Alienware M11x R3 initial impression

I'm by no means creating an expert review of the M11x R3, but I'll do my best to give an initial impression on the machine after using it for a few hours.

For background : I have owned M11x R1 and R2. My R3 has the new i7 at 1.5 ghz, 8GB DDR 3 ram @ 1333 mhz, 750GB 7200rpm HD, 2GB Nvidia GT 540M video card, Bluetooth 3.0.

I will not bother posting or describing the look as the design is 100% same as R1 and R2 and will just use a bullet point style write up.

1) Hinge - Just short of taking it apart which I'm not willing to do yet, it looks identical to R1 and R2 from the outside. I did insert a paper between LED and keyboard and closed it. I needed to use a bit of force to pull the paper out but it's not a reliable indicator of hinge integrity. The hinge feels firm and is very quiet with no play. The opening angle is identical to R1 and R2. Only time will tell on the strength of the new design as its internal rather than cosmetic change.

2) Fan - R3 is very quiet when surfing the web, watch HD movie, email and chatting. The fan is either completely silent or spinning very slow. While the fan is audible, it is by no means loud or disturbing at all. For those that own an R2, the fan noise is same on above conditions.

However, it's a different story while tasked. I played a round of Starcraft 2 and ran 3D Mark Vantage. Throughout the testing, the fan was at full throttle. The only comparison I can think off is a low or medium setting sound level of a hair dryer. It is very much noticeable and I had to put on a headset or it was quite annoying. Notebookcheck also conducted a review of R3 which yielded the same conclusion as my test.

In short, you have nothing to worry about while doing light duties, but you better have a good headset while gaming, it is audible across the room while tasked.

3) LED - Mine came with AOU screen. The contrast ratio, color saturation, viewing angle were pretty much the same as my R1 and R2. Viewing angle was good side to side but washed out when tilting the screen toward me (looking down). However the screen was crisp clear when I tilted the screen back basically face to face with it.

When comparing the color and brightness to my 2011 Macbook pro, there were no comparison. Macbook pro's screen was better by a wide margin. However it was noted that there are not many makers of 11.6 inches screen on the market so selection is sparse. In all fairness, R3's screen is not bad in relations to R1 and R2, it's about the same quality.

4) Starcraft 2 - I could play at all high setting with no lag. While last generation's GT 335M was very capable, at high resolution and texture, GT 540M was noticeably smoother navigating the terrain and across the map than GT 335M.

5) Benchmark - 3D Mark Vantage 2011 @ performance mode preset = P4209. with GPU score of 3675 and CPu score of 7452. It defaulted to resolution of 1280 x 1024 for the test.

6) Windows experience index: 5.6
Processor - 6.6
Memory - 7.4
Graphics - 5.6
Gaming - 6.7
HDD - 5.9

7) Bluetooth - Device manager revealed this to be a Dell wireless 375 card which is a bluetooth 3.0 card.

8) While gaming and benchmark with fan on full blast, the keyboard and palmrest was slightly warm to the touch but by no means annoying.

Summary:

This is a worthy successor to R1 and R2 in terms of hardware upgrade as long as the hinge holds up in the long term test which we shall wait and see.

PS: To answer a forum member's question and I'm sure lots of you would want to know. When gaming or benchmark, my R3's fan is as loud as when R1's fan went crazy while on integrated video (about the same decible level as far as my human ear can tell). However, as soon as I exit the game or stopped the benchmark, it stays silent or very very low noise for as long as I was not gaming nor running benchmark. In short, you can leave it on while sleeping, but you better have a good headset while gaming.

 

Thank you for taking the time to write this up. I'm on the fence between buying an older model of the M11x or the R3. This has helped some

Edit: If you wouldn't mind, I would LOVE to see some unofficial battery life numbers. And I'm sure I'm speaking for many others on this forum with that request

 

any chance you can run 3dmark06?

 

Howard you the man. So what will you do with your r2 now?

 

Very nice quick review +rep.

 

Ebay, already sold

 

With screen at 2 bar (there are total of 7 bars) brightness, set to power saver mode, and no hibernation and just sitting idle with screen constantly on. The battery meter shows 6 hours 24 minutes at 100%. This is doing absolutely nothing and is lower than R2's approximately 7.5 hours when I had it under same condition.

However with screen set to dim at 1 min and turn off 2 mins, letting it stay on and sit for 10 mins it shows 12 hours idle time.

These numbers are preliminary and the computer is rather new with no misc programs installed that runs in the background yet. You draw your own conclusion on real world usage as I do not want to speculate However if I find out more I"ll let you know~

 

What ac adapter did it come with Howard? Is it a new heavy brick or the slim one like from r2?

 

So the fan noise under full load is louder than the R2's on full load?

 

Why do the graphics on the R3 have a lower WEI score than on my R1? I get a 6.5 with the 335 and I have no doubt the new card is easily more powerful. Does it have anything to do with optimus?

