Alienware M17x

Overall Rating

                         

 

 

 

Given the extreme performance and category dominance we discovered with Alienware desktop computers, we shouldn’t be very surprised that the Alienware M17x garners such high ratings among gaming laptops. The brand continues its dominance of the gaming category without missing a beat and even the extreme graphics motif that makes it stand out among desktops is carried over to the laptop units.
If there are any two points that we find just a little disconcerting about this laptop, the first has to be its very designation into this category. This unit is both large and heavy. Be really careful when shopping for a bag to carry it around. The typical laptop bag designated for 17-inch computers just won’t do it. If you can find one that claims to accommodate two 17-inch computers, you’ll be in good shape. As for weight, at about thirteen pounds, depending on how it’s configured, it’s not going to be a suitable replacement for a netbook…nor is it intended to be. The other bone of contention is its price. Of course, shoppers considering Alienware are looking for performance rather than a bargain price so that’s no big surprise.

Alienware computers are famous for their radical appearance and this one is no exception. The anodized aluminum case is available in silver, black or red but that’s just the beginning. The screen features edge-to-edge glass on the display that announces immediately that you’re not dealing with any run of the mill machine. Alienware has a system call Fusion FX which allows you to set the colors behind the backlit keys. In fact, as many as four different colors can be selected simultaneously so that different regions of the keyboard display different colors. Certainly not necessary but definitely cool looking. The lighting options extend down the front of the keyboard in a grill-like arrangement that is either reminiscent of a stealth fighter or a 1950s concept car.

Features: 

When talking about extreme gaming computers, it’s always the graphics card setup the gets most of the attention. That’s certainly the case with the M17x which comes standard with an awesome NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M card featuring a substantial 1GB of video memory. If that’s not enough for your extreme gaming requirements, the computer can be ordered with a pair of the NVIDIA cards which will support outrageous gaming requirements or amazing multitasking.

Alienware’s M17x can be built with either Inter Core 2 processors or the newer i5 and i7 CPUs. For Core 2’s, the included processor is a substantial Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 running at 2.4GHz, 3MB Cache and 1066MhzFSB but there are lots of upgrade options. There are two faster Core 2 Duo processors available with the T9600 running at 2.8GHz clock speed and 6MB Cache or the T9800 that kicks the speed up to 2.93GHz with the same Cache. A couple of different Intel Core 2 Quad processors are also options. The first is the Q9800 with the four cores running at 2.0GHz or, for ultimate performance, the Intel Core 2 Quad QX9300 with four 2.53GHZ cores, 12MB Cache and 1066 MHz FSB.

The alternative base processor is the Intel Core i5 520M running at 2.4GHz and 3MB Cache. There’s also the option of an i5 540M running at 2.53GHz. There are four Intel Core i7 options with the basic processor running at 2.66GHz and sporting 4MB Cache. The top of the line is the Intel Core i7 920XM which clocks at 2.0GHZ or up to 3.2GHz in Turbo Mode and has a 8MB Cache.

When you have a need for speed, the next essential piece of the puzzle is RAM memory. The basic unit comes equipped with 4GB of dual channel DDR3 1066MHz RAM. It’s upgradable to 6GB or 8GB with the snappiest option being 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 running at 1333MHz. While the base 4GB is pretty substantial for a typical laptop, for this gaming monster, we can’t help but think a RAM upgrade is a no brainer.

There are several storage options available, too. The starting point is a pretty pedestrian 250GB drive running at 7,200RPM. The 7,200RPM drives can be upgraded to 320 or 500GB or you can choose to sacrifice speed for size by opting for a 640GB drive that spins at 5,400RPM. To really get fast, both 128GB and 256GB solid state drives are also available. They’ll give far faster data access speed than any mechanical hard drive can but have notably smaller storage space available.

Available optical drives include a DVD/CD burner, a drive that will also play Blu-ray discs and a final upgrade to one that includes a Blu-ray burner. The included optical display, i.e. the screen, is a 17-inch WideXGA+ which displays 1440 x 900 pixels (900p). That can be enhanced by adding a 17-inch WideUXGA screen displaying 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution (1200p).

The M17x comes with a one year basic service plan which can be increased to three or four years. There’s also an advanced in home service plan available but it requires remote diagnosis before a technician would be dispatched