DJ Josh Review m11x r1 vs r2

Okay, I've been around the forums for a while now, but finally decided to register and do a little review of my new laptops. Alienware m11x. I've bought both releases of it this past few months, and am returning one of them hands down, and I'll share which one and why in an r1 vs r2 review.

A little over a month ago, I bought the m11x Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3, 500gb drive for under a grand next day shipping. Love it! Next thing I know they are re-releasing it, i7 and optimism... Sweet!!!

Here's what I need my laptop for, I'm not a hardcore gamer, but do enjoy all types of games. For the past few months I've been playing League of Legends daily, fun game, not really demanding. I am a mobile DJ and need something to run Mixmeister, Virtual DJ and Serato with no flaws, and I am always out, so battery life is nice. I work days in a computer shop now over the summer and do know a good computer when I see one, I'm just and always have been an alienware fan at heart. (I own m15x core2duo, 8800gtx)

So with the Core 2 Duo not being the most powerful chip, and wanting an extra bang for both work and gaming, I bought the r2, loaded with i7, 4GB DDR3, and the 256 Solid State Drive. (it ended up coming as a samsung). Almost 2 grand, and I was interested and expecting some serious power and load times)

So now it came in the mail last weekend, here's my review on the r1 (core 2 duo and hdd) vs the r2 (i7 and ssd)

Bootup / Shutdown
Both systems seem to be able to be usuable in less than a minute, core i7 wins roughly estimated 35 seconds i7 to a minute core2duo, but what's a 30 second bootup difference really gonna do? Shutdowns are much much better for the i7 too, estimating 15 seconds over the core2duos near minute from the desktop. I really don't see a selling point for startups and shutdowns tho, especially because my i7 is with an SSD. i7 wins.

Browsing / General Use
Okay, the i7 does feel noticeably smooth with browsing the web, opening a word file, and the usual use. But then again, the core2duo didn't feel bad at all, until compared to the i7. I did overclock the core 2 duo, which makes it feel nearly the same, but trying to overclock anything on the i7, even a small 2mhz difference, results in an unwanted BSOD at some point, which when spinning for a wedding as a DJ, I can't have. The i7 did not wow me opening programs or anything once compared to the overclocked core2duo. Sure passmark is faster and technically it is a freaking core i7, but doesn't feel like a true one. I honestly declare a draw.

Case
Short and simple, VGA was very nice for music videos as a DJ, i7 removed that for whatever reason. The different feel on the i7 was nicer, but not a selling point) Core2Duo wins case, VGA!

Battery
I honestly can come home from a 6-8 hour work day and sit on my battery for the core2duo, browse the web, and even play a game or two on battery. On my lap in the living room, with the family. Upon a full battery bootup, windows shows 6.5+ hours on intel gfx, 3 hours nvidia. The i7 reported differently, 5+ hours intel, and due to optimus it's hard to say, but after some games I'd personally say 2+ hours nvidia, but truly depending on the game. Core2duo wins.

Heat
The overclocked core2duo once again can sit on my lap, play games and love it, the i7 gets VERY NOTICEABLY HOT. Once again I'm not even able to get a stable overclock on the i7 at any setting, and it's hot as hell on stock clocks. Damn! Core2duo wins.

Optimus
Okay I thoght of it at first as a cool idea, I don't have to worry about which card anymore! But far from it. My first BIG problem with optimus is, Internet explorer is set to use intel gfx for general use, and then the nvidia for flash and 3D scripts. I don't use IE, ever. Mozilla firefox was constantly using intel gfx, and Google chrome always used nvidia. Disappointing. Let alone for gaming, I have found demos and such that will not install because of it. It's a headache and the 2 seconds it takes to hit a button and manually choose on my core2duo is simple. Ending statement, optimus is not simpler, hours go into getting it perfect and I haven't even gotten that far yet. core2duo wins.

Gaming
Okay, I have installed these games over my weekend. My addiction, league of legends, modern warfare 2, and gta4. Call of duty and league of legends run near identical on both systems, I bought gta 4 on steam dirt cheap last week just to see how it would run, it's unplayable on core2duo. I7 isn't much better without doing some fancy footwork in the bios and disabling turboboost, which is too much headache. Once again the heat shows during gaming, and I wasn't impressed. I will declare a draw.

Okay, so which one did I keep? For spending an extra thousand dollars for the m11x r2 i7, even with an SSD preloaded, I can't see or feel a thousand dollars worth of a difference. Maybe a few hundred at that. It seems you have to sacrifice some key feature to the first release to get the names on the second release, which aren't to brag about. At all.

I've since tried a few optimization threads on the r2, but nothing worth adding to this review.

That's my 2 cents, I'm calling alienware tomorrow, it's pretty upsetting.

