M15x and M11x: Can't decide.

I considered putting this in the "What notebook should I buy" section, but since both computers I'm considering are Alienware I figured I'd get more informed opinions here.

So, I'm a student leaving for college in the fall looking for my first notebook. I love PC gaming but my home desktop has been rather lacking and I have been waiting until I got my laptop for college to game. Since the styling of the notebook is very important to me I have been attracted to Alienware ever since I started looking. Almost bought an old Area-51 m15x just days before it was removed from their website but heard the announcement of the new 15" just in time.

Well, now I have the money and I'm ready to buy, but since that time a new "contender" has emerged: the M11x. I've known ever since I started looking that I wanted a 15" laptop, but looking at this thing, it looks like it has the perfect balance of portability and performance, with the same Alienware look. This is really the only laptop that has turned my head away from the M15x.

I've done a lot of research, but I guess I just want to hear from those who own them. I plan on doing heavy gaming on this machine, such as Crysis, BF:BC2, Bioshock 2, and any games that I want that will come out in the next few years. So I want the machine to be powerful. However, it also has to serve me well in college, such as taking it to classes and using it as a general notebook, i.e. surfing the web and listening to music.

So my first question would be, which laptop is better, in your opinion? Both in terms of quality, and for me specifically from the information I've given you. If you've owned either (or especially both!) machines, what is your take on them?

Second, is the M11x's screen size too small for gaming? I can get an external monitor but would really prefer not to, if I didn't need to. Obviously it will be small, as I'm used to playing games on a screen twice its size, but is small too small?

Thirdly, how big is the drop in performance from the M15x and the M11x? Will the M11x's GPU let it handle current games like Crysis on solid, if not spectacular, framerates, and will it be at least viable for games for the next year or so? For that matter, will the M15x?

I suppose that's all I have at the moment. Sorry if it's a lot of information, but there's some information I can't find without some help and user experience.

 

The M11x is very powerful in its class but is lacking in power in comparison to the M15x. I'll take Crysis as an example: You'll only get solid framerates playing on Medium settings.

At the same time, however, the M15x really isn't most people's idea of a 'portable' laptop. Yes, it might be 15", but it's still bigger than most 15" laptops, and it weighs in at close to 10lbs.

It's your decision really. I can't say for sure since I've never even seen either of them in person, let alone used them. However, it really depends on whether you're looking for better portability or better performance.

By the way, you are very lucky that you didn't get the Area-51 m15x. It's plagued with issues; all of the nVidia GPUs burn out in it, and the hinges break every few months. Luckily, the current M15x doesn't have any of the issues that its predecessor had.

 

You can play Crysis on HIGH, but you will have to take a few compromises (i.e. turning off shadows,etc) on the M11x. You can game for sure, but if intense detail, and REAL processing power is your goal, get an M15x.

In terms of usability in college, the M11x wins hands-down. I can take this machine to class, take notes, ring up a powerpoint with no problem, and I have no issues with keeping the PC on the tiny little "desks" (if you can call them that) in the lecture halls. Battery life is also a huge plus vs the M15x, and basically you can fit the M11x anywhere you can stick a stack of magazines at. And no, the screen is not too small for gaming. It's a laptop, so your face is going to be within a close proximity to the screen, so this isn't a BIG issue. Also with games like Crysis 2 requiring lower specs to run great, I'd say the M11x is safe to play some upcoming games for some time at high framerates. Obviously if this concerns you too much then get an M15x

Either way, both machines are very capable. The choice boils down to portability, battery life which is what the M11x offers, or you can choose more power for your games and intense programs, which is what the M15 offers. The choice is yours

 

M15x will probably be viable for gaming in 720p for a couple of years (2-3 max) on medium settings while the M11x can probably play at 600p at the lowest.

I can still play MW2 at 600p with my crappy 256mb 8400 GS (3 year old stuff),
at around 50 FPS with all effects off, 2x AA and automatic texture settings. Doesn't look too bad, but kinda looks choppy sometimes, but it's definitely playable.

All boils down if you can handle carrying the 10 pound M15x around comfortably, cause if not, I don't think the M11x is too weak of a system to fit your needs.

 

I got the m11x because i do all my gaming at home (desktop). Also its because i don't want to carrying around a 10lbs laptop. Personally Gaming on desktop is always better than gaming on a laptop.

 

M15x, in a word - FuturePROOF. Check the signature below.
It is physically more like a 17" laptop and power to spare. Shop for an Razer mouse, RadTech mouse pad (awesome screen protector too) and SwissGear® LANCER 16" Computer Backpack (snug and secure with room to spare).

 

I heard the stock mouse pad is pretty good.
Is there really need to get another?

 

Do you really want a netbook as your main laptop? The m15x is probably the best choice unless you really need the portability seeing as it is fairly large

 

Honestly I think you might be better off getting a M15x. Any class that requires a laptop in class will have plugs. If the class doesn't then you might either want to get a second battery or a netbook for a little more.

