*OFFICIAL* Alienware 18 Owner's Lounge Thread

You don't buy a 18.4 notebook and about the size and weight. I never understood how some reviews complain about size on a 18.4 gaming powerhouse notebook. I think it is perfectly fine as well cloudfire.

 

I mentioned in my initial impressions that the power brick was surprising for me since like you posted, it's huge and for being just a power brick, not something I'm used to seeing that big. The laptop wasn't out of the ordinary in size for me though. I'm guessing maybe since I use a 24" screen, I figure it was about that size and it's close.

I was previously using an Inspiron 15" so quite a big jump in size/weight, but wasn't too concerned with it...It's sitting on my U3 cooling stand now and fits ok.

One thing that having a nice 18.4" screen is that the text is actually readable for me (my eyes are getting bad) and on travel, it's actually nice to have such a big screen. I can't stand using a low rez and small size screen anymore.

 

Yep, I think if there was a 19 or even 20 inch machine, I'd go with that and even bigger than the 18...I think once it gets to 24" though, I would have to say I'm tapped out and will get the "lesser" beast.

 

I can see 24" happening in the future if they create retractable wide amoled screens like the one's Samsung has been demoing. The weight wouldn't be too bad either because you could marry it to a small and light chassis.

 

There is no point in arguing with people that have an opinion that the M18xR1/R2/18 is "too big" and/or not portable. If they haven't owned one they are simply a talking head that can't possibly speak from a position of knowledge and authority. If they believe their own words, then they clearly place a higher value on something other than performance. In most cases it's a waste of time to respond or attempt to engage in conversation with them. In some circumstances (depending on the thread and sub-forum) those posts are nothing but a subtle form of trolling.

 

Oddly enough, those who complain that AWs are too thick are often the same people who recommend Clevo, ASUS, and MSI gaming laptops... They might be too thick in comparison to the m6700/m6800, but they are in line with competitors. And I have not seen anyone upgrade a three-year-old Precision, Sager, or ASUS to recent GPUs.

OK, the 14's thickness is baffling.

 

I own a 14 also, it is not to thick to me at all. It is a miniature beast. Cooling is great, design is great, awesome little machine..

 

The only main point I will stress is that of all the "portable" gaming machines in the AW line only; I feel the 18 is actually the most proportionate and in-line with expectations of "expected performance." I think the 17 line is still quite big and not much of a weight difference compared to the 18. At least it doesn't look much different at all. However the power is obviously quite different. I don't know, I just think if you can tolerate a 17in gaming notebook then the 18 isn't much of a difference. My m17x R2 was big and heavy too.

If the 18 chassis was thinner, longer and had even a bit more weight but was rectangular to where it supported say a 20in screen with 1400p resolution; people would be drooling. Then all of a sudden the weight isn't even mentioned. However that is just speculative.

What is real is the fact that I don't see 1 18.4 in notebook that offers the overall package of the AW 18/18xR2 that is "better" from a weight/size/cooling standpoint. I think AW 18 is the "industry standard" top dog 18.4 inch gaming notebook. I think the AW 17 is still a very big notebook and isn't that much more portable or compact when compared to the 18. They are both "big." Basically go big or go home. Some reviewers just need to go home

 

The 17 isn't 'portable' enough to justify halving the power not getting the 18. I think the portability argument of choosing a 17 over an 18 is a moot point. Had the 14's got a 780m then would be something else.

 

As someone who at some point owned both, I don't findthe 18 any less portable. The weight is similar and they are both the same thick. The only issue with the 18 is the bags/sleeves selection is far more limited!

Going with the 17 is a waste of power. Now if only Dell increase the battery size and life on the 18, it will be perfect.

 

The maxed out 17 I ordered is roughly $800 less than an 18 with the same processor, but with dual 780M's (including taxes), which is the main reason I chose the 17 - it fit my budget. If anyone wants to give me a 20% off coupon, I'll grab the 18. :thumbsup:

I've tried so hard to get an AW18... I even managed to get a 20% off coupon at one time but it was redeemed before I had the chance. If I don't like the system I'm getting, I suppose I'll return it and try the AW18, but who knows... Maybe I can get a deal on one before my 17 even ships, which would be nice.

I still want the 18, but Dell just won't negotiate with me. Everytime I call they only give $100 off.

I don't agree with Atholoine when he says, "it's a waste of power," because performance to cost, it isn't. Of course the 18 performs better... I'm not debating that. But the 17 isn't a waste, lol.

 

I was meaning to say if the only factor is portability and not the actual cost. The 17 is a good machine, imo one of the best gaming laptops and would pick it up over a Clevo or MSI anyday. However if the price difference between the 17 and the 18 isn't much -in my case around £300-400- then the 18 is no-brainer, for the extra performance, PLS screen and resale value. I wouldn't go with the 17 for "better portability".

