Alienware M18x (GTX 580M SLI, 2920XM) Notebook Review

Alienware M18x is one of gaming laptops largest and most powerful available, and we have already tested the model with two AMD Radeon HD 6970M units (CrossFire). Is now the alternate version with 2x GeForce GTX 580 in SLI mode has reached us, and seems to reach new heights of performance with the SSD and integrated CPU Core i7-2920XM.

Alienware M17x R3

The M17x is now in its third iteration with the R3 edition. Unlike its predecessors, the R3 has a single graphics card; to get a dual graphics card setup (AMD CrossFireX or Nvidia SLI), you need to step up to the monstrous 18.4-inch M18x. Still, the M17x R3 packs serious firepower as configured.

Options include the slightly faster i7-2720QM processor (the i7-2630QM is standard), AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics card with a whopping 2GB of its own memory (a 1GB HD 6870M is standard), the upgraded Intel 6300 AGN wireless card, and the 1.5TB RAID 0 hard drive array.

Alienware M18x

Superior in every way. Tired of the typical desktop computer sits on the table? Do you want a replacement running? The new Alienware M18x fits the bill. This 18-inch model is not only visually impressive, also packs the latest hardware under the hood. A complete desktop replacement of daily life?

Alienware Area-51 m5790

The Alienware Area-51 m5790 is a 17" desktop replacement style gaming notebook that is available exclusively via Alienware.com. This is an update to last year's m5750. The differences are just newly added upgradeable features such as Blu-Ray and the Radeon x1900 video card, along with, of course, Windows Vista in all flavors. Windows XP is, unfortunately, no longer available even as an option. This is a slight problem since it's well known that Vista isn't as good as XP for gaming at this moment. So if you're getting this for gaming, you may want to uninstall Vista and put XP on for the time being.

Alienware Area-51 M9750

The Area-51 M9750 is a top-of-the-line gaming notebook from Alienware. It features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and is available with dual Nvidia high-performance video cards. The M9750 is based on Intel’s previous Centrino Duo platform. Even though it does not use Santa Rosa, it is still more than capable of handling any task.

Alienware's Area-51 m17x

The Area-51 m17x is Alienware's highest-end gaming notebook. Notable features of this all-black monster include an Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, dual Nvidia GeForce 9800M-GT graphics cards, and a 500GB RAID 0 array. It is one of the most powerful machines we have tested.

Alienware m17x

The M17x is Alienware's flagship gaming notebook. It features a stealthy design, aluminum chassis, and a customizable lighting system. Our review unit is packed to the gills with dual Nvidia graphics cards, an Intel Extreme processor, and 8GB of RAM. Does the M17x live up to Alienware's claim of being the fastest gaming notebook on the market? Read our review to find out.

Alienware m15x Full

The M15x is Alienware's latest gaming notebook, featuring an Intel Core i7 processor, 15.6-inch screen, and Nvidia GTX 260M graphics. Is this monster worth its asking price? Read our review to find out. The M15x starts at $1,499 as of writing; it is available in three colors: Cosmic Black, Nebula Red, and Lunar Shadow (silver). Our test unit's price is sky-high mainly due to the Core i7 920XM Extreme processor, which commands a $900 premium over the base Core i7 720QM processor.

Dell Unveils Powerful 11-inch Alienware M11x Gaming Laptop

Let's begin with a cliche: big things come in small packages. Rarely has that statement been so fitting when it comes to Dell's crazy new 11-inch gaming laptop. Pulling from the design of its bigger and beefier brothers, the M15x and M17x, the Alienware M11x packs a lot of power into a little box. Read on for our first impressions.

Given some of Dell's recent efforts, we were wondering if they'd be able to pull off any big tricks in terms of exciting new products for CES. It's nice to not be disappointed—frankly, the M11x is anything but. Dell is pushing the device as something of a 'best of both worlds' gaming laptop.


The biggest problems when it comes to gaming laptops are typically the immense size/weight of the systems and the generally terrible battery life. The M11x tackles these issues with its diminutive size–it's heavier than most ultraportables, but very manageable–and its hybrid operating mode.

The hybrid graphics mode works similarly to the systems introduced in other laptops. Essentially, when you're looking to get the most battery life out of your system, just surfing the web and sending out emails or listening to music, you leave the system using its integrated graphics chips.


Hitting a switch, however, engages the much more powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT335m. Dell claims that the system will run Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 at more than 30 frames per second at the panel's native resolution (as yet unknown, but either 1280x720 or 1366x768). In integrated graphics mode, the company says users can expect to get around 6 hours of battery life, while in high-performance mode, users can expect around 2.

The M11x is surprisingly capable and fun to use. It looks a little chunky in the pictures, but it feels a lot thinner in person. Let's be honest, we can't really expect a gaming laptop to hit eleven inches and still maintain a super svelte figure.


Dell takes advantage of that extra thickness, too, by adding USB ports, FireWire, VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort and a card reader. It also features the same design stylings users have come to expect from the new Alienware lines—the industrial, squared-off edges, backlit keyboard and even AlienFX lights shining through the front edges of the machine.

What can you expect to pay for the laptop? Well, you might be surprised. We were informed that users will be able to buy the Alienware M11x for under a thousand dollars, which, as most people will guess, probably means we'll see it available for something close to $999.99. Expensive for an 11-inch laptop these days, sure‐but given its unique feaures and abilities, I've no doubt it'll be a commercial success.

Stick around for more exclusive coverage of CES 2010 here in Las Vegas from NotebookReview.com and the rest of the TechnologyGuide family!