The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    m14x fan - too loud for school?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Neatman, Dec 6, 2012.

  1. Neatman

    Neatman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hey everyone,

    Im looking into 14" laptops for my brother. He plans to use the notebook for gaming and notes in school, etc. The m14x seems like far and away the best 14" notebook in terms of gaming capability, but a lot of the reviews Im reading suggest its fan is essentially an abomination that will deften the user and anyone within 10 feet.

    Im just wondering if a) the fan is really loud enough to be an annoying in a classroom b) is there any way to run it quieter when not gaming (or is it for some reason very hot, thus necessitating an obscene level of fan action)

    Really interested in hearing some opinions. I know this is the m14x forum, but if it is really too loud Id like to know. It would be a shame if I got him the notebook for christmas and it ended up being something he couldnt use in the class because it was just too loud.

    Thanks for your time guys!
     
    Neatman, Dec 6, 2012
    #1
  2. Super Octet

    Super Octet Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Don't worry the fan isn't audible at all when doing regular stuff like browsing or taking notes. I take it with me everyday to class :)

    Also, bear in mind that if you read reviews of the first units, the BIOS might have been a lot older. I know the first M14xR1 BIOS was a lot louder than its successors.
     
    Super Octet, Dec 6, 2012
    #2
  3. macnbc

    macnbc Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yes, you only hear the fan when gaming. During normal usage it's silent. (Unless you're in a very hot room in which case it will make a *little* noise.)

    Don't try to get away with playing Crysis in class though, because it'll be up to hair dryer noise level within a few minutes.
     
    macnbc, Dec 6, 2012
    #3
  4. Neatman

    Neatman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Much appreciated guys, looks like my brother will be getting an m14x!
     
    Neatman, Dec 6, 2012
    #4
  5. Alienware-Luis_Pardo

    Alienware-Luis_Pardo Guest

    Reputations:
    1,141
    Messages:
    1,459
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Nice!

    The M14x uses Optimus Technology, it will use the discrete card when playing games and the Intel iGPU when taking notes or watching movies.

    Taking notes won't make any noticeable noise :D
     
    Alienware-Luis_Pardo, Dec 7, 2012
    #5
  6. Dienz

    Dienz Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    If you have an SSD and not an HDD, your m14x won't make any noise at all during non-gaming tasks.

    Mine is dead silent ;)
     
    Dienz, Dec 7, 2012
    #6