AlienwareTech @ E3 - Alpha SteamBox Console Replacement

Our Alienware Tech Team will be at E3 this year. Stay tuned for more information.

 

Color me excited

 

"Presenting... The most awesome coffee mug in the universe." -Alienware: E3 2014

Just kidding. I hope you guys release some sweet stuff. Can't wait to see what's planned for the product lineup. I'm hoping the Aurora will get a nice refresh this year. It has been a while...

 

Any we will see a new product? If the m15x comes back I'm buying on the spot

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Nice - it'll certainly be interesting to see what Dell/Alienware come up with this year......

 

I have a feeling nothing new. As sad as that is to say. Their super stale right now. What's the date the announcements are supposed to be made

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My guess is the steambox, and hoping for a update to the tactx line up.... please make a alienware logitech g502!!!

 

I agree with that one, that tactx lineup has really old hardware. I used to have it but since they never updated it I went with a razer set up. Very happy with it, the black widow is one of the best mechanical keyboards money can buy.

 

I'm really hoping for an Alienware Ultrabook (SLIM FORMFACTOR). With lenovo, MSI, razer, asus, gigabyte (not to mention, the rMBP) and others already well armed with capable ultrabooks, I will have to leave alienware if they don't come up with their own. There is zero reason for the alienware 14 to be as chubby and bulky as it is, considering the GS60 comes with a GTX 870M and the lenovo y50 comes with a GTX 860M, qhd displays, and loads of other goodies whilst being very thin and light.

 

I keep saying this, but with thin and light, you will sacrifice cooling. It's all over the web about heating with thin and light machines as mentioned above. Here is just one example I plucked randomly - GS60 Pro with 870m:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgUZzVGsZqU

Not only can you see that he struggles to maintain above 24fps, in the comments, the guy who posted the video says, and I quote:

You can even see how hot the GPU gets in his monitoring in the video.....93c at 6 seconds in, pretty much 90c all the way through........

Razer Blade: http://forum.notebookreview.com/razer/751301-2014-razer-blade-initial-review-day-1-a.html - yet again, stupid high temps for GPU.....

I rest my case. LOL

 

We need to see some significant tactical maneuvers to ensure the future viability of the Alienware brand. Otherwise, we are going to lose the true high performance laptop enthusiasts to the competition.

Please pass on these suggestions to the product design team.

We need to see, (as in must-have,) in this exact order of priority:

• Alienware 18 with no Secure Flash garbage and/or pre-unlocked BIOS menus
• Alienware 18 motherboard revision with crippling power-handling limitations removed
• Alienware 18 factory dual-330W AC adapter like Clevo offers for the P570WM (or a single 650W adapter)
• Announcement of a new Alienware 18.R2 with hex-core K and X desktop CPU support to compete with the P570WM
• Alienware 14 with Extreme CPU and MXM GPU (or Alienware 15 with the same)
• Alienware 17 to include 330W AC adapter as standard issue for MX CPU and 880M

Under the heading of "nice to have" we need:

• Updated Alienware Command Center with user-configurable fan control profiles
• Checkpoint-Friendly version of all sizes of Alienware Vindicator backpacks
• Alienware 18 Vindicator laptop sleeve (we have 14 and 17 already)
• Wireless TactX headset, mouse and keyboard (cut the cord!)

I am hoping we do not see:

• Alienware Ultrabook
• Alienware Tablet

 

Precisely. I would not want to see yet another abortion that is purely aimed at being 'thin and light or touchy-swipey'

Personally, I think trying to cram high end, high heat output components into an "UltraSuck" form factor is asking for trouble, however, I do appreciate that there are people who will WANT thin and light - my advice to them would be to go and heat up their testicles by buying something thin, light and very toasty.....

As for your suggestions, I could not agree more with all of them. :thumbsup:

 

Thanks, Brother Steve. Maybe if enough enthusiasts express their agreement it will get the attention of the right people. We could post this stuff on IdeaStorm, but I really see those in the first group of bullet items as being very critical action items more than I see them as being suggestions for what would be "nice to have" things.

 

I agree. Hopefully, the powers that be will look at this as some kind of feedback. One thing I detest is manufacturers moving on to new products when they have not remedied problems with their last products - that does not encourage me to want to support or buy their future products whatsoever.

 

Totally agree with you Mr Fox the only thing i would like to add is an unlocked bios with functionality similar to that of a high end desktop.

