When are the new Alienwares with Maxwell coming?

It's not a refresh (except for the 13), but a new lineup.
The 880ms are still sold for the 18, as well as the m290x. Must be there to make use of the 18 leftover stock they have since the 17 will be replaced.

 

There's no need for a new thread for this mate, there's already a huge thread about this discussion that you can post in.

Cheers

 

I have to say, as a long time AW enthusiast and owner of their big rigs back to the mALX, I am saddened to see the direction they are potentially taking if they are going soldered BGA and really making their machines locked into factory selected CPUs and GPUs. With the last round of AW 17's and 18's, you could already see the former expansive ability to configure online was gone. The lock down on power and Secure BIOS was another slap in the face, but I guess looking at the previous writing on the wall, this would be the logical end game to really going mainstream vs catering to what is a really small segment of their market coupled with everything going THINNER! LIGHTER! BATTERY LIFE! This feels like when Apple did away with their 17" models because as much as lovers of even Apple's big rigs didn't want to admit, the market for the big box laptops was a very small slice of their sales.

I spent a lot of time going through numerous AW18's over the past year looking for one with a near perfect screen (No bad/dead pixels, near zero corner/bleed issues). Found one, and it looks like I'll be holding onto both my Franken 18r2 3940 and Franken AW18 4940 (Still a work in progress heh) for quite awhile now if this is truly the end of the 18.4" monsters.

I just hope we don't reach a point where MXM goes away and everything and everybody does soldered GPUs and CPUs for everything mobile (I'm looking at you Clevo and MSI).

 

So, after a lot of consideration, I'm willing to give Alienware the benefit of the doubt for 2015. As much as I hate all of this soldered crap, since most new notebooks with Maxwell (aside from the desktop replacements that cost a ton of money) have soldered components, Alienware is still on my list of potential brands to choose from. The AW 13 was what I wanted for class, as it's extremely portable, but that ULV processor is not going to cut it for me.

Let's hope PAX South or CES sheds some light on their new lineup.

 

If you buy the A13 I will never speak to you again! :-D People that buy the A13 either don't want a gaming notebook or know no better - simple as that! And you know that too!!

 

No way. I refuse to purchase any laptop with a ULV processor. See that last sentence (in my post above)? :thumbsup:

My eyes are now focused more toward the AW 15. But hey, you never know what may happen. Perhaps they crap that up, too.

 

Haha, I know! I could just see you playing with the idea though briefly! It's an awful notebook, I'm sure they could have crammed in an i7 47W CPU into that chassis if they wanted to, I'm sure it could have better cooling than the the other slim ultrabook rubbish out there - like the P35x from Gigabyte which has a 47W i7 & throttles all over the place!

EDIT: A15 could be awesome given the current tech. 970M & 980M don't consume a lot of power, and no reason not to have a potent i7 CPU in there too - A15 has no excuse not to be an awesome single GPU notebook if they get it right - they need to nail that cooling system to make the enthusiasts happy!! (make it a little thicker if you need to, no worries - slim is sh*te!!!!)

 

What alienware should of done with its graphics amplifier was put a water cooling loop inside with two hoses coming out that plugged in your laptop next to where the amplifier plugs in. Then they would be on to something. Just integrate the cooling heatsinks in the laptops to accept waterflow through them when plugged into the graphics amplifier.

Come on alienware get with the program .
If there laptops are going to have these desktop thingies plugged into them might as well make it worth it.

 

Joking of course!

A potent i7 well cooled CPU with a potent 970M/980M Maxwell GPU combined with a graphics amplifier - that's a good thing & possible (A15 & A17). A13 is awful so far though as we all know! ===>>> so easy to get it right given Maxwell efficiency & performance, anything less is sacrilege!!!

 

I doubt they will put the 980M in the AW 15. They need something unique for the AW 17. The 120Hz package is gone... I'm betting the AW 13 will have the 960M, the AW 15 will have the 965M and 970M, and the AW 17 R2 will have the 970M and 980M.

The 965M performs similar to a 780M (within about 10%). So, that's something to look forward to.

 

I wouldn't build castles.. I hardly expect any of that.. I wouldn't be surprised to see the 15 being offered with a 4710HQ+860M and the GA.. Really AW screwed up so badly with AW13, I hardly can expect much from this refresh!

 

I'm curious to know what Broadwell CPU's will be offered, and their performance & heat relative to Haswell HQ. Haswell is a furnace, so I can't imagine Broadwell being any hotter. If the recent trends are of any reference, Broadwell should be more efficient and cooler than Haswell.

That being said, I despise high resolution "touch screens" on Alienware gaming notebooks. I find them to be contradictory to the laptop's purpose. Hopefully a variety of options are available.