 

DJ - buy an aftermarket SSD for your R1. It makes a difference in loading and overall quickness. I have loads of optimization stuff you can do in my bfbc2 r1 optimization guide. Sorry to hear about your R2 experience.

BW, StevenX

 

Good review, reflects the general consensus and attitude of the forum towards the R2, hope you are able to return it without much cost or hassle.

 

Yeah, great review. I must admit, I was a little bummed when they released the R2, but I've had no real problems with my R1 and with all the negative reviews, the extra expense certainly doesn't seem worth it.

 

+1 rep, good review, sad that it confirms what mostly everyone says.

 

Please can we stop using terminology such as "mostly", "all the negative reviews" etc... so far I have read 2 rather positive reviews and seen a mixture of comments from forum dwellers who in the most part will have higher expectations than a lot of computer users.
I for one am still very excited about my first Alienware arriving and pending a positive first encounter, I will be throwing my backing into the ring on the positive side of the fence.

Back on topic, good review Dj, shame the R2 wasn't for you. I am hoping that this was a combination of factors but mostly down to the fact you already had the R1 and couldn't see the value in upgrading.

 

Very big combination.

-i7 doesn't really outperform core2duo overclocked
-Couldn't OC i7 at all and stay reliable
-No VGA
-Hot
-Battery life
-SSD didn't show performance anywhere outside bootup and shutdown.
-No gaming boost (without headache)

 

if you're in the market for a new m11x and you don't already have the R1, then the R2 version is 'better' provided you want more than gaming out of it, however, it really depends on how much you enjoy snappiness.

thats where all the "negative" reviews come from. it's just that alienware didn't really improve the model enough to merrit such a high price difference.

and +1 for the review.

 

Could you tell how you did your comparison tests between the i7 and the core2duo overclocked? Like your OC settings for the i7 and such....Thanks!

The SSD performance is going to be the same for the i7 and core2duo....

Gaming boost will also be affected by the type of games you play....for example BFBC2....CPU affected or not...

Display port to VGA cable/adapters will enable you to still use VGA monitors...

 

Understood but countering that from a viewpoint of not having a R1.

- Doesn't really - well it does in some areas and slightly does in others, seen some benchmarks which show underpeforms but not as common.
- Well the CPU varies, some will be able to fully OC and others won't, just unfortunate.
- No VGA isn't that big an issue, there are adaptors available.
- Hot - this varies from user to user in terms of what they deem hot, but no denying from what has been reported that the R2 runs hotter - again to be expected.
- SSD - fair enough can't comment on that.
- The gaming comment is your personal experience on the games you run. Will vary from user to user in terms of what they want to run, CPU intensive games etc... My expectation (hopefully) is that optimus improves with time and we see some more improvements. This is a big unknown though.

Sorry wasn't trying to be argumentative about this, just seeing a growing momentum of negativity towards the R2 and wanting to remain positive until mine arrives!

 

For my thoughts on the c2d overclocked vs the i7, you can read all over the forums for the actual benchmarks between the two. At the end of the day, when you're done geeking and benchmarking everything, you're just using a computer, and how it feels is what matters. I believe for everyday use, I can set the two side by side, and not feel any "i7" difference. My boss at the shop actually couldn't tell which was newer at first use.

SSD should show loading performance increase, it didn't.

As for the CPU extensive games, you're right there, GTA4 barely runs lowest settings on the R1. I am yet to try any other game with this problem tho.

And VGA is just a nice feature for my and my work. Adapters just aren't the same.

Thanks for reading!

 

Well, if you already own the R1, than I would also not recommend 'upgrading' to the R2 since any improvements are at this juncture only minimal. However, we will see better improvements over time for the R2 as drivers improve.

I am sure those who got the R1 just prior to the R2 coming out were bummed just like you(I know I would be) , that's why you got the R2 right away and were disappointed with its performance compared to what you had.

I hope that we will all just enjoy whatever m11x series we all bought, and just be happy because that is what computer ownership is about - personal use and satisfaction. Everything is always subjective when it comes down to the wire. Afterall, everyone will use their computers alittle differently and thus have different expectations and results.

 

Those are the words I should have used. Spot on.

 

Disagreeing with an opinion is not being argumentative, that's just expressing your point of view which is perfectly fine.

However even with your counterpoints, I'm hard pressed to see where the extra 1,000 dollars that he paid for an R2 are justified? The best argument is that you hope Optimus tech improves enough, but is it going to improve 1,000 dollars worth?

Personally I feel I paid about 200 dollars more than I should have when I bought the R2. After reading what you lose with an i7 (money, battery life, heating) I wish I had waited for these sort of reviews and probably would've saved my money and gone for a Core2 R1.

 

I hear you there, it seems the personal reviews showed a week after I bought the i7, and now the professional reviews are finally starting to peep out. Anandtech last week and Notebookreview I saw just got theirs up today.

