Alienware M11x R2 Review

Dell enjoyed overnight success with the Alienware M11x earlier this year. This 11-inch notebook outperforms many larger laptops and is priced below $1000. Unfortunately for Dell, consumers quickly started asking for an Alienware M11x with Intel Core i7 processors. Now, less than 6 months after the release of the M11x comes the M11x R2 with Intel Core i7 and Nvidia Optimus technology. Is this the perfect M11x? The answer might surprise you.

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So, in your opinion, would you say that it is worth it over the R1?

 

If you already own the R1 I would say that the R2 is only worthwhile if you play the more CPU-intense games and can't live without them.

I love playing Shattered Horizon on my desktop and it's a little annoying that I can't play it on my M11x R1, but I've learned to live with it. There are still a ton of other games that I can play on my M11x.

If you already own the original M11x you can also boost overall performance with an SSD ... but that's a costly upgrade (too costly for some people).

If you don't already own an M11x and are trying to decide between a new R2 with Core i7 or a cheaper Core 2 Duo model or refurbished Pentium Dual Core model then I'd say it's probably worth the money to go ahead and buy the new R2 with Core i7 ... if you can afford to spend a few hundred dollars extra.

The original M11x is still a good value, but the new Core i7 M11x R2 raises the bar in terms of performance.

 

Jerry - I post a lot in the alienware m11x forum. I have done MANY benchmarks with the R1. I want to ask.. because I KNOW this will come up.. the Game benchmarks with the R2. Was Turbo enabled or disabled for the R2 during the test?

Best Wishes,

StevenX

 

Great review! Thanks for the Vaio Z comparison.

 

No problem. Sorry we don't have more Vantage scores for comparison, we didn't start benchmarking systems with Vantage on a regular basis until recently and only started publishing those results in the last few reviews.

I don't have Vantage benchmarks for the R1 without SSD because I sold the original HDD in my personal M11x R1 after I upgraded to an SSD ... so I was only able to run Vantage on the system with the SSD (the 3DMark06 and PCMark05 scores are from the original R1 review back when my M11x still had the entry-level hard drive).

Also, the M11x R2 benchmarks were run with Turbo enabled. In much the same way that the M11x R1 received a performance boost with SSD, I'm sure the M11x R2 would get a similar boost with an SSD upgrade as well.

 

Great review.

Just a minor fyi, the two lights on the front "vents" of the M11xR2 can be independently set to different colours than the keyboard and power button right out of the box... at least with my R2. thx

 

Jerry, I was just wondering if you did any tests with HD content. I would love having the option of an external Blu Ray player to watch movies, but can the new i7 processor handle it??

 

The performance difference seems noticeable although not really groundbreaking compared to the R1, but it seems battery life got noticeably worse as well >.>

 

I don't get all the hype with this laptop. I was excited to get it, but couldn't wait to get rid of it. Average screen quality, subpar design and annoying fan just a few things that I couldn't deal in R1. It looks like they addressed a few things in R2 with the exception of screen.

 

So I realize this will be a somewhat subjective answer...

If you could only afford one of the following which would you do?
A) upgrade your R1 with an SSD or B) sell the R1 and upgrade to the R2 w/ i7 core?

Thanks
Scott

 

I'd go with the R1 and SSD assuming you had the R1 already. As Jerry put it, the R2 isn't really that much an upgrade over the R1 to warrant a re-purchase.

 

Jerry,

I'd like to point out that there are two different panels being used for both models, and that based on some of the feedback we've been seeing in the M11x forum, a lot of users aren't happy with the contrast in general and the paltry black levels in particular.

If you still have the review unit, would you mind letting us know whether it's the SEC5441 or the AUO105C?

Thanks for the review.

 

That pretty much summarizes my opinion ... which is also why I included the synthetic benchmarks of my personal M11x r1 with SSD.

Yes, the M11x R1 doesn't have the muscle to play some CPU-intense games like Shattered Horizon (even if you buy the fastest SSD on the planet). However, if you own a M11x R1 and can live with the fact that some games just aren't meant for your laptop, then it's probably not worth the cost/trouble to buy a M11x R2 as a replacement for your M11x R1.

If you don't already own a M11x and are trying to decide between the M11x with Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 Duo and the M11x R2 with Core i5 or Core i7 then it's worth spending the extra money on the M11x R2 with Core i7 just so you don't have to worry (as much) about whether your notebook can handle the game you want to play.