 

Well, that would all suck...be arbitary & pointless. :-( (so much more potential with the form factors if thick enough to be cooled effectively - Alienware needs to stop wimping out!!!!! We'll see!)

 

Is this for real? It's a VERY bad video done by a kid, but it's there: The alienware 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIfMSDBHibU

The size looks about right, also it's thin rather like the alienware 13. Though he doesn't boot up the system.

 

Haha, that's a pathetic video indeed, and he talks a load of b*ll*cks at the end too! Maybe he's the son of an Alienware engineer or something & nicked his Dad's prototype laptop when he wasn't looking!

 

Sorry, but that's plain bull####. The AW 13 makes perfect sense like the M11x-series did, as a more portable system that fits a niche. Its for light gaming and a portable work machine, even considering the dual-core vs quad-debate (I too would have preferred a quad but even running Assassin's Creed: Unity on moderate settings it does better than most would expect). When I want serious gaming I go to my SLI/extreme processor desktop, but when I need to travel or sit at the kitchen table or sofa, the AW 13 is well-suited in that role, more so than my larger (and louder) laptops. I suspect many folks are in this camp, who see the compromise (and yes, it is a serious compromise from a desktop) to focus only on a desktop replacement system and frankly not very cost-effective over time.

For some folks playing both ends of the spectrum makes more sense and is more practical than carrying a desktop replacement around (and yes, I own one as well). The vast majority of the people who own both an M11x and a stronger system (and yes, in some cases even SLI rigs) often find using the smaller system more practical. There is really more to consider than raw fps and screen size for many folks, that doesn't make them ignorant or desire a gaming laptop, just different.

It's sad, back in the day this board was far more accommodating to people who chose one system over the other, but if it was Alienware it was welcome because everyone involved enjoyed gaming at the bottom of it all or they wouldn't be buying a system, period.. To question the systems are one thing, to denigrate the people who buy them because their desires, needs or income differ from yours for what they need is just childish. Let's please drop the elitism on this board, it really makes the community here look second class .

Great find - with the full on keyboard it could be a 17 or 15. I noticed he promised to run more, and says his better camera is having issues, so it's understandable why the video is so poor.

 

'Twas my informed opinion!

 

Perfect example of what I am talking about

 

Don't be silly, I don't have to like the A13, doesn't have to be due to some notion of yours that it's for fictitious 'elitist' reasons. (I don't like it because it's a poor choice of components that aren't allowed to perform at their maximum efficiency - GPU! Also given that the A13 could have been so much better within that form factor - those are my reasons.).

 

No one said you have to like it, but don't denigrate everyone who even knowing the imperfections of the system choose to use one in a given role.

You're trying to cover your poor behavior of attacking people who like the system, limits and all, with the question of the components themselves, it's just a diversionary tactic. It's fine and acceptable to question the system design, it's not okay to denigrate and talk smack about folks who decide to use the system even with full knowledge and appreciation of it's flaws and/or limits; frankly it's a sign of poor character. Are there people who buy the system who don't know the limits? Of course, but that doesn't mean everyone (certainly not on NBR) don't understand the drawbacks but still see a value for the system. The AW 13 is best understood as a type of Macbook Air class system capable of fairly good gaming both by benchmarks and first-hand experiences reported, that was it's design intention. The AW 15 with it's component selection will be the true AW 14 successor, the AW 13 is a reintroduced M11x successor and should be appreciated as such. Apparently this fine point was entirely lost on many folk on this board (no thanks to Dell who is mum about announcements confusing the matter).

Personally I respect Alienware more for putting a system together that isn't going to burn itself out in less than two years like the bulk of MSI's offerings for instance, even at the cost of some performance. Could they have done more? Yes, but the design in the lineup makes even more sense now with the arrival of the AW 15.

 

I think you're taking it a little too seriously really. When I was talking to J.Dre I was joking when I said I'd never talk to him again if he decided to buy one, or thought it was a good choice, etc, I was being flippant. I still think it would be a bad choice for ANYONE in the market for a portable gaming machine - there's better out there for sure. This was really my point. I was being jovial, and dramatic in my language choice. How could I hate someone for their choice of laptop - that's just not gonna happen.

 

omg cant wait to replace my ancient dying m15x to the new sexy 15 !!!

 

Yeah, my m14x r1 with the gt 555m can't keep up anymore, I'm up for a replacement too.

 

Me too - my M14x has served me well in my work, but the AW 15 with a True Life screen is the way to go now that I have a taste of them. For years nothing touched the quality of the RGB LED in my M17x-R2 and I had to live with poor displays, now I am dying to get a 15 for general work with one. The IPS panel is great; the True Life (if you can live with the glare type screen) is just that much better to my eyes.

 

That's not an Alienware 15, lol. That's an Alienware 17 R1.

