Alienware Community Feedback - 3D

As you may be aware, Alienware currently offers a 3D solution from NVIDIA on our Alienware M17X Notebook. First to those that have purchased it, thank you, second, we have been very happy with the technology and want to be able to continue offering the latest 3D technology to our customers.

The solution currently offers Full-HD resolution at 120Hz with support for over 400 games. In addition, when purchased with a Blu-ray drive, it supports the latest in 3D movie support. So we'd like to ask the following questions;

1. Are you currently using 3D for Games, Movies or both?
   
   
2. Do you use it at home or on the go?
   
   
3. Do you utilize it for personal use or with friends?

If there are any improvements you would like to see in the future, feel free to leave additional feedback.


- The Alienware Product Team

 

1. Movies and the occasional Sandbox game. FPS games are way too quick and a bit dizzying. Arkham City is great in 3D, even the top GPU can't push enough frames for 3D in demanding games though.

2. I use it usually at home but I take my glasses with me. I wouldn't use it on the train or anything because people gimme weird looks. Mostly because not many people believe that 3D exists in laptops and they think that they are just really odd hipster glasses

3. I use it personally as I only have one pair of glasses, however, I lend its ability to friends and family whenever they want to see a new film. I just say "you wanna watch it in 3D?"

Edit: Future improvements of perhaps a Light Boost panel with Nvidia 3D Vision 2. Better colour gamut. Otherwise it is a solid entry into the 3D scene

 

I think the 3D is an awesome feature, but it really should be offered with Optimus. I think a lot of people don't get 3D simply because it would kill their mobility.

Also, please fix the 580m throttling issues (specifically the 77 degrees Celsius throttle).

Thanks

 

^^ I didn't get 3D because of this reason, I need mobility, however m17x is a great product, I will buy more for sure! thanks alienware!!!

 

My first M17x is currently in production. The 3d was one of the main reasons I chose it. I don't know if that is helpful input, but that's my two cents.

Update: Someone mentioned it below. I would have purchased the more expensive M18X with dual 580m if I could have gotten 3D too. I instead purchased the M17x because I decided I wanted 3D even if I didn't have as much GPU horsepower.

 

1. ive used mine for games and movies although sparingly. i honestly think of it as more of a novelty, but dont regret getting it.

2. ive only used it at home. i dont game or watch movies much on the go. when i have my laptop out and about its more of a productivity machine.

3. i have used the 3d only for personal use.

+1 on the optimus with a 3d machine. no reason it cant kick into 60hz mode when on the intel gpu, or maybe ivy's gpu can support 120hz?

need to be able to get the 3d out to a larger monitor. i have an aw2310 and havent been able to get any sort of 3d to display on it. i should have done my homework a bit more before purhcase, as i dont use my laptop screen at home unless using 3d. would probably use 3d more if my external monitor could support it. that may be more of a aw2310 issue but i think still relevant here. the monitor could use a display port in on it or the laptop a dvi out on it.

 

Hi. I don't own an Alienware but would strongly consider one if you could implement Optimus along with the 3D capability (as other have mentioned) and if you provide an option for a BluRay burner. I need a computer with a BluRay burner because I make HD videos.

 

Are you currently using 3D for Games, Movies or both?
Only in games - didn't purchase it with the Blu-Ray Drive

Do you use it at home or on the go?
Only at home, personally it might look a bit strange to see someone wearing 3D glasses out in public with a huge gaming setup.

Do you utilize it for personal use or with friends?
Both. Mostly for personal use, but when my friends come over I let them try out the 3D in various games (and they are usually blown away by it).

Improvements would be a lightboost panel with nVidia 3D Vision 2 technology, and compatibility with Optimus.

 

Why is everyone asking something of Alienware that only NVIDIA can change? The fact that Optimus isn't supported under 3D isn't their fault.

Being someone who's extremely likely to be purchasing an M17/18x over the Summer, I'll just chime in with my $0.02 that 3D to me is gimmicky, and not much else, I won't be bothering with it. I've used it before, and found it to add very little to games and movies. I'd much rather a higher quality display than a mediocre one supporting 3D.

 

^ Yup. And it makes little sense having 3D on one GPU when your FPS is going to be cut in half :S. I would understand 3D in an SLI setup.

 

^^Good point. Where's the 3D in the M18x? Give the M18x users 3D and we'll take the IPS RGBLED display from the M6600 anyday

 

Having had both the 3D and non-3D screens, I think they both look amazing. Personally, I only use the 3D every once in a while, but I got it for the superior 120Hz.

 

1. While I would love to game in 3D, it's much more enjoyable to play in non-3D for the larger resolutions and better frame rate. This is on a 460m. Before I purchased a 3D-capable TV, I found myself using the laptop to watch 3D blu-rays.

2. I used 3D strictly for home use.

3. When previously watching 3D, I would either watch by myself or with one other person. More than that and the screen size was too small to comfortably view.

I had the intention of using 3D quite often, but at this point roughly 7~8 months down the road, I find myself regretting this decision. While I've heard that the 120hz screen is brighter, the trade off of losing Optimus and having a slower overall GPU, at the time the 460m was the highest card offered with 3D, was simply not worth the cost. At this point, there is simply not enough 3D content to justify getting 3D for me. I still love my Alienware, but will probably be replacing the 460m sometime soon, or selling this m17x and purchasing a new non-3D version. I realize this may not apply to everyone, but this was what I found my experience to be.

 

PLEASE READ THIS POST!!!

 

1.Are you currently using 3D for Games, Movies or both?

I use it for both, but for shooters, i don't because the fps get pretty bad. (Unless its cod hahaha) pun intended

2.Do you use it at home or on the go?

I use it mostly @ home, and once in the car. Almost threw up :/

3.Do you utilize it for personal use or with friends?

Both, my friends called me a liar for saying I had a 3d laptop. They now have their own.

 

In brief:
1: Both
2: Home / Office - never on the move, can't drive and game at the same time
3: Mainly personal.


I use my 3D m17x mainly for the 3D movies which it tends to excel at.

The display does seem to boost in this mode becuase during the 3D gaming sessions I notice that ctrl-T dims the display when switching to 2D. I beleive this is not the light boost tech but since I never run the screen full brightness it works the same for me.

I use it personally, mainly becuase it only comes with one pair of glasses, I am actively looking for a second pair, (tis a shame that other Active 3D glasses are not compatible with NVidia's.

Do I regret buying it, no. The insight into 3D has made me evaluate 3D Tv's more closely and the difference between polarized and active is substantial. (My son has a polarized 3D laptop and the Alienware blows it away).

The reduction in speed when 3D is used can be offset by reducing gfx content in games, what you lose in detail you often gain in immersion, and TBH I often switch between the two as gaming for more than an hour in 3D (or watching a movie) can cause a bit of nausea.

Would I buy another 3D laptop if there was an option on a future Alienware, Yes, although I'd like it better is the industry got their act together and produced a single standard for the glasses, buying 6+ pairs aint funny (that would be 2 or 3 for the Laptop and another load for the Active 3D TV, minimum)

 

1.Games and movie
2.Using it home,office and friends's home- too big for on the go..
3.Personal only- screen a bit small for 2 (17'') and need extra glasses......