Alienware m14x First Review

MM, it seems like you answer a bit of your own questions here.

You say the HP packs the same and is much lighter, but won't go with HP because of build quality. Well duh, AW's are known for exceptional build quality (aside from QA issues) which contributes to the weight of the m14x. Also, 6.5 lbs is not heavy, whatsoever. But I understand everyone is entitled to their opinion.

You can't have your cake and eat it to, apparently everyone wants a perfect machine. My suggestion: become a computer engineer and figure it out yourself, or perhaps by doing so you'll learn that these machines can't do everything right for everyone.

Also, I have to lol @ people talking about SLI/Xfire in a 14 inch notebook.

 

My M5500 with the first ever switchable graphics is less than an inch thick. Plus, it has the 1680x1050 lcd.

 

I think its pathetic that we need to OC to get close to 460m performance and while majority wants 460m. It is an extra large size 14" and they won't fit a weaker 460m (compare with 5850) in there.

 

They come extremely close to each other. That's a fact as well. In some benchmarks and games the 460M wins, in some the 5850 wins.

Even if it doesn't REACH the performance, it will come damned close.

Build quality is part of why this is so heavy. It'll have a better cooling system, as well as a better overall build, than the HP dv6. Yes, the review states the palmrest gets hot, but that might be because of a hot component resting under it; they didn't perform actual component temperature tests. Going on what all the other AW notebooks are like, this thing should pack excellent cooling. (EDIT: Someone else stated the HDD is under the palmrest. If this is true, it explains it. There's nothing they can do about a HDD running hot.)

Personally, my opinion is that if you're already carrying several kilos of books with you (just like me) then the difference between a 2kg and 3kg notebook should be hardly noticeable. However, if that's your opinion, fair enough.

Even if you look at the very lightest notebooks on the market, like the Macbook Air 11", this thing is at most 4lbs heavier. Compare it to notebooks in its category, and the difference is minute; one or two pounds. If that would really make a difference to you, fair enough. It wouldn't to me, and I'd certainly rather carry around that extra lb or two to pack that power.

That's my point. This is significantly smaller - actually a proper 14" size - and yet it's packing not much less than the M15x, or most 15" gaming notebooks for that matter, all of which are both bigger and heavier.

Okay then, let's compare stock settings. Looking at game benchmarks of both the 460M and 555M, in very high settings, the 555M is at most 25% behind the 460M in framerate, usually closer to 15-20% behind. In the vast majority of cases this won't make a big difference; you'll either have a slightly slower framerate, or have to lower the resolution or a couple of graphics settings a notch.

No other 14" notebook (that I know of, at least) packs something more powerful than that.

 

They will or put a newer = card in later this year or early 2012. They already have the GTX 460m listed on the M14x configuration page. Its under the video card section when your building your system if you click "help me choose" then click compare options. There is the 555m and the GTX 460m.

They will do it. Watch

 

Thats why I said, if its going to be that big and that heavy give it more power, then I wouldnt even care, but with the current config, I dont think its a good buy. The 460m should be in there, if it were, then it would be the laptop to buy

I am CS major. (currently doing)

I have degree on international relationships

I have a degree on economics.

Maybe next time engineer is the way to go! Then I will become a loompa loompa of science!

 

People were laughing at me to pursue gaming laptop or to play starcraft with laptop 15 years ago. Its impossible/laptop is no match to desktop. Look now......
SLI in laptop... Crysis 2 extreme setting 1080p over 40 fps. Keep laughing and people will be gaming Quad SLI notebook in 20 years +

 

No, EvilCorsair, no 14 incher really has anything better than a 555m. The problem is you have people saying "zomg the m14x is really a 15 inch laptop it's so big and heavy," which isn't really a valid argument.

Since then, the m15x really becomes a 17 inch laptop and should be compared to the m17x, and the m17x R1 and R2 is really an 18 inch, so on and so forth. It's a ridiculous argument that is somewhat illogical.

 

logic is not logical, its not something that is in the way we think, its something external, the way we think is gaming theory/

 

The 460M wouldn't physically fit in there. As far as we know the 555M is actually soldered on, which is most likely done for size reasons in itself. And like I said in my post, the difference between them isn't massive; 20% or less in most games.

In terms of size, it's very similar to other 14" notebooks. In terms of weight, yes, it's the same as most 15" notebooks but like I said, this is also built a lot better (and is significantly more powerful) than most 15" notebooks.

The fairer thing for people to do would be to compare it to 15" notebooks that are comparable in terms of performance, because most (if not all) of those are going to be both bigger and heavier.

 

I don't see your point. No kidding we'll be gaming on Quad SLI notebooks in 20 years. That has nothing to do with TODAY.