 

Upon closer inspection I have reached the same conclusion. It's definitely a 17 inch laptop. And the layout looks EXACTLY like the r1.
So you are right

 

Just another example as to why Alienware will be successful (the kid in the video).

Spoiler

 

You're right - I watched it closely again and the front right corner clearly shows the lighting effect edge which is now gone from the AW 17-R2. The shadow of the film makes it look a bit shallower than it is - good catch.

 

I agree . Alienware 17. I have one and looks identical. Isn't their a rummer that there bringing back the Alien head for power button anyway.
Power button in video is still same as 17 r1. Also it's sitting on a bed and is sunc down in blankets making it look thinner than it really is.

 

Considering the AW 13 has it I think it will... can't find my screen caps of the pages that were inadvertently released showing the system now, but I would be surprised if it didn't. The AW 14 looked kind of weird to my eyes without it after all these years.

 

Hey look what I've found!

 

Holy , it shows graphics amplifier and has led lights on the sides, illuminated touchpad and it has no numpad. It's the damn alienware 15. Thank you dood. Made me feel really happy to see it. My hopefully future laptop. Gonna dig for more.

 

That looks like an AW 18 that someone Photoshopped into the picture.

 

Based on the background, it looks like it was supposed to be shown during christmas time, but somehow it got delayed?

 

With the whole Alienware theme I keep thinking of the AW 15 pictures like UFO sightings.... complete with hoaxes

 

Yeah a few things that are strange. The macro keys with the combination of the orange backlight being the color of alienware 18.
Then the USB ports looks too close to eachother, rises the chances it's taken from an alienware 13 image.
And then there is the Christmas theme which is already over.
And finally the very low quality, which makes it easier for photoshopping.

Though if it is really photoshopped. Props though, because there is even the alienhead power button on it.

 

so its fake then? awwwww....

 

Not sure. I haven't seen any obvious photoshop marks, beside the "dying light" sponsor image, which is always placed there artificially. It's a solid piece of work, I don't see a reason why anyone would make such a fake image though. Where have you found it anyway?

 

On that image, I see what should look like an Alien Head power button. That's not on the 18.
I think the closest that could have been is the 17 R2. Then again, I don't see a numpad, so it could be the upcoming 15.

 

You can Photoshop a power button onto an image pretty easily. That's not the AW 15, lol. The keyboard and palm rest are huge.

 

Then how can you remove a numpad (rhetorical question)? Sides look just as wide as the original m15x. And last time I remembered, the 17 R2 had a numpad.
I also said could, never said it is.

 

If you notice the placement of the track pad it is in the middle of Palm rest if not slightly to right. Only laptops with that are 13 or 15. 17 and 18 are offset more to the left side of palmrest.

 

That is not a reason why it's no fake. That can be easily photoshopped. the question here is weather the image is really from alienware, or a fake made by a random troll.

The only thing that convinces me that it's fake is:
- When you look at the side of the laptop (left lower corner of the image), You can see it's exactly like the alienware 13, it's thin and you can see it touch the table.
- When you look at the front of the laptop. It looks exactly like an alienware 17/18 front grill with the illuminated lights (and here it comes) INCLUDING the height of the alienware 18/17. That I know because you can see on the right lower corner that the laptop does NOT touch the table immediately, it's raised from the table rather like the alienware 18 and 17.

So basically the left side of the laptop is as thin as the alienware 13 and the front is as thick as the alienware 18. Also the fact that the image is cropped from below so you cannot see the corner of the laptop makes it more likely that it's shopped just like I said.

Though I'm still wondering where the OP of that image got the image from.

 

I didn't say it was fake or real.
I was just pointing something out .

 

If you look at the picture carefully, you'll also notice the entire screen assembly is bigger than the palm rest itself. So, it would be sticking out like an "overbite" if it were closed. The photo is likely a fake. Either that or a very poorly edited image. I suppose it could just be a "draft" that needs some work.

Just wait for Alienware to release stuff. We're only a couple weeks away.

 

In any case, the photo doesn't matter anymore. We have real proof of the 15 and 17 R2, courtesy of an AWA member.
imgur: the simple image sharer
15 comes with a 4K display. Better be at 60Hz. Even if Windows scaling isn't all that great, anything lower than 60 Hz is meh.

 

There are currently no quad mobile I5 processors of course... hopefully that's just the base option....

 

I think one of the leaked benchmarks showed the i7-4710HQ. Top it of with that India shipping list thing someone linked earlier, it's a safe bet that the i5-4210H (or whatever it may be) is the base for the 15 to keep costs low.

 

Just no upgrading it without a BGA machine later.

 

The way the adverstise, it like Alienware trying to make the GA their "flagship" ..

OMG, i cannot wait for the release.. im dying to play any decent game now. Been waiting for so long already to replace my old laptop.