 

as can be witnessed by the responses here already, it really boils down to one simple question:

do you ultimately care more about being 'untethered', or not?

 

you could always get a m15x for gaming and a small 10.1" asus or something if you don't feel like splitting the difference with the m11x

 

You could always get a portable nuclear generator and buy a m17x.

Otherwise, get a m15x. My friend had it in college before he graduated and he loved it.

 

Very interesting. Leaning toward the M15x, and I haven't given much thought to getting a cheap netbook for class before, but that's a very interesting concept.

More answers would be appreciated but thanks to everyone so far!

 

Hey man, I'm in the same boat as you (going off to college to study Biology/Biochemistry next fall, haven't decided which route is best to get to medical school yet, haha), and I decided to get the M15x, with Core i5 540M, 4 gb ram, 5850, 9 cell battery, 1600x900 screen, and 320 gb 7200rpm hard drive. While I loved the build of the m11x, the small screen killed it for me as my main laptop for 4 years.
For $1375 (10% off epp through UW-Madison, $100 coupon good until 6/30/10, $55 off by haggling with good reps, I can give you the rep info if you PM me).

Haven't received it yet, but I think I'll be happy with it. All that power for roughly double the weight of the m11x for only $300 more? totally worth it. Oh yeah, and it should get me ~3 hrs of use on low usage. I will be gaming with it of course, haha.

Hmm... I was actually thinking of getting another battery for use with it if I need more juice, but I do like the suggestions of getting a smaller non-m11x netbook. Or wait a year until the r1 m11x drops to $500.

 

I think we need to make one of these and sticky it, saying why you should buy such and such system. I'll help as much as possible if someone wants to get the ball rolling.

 

the only problem with that is that each person looking for a laptop is looking for something else or something unique to use it for.

Unless it would be in the general Alienware board, kind of like a "which laptop should I buy?" thread. But I vote to keep them more separate actually.

 

People's reasons are going to be different. But each laptop performs a certain way. We should compile peoples recommendations into a thread for those that are looking. More specifically which M17x build is good for gaming, so on and so forth? More input?

 

Obviously I picked the M11x, but then again I value portability and weight in my laptops, and I'm almost willing to pay a premium to get a good performing laptop that still retains portability. (Note: The other laptops I considered before the M11x was announced was the MacBook Air and the i5 powered Vaio Z) I wouldn't even consider a netbook because when you main computer is down, do you really want to work with such a small screen, pitifully slow processor,and only 1 GB of ram? Honestly I'd rather use my smartphone as a computer before I use a netbook.

In college portability is REALLY valuable, especially if you are like me and school is a big commute away from home,and you have heavy books to carry on top of your laptop. Its nice to have a moderately powerful gaming PC that doesn't weigh a ton and require itself to be tethered to an outlet to get some decent usage out of it.

If you can do it, I say buy an m11x, and build a moderately powerful desktop with the money. That way you get the best of both worlds...

 

Here's my opinion on the subject, as I have both the M11X and the M15X

If you are going to be doing a lot of traveling get the M11X. The combination of playing 'games on the go' and good battery life are hard to beat in the portable category.

If you're not going to be moving your laptop around much then the M15X is perfect for you. I just got mine 3 days ago and I have to say that it's a great desktop replacement for me. It shreds through everything without breaking a sweat (configured with a i7 quad core, ATI HD 5850).

 

I bought the M11x R1 used from a forum member at a great price to me (<$700). I think it's gonna be great for class and at home. I don't have the room for a desktop since I'm crammed in a little room for now and do everything in bed. I wasn't sure about the size of the screen but it's great in my lap. I was using an ASUS Eeepc 1005HA as my only computer before this since I got it shipped from Newegg to Iraq while I was there when the 3 yr old HP took a crap. I was already used to the small screen though but I game on it all day and have no problem. I can't wait to go to school and while killing time I can play Company of Heroes campaigns between classes.

Since I got it cheap, I won't feel as bad about dishing out for another laptop in 2 years if this doesn't hold up to the future games.

I was just gonna get a 15" and hope I could plug it in but the weight of the laptop alone turned me off as well as getting a larger battery to add even more weight. I was also thinking about an HP Envy 14 as a middle ground but couldn't pass the M11x up for half the price.

I didn't want to go the route of using a larger notebook to game at home and then have a netbook for class either.

My opinion, if you can swing it, get the M11x and build a desktop rig.

 

If you're going to carry the bundle more than 100m between destinations, get the M15. Otherwise anything less than an M17 is a compromise.

 

M15x definitely. M11x has a cheap feel to it and a poor screen, IMO. For the M17x....well look at my sig.

 

after using 17" for years and stating that small screens were not for me I went with M11x and have no regrets.

For dorm use I definitely push for the smaller system. A students priority SHOULD be things other than games anyway. hehe. Can always get an LCD if it comes down to it.

If you have ever been caught with your phone on a low charge you will know what its like with a larger system.

All that said you have the rest of your life to think practical.