Also did you get it in red?

 

my graphic score for the R2 is only 3.1, it's really because of optimus

 

On a system with Optimus, the WEI uses the Intel gpu for the Aero score and the Nvidia gpu for the gaming score. The gaming portion of the test enables the Nvidia gpu to kick in, while the Aero desktop test isn't demanding so the Intel gpu is used. The R1 doesn't have the auto graphics switching ability of Optimus, so the user most likely has the laptop set to use the Nvidia gpu during the test, giving it a much higher Aero score than the R2 or R3 will get.

 

Thanks for the post op.

 

The graphics score for the R2 is at a mesely 2.3. This is the Intel Graphics not the NVidia, being an R2 Optimus, what would the Nvidia 335m score?

 

Not the slim one, this is a new one, it is bulkier than R2's adapter but not too big. If you have used HP laptop its the same size

 

R3's fan under full load is MUCH louder than R2's under full load

 

"R3's fan under full load is MUCH louder then R2's under full load".


Proof that a case redesign is needed going forward to accomodate even faster gpu's.

My money is one a new case for the R4.

 

What were the temperatures?

 

So.... You want a bigger case design for the m11x now? I suspect if there is a redesign of the case, it will be thinner. But if current hardware is unable to support that, it will most likely stay the same size and design for a while.

 

Not necessarly.
The new case will require reworking everything to improve airflow including possible making the battery smaller or, making the battery non-removable to save even more space.

Friend, the 2 month old m17x is approx 1/4" thinner with an even faster gpu then the prev one.

It just requires that Dell engineers do something more than just add a new chipset and processor. Its more work/money involved.

If no one has higher standards and demand more from Dell than they have no reason to work harder.

Its okay if you don't join my bandwagon cause when the R4 comes out with a new chassis I can claim all the credit for it myself

 

I don't think much more, if any space could be saved in regards to the battery. And technically, it's already considered non-removable. The only thing they could do is solder it to the board, and I seriously doubt that will happen, as it wouldn't save space anyway. A smaller batter would reduce battery life, I don't think thats an option either.

Are you seriously going to compare a 17 inch laptop to a 11 inch laptop? You have MUCH more space to work with in a 17 inch base then the 11 inch base, it's not about reworking. At least not in that aspect. I mean come on.

Considering right now, the tiny 11 inch frame is getting hotter then it used to, the only other real options, considering the size. Would be either, a larger base and fan for cooling, or a processor/GPU with a lower TDP.

I'm guessing you just don't understand how small this thing really is, considering how powerful it is for it's size.

 

That's not what I wanted to hear. Wonder if the fan is just running at higher speed compared to the R2, or just a different louder fan. It's always something...

 

The fan can be seen through the bottom and is same size and same design as R2 and R1's fan. It's just spinning at a crazy fast speed. I have used over 20+ laptops gaming, non gaming, apple all kind and under full load, this is one of the loudest I have used. Mind u, it is quiet while doing normal stuff. But if you want to game on for hours 1) You have to turn the speaker all the way up to drawn out the fan noise or 2) you need a wrap around the ear headset.

 

I'm sure a bios update in the future will lower the fan speed/noise.

 

Depends on what the temperatures are at load at this fan speed.

 

Ok the fan came on full blast around 65C. It stays full blast (in game) between 65 to 75C. Starcraft 2 with hundreds of marine battle lots of void battle scene never went above 75C according to speed fan.

 

HardwareHeaven uploaded a youtube video on the M11xR3 fan noise.

YouTube - Alienware M11x R3 - Noise Level

While it is hard to make judgements from a youtube video, does it sound like that?

 

oakley1261, who says the R4 would be smaller. It could be wider, who knows. It just needs an update like all other tech devices always get in 1 year from initial release.

Fan noise in R3 is the first indication that something is wrong provided all other setting are the same from R2 and the only difference is the processor, gpu, chipset.

So you tell bios to only turn on the fan when its 5 more than R2. Thats just a bandaide.

Get you checkbooks ready.

 

<sigh>

I don't even know how to respond to you anymore, you obviously don't understand what goes on for design, or how to properly cool a system.

You just seem like all you care about in a laptop is looks, not function. I care about function, looks come second. And honestly, the system looks fine how it is currently in my opinion, the only that that I would hope changes is possibly the screen, better quality that is, not size.

Will a redesign come? Sure, it will eventually. Most likely for Ivy Bridge. Usually after about 2-4 revisions of a laptop it is either replaced by something else, or redesigned. So yeah, eventually you will be right. Just like almost any prediction is.

 

IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THIS SOUND BUT MUCH LOUDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

so its similar to the R1/R2 fan when flashing the bios?

 

Who cares about looks here owning a m11x. Its not the most attractive machine. I hope that you bought this for performance like me.

I don't know about cooling ?

