't have the CPU you have, which is where you are getting some extra points from. Basically, the 7950GTX killed the 8700's and now the 8800 are out and have finally taken the crown for the mobile 8 series.

 

[Wizard17]

Most interesting! The link does not work for me either. I wonder if they pulled it when they discovered that they had forgotten to set the SLI on as that gives a totally different picture...

My Dell XPS M1730 has dual 8700s not the 8800s. But IF there is a big improvement and Dell offers the upgrade then I will look at upgrading to the 8800s.

I was especially interested in their comment about the RAM upgrade as a $200 upgrade now is OK but a $400 was not at the time of purchase.

 

[lostandwandering]

My Dell XPS M1730 has dual 8700s not the 8800s. But IF there is a big improvement and Dell offers the upgrade then I will look at upgrading to the 8800s.

A single 8800mGTX scores about what both of your 8700's did. They are pretty freakin awesome for laptop cards.