Alienware M11x Gaming Notebook Now Available Discussion

Hope the price will be the same here in Sweden.

My config ends with about 950$ = 6911 Skr = 685€

 

I like the system, it'd be cool if Alienware did something like this with the new amd low power (Neo?) platform and a low power 4 - 5 series radeon (gddr3 128bit bus, blah blah lol.)

I'll wait for a bit, see if there are potential refreshes of the unit.

 

Yea that would be sweet to throw in one of those new AMD's. I wonder how long it will take for Alienware to refresh these once the first orders are shipped. Be even cooler if they threw in a i3/i5 in there, but hey you still get a lot of bang for your buck in a small package so I'm almost sold on it.

 

http://tech.sina.com.cn/n/2010-02-04/10483834961_4.shtml
Translate it!

 

If Dell had used the Arrandale ULVs it's likely because they would not have been able to the M11x's price tag under $1K like they wanted to. The i5/i7 ULVs announced so far are not the replacements for low cost CULVs...they're meant for higher priced machines like Apple, Sony Vaio TT, or Lenovo x200 laptops. The replacements for CULV will be announced in the second half of this year and they're the ones I'd guess will end up in the M11x refresh.

 

There's no info on that page that you haven't already seen.

 

The editor said that he was told there would be a i7 ULV version in first half year.Thats what I mean

 

Oh oh right. I missed that when I read it through the first time

 

I've never actually looked into this laptop, but dear god, 1600x900. That's absurd on that size screen. Pretty ballin' laptop though, too bad that price is way out of my budget.

 

Actually you can configure new Sony Z with Full HD 1080p screen. (Comes with microscope )

 

Yeah, I don't understand lack of gigabit. And a powered eSATA port would be more than welcome. However, with the Sony twice the price and in a 13" form factor, you can't expect miracles. The screen and metal chassis aren't huge contributors in a price delta compared with what's in the m11x, maybe a couple hundred bucks at best.

 

This notebook is actually a win; except, as I'm sure as someone, or most of you might have mentioned the near garbage, but not quite garbage processor. What were they thinking skipping the iiiiiiiis? Eh, the refresher is something to look forward to still it's a solid notebook for my girl friend to WoW to her hearts content.


Wonder how bad the prices get in Australia though....Hmm...


+1 to DelienWare.

 

Alienware M11x
PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz (3MB Cache)
MEMORY: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 800MHz
HARD DRIVE : 256GB Solid State Drive
Price: $1,839

 

Holy Cow! With that money I would rather buy a Core i7 15" with and even more powerful GPU.

 

I can agree with Nero, the SSD doesn't seem to compliment the system much. My total came to $1307 but I ordered an external cd-rom and also the better warranty. Before that it came to $1119.00. With this thing being so small, and the PC gaming market taking all the ports from console, I couldn't pass it up.

 

I got my M11x for $830 (tax and shipped), SU7300, 4GB RAM, and 320GB HDD. I am more than happy with this purchase....A new Sony Z starts at $1,899 (don't know about tax and shipping.) I'm sorry but the amount I gain for $1000 is not worth it to me. (Me = my opinion)

 

In a few weeks I'm sure we'll all have more than enough benchmarks to confirm or shut up all the naysayers. And about that Sony Z, way overpriced. If money was no object then I'd probably bite but for $830 (same config as you neighborkid) I'll gladly take the M11x.

 

Well, Z is over-featured for your need (and a lot of others, especially someone who is just looking for a gaming rig), but it doesn't mean that it's over-priced.

The $1899 Z comes with 128GB SSD and DVD writer, which if you configure that in M11x it's probably a $300 option for 128GB (I know, they don't have it, but they charge you $570 for a 256GB one) and a $100 option for the external. These two alone will push the M11x of your config. north of $1300.

The 1600x900 13.1" screen (no one else is using this so it's more expensive due to lower volume), full power Core i5 CPU, the more expensive metal body and probably about 60% the weight (guessing, 3.1 lb vs. 4.4 lb + weight of external optical), these are all features that will make the price higher.

I love to see the Z comes down in price somewhat or at least offers some lower-end CTO options, like HDD or 1366x768 screen, that will make the price lower by removing features I don't need, but honestly if you actually need the combination that Z offers, there is just no other alternative and it really is not that much over-priced -- most of the price hike comes from the fact Sony is serving a niche market with Z and there are just no many alternatives.

 

Right. I understand your reasoning. Great machine. But to compare it with the m11x and expect it to offer the same isn't going to happen. I think AW did their homework and were looking for a larger market based on cost. In due time I'm sure there will absolutely be a Core i5 version.

 

I agree - this machine is just a bit too thick for my personal tastes ... but if I was given one I would take it. 8 1/2 hours of battery life with such a video card is not bad indeed.

 

I dunno, it's got the similar dimensions as other notebooks of this size, just a little deeper. But the thickness is consistent throughout where the others get thinner near the front edge.