I guess you can put me in the same category as Dell cause they couldnt cool the R3 except with fan noise. They shipped the R3 knowing the fan runs a lot to cool however decided "its the best we can do with the current design".

You are confusing yourself. Btw, a new, better screen could require some sort of redesign. You don't just drop a screen into any old housing.

Bottom line though, this box is on its "last leg".

 

That would be a fair statement, about the same noise level during heat of gaming.

But I have to stress that it's ok doing normal stuff, hairdryer noise is only when gaming or doing tasking stuff. However it is bothering me ..

 

Don't worry about Anthony, you can tell he is somewhat upset and possibly jealous that r3 is a newer tech than his r2( of course he won't admit it) that is why he is being negative about it and ruining it for new m11x buyers and people that wants to upgrade.

 

I second it. I think I will buy m11x for its sheer looks. It is the best looking alienware so far and no guarantee that a new design will be as attractive as this one. I chose it over mac book air and I have no doubt I made a right choice.

 

Can I get a picture of the keyboard please?

 

All of your complaints about a new case design seem to point to the fact that you're upset that you got the R2 before the R3 dropped. Or that you value looks over performance. This is from all of your posts that I have read.

So at this point from everything I have heard from you and seen you post, you don't care about performance, you care about looks. I suppose I could be wrong, but that's how I am reading everything you say.

Hate to break it to you, but fast performance sometimes equals higher fan noise. With such a small form factor, there is not much they could really do at this point concerning it, except wait for newer processors and gpu's with lower TDP's. I seriously doubt they will want to make the system larger to accomodate better cooling, especially considering the system in place cools it just fine. It's just a little louder.

And, no I am not confusing myself. A new better screen of the same size would not require a redesign. I'm talking higher quality here, not size. The size is fine. If I wanted something bigger, I would stick with my current laptop, or get something bigger. So again, I don't confuse myself.

Everything you have stated as fact has been pure speculation, and you argue with everyone to make it appear as fact. If it is on it's "last leg" as you said, then we will start to see system failures from people with R3's. So, we'll see.

 

Noooo. No. No.

I can afford it. Honestly, before hearing about the fan noise I was regretting not getting one on coupon last week.

The only way that I cannot afford one now is it goes against my Technology religion and morals to buy a product that is the same as the last model without a coupon.

Howard911s used a coupon.

So in a sense you are correct that I cannot afford it, for technology religious reasons though. Common sense factors in also here.

The R3 is an R2 with a marginally better processor.

IF the fan noise is fixed somehow, which I doubt without it causing overheating, AND IF if the coupons come back, AND IF I can get $800 for my i7, THEN I will by an R3.

A lot of current owners feel the same.

UPDATED: I paid $800 for an unopened box R2 i7 with full warranty 3 months ago. That was a sweet deal.
The $400 coupon for the R3 was a sweet deal too.

 

I'm done arguing with you. Honestly, if you don't understand it's not my problem. And I'm sure people are sick of seeing it. But props on the "Technology religion and morals" line. That was really funny.

 

oakley, you said regarding fan noise,

"there is not much they could really do at this point concerning it".

This is a perfect example of how standards are starting to get lower. You seem totally fine with it.

The OP said it is annoying to him.

If this get out trust me it will impact sales.

As it stated before, I will just claim all the credit for the case redesign to fix a lot of things and I will not share any of it with you

 

People need to stop saying that the R3 only has a better processor. The 540M is a nice, worthwhile GPU upgrade.

 

It's a gaming machine noise should not really be a issue, it's not loud unless you are gaming, just turn up the sound. the only time I have been bothered by fan sound was my old Gateway in which the fan had a mind of it's own loud to soft just sitting there.

 

the GT540 is about 10% better. my overclocked GT335 can beat a stock 540 with no trouble at all.

although the GT540 is dx11, it doesnt have the horsepower to run high end dx11 titles at a good fps.

 

Is it so bad to say a multi, multi, multi billion dollar company needs to invest more in improving a product ?

Im a such a bad person for saying so.

Is this worth being hated for ?

 

I have seen benchmarks that show the R3 capable of 50%-100% better performance in games, particularly Crysis.

 

I hate noise in a PC and always, 100% of the time, consider it a design problem in some way.

 

MICHAELDD01, I really doubt your sincerity.

 

Did you read anything else I stated in that message? Kinda taking things out of context, but ok.

It may imapct sales, but at a minimal level.

Go ahead and claim the credit, I don't want you to share. Especially considering if there is a change. It will not be because of you, or anything you said or did. It will be because they decided to change it internally.

 

Woah, did you ever write a thread about your crazy R1 over-clock? (That's in your signature.) Do you usually keep the clocks that high and does it stay stable or was that just for benchmarks/bragging rights?

 

In NotebookCheck's review, they got about 14 more frames-per-second (over a 50% boost) with Crysis on high than the R1 or R2.