MALIBAL Nine Series x7200 REVIEW - After 2 months

After about 2 months of use, playing multiple games and using many different applications, I decided it is time for my review.

Here are my specs:

MALIBAL Nine Series x7200
i7-960 3.2ghz | Dual GTX485m 2GB SLI | Samsung 256GB SSD | 500GB 7200RPM HDD | 6GB Triple Channel Ram | Intel 6300 Ultimate N | Windows 7 Ultimate 64


For this review I wont be posting pics and/or benchmarks as multiple people already have, this is just one person's opinions after owning for a few months. I hope you enjoy and if you have questions please ask.

WHAT I WANTED...

So initially I had my heart set on an Alienware M17X (I know, I know. Shudder.) I haven't seriously gamed on a PC since 2000/20001, but I had purchased an M11X last year and loved the flexibility PC gaming offered. I am a gamer, have been for the past 22-ish years, primarily on consoles. After going through an absolute nightmare with ordering through DELL ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/585554-help-dell-backstab-m17x-r2-r3.html) I received a refund and decided screw DELL.

I researched thoroughly and found Clevo based was the way to go. I wanted to play BF3 maxed out (or close), so SLI was a must. I eventually decided on the MALIBAL Nine Series x7200. They had the best price for the configuration I selected by about 150-200 dollars (The SSD was added by myself).

WHAT I GOT...

A machine that has annihilated everything I've thrown at it. I have consistently maxed out the following games, at 1080p and 60FPS - Amnesia, BFBC2, Crysis, Left 4 Dead, Minecraft, Just Cause 2, GTA IV, Supreme Commander 2, CS:Source and the Battlefield 3 Alpha.

I havent tried Metro 2033 or Crysis 2 yet - but I will and update with results in this thread.

I have by no means REALLY challenged it yet, but I feel it should be good for a few years.


WHAT I LIKE ...

The overall build quality is excellent - better than Alienware (what I owned, what I was sent). The keyboard feels great, has minimal flex. The black brushed aluminum (what I assume it is, could be wrong) casing is great, looks awesome, easy to clean. All the indicators are the same glowing blue, very bright, very clean looking aesthetic. There are touch controls for VOLUME, Bluetooth, WIFI and Webcam. They all respond well and consistent.

The responsive of the system is great. The SSD vs HDD is noticeable, so I would recommend the SSD to any on the fence of cost vs performance.

I use multiple music composition programs - FruityLoops, REASON, etc.. They are all operating smoothly, no lag, minimal latency. I have run into no issues due to the computer in this regard.


WHAT I WOULD LIKE ...

HDMI IN! There is a slot on the side for it, but it wasnt even an option. A back-lit keyboard would also be nice.


WHY MALIBAL?

I have had mixed feeling based on my interactions with their reps, internet feedback, as well as their participation in these very forums. Let me be clear - I am very happy with them - as I dont want anything I say to come off as anything less. I am going to explain why I was hesitant, and what they did to prove I didnt need to be.

When initially researching I found a few reviews of the x7200 that had stated MALIBAL take down their reviews for various reasons. Some due to system issues, others due to a lack of response in regards to this issues from MALIBAL. This was alarming. A product review should be allowed to posted no matter what (with the exception of blatant slander or bashing) even if it is bad.

***EDIT - After searching again for the sites that documented a review removal I could only find one, which MALIBAL would like to address in the comments below.***

I ignored the single naysayer online and decided after looking at positive feedback on the forums that I would choose them. XoticPC was a very close 2nd, if MALIBAL wasn't offering such a great deal on the 485m SLI when the 580ms came out, it would be a tough choice.

Ordering was simple. The rep was very helpful and understanding (the process isnt as easy as ordering from a major manufacturer, but the results are infinitely better). My one criticism I could make about the ordering was a lack of excitement by the rep. He wasnt bad by any means, extremely polite and thorough - but I'm dropping 2500 on a laptop, chat with me a bit, make me drink the MALIBAL kool-aid.

In terms of forum feedback MALIBAL responds frequently and most importantly with a helpful response. They did email me once to tell me I needed to capitalize "MALIBAL" in my tag (mine was not at the time, I just wrote Malibal) which came off as "it puts the lotion on the skin" calibur of controlling. I chalk it up to them being passionate about their product, albeit a little too much, but I'd rather them be passionate than not.

They promptly delivered a product, which was extremely solid and built by caring hands. They did a great job, and I would recommend them to anyone. Beginning to end, this process was easy.


FINAL THOUGHTS.

If you want something (slightly) portable, that willl give you desktop quality - this is the laptop for you. LET ME STRESS THIS LAPTOP IS HUGE. UNRIVALED IN THICKNESS AND WEIGHT.

