The first configuration comes with the 1366x768 display, and therefore is not a good option. If you're going to buy an Alienware M14x, configure it on the Alienware website, and keep these things in mind:
- Upgrade the display to 1600x900. You should not buy an Alienware M14x in any configuration that includes the stock 1366x768 display, unless you require its larger text for eyesight-related reasons. The stock 1366x768 display makes things onscreen large, and has very poor image quality due to low contrast. This upgrade should be the first upgrade you select, and it should come at priority over any other upgrade- including the processor upgrade.
- Keep the stock 1GB GT 650M. You should not upgrade to the 2GB GT 650M, because the extra memory isn't going to make a difference on this level of GPU. The GT 650M will bottleneck before 1GB of memory becomes a potential bottleneck during most circumstances.
- Just a note: If you're considering upgrading to the Core i7-3610QM processor, keep in mind that gaming tends to be bottlenecked significantly more by the GPU (core speed, not GPU memory) than it is by the processor. Processor upgrades will only affect certain games.
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The Alienware M14x, with the tweaks I mentioned above, will be a nice machine in general and it should be suitable for the games you're looking at playing. But it might be in your interest to consider some more options that offer more powerful GPUs, even better displays, and/or lower prices.
**Lenovo IdeaPad Y580** (i7-3610QM, NVIDIA GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$949 + tax**
- Sign up and sign in here: http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/Lenovo:EnterStdAffinity?affinity=barnesnoblegold (Barnes and Noble Gold discount page)
- http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:0000393A: (i7-3610QM, GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080, 500GB 7200RPM) - $949
- http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:00003943: (i7-3610QM, GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080, 1TB 5400RPM + 32GB SSD for hybrid cache) - $1039
- These models come with the 1920x1080 display. There are other models that come instead with a 1366x768 display, but those models are not recommended unless you need the larger text. 1366x768 resolution in a 15.6" display makes things onscreen large, and 15.6" displays that have this resolution tend to have very poor image quality due to low contrast.
- Click the green "Activate eCoupon" button in the cart.
**Sager NP9130** (i5-3210M, NVIDIA GTX 670M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1095 no tax**
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9130-clevo-p151em1-p-4340.html?wconfigure=yes
- http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=524
- Select Windows 7 under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Downgrade the memory to 8GB 1333MHz, unless you have a particular need for 8GB 1600MHz memory. (Only available on XoticPC configuration page).
**MSI GE60 0ND-006US** (i7-3610QM, NVIDIA GT 650M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1099 no tax**
- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152339
**MSI GE60 0ND-042US** (i7-3610QM, NVIDIA GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1199 no tax**
- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152349
**Sager NP6165** (i5-3210M, NVIDIA GT 650M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$920 no tax**
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6165-clevo-w150er-p-4344.html?wconfigure=yes
- http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=557
- Select Windows 7 under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
**HP DV6t** (i3-3110M, NVIDIA GT 650M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte IPS display) - **$724 + tax** ($769 + tax w/ i5-3210M)
- http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&config_id=7367534
- Use coupon code: **NBY8552**
- Don't: Downgrade to the 1366x768 display, unless you need the large text. You generally shouldn't buy the HP DV6 in any configuration that includes the 1366x768 display. 15.6" 1366x768 displays make things onscreen large, and tend to be low-tier LCD panels with very poor image quality due to low contrast.
- Don't: Downgrade the GPU to the GT 630M unless you only plan on doing light / moderate gaming. The GT 650M is considerably faster.
- Don't: Downgrade the GPU to integrated graphics unless you only plan on doing very light / no gaming. Integrated graphics will probably provide disappointing game performance in the majority of modern titles.
- Consider: Backlit keyboard.
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