 

For the most part I agree with this. Alienware needs to, and I stress NEEDS TO bring a solid game to E3 this year, and that game needs to include most if not all of Brother Fox's list. Last year at E3, Alienware had everyone stoked with the new re-design of their laptops. I was even enamored a bit by the new design until the specs game out. There was far too much functionality cut from the laptops. This came in the form of the loss of ESATA, USB ports, and the PC card slot. That put me off a tad, but I ended up with a new 18 due to external factors. I thought I could live with that, until I realized how neutered the 18 was. The neutering of the 18 is one thing, but there are also some cosmetic aspects that were removed which I wish were still there, like the nebula red color, and edge to edge glass on the display. Those cosmetic features helped to make Alienware stand apart from everyone else, and I personally thought it was amazing to have on a laptop..

First off there has to be something done about the power delivery on the 18. The simple fact that the 18 can not adequately power 780/880 SLI and a 4930/4940MX CPU is a problem. Even if the solution is to increase the wattage of the power brick to solve the problem. If not that then make it where a dual PSU MOD can be done for the 18. It is sad to see my laptop, a top of the line Alienware, be beaten in performance by comparable desktop replacements. Along the same lines, the 17 could also use a 330 watt power brick, as the 17 with an extreme CPU and top of the line MXM card can easily come close if not exceed the 240 watt PSU's capacity.

Secondly, I also feel the Tact-X line needs to be updated. There should be a new Tact-X Keyboard to match the new style of the Alienware lineup. The Tact-X mouse is a great mouse, but it is dated, and there are many other options out there that are far superior than the Tact-X mouse. I have never owned the Tact-X headset, but that should be reason enough to change that LOL. It would also be nice to see Alienware make a new monitor. A 27 inch IPS LED with a high resolution would be nice, and it would also be nice to see a 24 inch 120HZ monitor.

Lastly, I would hate to see Alienware release a tablet, an ultrabook, or anything along those lines. In my opinion those products would not be in line with that Alienware's mission is. That mission is to provide gamers with the most kick butt gear out there with performance being the top, and only, priority. The ultrabooks and tablets should be left for Dell to make, and Alienware provides the gaming gear.

To sum it up, Alienware fell short last year. I don't blame Alienware, as it could of just been they were only competing with themselves and the hype of the new Alienware lineup last year caused end users to dream up unrealistic expectations. However, Alienware needs to address those expectations. First off through fixing the 18, feed the beast and come up with a solution for the power delivery. Secondly give the owner's of the 17 an option, if not a standard option, of the 330 watt PSU. Update the Tact-X lineup, and give us some new Alienware monitor choices.

I hate to say it, but having owned an M18X, M18x R2, an Aurora R4, and now the 18 I don't see myself buying another Alienware. This is solely based on the disappointment with the 18. The 18 isn't a bad laptop in anyway, but it does lack, especially for those users coming from an M18X R2. Owning an 18 after the M18R2 is like owning a Ford after owning a lexus. Yea the Ford is nice, but it is not as luxurious as the Lexus. That being said I am deeply hoping Alienware brings the right game to E3 this year to change that, and I also hope Alienware take the fix those of us who bought these plagued machines this past year.

 

After owning a Saleen Mustang (maxed out M18xR2) the 18 is like a V6 Mustang... or going from an ZL1 Camaro to a LT V6 Camaro... mucho show with pocito go.

 

I think this fits well in this thread...

 

I hope they do this, really, I do....we've seen examples in the past where other Alienware systems have had issues that have gone unresolved, whilst Dell have moved on to what they then deem to be "The most powerful laptop in the Universe" - what they need to do is back those word up with actions to make it a reality. Right now, the 18 is not the most powerful laptop in the universe because of various limitations, all of which could be addressed by Dell if they chose to do so. Wether they will or not will remain to be seen.

I hope that other manufacturers continue to push the limits of extreme computing - we need competition to remain competitive, it is no longer good enough these days for ANY manufacturer to rely on a brand name such as "Alienware" without the ability to back it up. People do not tolerate or take kindly to being led down the garden path, and I think that has had an impact on things with regards to the current line-up and how people feel about the machines, perhaps especially the top-of-the-range 18 which is out-gunned by the competition. We need similar competition in the GPU world, too - having one manufacturer dominate is not good for the progression of performance....

To put it all into context, I'm sure that Usain Bolt still trains damned hard, even though he is the fastest man in the world - because he knows that there are other athletes out there that want to dethrone him. Dell need to adopt the same mentality, IMHO - you cannot claim to be the manufacturer of "The most potent gaming machine in the world" if you are not.

