Alienware 13 Pre-Release Speculation Thread

It they do that it will cannibalize m14 sales to much, unless they are planning on dropping the M14 (possible), then I don't see that happening. It would put them in the same situation the m15x did when when they took out SLI capabilities in the m17x.

 

I'm going to be repeating myself here, but here's my take on the M11x vs AW13 debate:

I think what people might be missing is that the M11x R3 was a groundbreaking product that was light years ahead of its time. Nothing has come remotely close to the performance the M11x R3 offered in an 11.6" package; not then, not now, and possibly not even in the near future. And this is a laptop that's 3 years old. As for everyone's favorite topic ie temperatures, from what I could gather both the CPU and GPU hovered in the 70s while gaming, with the peak temp not exceeding mid 80s. These temps are more than acceptable, and truly impressive given the 11.6" form factor. One could really appreciate how much design and engineering went into the M11x.

Now the AW13, sure it'll run (possibly much) cooler than the other 13.3" laptops simply because it's thicker and uses lesser hardware, but IMHO that doesn't make it great. Just the opposite actually, because it's apparent Dell simply took the easy way out. There's no innovation, no thought, no nothing. Just pure corporate greed and a cash grab on the thin and light fad.

 

But there's still the best warranty, the best service, the best quality and the best look.

 

Actually there is one thing: Razer Edge Pro Gaming Tablet: The World's First Tablet Designed for PC Gamers - Razer United States

The Razer Edge Pro, which came out well over a year ago and unfortunately has not received an update, or hint of an update since. Its a freaking 10.1 inch tablet that has a better CPU and GPU than the M11x R3, the same amount of ram (8gb) (but faster 1600MHz vs 1333MHz), same screen resolution (but also 10 point multi-touch), and can be configured to a have up to a 256gb SSD (which can be upgraded to be even larger by the user).

 

I don't agree with that first part. And of course it's about money and profits, that's why companies make products in the first place.

You are thinking like a customer and not a businessman. That's why you don't understand their motive behind the AW 13 and other products.

 

Two thoughts on this:

1) I am currently working and have gamed extensively on an M11x-R3 (not in my tagline, one I got off Ebay) and the temperatures stay around 77-79 C on the CPU, a bit higher on the GPU in a room with an ambient temperature of around 73 F. I have two more off Ebay which do run hot, and I believe it is due to the fact they need to be cleaned/and or re pasted. However, a clean, decently pasted M11x-R3 (i7 to boot) will run with very acceptable temperatures assuming one elevates it slightly. Not elevating raises temperatures a few degrees but nothing bad.

2) To say the product is not innovative is not the issue and saying Dell took the easy way out is absurd. They looked at the market, and the latent continuing demand for a more portable product and created the AW 13 in a package that is cheap enough and light enough to fill a niche that is profitable and what the consumer generally wants. To say the demand for lighter is a fad is a bit off the mark to say the least as people are carrying electronics more than ever before. To go slimmer than is proven good for component lifetime and disregard for heat (ala Nvidia's Razor) is not what they are doing, they are finding a compromise on life, performance and portability with a nod towards the trend towards lighter without creating a seriously flawed product.

 

I think the constant criticism about the AW 14 being chunky (which personally I don't mind if it means heat is properly handled) is what AW/Dell is responding too. I believe the fact the AW 14 is selling well and if their market research shows that 13-14 is optimal, and lighter is desired they may view it as a better market fit and even outsell the AW 14.

As for size and features, some people will get exact same performance and one notch higher on size just because a couple inches display size makes a big difference.

 

The AW 13 is designed to support ULV CPU's - it's an ultrabook. It will not replace the AW 14.

If they did replace it, there would be a huge gap between the 13 and 17. They can't fill that gap with a 15 because that would jeopardize the 17 sales. And the only way to account for the loss of 17 sales would be to bring back SLI in the AW 17, and get rid of the AW 18. Then it would make some sense to have an AW 13, AW 15, and AW 17. After only one year of having the new lineup, it's unlikely they'd change it that much. Therefore, the AW 13 will not replace anything. It will be an addition to the current lineup.

EDIT: I don't like the idea of that. It just seems wrong.

 

The point being that literally any company could make a 1+" thick 13.3" laptop, then slap in a ULV CPU and not have the components overheat. It doesn't take any special engineering, design, or thought. If the AW13 had a full blown quad core or was half the thickness and Dell managed to keep thermals under control, then that would be a worthy product.

 

I agree, it's hardly pushing any boundaries. Sure it will probably sell well, but it comes at a cost, AW further diluting their reputation for extreme performance machines. Something that put them on the map to begin with - see the problem with that? That's a slippery slope in my view and this isn't an isolated example.
Here's to hoping they announce a AW19 with X99.

 

They already did that years ago with their overpriced desktops that don't even come close to being able to be as powerfully configured as numerous other boutiques are.

 

I will gobble that up in a heartbeat if it has none of the performance crippling BS the 18 has.