Alienware M11x: 11.25 x 9.19 x 1.29 in
Toshiba T115D: 11.30 x 8.30 x 1.35 in
Asus Eee 1201n: 11.65 x 8.19 x 1.31 in

 

Why not?

 

Cost, I believe. $300-$350 for a 128GB drive is 40-50% the price of the machine. Unless you can get by with a 64GB for ~$200, but for a gaming laptop that seems kind of limiting considering the OS takes up a good 8GB or more, plus many games can consume 8-10GB each.

 

Meh, you can get an Intel 80 GB for like ~187 sometimes. I think it's worth it. If you need more storage, just get an eSATA external hard drive.

 

Sadly, M11x does not come with eSATA. And for a netbook size laptop it doesn't make sense, at least IMHO, to lug around an additional drive. That would defeat the purpose of such a small machine.

I can see using an SSD for a traditional netbook, since you wouldn't be loading up a half dozen 8-10GB sized games on it. Heck even a 32GB or 64GB would probably be sufficient for a regular netbook.

 

As was said, the price for one thing. With the m11x having a starting price of $800, the SSD is a huge price increase for the performance. I could see getting an SSD with a desktop replacement m17x because that thing flys anyway. The m11x is not such a powerhouse, so sticking such a costly item into this seems to go beyond it's purpose. When I shop for a laptop starting at $800 it seems kinda foolish to put another large sum of money into it for just the faster load times. SSD is nice, but costly for it's slight increase in performance. If price is not an object, by all means, go 8 GB of RAM and SSD and enjoy .

 

I'm not even considering it anymore, I just found the battery is not user-replaceable.

Knowing Dell's batteries, that means in about a year and a half you will be left with at least a 50% battery decrease.

 

Oh, no eSATA? That stinks! You're right...a fast 500 GB hard drive would suit this better.

The battery isn't user replaceable? Come on Dell, don't make the same mistakes as Apple!

 

Actually 8 1/2h battery life with intel IGP. With GF335M card you can only get 2h-2 1/2h

 

I don't know that it isn't user replaceable, it just isn't a quick swap like other laptops. Probably requires removing a few screws is all. I don't know that many people need more than one battery, especially considering the battery life, IMHO, isn't a big deal. Most people in general rarely have a spare battery anyhow, as it's a hassle to keep charged and stored properly, carry with you, etc, and usually on laptops with poor battery life to begin with.

That's 2-2.5h time GAMING. Not just using it for desktop stuff. But it's a quick switch between GPU's without requiring a reboot.

 

After looking at it more it is really tempting, a 11.6 inch with gaming capabilities for about $1000 with good battery life.

 

cpu power is more than enugh... wait until Apple refuses to upgrade to the i3/i5/i7 and you will see..

the world of software is staying duelcore for years to come,,


overclocking this thou would be nice for some cpu intensive games like World of warcraft ..

but seriously most gamers overate cpu importance and have so for years.


My 9800m GT died in a m860tu so im thinking of downgrading from 2.4duel to this 1.3 ... so i can actualy have a laptop thats portable enugh to be motivated to get a laptop bag for.


Will have to change my set up thou .. i dont think this could output much onto a 1920x1200 display with out lag... might have to set up my 24inch as a TV on a bedroom wall and play at lower res on it but from a distance.. hummm

I would wait for Clevo or Asus or mabye even apple to have a response to this.. but at this price and size its a perfect change to see what alienware is like first hand.. Fact its all plastic does make me wonder about the m15x plastic meltdown afue years ago thou...

people make good unboxing videos !!

 

Now you know: "we were disappointed to discover that the battery is not user-replaceable - it's built into the device. Apparently that was the only way to get the machine as small as it is - otherwise it would have been sticking out of the back." http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/4590/alienware-m11x-gaming-netbook-preview

The disappointment is not because users want to carry a second battery around to exchange, as you said, but because after a year of usage, this built-in battery will only keep half its original charge, and you can't buy a new one.

 

You really have no clue what your talking about. As a software developer I can guarantee you that development for the past several years has focused on threading and using as many cores as available on a cpu.

Maybe cpu power isnt everything in gaming but it does make a difference just look at any site out there that does benchmarks, every game out there hits a cpu bottleneck at some point.

Apple refusing to upgrade to the core i architecture???? Where do you come up with this dribble.

Please stop posting this as uniformed readers might actually take some of your nonsense as actual information.

 

On that note, once we get the entry-level M11x in the office we plan to test it with the default 160GB 5400rpm HDD and a budget-priced 128GB SSD from Kingston (the V+ series). We figured a lot of readers would be interested in seeing what kind of benefit (if any) a SSD will make to the M11x.

 

I can't imagine the battery would be different than any other laptop battery as far as lifespan. And it IS user replaceable, just not a quick swap like a traditional laptop. Where did you get the idea that you can't buy a new one? Page 60-62 of the user manual tell you how.



