Thinner Lighter M17x Like the New MSI GS70?

This is just a wish. I hope sometime in the near future, Alienware can come up with a thinner, lighter M17xR? that is powerful, yet sleek. MSI has just announced the GS70 which is supposed to be the world's thinnest and lightest gaming laptop: MSI USA - Dragoon Army Site | GS70 Gaming Notebook

If they can do it, can't Alienware?

I AM happy with my M17xR4, but would like a thin, cool one like this...

 

With all due respect, go home. People have been asking this for years. The "we want a thinner, lighter M17x" crowd are the reason the R1/R2 went away and the plastic and rubber mess took its place. You want something really thin (in only one dimension of three, that counts the least, I might add) get a Razerblade or something instead.

/rant

 

The thing is, ultimately the design of the laptop revolves around its heat output. Currently the Razer Blade (Pro and 14") as well as the GS70, max out at GTX765m, while the current M17x R1/2/3/4 as well as the new 17, could handle cards up to a GTX780m. The power requirements between the GTX765m and the GTX780m are vastly different.

Additionally, there is a difference between the CPU that are available. The smaller 14" Razer Blade comes with an i7-4702HQ which has a TDP of 37W, its larger brother comes with an i7-4700HQ which has a TDP of 47W, and the recently announced GS70 can come equipped with the same i7-4700HQ as the Razer Blade Pro. Whereas, the most recent Alienware 17 can be configured with a i7-4930MX which has a TDP of 57W.

Add the CPU and GPU together and what you get is a machine that requires extra consideration for cooling.

If Alienware chose to do an Ultrabook-esque gaming machine, they would probably have to launch an additional line.

Just my two cents.

 

Thanks for detailed reply. I did guess it would be different for the CPU / GPU combo used in the AWs. But it was a wish. Reason being the AW is my primary system and carrying around to client meetings is sometimes a pain.

However, it's no longer an issue as these days I carry only my Microsoft Surface RT to meetings, take notes, or do presentations on that. Everything syncs up through the cloud back to the AW.

 

Personally I bought my alienware for power first, and portability 2nd. If that is compromised I will probably buy a different brand next time I buy a gaming laptop.

 

I don't think Alienware has ever designed a good "thin" laptop. Of course, most of the thickness of these laptops goes to waste, because the cooling isn't substantially better than that of competitors... Dell continues the two/three copper pipe heatsink scheme and uses the same inefficient CPU fan and charges a premium for it. ASUS's ROG G750 might have better cooling than the m17x.

 

The Alienware M18x still holds the highest benching score for laptops in the world that I know of, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. That being said, I haven't seen either the new G750 or the New alienware to really know how the cooling is.

 

This.
And no

I have zero interest in the m17X getting smaller.

And for what its worth
Serephucus, the M17X R4 is the best looking alienware notebook of all time to me.



I have zero interest in persuing the super thin super underpowered super overpriced laptops.
I want mean power, upgradability, durability, high end cooling, modding and overclocking.

I would love to see an alienware laptop that's slim and small, but something more like the M11X, NOT a 17inch underpowered overpriced hunk of unupgradable mess.
Just because razer wanted to splash waves, doesn't mean alienware needs to do so.
Alienware has been saying [removed] to the norm for years, releasing laptops and desktops built like tanks, and look like fighter jets and muscle cars. I love alienware's passion to continue creating these high power classics.
Alienware is different from the rest because they look like and feel like the classic exotic cars of the computer world.
That's why alienware products even as old as some art still sell for high dollar on ebay and in shops. Alienware creates waves with everything they make, and I don't want them to stop.
the screaming about overpriced and "too big" and "we want mobility!" got the Area 51 phobos axed, and i'm just waiting till its too cost inefficient for alienware to keep releasing the Aurora.
I'd like to see the area 51 come back and the aurora continue to permeate around the world as a premium worthwhile desktop choice.
I want to see the powerhouse laptops alienware keeps making, their power upgradability and vanity.
So no, I don't want a smaller one, take that outta here.

If you have a problem with carrying a big laptop and you're insecure about the size of it, then do some push ups and stop acting like a weakling, because im a 120lb female and I have NO problems at all walking miles up and down Seattle with an custom'd super m17X R4 in my backpack.

LOL you're joking me right? Are you kidding me?
First off my laptop's cooling performance sinc you wanna pop off like an idiot.


No the background noise isn't from a fan, you can't even hear the fan after I've put it next to the vent directly.

45minutes of Kombuster.... 64C average. FLAT ON THE DESK, NO COOLING MAT OR SPACERS, just the risers that are stock.

45minutes of 100% gpu load fuzzy and tessy,,,, 64C average temp.


I'd LOOOOOOOOOOVE to see another company do that.

2hours of Prime95 PLUS heaven benchmark Max temp? 65C gpu, 61C cpu.

Better cooling?

oh that's a good one. how about you stop trolling and actually pay attention to real world performance.

 

Ah, but that's aesthetic preference, I was more referring to the build quality. Peeling, sweat-absorbing rubber weirdness in comparison to 2.5mm thick aluminium sheet. My R1 felt far more solid than the R3 I got to experiment with.

 

Its just the feeling of the materials vs aluminums.
Also its called "soft touch" finish. its a plastic and vinyl finish method.
The only thing I don't like about it is how hard it is to clean.

 

Best way to clean it that I've found is to use alcohol cleaning wipes. leaves the finish with that brand new feeling you get after you just opened it and touched it for the first time.

 

Wow it really does ! I hadn't cleaned it for quite a while, looking good now

Good tip tony

 

No problem dude, Always glad to help.

 

You're barking up the wrong tree. I own an m17x. It's a solid laptop. The CPU cooling does frustrate. If the CPU fan were the same as the GPU fan like in the m18x, I would not mind the two copper pipes. What I typed about ASUS is conjectural until it releases the G750JH.

 

If you're trying to cool an extreme processor sure you're going to run into the heat barrier fairly quickly. If you stick to the regular processors though, you should be just fine.

Edit: if you're have CPU overheating issues, clean you're fans. I guarantee you have dust clogged in there impeding airflow.

 

I'll re-paste it when I can and post if my opinion changes.

 

when you have the machine apart I would also just take out the fans and blow them out with compressed air. Same with the heatsinks.

 

My initial post seems to have gotten some people riled by comparing size with performance. I never meant to say that Alienware should compromise on performance at all. Perf is first - that's why I have a R4 myself and nothing comes close to it.

But if AW can maintain perf while decreasing the weight and size, I'm all for it. As an ~40yr old, my next notebook will still need extreme performance - but I'd like to start giving my poor back a little respite if it's possible.

I'm a gamer, developer, & consultant. So I do drag the AW around everywhere as well. As I'm getting older, it's just becoming a little harder to do. So the question comes down to this: If for a 5-7% decrease in performance I get a 50-60% decrease in weight I need to carry, which one would I choose at my age? Considering that I'm quite good with system optimizations, I'm sure I can make up that perf difference myself.

 

Deleted my post.

 

Well that's the difference between the alienware 14 and the alienware 17. With the 17 you get more power and the ability to upgrade down the road at the cost of a bigger footprint and more weight compared to the 14 which is lighter and more portable, but has less upgradability down the road.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 running Resurrection Remix