 

An X99 Alienware will probably not happen, even if the chassis was bigger(AW19). Those Haswell-E processors have a TDP of 140W. Even the lowest end in X99. We're talking 2.5X more heat than an extreme mobile CPU.

A better option would be for Intel to introduce a 6-core mobile CPU. Maybe when skylake comes out we'll finally see one. We'll finally see a 8-core processor on the enthusiast market(not enterprise/server) with Haswell-E. Even 18-cores with Haswell-EP.


As for the AW13 not having any engineering, I disagree. I think it's being judged way too hard for a product that isn't even out yet and still has three+ months until release. If broadwell comes out soon enough, maybe Alienware will even skip haswell ULV processors. The same can go for nVidia. If the 960M comes out with a more powerful maxwell core in time, we can see it have that as well. Although most likely those things will come Q1 2015.

 

This is true, but.... AW IS doing it, and I would say it takes good judgement to develop the right kind of product and not succumb to the "thinner is better" wave right now completely.

AW is simply not the product line of extreme cutting edge (albeit more flaky and unreliable) that it was before Dell; it's now a good middle-to-upper range product line that is fairly well engineered, reliable with a dash of style. If you're wanting or expecting the extreme and those things don't matter rush out and get an MSI or Razor; again, this is not about risky innovation or performance, it's about a good compromise product design. I can see that the ghost of AW-past still haunts the forums...

I too would like to see a liquid-cooled system design sporting a 880M processor and extreme CPU in a thin package... but if the price is $3K and sells 10% of what an AW 13 or 14 does it makes little sense to produce.

 

Internal liquid cooling offers no benefit to a notebook by the way

 

If not performance, it does offer noise reduction right?
I've seen that R1 prototype that was pushing 4.6 on a 2920xm but doing it silently during a benchmark.

 

Errmm.. no.

Sager NP6110 : 11.6" (1366x768), i7-3610QM, GT-650M, 3.96lbs.

The M11x R3 : 11.6"(1366x768), i7-2617M, GT-540M, 4.4lbs.

The Sager NP6110 / Cleve W110ER came out early 2012.

M11x R3 might be more aesthetically pleasing, but as far as " Nothing has come remotely close to the performance the M11x R3 offered in an 11.6" package; not then, not now, and possibly not even in the near future"? Definitely not true.

The NP6110 ' sold' link in my signature will take you to a few images of the NP6110 if you're interested.

 

Holy **** Clevo was crazy enough to put a full blown quad core into an 11.6" laptop. Mind officially blown. Temps seem tolerable from HTWingNut's review.

 

Yeah it was a beast. It did run pretty hot, but that's to be expected with that much juice in such a small form factor. I miss my NP6110. Currently have a 13.3" (see signature) which is awesome too. Clevo are pretty impressive.. just quietly pushing the limits, no big fanfare.. gotta admire that.

 

That's very true and very admirable. I do like what Clevo have on offer, the deal breaker for me personally is they don't sell through any vendors here in Japan, and to a lesser extent no aluminum chassis. While Xtopic, HID etc can easily hook me up with one I'd need to post the machine back if it needed warranty service which would quickly become an expensively frustrating exercise. I'm looking forward to see how Clevo tackle X99. If might be the first laptop with DDR4 ram and an Oct core CPU. I'm keen to see if AW have the stones to respond to that but I have my doubts since they haven't already .

 

If this was the Alienware that released the R2, it's a definite possibility as they still cared about pushing the limits. This new Alienware that is releasing crippled machines along with SecureFlash BS, followed by the Steambox and AW13, yeah...

But yeah assuming I don't go back to desktops (I haven't used a gaming desktop since 2004), my next purchase will either be the P570WM with the X99 chipset (assuming Clevo releases one), or the AW19 which is probably more mythical than a black unicorn at this point LOL

 

It's not entirely true....At least I've heard of a japan based reseller
G-tune

 

Nice find, thanks. Sadly they didn't have the desktop CPU monster in their stocklist but I'm sure they'd be able to get it in.

 

I admire the Sager/Clevo lines, I just wish they would sport better looks. To do so much internally, then a so often a blah exterior.... seems like such an oversight. Nothing outrageous, but the last time I looked in on them they were just... so stodgy looking...

 

I agree with the aesthetic and build quality of Alienware being superior, but some people like the nondescript look. If they improved the build quality and ditched all the plastic stuff to match Alienware, then they would likely be more expensive, too. That would be bad for the folks that want great internal components and are willing to live with those things to save a few bucks.

 

I agree completely.... this is why the different marques exist in the first place, not everyone wants (or needs) the same thing, like bleeding edge performance for a high price. I'd rather be have system that's in the same league with say 60 FPS as opposed to 85 FPS in a package with an aesthetic I like and support than one with better performance that needs to be shipped off to a depot when it has an issue and looks like a lunchbox to boot.

 

Being boxy and bland looking has always been Clevo's tradition. Even the flagship P570WM, the world's most powerful laptop, looks like something from the early 90s. Clevo cares about performance more than anything else, sometimes to its own detriment. That said there's a lot to be gained from modding and tweaking if that's your thing.

