Alienware M17x First Look Discussion

by Jerry Jackson

Now that the full details about Alienware's new M17x "All Powerful" gaming notebook have been leaked early, we have a special treat for our readers. We recently spent some hands-on time with a pre-production unit of the Alienware M17x to find out if this is indeed the "Most Powerful Laptop in the Universe." Let's take a closer look at this gaming Goliath.

Read the full content of this Article: Alienware M17x First Look

Related Articles:

• Alienware m15x Review
• Alienware m17x Review
• Alienware M11x Review

 

No airflow problems with those vents.

Can you give any more info on this? Like how much extra clock speed it will add to a QX9300.


Thanks Jerry.

 

Wow the underside looks amazing... I really like how the battery sits flush and how all the vents make it look like a sports car. The point at the top of the display is still annoying, though.

 

This is not the world's most powerful laptop, since with these laptops, size doesn't seem to matter, the new Clevo notebook that support SLI GTX280m and desktop Core i7 CPUs will pwn this laptop hard.

 

looks damn sexy

 

Oh that is a beauty.

 

Indeed. This is NOT the world's most powerful laptop ... that's why I put it in quotation marks. That's just the marketing language Alienware/Dell is using to promote the new M17x.

Interestingly enough, we're going to have a review of a 17-inch Clevo-based gaming notebook with an Intel Core i7 desktop processor very soon ... which should slaughter even the overclocked processor in the Alienware.

 

Unfortunately, we don't have those details yet, but based on the pre-briefing I had with Alienware there will be two overclocking options to choose from.

 

When did the D900F get SLI? I only keep seeing info showing a single mobile GPU.

 

Let's see which one lands in customers hands first!

pwn it hard at what! Spreadsheets? We are talking gaming here and the i7 will bring little to nothing to gaming.

Besides, for some, being the the fastest gaming rig isn't enough. That's where the new A.W. comes in. Best gaming laptop and in style too.

You can keep you plain brown wrapper thatk you very much.

 

it doesn't support sli.

 

It's cool.

Rumors have been around for a bit now that AW was working on an OC feature like the one you just confirmed the M17x will have. I believe the clocks were said to be .3Ghz and .5Ghz gains but I was hoping you could provide definitive numbers.

 

how does the keyboard feel? Is it plasticy? I would like to have a rubberized keyboard like i get on my calculator. Or at least a matte type top.

 

After you do the overall "all around" testing you should compare the "gaming" experience between the two.

Man those pictures look awesome! And a metal chassis to boot.

 

Of course! As you stated, even if the overclocked notebook processor in the M17x can't beat a desktop processor in raw power there is a lot more than just the CPU that goes into making a great gaming notebook.

 

The keyboard on the pre-production unit looked and felt nearly identical to what I remember the keyboard on the old Area-51 M17x. We have a review of that notebook with comments about the keyboard here:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4656

 

Thanks Jerry.

I think overwhelmingly, particularly with an Alienware, the main concern of the customer is it's ability to game. IMO this is the case more so than with other brands.

EDIT: With that said, I couldn't be happier that so many laptops are now available with SLI, Xfire, Xtreme processors and i7's. It only makes it better for all of us!

 

Yeah, processing wise, no one expects a last generation mobile QX9300 to beat an i7 desktop processor. Raw performance wise, the i7 is top dawg and rightfully so. On the other hand, 45W vs. 130W. I don't think Performance per Watt the i7 will win. when heat/noise/consumption is an issue, the i7 comes out last.

Gaming wise, those dual 280M's will spank the D900F's single 280M.

I wonder if they will offer a 1440x900 panel? 1680x1050?

Is this a custom/exclusive AW design (IE M17x original) or is it an OEM from somewhere and coated in AW chocolately goodness? (IE M17)

The criteria that would make or break this for me is:

Panel options (1440x900 or 1680x1050)
Cooling (See: M17 heat)
Noise (See: M17 noise vs. the whisper quiet performance of the W90)
Performance (See how dual 280M's compete against the 4870's).

 

I would hope that 1680 x 1050 comes standard. Even the stock 260M is a more than capable GPU. Crysis will run at high at 1680 x 1050 fine. 1440 x 900 on a 17 inch is lame... very lame.

 

This looks really insane. Alienware has really outdone themselves with this. How does the Alienware-branded keyboard feel (the new accessory, not on the m17x)? If the final version is improved a bit more and it beats the Lycosa in critic reviews, I'll probably replace my Lycosa.