Sorry it was too early in the morning and got pissed for finding a really weird, white spot on my palm-rest! It is as big as the head of a niddle, but I am confused how I didn't pick it up before or how I made it as it doesn't look like a scratch.

 

Oh, I see. Portability wise... I'm 50/50 on it being a "waste," but I see what you're saying.

 

The only portability issues the 18 may have over the 17 is that there is a really small market of 18" laptop bags The weight is around 1kg more and got the same thinkness. I can't see myself moving the 17 more than the 18 due to the 17 being "smaller".

 

I agree, but I'd still recommend the 17 for students. I'm sure it makes a difference when you're carrying a lot of books and you need the PSU.

It mostly comes down to personal preference, and I prefer the 17, at least for this reason. :thumbsup: Performance wise, I would obviously prefer the 18.

Both are great and I'm glad Alienware offers three systems to meet the needs of customers.

 

I have to agree... choices are always a good thing. Difference in weight and size between the 17 and 18 is negligible the same as it was between the M17x/M18x before. That's not a very good reason to choose the 17 unless you are already challenged in that area and the small increase puts you in a crisis situation relative to load carrying capacity.

Otherwise, unless you are a huge 3D display fan and value that feature above performance and battery life, budgetary restraints would be the only logical reason for the small downgrade in weight and size, IMHO. The increase in performance with the 18 is significant, and the 18 is a lot easier to work on if you frequently disassemble your systems as some of us do. There are limited options in backpacks and bags, but the few that are large enough are really good products so it's not a serious issue. Having a wider variety of options would be nice, though.

 

You think the difference between the M17x and M18x was negligible? I could definitely tell the difference between the two. It wasn't a huge difference, but definitely discernible. With the AW17 and AW18 having an even larger form factor than that of the M17x and M18x, I would most certainly believe it would make a difference: carrying the 17 vs the 18.

I agree on the disassembly side of your argument, 100%, without a doubt. I still want the 18, but my budget is limited. I could barely afford the 17...missed the dang mystery coupon sale.

Edit: Off topic: The Everki Titan is on sale ($179.99) on Amazon. I might grab one...

 

Yes, to me the difference in size and weight, even among all M17-M18 systems, is insignificant. Having been able to handle the M17xR2, M18xR2, 17 and 18 all at the same time, the differences between them in that regard was never something I saw as being remarkable. Noticeable yes... but, not significant based on my own definition. This could vary by individual perception.

If you are challenged by volume or load capacity, this could be a problem though. The point you made about lugging around textbooks for classes is valid and that could potentially be significant for some individuals. You cannot put 10 pounds of sand into a 5 pound bag... just doesn't work.

 

I see what you're saying.

I suppose I shouldn't be arguing/debating with someone who owns the AW18 and has experience with both the 17 and 18. Unfortunately, I only know the 17 (first hand).

 

Hey, no worries. We are exchanging ideas and opinions here. I was not really looking at it as a debate... just sharing viewpoints.

Your point is also valid with respect to with finances... that is probably the most influential factor for some people. It could mean the difference between owning an Alienware or settling for something less. In that case, going with the 17 instead of settling doesn't require a great deal of thought.

 

I think the Titan has always been around this price...The lowest I've ever seen is about 169 or so. It rarely goes on sale. However, Australia used to have it a lot for < $100 AUS dollars about a year back. It's still always cheaper there for some reason, but shipping kills the deal...

I think if price is the main concern between 17/18, I'd just wait till I either got a better coupon or saved longer...I, myself was looking to upgrade to the first M18x and waited 4 years now? Not everyone can do that, but having kids and no money or time sorta makes it easy to wait.

I know that's easier said than done for many people, but I'd probably keep looking towards the 18 if I bought the 17 instead. I liked that Clevo (was it?) put the 680m was it in their 15" and that's a nice option since it's about 1/2 the weight with the power brick I think. Also great for people who game on an external screen.

 

I would recommend call them and ask them for a 15% off -tell them , otherwise you are going for a Clevo or try eBay. I saw some Dell resellers to sell Alienware systems around 10% cheaper than the website.

Tbh carrying them won't be much different in terms of volume in the bag, as your laptop will be stored in a different compartment from textbooks, etc. During University, personally I was using eBooks most of the time and would recommend you the same. Cheaper, easier to find info and more portable. Another advice: if you are going to Uni now, don't rush into getting books Most of the time books are just a waste of money... especially with libraries and the internet!
--
Does anyone know if the palm-rest is actually white, painted black on top?

 

I've always seen the Titan at $192.99 + shipping, or something.