You're assuming a bit too much about why I'm "laughing." Today, with current technology, 2 SLi/Xfire video cards in a 14 inch laptop is not feasible. Unless a manufacturer can prove me wrong.

Tomorrow? Of course. But the m14x is today.

 

If they roll out 460m in early 2012, i will decline that offer and go for m17x r4. Seriously, with 22nm cpu and 7 series gpu , its so hard to resist.

 

Going off topic here, but you can't say that logic isn't logical, because that's to say that logic isn't itself, therefore logic is nothing/doesn't exist. That just doesn't make sense.

 

@ Mr MM: Just curious to your sig that says your waiting for Ivy bridge. You know that Ivy bridge won't be that big of a performance gain right? It's just the shrinking of Sandy bridge. I say get Sandy bridge now or wait for Haswell which will be a huge upgrade.

 

Heh, you know people aren't going to be happy with it unless it's Macbook Air thin, 1080p 120hz led backlit screen, SLI-GTX485/X-Fire 6970, and costing only $100.

 

Here's a more detailed review of the M11x R3.

Review Alienware M11x R3 Gaming Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

I really don't care much for the 3dmark scores. Real world performance it's what matters.

 

you can be a smartass all you want but my concern is legit. And i bet in a few months they will have a better option available in it. I dont want anything crazy but the 555 is a step backward when paired with gen 2 i7's especially for the price of the unit. the 555 is weak they could have used the 460 at least i mean compare the specs. I would like to see at least a AMD HD6800M series. i jumped on the M15x when it first came out and later they added better gpu options.

GT 555M - SDDR3 / GTX 460m-GDDR5

CUDA Cores

144 / 192

Processor Clock (MHz)

1180 MHz / 1350


Texture Fill Rate (billion/sec)

Up to 14.2 / 16.1

Memory Specs:

Memory Clock (MHz)

900 MHz / 1250


Standard Memory Config

DDR3 / DDR5

Memory Interface Width

192-bit / 192-bit

Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec)

43.2 / 60.0

 

I seriously doubt any insight that you have, maybe its not the chip itself that I want maybe its something else

didnt get the HHGG reference

 

I was going to mention the TDP limitations but you already know that I'm sure...

 

Rofl dude google Intel processor timeline. You seriously don't know?? Wow, alright kid.

 

That's exactly my ultimate point. Too much niggling.

Admittedly, I'm underwhelmed with the 555m as well. But I'm also realistic enough to realize they couldn't have done much more. The 555m is soldered into the mobo, which means space isn't available for a larger card.

Gain some perspective and realize it's still a 14 inch, portable gaming machine capable of decent battery life and great gaming performance at 16x9. If you're looking to max out games, obviously get an m17x or m18x. If you're looking to max games while on the road, get a reality check.

 

Mr MM, don't buy it if it doesn't have enough power for you. Don't buy it and move on instead yapping and yapping with that crab mentality logic of yours.

 

reading comprehension is something amiss here, since I hinted that I want something else, so what comes with the each cpu iteration?

time to got to bed kiddo

 

Out of curiosity, is the power draw roughly equal to the bump in power? I agree, I bet we see a revision on the GPU before long. That being said, considering the fairly low resolutions in use, it shouldn't really be THAT big a deal in terms of performance.

 

Damn, the display still has the same awful viewing angles. This time around the black level nearly doubled, so contrast is about twice as worse on the R3 according to the review. Maybe I'll just wait for the next stellar R1/R2 deal. A new R2 with an i5 and 8GB RAM has been $550 before, if I get lucky maybe I can get a R1 with updated hinges for under that or maybe a similar deal on the R2.

 

I'd be curious to see if you could defy the laws of space physics in order to stick in a more powerful card than the 555M (nothing bigger would physically fit, the 555M is physically soldered to the mobo), and then defy thermal physics by somehow preventing it from being eternally on fire while it's actually on.

My point exactly. The 555M is still a capable card in its own right, it's not far behind the 460M.

 

It is a totally valid argument. Even though it has a 14'' screen, its dimensions and weight are closer to 15.6'' notebooks so it is completely valid to compare it to those.

 

I couldn't agree more. Thermal restrictions limit what you can do, and in a 14" chassis the 555 is just about maxing it out...

 

not sure its just a example, my point is that this one option isnt a great one. I've bought from alienware enough to know to wait and see them offer better options. They will then they also take them away there funny that way. just look at the M15x now all you see there is the 5700 series from AMD where the hell did the 5850 and the gtx 460 go. What are they doing?