 

Although I prefer the menacing look of the previous generation Alienware systems to anything available, being boxy and bland isn't that bad. Apple has been the king of bland and boring for years, too. I just wish Clevo would start using an aluminum chassis on all of their systems and ditch the plastic crap. Every laptop I have owned (and their have been a ton of them) with plastic chassis has ended up with squeaks, creaks and cracks ranging from extremely minor to severe... even with multiple layers of protection (in a sleeve, in a backpack or bag). They get banged and bumped a lot with travel, but the Alienware systems stay looking like new for years. If I end up buying a P570WM I will have to get used to using a bit more caution or leaving it at home and just taking the Alienware laptops when I travel. Even my business class ThinkPad provided by my employer shows more evidence of wear and tear, but it's a newer junky one with a plastic chassis. The older rubberized metal chassis ThinkPads always held up nicely.

 

To be fair the 570WM design originates from the core 2 era of machines lol.

I just wish they would go a little more intense with the cooling options.

 

I'm one of those preferring the nondescript look.. I live in Brooklyn, NYC, and in some areas flashing around an Alienware will just make you a target. I think of a Clevo as a standard model car with a complete beast under the hood.. nobody looks twice in passing, yet you can pretty much blow everything else away with ease.
:thumbsup:

Kinda derailed the thread a little with the Sager/Clevo talk though.. sorry

..so about that new Alienware 13.. what was the word I was thinking of? Oh yeah.. meh.

 

Still can't decide whether the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V or the 2014 Chevy SS is a better embodiment of Clevo LOL

 

What about the Renault Espace F1?

Loud as hell
Ugly as sin

But it packs an F1 engine under the hood so it kinda gets the pass anyway.

 

That's called a test bench...

 

Yeah that's the only thing making me wonder if I will move on it on release, or wait till the first upgrade with Broadwell and a better GPU. While I believe the design will be fairly popular and successful in the market, I believe they are repeating what they did with the M11x-R1; they released it and I believe got some experience with the process and issues, and it wasn't too long till the R2 included what they really wanted for the M11x but the chips, etc weren't yet available.

 

That's kind of sad to hear that having something nice makes you a target in your area, says a lot about Brooklyn

I think the word I was looking for on Sager/Clevo was... let me think now... "lackluster"

 

LMAO great responses! :laugh:

 

Actually, I've thought about it a bit more, and the 4th gen (94-04) Ford Mustang is the perfect embodiment of Clevo. Lots of raw power, little in the way of "luxury", and from afar just looks like any other car (until you get up close and read the MUSTANG lettering on the bumper).

 

This is one hilarious thread.

 

Clevo, Alienware... whatever... This is what we want...

<iframe width='640' height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k4lDfyoFgtY?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Not this...

<iframe width='640' height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/L94pKoGHiMI?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

 

And I was going to say Mustang earlier - seriously.
Love Mustangs.

 

Holy crap.. that thing was still accelerating after it hit the peg... and so quick to get up there!

 

Thank god I live in Europe, no one likes the Mustang lol

 

Hahaha nice.

Haha that's it buddy! Let me add a couple so we're all clear

 

This is totally senseless Pc

 

Yeah, LOL. Gotta love super bikes like the Suzuki Hayabusa and Yamaha R1... insanely fast machines. Notice his front tire did not come back to the ground until around 130 MPH? After cruising at 220 MPH, 100 MPH near the end of the video clip seemed like he was crawling at a snail's pace. This thread is going off topic, but some things are just too fun to ignore.

Here's another cue for Alienware and Clevo... we want the laptop equivalent of this. This has the "Alien" intake system. Check the screen in the video at 6:15.

<iframe width='640' height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HA6am0rCwAk?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

For us Mustang lovers... 572 CID 3,000 HP sleeper. :thumbsup:

<iframe width='640' height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rMBLu0Na6mg?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Subtle is nice, but for something really insane... supercharged, twin turbo with nitrous

<iframe width='640' height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3EaCnDCsslM?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

 

Thanks god for brakes! (skip to 0:40)



Look at how fast the bike's speed went down. Now that's some solid engineering.

 

Uh oh, I think I missed something when I was reading the article. It will be using a ULV processor? WHY? WHY??!!!!!!!! WHYYYYYYY?!?!!!!!
There was a comparision a while back between the Macbook Air, and the entry level rMBP and the mid/top level rMBP. ULV processers run out of steam much much quicker (shorter hardcoded turbo duration) than the standard voltage processors, not good at all in my opinion, especially when the GS60 and Razer are using standard voltage chips.... and what is this no option for Radeon graphics? Pass, unfortunately

 

Yeah hopefully it's not true. ULV in an AW machine?? Unacceptable really at 13"...

 

yoh guys, maybe it's an ULV in an AW but It could be like maxwell vs kepler, so dont worry about it too much.

 

Uhh no just no, Broadwell will only be 5% better than Haswell, so it's still a fail.