Maybe I will. That may have some pull on the pricing. It's definitely much more difficult to bargain than it was last year.

 

Both the 17 and 18 are great machines, with fantastic performance. Even a single 780M for 1080p gaming will last you a while...

My advice: If you got eyes on the 18 already, get that or wait. If you the 17, deep inside you will always regret getting it over the 18.... trust me, I was in that position.

 

new nvidia drivers available 780 sli

 

still having to repair my bluetooth drive after installing new software
ie just install new gpu drivers ans had to repair driver again
am i the only one if so maybe hardware problem

 

i have had both the 17 and now the 18 unless u r using your alienware for your main media center
i would go with the 17 now that the 18 doesnt have 3 deep hdd/ssd caddie
fox's msata raid caddie is very interesting
has anyone tested it

 

Anyone ever got a white spot on their palm-rests, either or the new 18 or m18x? I was cleaning it from fingerprints and I noticed a non-removable white spot! It isn't a scratch, but looks more like the paint when off or something...

 

Exactly my thoughts as well.

I was actually in the market for a 17". Have always used 17" notebooks, but the power of the Alieware 18 where you can have dual GPUs and it still looks really nice, I just had to get one.

I have more and more ditched TVs due to all the horrible commercials they cram down our throats, and I have started watching movies/series on my computer instead. So to step up not only with power for games but also in actual size of the monitor, the Alienware 18 was my primary choice.

The only other option was Clevo, but YUCK, they are fugly as hell compared to this beauty. Not to mention NOISY. I can`t say anything about the noise on my AW 18 yet since I havent played with it since I`m missing a SSD which is on its way, but Anandtech review said it maxed out at 40dB during load. Take Clevo, you are looking at 50dB....

So to summarize: Bigger screen, it is very portable and not heavy to me, real power of dual GPU setup, beautiful design, quiet despite all that power, 3.5 hour battery life when surfing/doing light load.

I`m glad I bought AW18

 

Agreed. Clevo is a no go for me for a dual-GPU system. From the photos I saw, it appears things are really tidy in-there! Plus as you said, ugly.

You got your machine, right?

 

i guess i am out of date as my 17 had dual gpu 280 sli
i was a first adopter m17r1

 

here is some info that may save some money

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 700M with Sandy Bridge 3DMark11

Performance
Benchmark performance using all cores
Core i7 4900MQ
9.9
Core i7 4800MQ
9.7
3DMark06 (CPU) and Passmark
Single-Core Performance
Individual core benchmark performance
Core i7 4900MQ
9.8
Core i7 4800MQ
9.3
Passmark (Single Core)
Power Consumption
How much power does the processor require?
Core i7 4900MQ
5.2
Core i7 4800MQ
5.2
TDP
Features
How does CPUBoss rank the features of each product?
Core i7 4900MQ
6.8
Core i7 4800MQ
6.6

CPUBoss Score
Performance, Single-core Performance, Power Consumption and Features
Core i7 4900MQ
8.7
Core i7 4800MQ
8.5

 

That's a horrible test bench.

 

ok why u have better

 

I think J.Dre just means that the sites quoted do not provide adequate detail and are poor for comparative purposes vs. proper individual benchmark utilities such as 3dMark software etc ran on an individual machine and not 'generalised'

 

it shows that the sweet spot is 4800 with 770 sli
price and performance
that just happens to be what i bought
debate it dont dismiss it

 

i guess i am used to engineers that dont need everything form fitted
i think most people can get usefull information from that post
at least it isnt another post about ordering and edd ect

 

SSDMR (Dual mini-SATAto SATARAID Adapter) 2.5"

will be in stock in two weeks USA

mSATA, Industrial Grade SD, ruggidized PATA, Secure Erase 2.5 SATA SSD

 

From watching this forum and viewing how life is, people tend to talk up what they bought as confirmation bias. This was debated heatedly in a ton of other forum posts already as well as on the M18 vs. M18x R1/R2...

I think it's critical to go into any of these debates stating clearly that one is BIASED, which I tend to state already for my own config which I purchased...

A lot of times, the main reason people go with the 770 sli is due to money...If money is no object or your discount is good (some people got > 35% off), you might as well get the top dog since the upgrade cost is negligible for what you get...

 

or they r uninformed and over buy due to
either bad advise
good sales man or women
or get advise from someone that thinks spending more money is better

 

Why don't you just accept that there are people out there who would prefer to go with an extreme cpu and 780m sli over your chosen configuration - their reason for doing so is not really an issue of yours, yet I get the distinct impression that you are categorising their choice to do so as a waste of money....it may be from your perspective, but not everyone else sees things from your perspective, do they?

A machine with a 4930mx and 780m sli is BETTER than your machine....end of story.