I am by no means anything other than a casual PC gamer, but I hope this computer will put me on the right track.

 

Good review --( I find that quite funny about them getting OCD about the all caps thing, SAGER is in all caps on my notebook, but as far as I know i have not been approached about writing it as Sager. So that's a bit creepy)-- I had checked MALIBAL pricing, and they're cheaper by about 50-75 dollars on most laptops depending on the config, so I had considered ordering the X7200 or something through them. Although I owned a 9280 AKA D900F here a couple years back, and found it was borderline portable at best. I do miss it at times, as I went with the 8690 ( W860CU ) instead.

Honestly at the time the D900F couldn't do SLI or Xfire, which really hurt it in the end for me, since they hadn't figured out a 2 slot cooling solution for the 130W CPU yet ( it was actually 3 slots ) I just decided the portability and battery life were a better bet in the 8690. I think I made a good choice, but I wouldn't mind an X7200 now, but it's just not as desirable to me now that SandyBridge is almost as fast as the "Desktop" CPU in the X7200. the 2630QM has a 2.6ghz quad core clock, and the 2720QM has a 3.0Ghz QC clock, with the SB per clock increase, that puts it near i7 950 performance. The one advantage the X7200 does have ( thankfully ) is the i7 970, or the 980X which makes it a 6 core, and puts it back running rings around the mobile CPUs ( theoretically ).

Back when the D900F came out, it had the i7 920, and in a laptop that was just unreal, the best CPU in the mobile sector was like a Q9000 series, and then the Xtreme variant, which the i7 920 still did rings around it. So I really wish the i7 2600k was in the X7200 now, but so far the only thing I know about is some P270WM coming out, that is apparently replacing the X7200. We won't see that until Q2 2012 though if we're lucky. That will have the i7 3800 series CPU with the 2011 socket , I believe it's called SB-E or something? 20% increase per clock vs. 17% per clock on the SB from Nahalem. So that looks pretty good so far, it will have SLI/Xfire of course, but I'm not 100% sure it's going to be a desktop or mobile laptop CPU wise. I thought I heard mobile like the M18x.

 

Yea the lack of a sandy bridge CPU is a minor gripe. Less power consumption is usually better, especially when you get the same performance.

It's a great destop replacement (I think thats the offically term, it would melt my legs if I kept it on my lap).

I heard about a possible refresh a few weeks ago, I was sad for about an hour until I played all my games in HD glory.

I'm sure it'll come out and ill drool until I find a way to fundraise to get it. I need to find a way to make a girl scout cookie pyramid scheme.....

I recommend ordering from MALIBAL, they have been a great company to deal with thus far.

 

I sent a PM inquiring about this claim that we have requested several reviews of the Nine X7200 to be removed and we were given one link to the Hot Hardware review, which is something we replied to a long time ago on these forums. I tried searching for that post, but can't seem to find it.

Here is the short of it... Hot Hardware wrote a review that contained false claims about our company, so we subsequently made a post on their forums in an attempt to respond, but they deleted our post and blocked us from posting on their site.

We then emailed Dave Altavilla - the site owner, and asked him if we could have an open discussion on the Hot Hardware forums, so that we could address the claims in the review and Dave said we were not welcome to an open discussion on his site, and so he opted to remove the review instead.

 

Thank you for your response on the subject. Since I am not employed by your company, I did not wish to comment or respond on your behalf - conveying the wrong information or intention.


This comment is an example of what I think MALIBAL has done right. They answer promptly to concerns.

 

I would just like to add, that every other professional review of the Nine X7200 was nothing short of excellent. The X7200 received a 9.2/10 and Editor's Choice Award from ComputerShopper. A 9/10 score in MaximumPC and their Kick A** Award. A 4.5/5 Stars from PCWorld... and Tom's Hardware said the Nine X7200 is quote, "As Good As It Gets."

 

I second that, it is well deserved.

 

Here's the feature on G4TV: Hulu - Attack of the Show: MALIBAL Nine X7200 Laptop Review - this was a real first in human history. A moment to be proud of.

 

This was actually a huge bump towards my decision. A great review from a trusted source.

 

Pretty much the only reason I didn't buy an x7200 based laptop is because of the old school cpu. When I can get identical performance from SB@45-55w why would I want a 130w cpu?

 

Impressive, I never did see that, not even the more well known Clevo branders that I know of have ever gotten a laptop on that show. Seems like you guys have really given Sager a run for their money, I see more and more MALIBAL tags in sigs these days. It does help to have forum presence with 2 posters, something that really helped LPC, and XoticPC in here, and the ones that don't hang around, well they're just not worth mentioning anymore. The only other is an importer for most Canadian Clevo machines, and don't really need the forum presence.