All three pages here:

 

Surely windows bootup and program load times will be much faster with any ssd over the default hard drive at the very least. The biggest problem is that large ssds are way too expensive. Most people without much extra funds beyond what the base config costs will have to settle for a 40 or 60 gig ssd which is way too little space for a multimedia-centric device like this. If only it had space for a second ssd it would be a whole different story. The underwhelming cpu is the main thing holding me back from buying one though.

 

If the battery is replaceable then paying for the SSD may be worth it:

"there are huge performance benefits which can be obtained by opting for the SSD option when purchasing the M11x. It is also worth noting that the SSD option would increase battery life in the system and is less likely to become damaged if the system is dropped at any point.

For those interested in start-up time with the SSD installed, the M11x went from the "Starting Windows" screen to login (including loading facial recognition) within 11 seconds." - http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews.php?reviewid=924&pageid=12

 

But there are good and bad SSD's I am not sure of the quality of the one in the m11x but it could go either way.

 

There's also the unfortunate reality that notebook manufacturers use multiple suppliers for system components (so production isn't delayed due to shipping/delivery problems with a single component provider).

That's why the Dell configuration page just says "160GB 5400rpm HDD" or "256GB SSD" and they don't provide the manufacturer/model details. It's possible that one M11x will ship with a reasonably fast 7,200rpm HDD from Western Digital and another M11x will get a slightly slower 7,200rpm HHD from Seagate that gets a little better power efficiency. Likewise, you might get a nice 256GB SSD from Samsung in one M11x and another might get a rebadged model with worse random write speeds.

 

You were comparing the M11x with the expensive Sony Z.
But what about the new Sony CW models?

for example:
CPU: i5 520M
RAM: 4 GB
Display: 14", 1600x900
GPU: NV GT330M 512MB (in Europe together with the better display)
HDD: 320GB
+ internal CD/DVD

... for about 200$ more than a M11x with 4GB RAM and 320GB HDD.

As far as I can see:
+ stronger CPU
- weaker GPU
- no switchable GPU (?) --> less hours of battery life
+ bigger display
- greater weight/dimensions
+ CD/DVD

3DMark2006 seems to be almost the same for both.
Someone mentioned ~ 6100 for the M11x without overclocking (correct?)
and the CW seems to be between 6000 and 7000 depending on the overclocking of the GPU.

That could mean that the differences in CPU and GPU would cancel each other out?

If the size difference between 11,6" and 14" doesn't matter, the main drawback for the CW would be the lack of battery life and the main advantage would be the CD/DVD drive.

There is also an ongoing discussion if the Nvidia Optimus solution for switching between GPUs could be adapted to the CW, or if it would be necessary for Sony to change something in the Hardware.

What do you think?

(sorry for bad english )

 

Sony would have to release a new revision of the CW with a new motherboard. Check out my posts in the ASUS UL50Vf review, but the short version of the story is that current notebooks with switchable graphics use multiplexers (muxes) on the motherboard to handle the input/output from both the IGP and the GPU. Notebooks that use Nvidia Optimus do not use muxes and instead the GPU is routed through the IGP (which functions as the display controller).

Bottom line, you can't convert a notebook that has muxes on the motherboard into an Optimus notebook with a software/driver update.

Also, according to Nvidia, the Dell/Alienware designed the motherboard for the 0Alienware M11x before Optimus was ready to roll out. So the M11x uses muxes on the motherboard and will NOT use Optimus. You will have to manually tell the M11x when you want to use the IGP or when you want to use the GPU.

 

The size difference does matter, I have a 14 inch and it is too big for a plane or to fit on the desks at school. But my friends with 12.1 or 13.3 inch notebooks have no problem.

 

Why do people keep comparing the M11x to 13, 14, and 15-inch laptops that are 1-2 pounds heavier?

I keep seeing posts (also in other threads) about "The Clevsungviao X-8422-R2D2 has a faster CPU is only $100 more so the M11 sux!" competely ignoring the form factor entirely.

And my desktop runs rings around any laptop so all laptops suck, right?

My head is getting sore from all the facepalms I get reading here.

It's. the. form. factor.

 

Right, so from now on all the M11x potential buyers please cancel your pre-orders and go buy a Sony VAIO X instead because it's 11.6", less than half the thickness of M11x, and 2.5 lb lighter than M11x. VAIO X FTW!

 

Yeah and enjoy your GMA 500 GPU, anemic Atom CPU, and $1500 price tag.

 

In my case if I complain it's because I don't care about the notebook's size I'll consider 11" or 18", doesn't really matter to me.

 

How does the 335m hold up against 8800m GTS? From the looks of it benchmark scores look quite similar.

 

Kingston V+ is re branded Samsung.

What I'm really interested to know is heat & fan noise.

 

Yeah, looks like the 8800 GTS was a 64 core part, the 335 a 72 core part. Clock speeds PROBABLY pretty similar. The GPU is incredibly competent for being in an 11" system. The CPU....not so much. Just run of the mill.