I strongly suggest that you should be happy with what YOU have, be content with YOUR own theories about what is the 'sweet spot' and stop decrying OTHER peoples choices to choose something other than what YOU have chosen....

 

The 4800 is a great bargain for now. If they can unlock the 4930 bios with OC then that is a better deal, so you don't have to upgrade next year if you wish for more speed, saving money in 2-3 year run. As far as 770 SLI goes, the FPS will be lower than 780 SLI and the cards are only connected to the DP & HDMI outputs which are digital. If you want to run up to 4 external monitors using analog USB=>VGA adapters for low latency business work, then Intel MB graphics operates those monitor outputs. NVIDIA is discrete graphics (digital) and is not compatible with the USB=>VGA (analog) adaptors, for those wondering about hooking up up to 4 external analog monitors.

 

I agree with what Steviejones133 said. This: "my choice is the best" attitude, just reminds me all those console fanboys, who try to convince people that their console is the best. Actually it even reminds me those Alienware haters or other gaming laptops' users, who always complain how little the price/performance AWs got..

I got the 4800MQ over the the extreme, only because I did not have the extra 600 pounds to get the 4900MQ, nether the less an extreme CPU. If I could afford them, I would go for them. Hell if I could afford it, I would build a desktop for gaming at home and get an AW18 for on the road gaming-work

 

I got 4930mx and 780 sli as base and to top it off, I got 32gb ram. And if that wasn't absurd enough, I didn't get an ssd.

Whata sucker I am, didn't even look at sweet spot for price vs performance, just got WHAT I NEEDED

 

You are a real sucker... getting the best laptop out there...

 

Pfffft, you guys are clueless.

The obvious and perfect choice of all is going with 4800MQ and GTX 770M SLI. And using the extra money saved on a really fast SSD.

Im cheering on the new guy. His knowledge is undeniable

Yeps, the machine is in da house. I havent gamed with it yet.I feel sick in my stomach, both for me and the machine, to suffer through the aweful clickity clack of a HDD or the insaaaaane slowness.

So therefor I will wait until I get my SSD which is either here on saturday or monday.
Yeah I know, bad planning.

 

Is that what they say, ignorance is a bliss??? or some BS

Your planning couldn't be worse than mine, got the beast sitting on the dining table since I received it, so far disassembled to see modding potential, upgraded to bluray burner and burned recovery disk and usb.

Since then the poor beast, all chained down with slow hdd's waiting for its new wheels in form of a msata SSD.

If I cannot get confirmation on M500 by monday, I am throwing my hands up and getting plextor m5m msata.

 

Good to see another soul who want a fast SSD before firing up the beast and start using it. We wouldnt want to have the wrong picture by using the wrong tires

 

Lets see the big picture here, someone buys a laptop with config that, they believe suits best to there circumstances, links a benchmark which might be useful to some, but doesn't have much when compared to what is already available here and dismisses laptop configurations purchased by others.

Now another poster says we like to brag and not willing to help and discuss problems.

Both of the posters are relatively new here judging by post count, and i assuming, have no idea how much people here love to help. Just going by the simple post history will give an idea, as to how much help is provided by each member. I don't wanna point out names or take credit, but I always jump on the chance to help anyone here, you can see that by my posts.

Hell on getting my aw18, before even creating recovery disks, I took it apart and went full pre-modding stage on the odd slot, to see what kind of hdd's we can add, since one of the biggest gripe everyone has to replace odd with a hdd, but no laptops can fit 2tb drives, I think I was the first one to experiment-measure-trial-confirm that aw18 will be able to take a 2tb 2.5" upto 18mm drive by disassembling odd-to-hdd adapter. I even went as far as to cheek if hdd cable/bracket can be used in odd slot, this I did risking damaging motherboard. And I won't stop here, I got few parts on order and will go on to try more modding and you can bet I will post all of the results here.

So, please do not claim that we do not help. Every single regular poster here jumps to help at a moments notice and loves to share there knowledge without any expectation. Yes we like to brag, but it's mostly jokes thrown at each other, usually followed by a " "

 

hello guys i need help. please ! im a newbie . i purchased a alienware 18 (the new one) just a week ago . my rig is intel core i7-4700mq @2.40ghz and got a ram of 16gb . My gpu is the dual gforce GTX 765M. i curently have 327.23 on my driver(just updated ) for gpu.
so here the problem. i installed crysis 3 . and tried it on max setting. and i experienced latency on it. specially outside the jungle . the grass environment are blinking flickering . i tried to disabled v sync and anti aliasiang and lower some setting and it dissaper . does it mean that my laptop is not enough to play crisis 3? or something wrong? anyone knows the capacity of my laptop? thank u guys whoever will answer