What makes Alienware the gaming standard computers?

Hi guys,

I've been looking into gaming laptops (not gonna get one anytime soon due to lack of funds...but still, even the research part is quite fun!)

Anyways, I know Alienware is kinda like the gold standard for gaming PCs. Yet when I went to their site, with the 15x you can't even get top of line 3d cards (ie 5870). Now, I don't know if any other 15 inch laptops have 5870, but it seems like Alienware at least isn't pushing any extreme performance.

So my question is, what makes Alienware so attractive to gamers (or put differently, for those of you who bought Alienware...why did you choose it over maybe other similar laptops...ie Asus, Sager, etc)

thanks

 

Sager NP8690 does.

 

I thought the standard was building your own PC (talking bout desktop of course).

 

That's true.

 

ok, maybe I should've been more specific.

Is Alienware's quality a bit higher than some of the other gaming laptops? I mean, the components are pretty much same across the board, so when you buy Alienware are you just paying for a higher build quality as well as perhaps they test their parts for optimal configurations?

 

I think BENCHMARK is the term you are looking for. What other companies are judged against.

 

well, I guess Im trying to say is that Alienware is the ONLY company I know that exclusively makes gaming laptops (and PCs). Is there any other laptop company that exclusively caters to the gamer crowd?

 

There are 6 pages that already discuss NBR members feelings toward Alienware as a brand. This thread is over here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/506324-opinions-alienware.html

But in short, the M15x is not "All Powerful" like the M17x is. There are restrictions that prevent it from having some of the more intense components. This is also a good thing, however, as the company is not shoving as much stuff in it as they can and when it overheats you are on your own. A lot of testing goes into DELL computers (believe it or not) and they won't put anything in these that is not going to work. The 5870 is basically a factory overclocked 5850 by the way. Except the 5850 is more impressive, if you ask me.

 

Alienware was one of the very first companies to produce gaming PCs and laptops and have always been famous for their performance. For example, they released the very first laptop with two GPUs (the M9700) and then afterwards the first laptop to feature two GPUs AND a dual core CPU (the M9750).

Nowadays the Alienware laptop line are renowned for high performance and high quality. The M17x and M15x have pretty much the best screens you can get on gaming laptops. The M17x is the most powerful laptop out there (until some absurd laptop comes out with 480M SLi that will overheat every 30 minutes). The M17x also features a superb metal case as well as renowned cooling.

The 5870 as said before is just an overclocked 5850. The M15x uses the 5850 to keep down heat and power consumption. The actual performance difference is minimal; you're talking 5-10%.

As for the M11x...well, it's the most powerful system in its class. Enough said.

I bought my M17 a year ago as you literally couldn't get performance as good in a laptop for less at the time.

 

What makes Alienware so special is the fact that they typically on the CUTTING edge. Take the M11x for example, the idea of a portable gaming sub 13" laptop was first thought of by the Alienware team back in 2006.

The really wanted to make such a a laptop, but at the time the technology had not quite caught up. Fast forward to CES 2010, and the Alienware M11x is announced. Heads were turning, reps from other laptop companies were going "WHAT?!?!??! A sub 13" gaming laptop for under $1000? That can't be right....right?"

What are you saying? It defined it's own class!

 

i have the 5850 in my M15x, and also a clevo 5870 card. tested them both, and can truly say that there is almost no difference between the 2 card. true the stock clocks for the 5850 is lower but can easily be flashed or oc'ed to 5870 speeds.

 

Alienware has excelent build quality and tech support (most of the time). Also alienware looks amazing and most other gaming laptops dont look near as good as any alienware.

 

Alienware laptops generally cost more than their hardware equivalents from other companies (Sager, Asus, etc) for a few reasons. Number one is the brand name, people don't like to admit it but you ARE paying a premium for the Alienware name. Secondly is the chassis design and lighting features that Alienware incorporates into their laptops, you might get a backlit keyboard in other laptops but nothing like the multi-color AlienFX ones in Alienware laptops. Lastly is warranty, the Dell warranty is great and they'll send you replacement parts or a technician to your house depending on the situation.

 

Beauty
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6494625-post43.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6588861-post126.html

 

Yayzers! My thread is been linked. Anyways. I love my Alienware laptop and its only been days. LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

 

Haha, always good to get someone enthusiastic rolling through here (not sarcasm, I'm serious!)

 

So true...

 

can people who answer this question:

Basically Alienware and other 'gaming' pcs use the same components :CPU, GPU, hd, etc. Does Alienware offer

1) better cooling

2) better driver support

 

1) For sure.

2)Well, that is done mainly by other companies (Nvidia, Intel, ATI, etc.)