Alienware M14x or Custom Gaming Computer?

Hello all, I am wondering which to purchase. A $1100 ALienware M14x with GT 555m and 4gb RAM and intel core i5, or a gaming computer with i5 2500k, EVGA GTX 570 SC 8GB RAM, and all other needed stuff for about $1300. I am really trying to find a good gaming laptop under $1000 or something but I have had no luck. It is just that $1300 sounds too much.
Suggestions?

Custom gaming computer, u can get alot more for your money if u do it yourself. If u don't feel like building one urself then i can always do it for u, I'll only charge labor. 0.o
but definatly don't buy alienware .... Stuff

Honestly, if you're heading off to college or some other setting where a laptop would be useful, definitely get one, because a laptop is indispensable for some applications. But if you're a serious gamer and love good graphics and lots of power, don't even try to find that in a laptop. Nothing beats a dedicated desktop for price or performance when it comes to gaming and multimedia; that desktop build, will, of course, be about a dozen times better for gaming than the M14x. Personally, I'm buying a cheap (but attractive) productivity laptop and then building a new mATX desktop for college. You make a lot of compromises trying to replace your desktop with a laptop, and it's never worth it.

You don't need to spend that much to get a powerful gaming rig. I'd recommend buying core components used; you can get i7 960's and high-end X58's for $300-320 in combos these days. You could probably build such a desktop with a 6950 (unlocked to 6970) for $850.

My thoughts pretty much, I was thinking to get a desktop, then get a nice cheap little laptop good enough to run small games.

sTrYk3r62796 said:

My thoughts pretty much, I was thinking to get a desktop, then get a nice cheap little laptop good enough to run small games.

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You can easily register yourself as a student on Lenovo's site and get a 14" V470 with Sandy Bridge for $535 right now. I think they're pretty slick, and Lenovo's keyboards are excellent. If you like netbooks, E-350 is where it's at, but of course all affordable netbooks are terribly slow. (I'm kind of thinking out loud here.)

Good plan.

bigdfootball89 said:

but definatly don't buy alienware .... Stuff

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well actually, they make excellent laptops, i and a few friends have owned them, pre-dell take over and post, and they have all been good units, sure their desktops are sub par but they have a substantial hold on the mobile market.

Except their laptops are like bricks. They are tankish and brickish.

Yes they are like tanks, so it isn't really ideal for a student to carry it around campus or use one in class. I'd go with a small laptop for notes and portability as well as a desktop pc for gaming if you need to game.

dude you dont HAVE to have a laptop for college, paper is fine..

spend your money on a custom desktop..you will be happier