 

Erm.....I do not think it's a $1000 extra he paid for the R2 over the R1. And, personally, I would just receive and use the laptop before I attempt at any feelings of regret just because I am trying to do this fine balancing-justifying act of buying the R1 or R2 by basing my entire past decision making process on what other's have written. Just remember, it's all based on the individual reviewer's requirements, NOT yours. If you have received it already, used it and still regret? than just return it and get the R1 or whatever you think will suit your needs. Remember, YOUR needs and not some reviewer's needs. Use the reviews as a general guideline and apply it to your specific needs. BUT no matter how much you look at the reviews, it will never replace sitting down with the machine and judging it's performance with what you actually use it for. I know some R1 owner's will just jump on anything negative of the R2 just to make themselves feel better...there is no need. To each their own.

Whenever I read a reply like this, I always have a flashback of a scene in Starwars where Luke SkyWalker users the Jedi Mind trick to convince the monster to change its mind.

 

Just a side note. For me, Optimus does not engage the Nvidia card when browsing with Chrome with the Dell beta drivers, only once you run Flash.

 

+rep man!! You shed light over those skeptical guys... I love my r1 I know that the i7 r2 is somewhat more powerful but who cares? Lossing battery life? more $$$? BSODS (on some r2s, I know that some r1s also bsod but not that often at least not mine )

For those seeking more performance get the m15x or put an intel ssd thats gonna be a better upgrade!.

 

I feel that the people that rushed from the R1 to R2 are silly, unless they HAD to play something like Bad Company 2 R1 owners should save their cash and wait for a GPU upgrade. :/ (I'm not bashing the folks that started with the R2)

 

Welcome to club "return the R2." I sent mine back over a week and a half ago. Was about to pull the trigger on another R1 that I sold but I'm going to try my luck on the new HP Envy 14 that just came out...taking advantage of the current 30% discount.

 

Man I honestly think that all you guys returning the R2 are nuts. Definitely the best laptop I have ever owned and that is not said lightly. I tried the R1 out at the same time and it was a no brainer to return the R1. The R2 was obviously faster in every day applications.

 

I agree on the R2's battery life and temp. I kinda wish I can get my R1 back.
My R2 is performing best on the games that I'm testing, so I'm content.

 

returning i7 myself, just bought a R-1 instead. i7 was $1640 out the door, R-1 (used, but with a 3 year warrenty) $800 (i7 is in canadian funds, r-1 is US funds, so not QUITE half the price but pretty darn close...about $840 canadian) I Agree with all points made in the review (except the ssd, as I didn't try one in the R-2, I bought one for it but never installed, because I wasn't happy enough with it to keep it) And I didn't have an R-1 first before I bought the R-2.

 

I could see returning the R2 for that big of a difference.

Your price on the R1 was what I paid for the R2 new with I7, 4GB, 250GB and bluetooth.

 

Canadians get a bit screwed , ok more the a bit. Plus no big discounts or coupons like you guys have access to.

 

OMG ....I agree, just return the R2 and get the R1 for that big a difference. I got my R2 i7 + bluetooth + GOBI Card + 320 GB HDD + Win 7 Prof for about $1195 excluding tax and shipping......If i minus the upgrade paid for Win 7 Professional and the GOBI card, for relative comparison sake, the price would be just slightly above ($140 diff)what you pay for the used R1....

 

@Drows - slap in the SSD and you'll be golden. Man that's a lot of funds US for a m11x r2. That is almost m17x money. Best Wishes, StevenX

 

Soon as the R-1 gets here, that's the first thing I'm going to do. I have a RealSSD c-300 (256g) in my desktop, ill put in the R-1 and use the OCZ Vertex I bought for the desktop (Need the bigger drive in R-1 since can only hold one drive :/) If it performed like I thought it would I wouldn't have minded spending that kind of money for the R-2. I'll keep the R-1, till next gen comes out, hopefully r-3 will have a nice GPU upgrade (and optimus....if they stick with that....sorted out) and a nicer display.

 

haha you guys are crazy ... i would trade my r1 for a r2 with i7

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I agree with drows pretty much. If my r2 ran like a core i7 with an ssd, I'd keep it. Fact is, for the $1000 difference, I don't see much of anything. Not worth my money... at all.

 

I don't see the worth in going r2 over r1. DJ Josh made the smart choice.

Now, if the next version is with a better GPU, screen, optimus figured out, better cooling, etc then I'd get it.

The difference even at $100-200 is not worth it at all.

I'd just get a 14-15" laptop for the price of an R2.

 

That's not really a good argument to get the R1; that's an argument to get neither. If you don't mind the 15" size, then it is foolish to buy any version of the M11x because the same stats will cost hundreds of dollars less than even the R1 at the 15" size.