 

WooooooW

greaaaat lappy....and the Price is Just right

Man can wait to finish my college -> Job -> salary -> new lappy

now there are 3 monster laptop in the market

the upcoming clevo

asus w90

and this alien

im leaning toward the alien ......... loooks siiiick

OK back to my senses and going back to studying for may final-final exams...

 

It does look amazing, especially the underside.

I'm just wondering whether or not the laptop would be available for purchase in more places around the world, unlike what they had before where all international orders would have to done via Alienware UK.

 

Dell does production for AW now and they made a big deal about how the AW brand would be opened up to more countries because of it.

 

That's a great question! I neglected to mention that another benefit of Alienware's integration with Dell is that the M17x will launch with availability in more than 30 countries around the globe!

 

The keyboard and mouse appear to be made for Alienware/Dell by Logitech, but I never received "official" confirmation of that. The keyboard keys felt great with good spacing a a good depth to the presses with proper feedback. The mouse felt extremely fantastic.

The Alienware rep I spoke to said the Alienware-branded accessories will be available for sale separately on the Alienware website, so you can own them even if you don't have an Alienware PC ... but you won't have full integration of the AlienFX lighting zones unless you have an Alienware PC.

 

That's great news indeed. Any idea which 30 countries are these?

 

they are listed on dells site and allpowerful

 

thanks a lot. I like the rubberized keyboard look and feel. (I couldn't quite find the word for it in the post.) I don't like the "clicky" sounds plastic keyboards make. Well now im at a crossroads, m980nu or alienware... Not such a bad question to have to ponder about

 

Actually the i7 does bring something to gaming. Google some of the latest benchmarks comparing it to Core Duos. its not enough for me to want to use a desktop cpu in a laptop though.

I liked this laptop more than I expected to but Dell/Alienware service is so bad i would not buy from them.

 

the keyboard and mouse do look like they were based off logitech designs. u can really tell from the mouse's scroll wheel. any idea how much that wide display will cost? that thing is just B-U-T-FULL!!! *heart eyes*

i can't speak for AW's customer service, but i'm an avid dell customer. dell's customer service has been nothing but fantastic to me for the last 15 +/- years. especially when u have a XPS system. i'm sure their great customer service will carry onto AW products now. *crosses fingers*

 

It doesn't bring anything when it costs the notebook a second GPU.

 

games at a high resolution are GPU bottle necks not CPU

 

This Rig is freaking Sexy! It's like an Ferrari Enzo! Dam, Dell/AW really done it! I would love to have those 280MGTX in SLI! As for that Clevo, It's a boat anchor with no style or taste! DELL really took the price down for that rig. I thought it would be like $3000.00 starting! Really happy to see it around $1700.00 base price!

 

For those saying that the Clevo will beat this because of its i7...erm, doesn't it NOT support dual 280Ms? (And besides my Q6600 in my desktop right now is never pushed above 70% usage by games, I don't see how the extra power would help)

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know this is the first notebook on the market to offer dual 280Ms. And that IS something worth bragging about.

That mouse is just a Logitech G9 with an alienware logo below the mouse wheel and different lights -_- (I should know, I'm using a G9 right now) nevertheless it looks like a nice accessory for people that don't already have a G9 (personally, I think that the G9 is the best gaming mouse on the market)

Still, I think I'd buy an M17 (if I hadn't already ordered one) because of the fact that this thing is quite a bit heavier, thicker, and does have a 25% smaller battery with power hungry graphics cards. (Not to mention the M17 is quite a bit cheaper and I'll be satisfied as soon as the M17 gets 4870s) For me the weight and thickness is a consideration as I plan on taking my laptop places and working on it (2 hours low power battery life is enough for me) and I'm not too fond of taking around an extra kilo and 0.41 inches extra thickness.

Seriously though, this thing is hawt.

 

Not exactly. The Clevo M98NU has been announced with SLI GTX280M and mobile processors for a while now. Performance should be pretty much similar to the new M17X considering the use of the same components. The only issue is if the M98NU's cpu can be overclocked, as the D901C was Bios-locked, which was an issue with many owners. The i7 model would be the D900F, which as mentioned, is single card.

Both laptops aren't out yet, and knowing AW, it might take them a few months before the laptop is actually released, like the case with the M15X/ earlier M17X.

