Need new laptop, grateful for any advice.

originally posted by: Gothmog

originally posted by: stosh64
a reply to: Gothmog

Thanks for the homework GM!
I will be sure to check the xmp profile in my bios, no need for slower ram than what you paid for!
HAGS off it looks like.
Extra space on my SSD=GOOD
Working on the rest.
I can't thank you enough, I owe you a beer.

Appreciate any other HW sent my way

HAGS ON .
I don't fire up a Windows PC without it.

OK, thanks. Off was opinion of some YT guy. I trust you GM
What's your opinion on undervolting?

originally posted by: stosh64

originally posted by: Gothmog

originally posted by: stosh64
a reply to: Gothmog

Thanks for the homework GM!
I will be sure to check the xmp profile in my bios, no need for slower ram than what you paid for!
HAGS off it looks like.
Extra space on my SSD=GOOD
Working on the rest.
I can't thank you enough, I owe you a beer.

Appreciate any other HW sent my way

HAGS ON .
I don't fire up a Windows PC without it.

OK, thanks. Off was opinion of some YT guy. I trust you GM

What's your opinion on undervolting?

No.
Just no .
Let's don't and just say we did .
Everything to lose , and very little to gain .

a reply to: Gothmog
Got it, thanks.

originally posted by: stosh64
I am looking at a Dell Alienware M17 R4

For that budget, you can get a really nice setup.

Questions though...

Will you be traveling with it much? A laptop with a 17" screen is a tank to carry around. You'd get a lot more bang for the buck going with something with a smaller screen (no bigger than 15"), and get a dock with 2 or 3 large external monitors.

I would also go for a Dell Business Class, and get their ProSupport+ (accidental damage replacement warranty extension), especially if you will be traveling with it or others will be using it (wife? kids).

Always upgrade to Windows Pro

With Dell Business Class computers you can download/use the excellent 'Dell Command Update' utility to keep the drivers up to date (always, always disable Windows driver updates in Windows 10/11). I'm not sure if Alienware are supported though.

Other than that, looks good...

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: stosh64
The most common problems I see with the Dells is, they start out great and progressively just slow down to a crawl after about a year. Once they start doing this, then they start doing all sorts of bizarre stuff and no one can ever find the problem.

Almost certainly caused by one or a combination of a few things...

Windows drivers replacing Dell drivers (disable Windows Driver updates, use Dell Command Update, first do a full Driver Restore, then use it and only it to keep drivers updated).

Remove crapware.

Disable Fastboot.

Just for starters...

originally posted by: Akaspeedy
Just get an m1 Mac……it’s quicker than a whippet with a bum full of dynamite……..I have one! Battery lasts forever on this thing

And I call my desktops "Apple Eater I , II , and III" .
For a reason .
One has a hand painted dragon done took a bite of an apple right on the side of the case .

originally posted by: tanstaafl

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: stosh64
The most common problems I see with the Dells is, they start out great and progressively just slow down to a crawl after about a year. Once they start doing this, then they start doing all sorts of bizarre stuff and no one can ever find the problem.

Almost certainly caused by one or a combination of a few things...

Windows drivers replacing Dell drivers (disable Windows Driver updates, use Dell Command Update, first do a full Driver Restore, then use it and only it to keep drivers updated).

Remove crapware.

Disable Fastboot.

Just for starters...

Thanks
I have been researching how to de-bloat and minimize win10.
I was still using win8 when my laptop died. Had updates off for years.
I'm a little nervous about starting win10 the first-time, I have heard its pretty invasive...

a reply to: tanstaafl
It will seldom if ever leave my house. I want to eventually ad a WIDE screen and keyboard in my designated gaming room. But mostly it will be used in my comfy chair on my lap.

Why pro instead of home? There was no option for pro but for a good reason I would upgrade.

Thanks again

originally posted by: stosh64
I have been researching how to de-bloat and minimize win10.