 

I totally disagree. I had the R1 and paid 100.00 more for the R2 and it was definitely worth it. Noticeably faster in everyday applications...The R2 was the smart choice for me.

 

Really? $100 just for apps to run faster is worth it with all the other negatives?

 

@easy2cy

What 14-15'' laptop could you have gotten with that extra $100?

 

So many conflicting opinions here.

From the configurations I have done on the AW site the R1 and R2 are around $100 difference in price for me.

Considering it's only $100 and not $1000 difference would I be smarter to just get the i7 and enjoy better performance? Only 100 is not enough to sway my favor either way.

I play most games like BC2 and MW2 on my Xbox as a personal preference, leaving the pc to games like Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead 2, and Oblivion.

Are those choices in games something that should be a heavy factor?

I am ordering in only two days and am trying to understand all this best I can, I don't want to make the wrong choice.

 

@All - I think the point to this thread is that the OP tried both, and liked the R1 for value, overall performance and battery life... Each of us make the choice that is right for our own situation. BW, StevenX

 

My advise to you is just to order either model and try it out for yourself. Sit down, USE it, and than make your personal judgment. DO NOT be swayed by anybody on this forum board and make your call based on other people's hearsay. All reviews and opinions written here are based on what that specific individual is looking for in a laptop. You are not them. Just use their opinions as general guidelines and factor that into your needs. Factors that are considered of 'value' or 'performance' to them may not be the same in your personal considerations.

Some opinions may be baised and can be due to many factors.

Just read as much as you can. Some of the owners who have tried both chose R1 over the R2, while others have picked the R2 over their previous R1.

This is what the 21 day return policy is for Dell. Make use of it. I know I will be.

 

No kidding. This whole "Let's undermine each others purchases" from both sides is pretty pathetic (Though at the moment, the R1 camp appears to be more vocal about it at the moment). That and people who always refer to benchmarks rather real-world usage to troll and run down the model they don't own as they don't have access it.

Both are fine machines. Each just has their own quirks.

 

Summary of this thread

1) If you already have R1, don't get R2
2) If this is your first time purchasing m11, get R2.

 

Bingo! That's what I'm doing!

 

G51JX-X3 optioned similarly. Which means take the $949 base price for the R2 and add the 4GB and larger HDD to it and it gets close to $1100

Maybe it's just me, but if I'm getting above $1k+, an 11.6" 1366x768 lappy becomes less and less of a good option though I do appreciate the great portability.

Granted, I picked mine up used from a member here for under $700. I wouldn't have gotten one in the first place otherwise. If they made this screen a little larger and gotten resolution up to 1440x900 I'd be all over it because it seems like they could have put a larger screen in.

 

Not everyone can sit down and use the computer just like that, and not everyone wants to go through the hassle of ordering and returning a PC to Dell.

Your advice is to basically ignore user reviews? What if a user specifies in their review that he's looking for exactly the same thing as me? In many user reviews they clearly state that, for instance, they want long battery life (which I do).

I dunno, nothing personal but it seems you're just complaining about people complaining

 

For your question ,"What if a user specifies in their review that he's looking for exactly the same thing as me?" , hikarate....refer to my original quote above..

LOL. Wish you could learn to read better. I did not say ignore the users reviews. My intentions are good, take it or not. Just don't mis-read or misintepret the meaning of the message or you may inadvertently make yourself look bad.....

 

I am sure having 4 cores over 2 is better. Why settle for a core 2 duo when you can get the i7 as an option for not too much more? I had the R1 loved it now I have the R2 Love it even more. It is a revision that is why you never buy the first version of any car the 2003 350z had so many damn recalls the 2004 was 10 times better. The 2001 E46 M3 had engine recalls the 2002 was much better. Old Analogies but you get the point. The R1 I had no problems with but I am sure Alienware had enough complaints that they took into consideration when putting together the R2.

For anyone interested the internals of the M11x-R2 i7 - HERE

 

This car analogy doesn't work, because the problems are more with the second one...

The CPU is the only thing better about it and even then it comes with negatives. So to some, the negatives outweigh the positive and therefore doesn't make it the better choice.

 

I don't think the r2 is an upgrade to be honest. I would still buy the r1 over the r2.

 

You are mistaken. I had both at the same time and the R2 is noticeably faster than the R1 for everyday applications. The R2 is awesome and the best laptop I have ever owned. No driver issues, ho hinge issues and it's built like a tank.

 

I had both the R1 and R2 and am very pleased with the R2. It screams with an SSD.

 

my R1 doesn't have any hinge issues, no driver issues, built like a tank as well. Long battery life, I get 90 fps modern warfare 2 steady (the only game i play to be honest). And in everyday application I don't really think this thing is slow? 4 seconds to open word, 6 seconds to open firefox, 4 seconds to open chrome. And I would take longer battery life anyday over a few seconds faster in opening applications. But that's just me I guess.