I like the hardware on the M17X, but knowing AW, the upgrades are going to be overpriced. Base price for AW units has dropped considerably with the release of the post-M9750 models.

Oh, and AW's non-transferable warranty pisses me off.

 

I have to say this laptop looks fantastic, I'm excited to see it at E3. If the keyboard is the same as the one from the M17X then that's a good thing. Also, I have high hopes for the screen; all of the Alienwares with 17" WUXGA screens I have tested were fantastic.

I like the branded accessories too, though I don't understand what's up with lettering/marking on keys (DAS Keyboard, people, DAS Keyboard). Kidding of course.

 

The more new pics I see the more I like it. Is that a Dell service tag label on the bottom I see? I'm really hoping for better warranty options similar to the ones Dell offers now.

 

So far it will have 2 overclocking options like on MSI or Asus

 

It is a wonder that it is still a 16:10 display, but still most probably bound to a gamer's pitch black basement because of the frameless ultra-reflective display

 

Gamer's that go for notebooks buy them because they often leave their pitch black basements though. Granted some of them are just making short journeys to someone else's pitch black basement for a LAN party, but still. ;þ

 

As a gamer that likes to go to LAN parties, I can tell you having a powerful-enough laptop is so convenient; lugging my full tower ATX desktop, 24" monitor, and accessories is not fun.

 

(Jerry puts on a pair of bifocals and grabs his old man walker.) "Back in my day we had Shuttle cases or the original Falcon Northwest Fragbox for LAN parties. Then we asked a roommate to help us carry an 80-pound CRT monitor out of our car's truck ... and by golly, we were happy with what we had!"

(Jerry shakes his head.) "Kids today and their laptops."

 

This has to make me wonder why Toshiba is delaying the update to the X305. Lack of parts perhaps? This Alienware won't be available for a while yet, and Clevo hasn't released their new SLI model either, only thrown us some teaser photos and specs.

I like very much the fact that the QX9300 will be overclockable, and I'm assuming the heatsink design won't pose too big an issue. I've played with this CPU, and even at 2.53GHz, it makes any task you throw at it fly. Bumping it up by even a single multiplier to 2.8-2.9GHz will be enough to get it through anything I can think of, or have ever tried.

I think the best feature of this notebook, however, is the 1920x1200 display. I've wanted a screen like this in so many 17" models, but manufacturers refused to do it. 1440x900 is so lame on a 17" and 1680x1050 is getting old (5 years old for me). I like the keyboard layout, but those borders on every key makes it look like one of those cheap rubber/silicon jobs. The dual GTX 280M will be awesome for games coming out in the next 18 months.

This is also a good example of why I think HP should ditch their HDX notebook lineup and give their Voodoo brand a deserved reboot. HP has offered absolutely nothing so far in the notebook gaming space, and their use of only 16:9 screens today is becoming an obsession. I cannot see why HP, given their huge resources, wouldn't develop a gaming notebook lineup with Voodoo branding and offer the same 1920x1200 machine with GTX graphics. Lack of demand? Hardly!

 

The All Powerful M17x goes up for sale Tuesday.

 

It looks like Logitech/AW got the G9/9x right with this mouse implementation. It does not have a chopped off tail and instead looks more ergonomic for palm usage. A combination of the MX1100 and G9 which I bounce back and forth with.

As for that 42" monster of a monitor - I would love to know and eta for GA and est cost. I will have one if not two of those beauties!

 

A Fra- what? Today we have things like 'surround sound' and video cards capable of producing fluid 3D (three dimensional) images. And color monitors too (no, green+black does not count ).

 

Chaz where is the AW section info !!!!!!

LOL some people cant afford things called "surround sound" we are stuck with some dell OEM speakers.

.....because we had to spend all the money to get a GPU to produce those fluid 3-d images

 

The best thing about Alienware and Dell working together is that Alienware will now have proper branded accessories! Plus perhaps we will see cooler design ideas! Woot I'm so excited.

 

As a person who has always preferred design choices of Voodoo over Alienware and HP over Dell (speaking style alone, not parts or anything, and just my opinion), I really hope this prompts HP to barf Voodoo back up for a shot at the light. HDX schmHDX, those compete with the XPS consumer line, we need an alienware competitor from ol'HP! Once Sager, Alienware, HP and possibly ASUS join the fray, maybe competition will bring down prices more!

 

God, look at the size of that thing, its barely passable as a laptop lolol.