 

A 555m in a 14" chassis is enough for the $1199 starting price point. It's not that they can't put the 460m in there.. the 555 is more practical. Digital Storm, has 17" laptops with 540m for their optimus option, and that's what alienware has for their 11".

mb67 has a great point:

Originally Posted by mb67
Heh, you know people aren't going to be happy with it unless it's Macbook Air thin, 1080p 120hz led backlit screen, SLI-GTX485/X-Fire 6970, and costing only $100.

Now we can all wait for the benchmarks.

 

Considering how hot the M14x is getting and the fan noise, how would they have managed with a more powerful discrete card? They would have had to make it thicker, bigger and heavier and people would have complained even more. It's all a balancing act and the engineers designing these aren't morons.

 

Well said.

 

Let's not start this argument again. People can take it to be whatever they want. If you want to think of it as a 15.6" notebook, fair enough. I'll continue thinking of it as a 14".

Besides, a 15.6" screen wouldn't fit. The bezel is already tiny around the screen.

Erm...they're discontinuing the M15x. That's why all the options are disappearing.

Finally, people with common sense and not wishful thinking.

Before you know it, people will be asking for a 460M in the M11x too.

 

Yes the display is still the same.
You can get my i7-R2 for $850 with no hinge problems. So it still has the free hinge replacement. hehehe

 

Okay. I don't even really care, I won't be buying one. I am just pointing it out.

 

The m14x weighs 6.5 lbs with the battery...

 

A sane person!

 

Hi All,
Is there any coupon for the m14x? Thanks.

 

Thanks, but I'm just going to look out for some impulse-worthy deal like some of the M11x's deals in the past.

Oh, and actually the new R3 display has less pop and grayish blacks according to a review I read, so it's inferior to the R1 and R2 in the display aspect.

 

Just because you don't like the notebook, or it doesn't fit you very well, does not mean that someone is insane for buying it.

Learn the difference between your opinions and facts.

Fact: Your dislike for the M14x is your opinion.
Opinion: I disagree with your opinion.

People should stop acting like their opinion is correct and applies to everyone.

 

People will believe what they want. I got some kids in here that think the nvidia 555 will equal the 460mGTX. While being a strong lower end card, it's not the performer the 460 is now. and this means not in Game benchmarks and not in 3dmark11 scores. I dont care about 3dmark06 scores because I get a lot more FPS that people that score 1000 points higher than me in 3dmark06. It's not relevant anymore and offers no value.

 

Nobody's said that the 555M is equal to the 460M. People have said that the 555M when overclocked CAN match a stock 460M, but that is still to be seen in benchmarks (although it's very plausible).

Benchmarks place the 555M roughly 15-20% behind the 460M in terms of framerates in games, which is not bad at all when you consider the 555M has a significantly lower power consumption.

 

the lulz...

apparently its a dissapointment.

 

10 Pages in and the only established fact is that Mr MM hasn't a damn clue about what he's talking about.

 

exactly. you dont know what part of the quote I was referring to, so you got the part where its most aggravating to you and have said this in so kind words.

All I said is that, if you are going to have that size and weight, you could have stepped up in the GPU dept a little. I dont care for the most powerful gpu in there.

Now to back it up, you guys either bash with the heat, or the size, the 460m can be soldered to the board too, its just a matter of engineering, as the 6850m.

I also said that I didnt expect anything in the thin and light, since I know Im not getting that from AW. But I wanted something .5 kg lesser to be happy with it.

Now I know why people that like to talk about hardware dont come often to the AW forums, its exclusive for the fanboys.

 

This is a huge disappointment if the R3 display is even worse than the "already bad" R1 and R2 screens.

Hell, it's the reason I sold my R1. I wish high end laptop makers would start offering better screens as options to those of us that want them. I'm still trying to accept the fact that my m17x R3 that I paid nearly $3,000 for isn't arriving with an RGB LED (also the reason I had pre-ordered an Asus G53SW from XoticPC with a 95% color gamut 1080p display, damn it all to hell if I couldn't just pull myself away from AW).

 

Well, I don't think saying that is as big as a 15.6'' notebook is an opinion.

 

I like how there's people who just flame the M14X and then continue to post in M14X related threads.

If you don't like it, LEAVE.

Some of us like myself consider it the perfect 14" system.

 

Did you even check the dimensions? Highly unlikely considering the M14x is around an inch smaller than the HPDV6. Yes, the M14x is uncharacteristically small for an Alienware.

 

I was in doubt whether to buy:

- M14x + gaming desktop system
- M18x + mainstream desktop system


I need 2 computers and one of them should be a notebook, also one of them must be for gaming and the other needn't. So these are my options for 3000euros approximately.


After confirming M14x looks very poor both in performance, screen and options, I think I'm going for M18x + cheap desktop system.