O&O has some excellent free tools, all of which are Portable (no installation required):

Shutup
Allows you to quickly/easily manipulate Windows 10 Spyware Reporting 'features'.

AppBuster
Allows you to quickly/easily remove/add Windows10 native Apps that are otherwise 'unremovable'.

Registry Editor
Just a much better Registry Editor

Lanytix
Excellent LAN analysis tool

I was still using win8 when my laptop died. Had updates off for years.
I'm a little nervous about starting win10 the first-time, I have heard its pretty invasive...

originally posted by: stosh64
a reply to: tanstaafl
It will seldom if ever leave my house. I want to eventually ad a WIDE screen and keyboard in my designated gaming room. But mostly it will be used in my comfy chair on my lap.

Why pro instead of home? There was no option for pro but for a good reason I would upgrade.

There are things you can't do with Home, but for me, the main one is the use of Dell Command Update for managing Drivers (butu again it only works on their Business models) - for regular home users it is OK, but apparently the new Home version of 11 will not allow you to have local only Users (not a real email address connected to the internet) or have any control whatsoever over updates (Drivers or other), so it is a no-go for me.

$2,099 us.

For a bit lower budget I would get an M1 chip 16 GB Unified memory 1 TB macbook
www.apple.com...

M1 chip is a great novelty. It enables longer battery life which is important if you are going to work out of the office in the field.
Macs are getting ever more exposed to viruses macsecurity.net... This is a sure sign that they attract more users as they grow in quality. Hopefully, macOS Monterey will patch all the major vulnerabilities.

With 1 TB MacBook I would definitely install Windows using Parallels www.parallels.com...
I use windows as some programs are not compatible with mac

a reply to: tanstaafl
Thank you!!
Those will be the first programs run...when it comes...
July 30th is my projected delivery date, ordered on 7/7.
I check my order updates many times daily.:-)
It is still only "confirmed", waiting for " In production "!
LoL
Thanks again for you help Tanstaafl

a reply to: KindFairy
I don't do Apple, strictly PC, but thanks for the reply.

originally posted by: stosh64
a reply to: tanstaafl
Thank you!!
Those will be the first programs run...when it comes...
July 30th is my projected delivery date, ordered on 7/7.
I check my order updates many times daily.:-)
It is still only "confirmed", waiting for " In production "!
LoL
Thanks again for you help Tanstaafl

No problem! Still trying to get the other parental unit here to give me permission to buy a new one for myself...

Enjoy your new toy (when it arrives)!

a reply to: tanstaafl

Thanks tanstaafl!
I can't wait, I have been reduced to a Fire HD 8 tablet since my Lenovo died.
Trying to pick a AAA game to test it out when it gets here, maybe MS flight SIM 2020.
Not into cyberpunk.

originally posted by: stosh64
a reply to: tanstaafl

Thanks tanstaafl!
I can't wait, I have been reduced to a Fire HD 8 tablet since my Lenovo died.
Trying to pick a AAA game to test it out when it gets here, maybe MS flight SIM 2020.
Not into cyberpunk.

I'm a Galaga guy myself... lol, guess I dated myself a bit there, eh?

a reply to: tanstaafl
Tempest!

Just get a ps5…..new headset has already been announced…..and new controllers for it

originally posted by: Akragon
a reply to: Akaspeedy

but can it VR?

a reply to: Akaspeedy

ya but why pay a grand for a machine that can't keep up with the equivalently priced laptop....

You can easily get a 1080ti with an i7 for a grand... fully portable... as opposed to a machine the size of a small piano

and Btw that post was referring to a mac... which can't VR

I've heard good things about the new psvr though

Thanks again to everyone that responded.
The new beast showed up today and I couldn't be any happier, I LOVE IT!
Now I am looking for a game that will challenge it like MS flight sim 2020, also a good shooter but NOT COD.
Maybe just DOOM Eternal, lol
Suggestions?