Need help and advice choosing laptop

I am getting a refurbished Alienware Laptop next week and have the choose of two.



Option 1:

Alienware M17x Nebula Red

Q9000 Intel Core2 Quad 2.00GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)

8GB (8192MB) DDR3 1333MHz

500GB Serial (SATA) 7200 RPM

2 x 1024MB nVidia GeForce GTX 260M SLI (Total 2GB)



Option 2:

Alienware M17x R2 Space Black

Intel Core i7-720QM Quad Core Mobile Processor 1.60GHz (Turbo up to 2.8GHz, 6MB Cache,1333MHz FSB)

6GB (6144MB) DDR3 1333MHz

500GB Serial (SATA) 7200 RPM

ATI Mobility RADEON HD 4870 Graphics with 1024MB RAM (GDDR3)



I think that the CPU in option 2 is significantly better than option 1. I dont think that I'll see much difference between 6 and 8gb of RAM. But which is the better GPU option? 2 GTX 260m in SLI or a single ATI 4870? I've read reports that SLI only works sometimes (i.e. with certain software). I will mainly be using the laptop for gaming (FM2011, Empire Total War, Dawn of War 2 etc).

Are the R2 laptops built better and last better?

Any help or advice much appreciated.

Reply 1 : Need help and advice choosing laptop

I'd choose the R2 and see if they would go to 4Gb RAM and give you the second 4870 in CrossFireX although the R1 isn't a bad configuration, I have an R1 and the setup is in my sig line.

Reply 2 : Need help and advice choosing laptop

Thanks for the response. I will check to see if I can make changes to spec and how much it woukd be. Both of these laptops cost 1200 and this is pretty much all my budget spent.