 

I think they should have kept the m11x m15x m17x sli line up. Seems like they were doing very well with it

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Word Brother Fox...word

 

Get rid of AW14, bring back M15x and introduce M13x with dual cooling fans and slightly lighter weight of around 4.5-5lbs.

 

Im hoping to see a coulple of things..

1.steam machines in Desktop and laptop format..

2. I want to see the upcoming Plans for Alienware sneak peak on the new hardware they got planned..

I also do not want to see a ultra thin.. laptop or a tablet this isn't Alienware.

I want to see a fixed bios presented lol for the new machines.. I want a few thing but this is good..

 

That's a pretty good list of stuff to do. Most of the Alienware 18 issues are present in the Alienware 17 as well, at least those with the 4930MX. It would be nice if they fixed it for every system, and opened up configurations more. The larger PSU's would be a great thing to have... They need some sort of "overclock package" that you can order when choosing the Extreme Edition CPU, which would come with a larger PSU or dual PSU's, as suggested above.

Despite our continued efforts, nothing has been done thus far. Unfortunately, I don't think E3 is the place for any of the above stuff to be released/fixed. E3 is more of a, "look at what we made this year!" type of expo more than anything else. Let's just hope they begin listen to their customers more. Dell is officially a private company as of this quarter.

I actually like the AW 14, AW 17, and AW 18 lineup. They should have just given the AW 14 better cooling, and it would be fine. But they can't turn their back on the AW 14 now. With the Maxwell 860M, the performance of the AW 14 will nearly double that of the current 765M. Let's just hope they pop that card in there. I don't know why they wouldn't - it's soldered, runs cooler, and consumes less power.

 

Why the anti ultrabook atmosphere? Could slate one easily in as a m11x, M13x, or M15x replacement. I'm sure it can be done, maybe not with a 880M or a 870M, but for sure with a 850M or 860M.
Nobody is saying change the whole line up, just add an ultrabook to the existing line up. And get rid of secure BIOS crap. Bigger PSUs are nice. RBGLED is always on the wishlist. Mux switch on the 17 and 14 also wants.

 

^I completely agree. I get that thin and light will have thermal issues, but there's no reason a well-designed 11.6" notebookk can't handle say a Maxwell 860M and not have a total meltdown. Most of the thermal issues with ultrabooks on the market is because the manufacturer didn't bother (or didn't give a crap about) engineering in a proper cooling system, or went over their heads in trying to cram overpowered hardware in there. I mean there's probably a reason why the 780M/880M isn't offered on the AW14 yes?

If the HDD was stripped, I'm sure a 13.3" chassis would have enough room for a second slim-profile fan. Might even be able to cram it into an 11.6" chassis given enough engineeering. Yeah I get it won't be the performance excess and power that the 18" beast is, but being first and best in class in the 11.6" segment doesn't exactly reflect badly on AW either. If anything, it would be a talking point for Alienware if they can cram the AW14's power into an ultrabook form factor and get thermals under control. That would be a lot more impressive from an engineering perspective than the AW18.

 

Alienware will never make an Ultrabook (at least not in the foreseeable future). Alienware is high-performance gaming. You can't get that from an Ultrabook. Not yet, at least. Perhaps 5-10 years from now we may see Alienware 18 performance in a "MacBook" form factor. But until then, they're going to be huge, powerful, mean, and eat their competition for breakfast.

Alienware is also a subsidiary of Dell - a larger company that makes Ultrabooks. It doesn't make sense for them to have Alienware make Ultrabooks because they'll be competing with themselves.

 

The competing with existing products is a losing proposition for them. It would be a terrible business decision. They already have excellent Ultrabooks. The Ultrabook form factor definitely has a legitimate market, but it's not a viable candidate for the high performance niche. The Alienware reputation is built on performance, not compromise.

I would instantly lose interest in a thin and light form factor even if it had show-stopping performance. It's like preferring a Mac 10 or an Uzi MP2 over a Hughes M230 Chain Gun. If you're out to do some damage, you want something serious. If you want to do something stupid, like rob a 7-11 as part of a gang initiation right, the Mac 10 or Uzi will certainly frighten the cashier but it won't wipe out many troops.

 

What would you call the M11x, an experiment? (granted it isn't exactly an ultrabook, still)

Also one thing I'm trying to figure out is if you guys just don't like thin and light period, or the inevitable performance compromise that comes with it (at least by today's technology).

Basically I'm asking if hypothetically we could have the power of the AW18 in an ultrabook factor and keep thermals in check, would you guys still not be interested?

 

I can only speak for myself. For me, no... Performance matters more than anything else of course, but the massive form factor is part of the overall awesomeness of the experience. Bigger can and should always mean more power. You fill it with more if you have more simply because you can, not see how much you can extract from compromise by trying to be conservative. Plus, the performance of the Alienware 18 is (in my opinion) inadequate. It's a beautiful creation, even a pleasure to work on, with less than satisfactory performance. I want substantially more than it provides... at the absolute minimum, at least equivalent to my M18xR2. Unfortunately, it's not even close.

Midget wrestlers can certainly be stout little buggers, but there's something special about a gargantuan gladiator thats only mission in life is to destroy anything it touches.

 

Pretty much. They wanted to be the first to enter the "small gaming notebook" market, and dominate it. They did for a while. Then it probably wasn't profitable enough to keep doing so because other companies began to do more with it, and "small" isn't Alienware's focus. So, they gave it up and stuck with what they're good at - big and powerful.

I'm not saying the M11x was a mistake, nor am I saying it wouldn't work again. But, Alienware is a subsidiary, and subsidiaries don't usually have the funding to just jump into new territory, especially if Dell can make more money by pumping out 11" or 13" notebooks than Alienware could. Alienware has a very specific target market. Dell does not.

Honestly, I'd love to see Alienware have a large lineup - 11", 13" or 14", 15.6", 17.3", 18.4", maybe even 19" - but that would nearly double the required funding, and likely will not more than double the profits to make it worth while. I'm sure they stuck with 14, 17, and 18 because it's the most profitable path, and that's what it's all about.

I'm just basing all of this on what I've learned. For all I know, they could launch an AW 11 or AW 13 this year. That would be exciting, and I would love to see it happen. I'm not an investor that follows Dell's financials or anything of the sort. So, they could technically be gearing up for something like this. It just seems unlikely to me.

 

When are these announcements suppose to happen

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It's time to renew the outdated AW14.

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You're not actually mathieulh, one of the infamous PS3 hackers are you?

 

That would actually be me xD.

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Cool. We have a celebrity with us.

 

You are quite the celebrity yourself brother Fox

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God I haven't heard from you in ages, not since metldr exploit and 3.73 lv0 decryption.

 

so, whens E3...?

 

Well I did say I was done with the scene since the metldr exploit binaries leak when I don't explained how the exploit actually worked, I have been true to my word ever since. Besides, I've had a job and real life to keep my busy xD

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Last year it was on June 10th.

 

Be sure to join the conversation. We'll cover as much as we can during E3

 

Yeah, college has kept me busy. There was so much drama going on, scene just turned into an internet pissing match and I just quit. My only contribution was a tool to flash an IDPS without having to use a hardware flasher

 

Hey guys will there be a new version of alienware laptop particularly m18 to be introduce on E3? Any rumors? Is it possible this year that will have broadwell and maxwell hardware inside their laptops?

 

Anything is possible, and Maxwell is likely. They can't stay Kepler forever.

Just wait a few days and see.

 

They have only had that redesigned lineup for a year.. would they change their lineup design, or lineup offerings only after one year of a refresh?

 

Unlikely. My guess is added improvements across the lineup (screens, ports, etc.). Another redesign makes absolutely no sense at this point.

The changes will likely be similar to what we've already experienced from the M18x R1 and M18x R2.

 

All packed up and ready to go. Submit your questions, join the conversation

 

I would like to chime in with some additions. I won't repeat what Brother Fox has said. I'd just like to put forward:

Heatsink options - the 17 series should have a more robust CPU heatsink with higher processors so 4900mq and above gets triple pipe. The 18 series should have the option of the CPU heatsink extend over to the secondary GPU fin stack if configured with only one GPU. This would allow two fans for a processor. This concept can be transferred to a potential version with a desktop CPU. The option of using the Asetek water cooling solution would also be great! I know Dell has the patent so why not?

Finally and this is my big ask for power users. When a product comes to the end of support life where no warranties are valid anymore like the M17x R3/R4 please release a final free for-all-bios with no limitations whatsoever to anything allowing users to tinker away at a "obselete" machine. As the product is past it's support period it would be under user discretion without risk of loss to the company (which is a partial reason that bios limitations are imposed anyways) and I'm sure many people here would be ok with once their warranties are over.

Edited: Oh and another thing. Therr is a market for high performance thin and lights. Razer Blade, Aorus series and MSI GS60 are good products but they all sacrifice two things and that is the CPU socket and MXM slot. Both a serious Alienware user would hate to lose.

 

Thank you. I completely forgot about that! The 4930MX/4940MX doesn't even come with a triple-pipe heat sink on the AW 17.