 

Seriously guys - Editor's Choice? This thing is a behemoth for an 11" notebook. I have been in the market for a thin and light small screen gaming lappy for months and here are my takaways:

CPU performance is rather poor and GPU (while good for its size) can be rivaled by the Sony Z and Y460 with not much more added in weight (Y460 by .5lbs). Combined with the non-removable battery and limited I/O expansion such as the lack of Expresscard slot 34/54 slots, this is a less enticing machine to the enthusiast/hardcore user IMO. This limits upgradability to such items as USB 3 and seeing the R2 lacks this, the upgrade cycle could be short as 3.0 is ramping up - very much a nitch product locking the user in for a VERY short time period before an upgrade is necessary to stay current.

Two items I see the m11X has going for it: battery life (through Optimus) and relative size (ie 11").

That being said, biggest detractors: non-removable battery (Dell needs to learn from Apple on that one); Weight, sheeeesh! I can get the Sony Z or Lenovo Y460 for a mere little additional weight and have LOTS more features for my money (Lenovo more than Sony). Items such as Expresscard, removable battery, better CPU options, warranties, performance. Lastly - OPTICAL DRIVE. Sony seems to have the SFF laptop down pat with optical drives.

Frankly, from a price/performance perspective I think the Lenovo Y460 tops this, then the M11X, then the Sony Z.

From a strait out balls to the wall, top of the line everything, just awesome looking, and screaming machine (where cost means nothing): Sony Z; Lenovo Y460; M11X

In the end I cannot understand why this got an Editors Choice.

Just my 2 cents so please don't flame.

 

The m11x is better than the Y460 because of its build quality and beats the Vaio Z because of the price.

 

Can you please back that quality statement up with some numbers/evidence or is it a subjective statement? Consider me a user looking to buy. Please explain what is meant by "its build quality."

I understand the Sony comment on price -- that mirrors mine and others comments.

 

I just looked up the Lenovo Y460. It looks to be a 14" laptop. Is that accurate? Is there a smaller version of it out there? 14" isn't in the same ballpark as the Vaio Z or M11x.

 

The review compared all of them in benchmarks. Weight is fairly close. If they were not meant to be in the same class, then NBR should not have reviewed them as such. For me it just so happens they are in the same category of laptop I am looking for 11-14".

 

Ah I see. They were benching them together as "under 15 inch gaming notebooks"
That makes some sense.

 

can Visual Studio and SQL Server be run at acceptable levels with SU7300 + SSD or is i7 better? I know wrong question to ask about a gaming laptop.. but i'd like to be able to do some work too

 

@OP: Not trying to be picky, but there's a typo on page 3

"As nice as these results are, the old M11x did pretty good with these games as well. What about a game that the M11x with the SU41000 processor couldn't handle?"

I believe SU41000 has an extra 0

 

Oh no! I've leaked information about the super-secret, next-generation CPU from Intel!



Yes, I added an extra zero by mistake on that line. I just corrected it.

As for the question about Visual Studio and SQL Server, the hardware requirements for that are:

1. 1.6 GHz or faster processor
2. 1024 MB RAM (1.5 GB if running on a virtual machine)
3. 3 GB of available hard-disk space
4. 5400 RPM hard-disk drive
5. DirectX 9-capable video card running at 1024 x 768 or higher display resolution
6. DVD-ROM drive

The SU7300 should be fine, particularly if you run a stable overclock, but the Core i5 or Core i7 would be ideal based on the hardware requirements for that software.

The only other thing you'll need is an external optical drive, unless you can download the software and install it that way.

 

Have you seen a Y460/560 in person? They are made of plastic and the case exhibits a lot of flex. Some parts seem like they are about to break on my friends Y560. When compared with the build quality and strength of the m11x the Y460 feels like a toy. Personally I would buy the m11x over the Y460 if I was in the market for a gaming thin and light. It has better battery life plus better build quality and performance in games is not going to be very different between the two. Not to mention that I have found Alienware support/customer service miles ahead of Lenovo in recent years.

 

Speaking of build quality, my rubber-coated magnesium alloy ThinkPad is the toughest computer I’ve ever owned. It survived a shelving unit collapsing on it. I’d love to have that kind of durability in a 12” or smaller form factor.

In the review it’s noted that the M11x is magnesium alloy with the ThinkPad-like coating. Where can I find out more about this? I haven’t read that the chassis uses magnesium alloy anywhere except in this review.

In browsing the forums, I do see a blend of messages. Sounds like overall everyone really likes the build quality, but there seems to be a greater range of inconsistency in the components than in most premium laptops. Lots of threads about parts not lining up properly, etc.

 

The complete M11x body is a mix of metals and platics, but the core chassis (the part that holds the CPU, hard drive, etc.) is a magnesium alloy frame.

Is it the toughest notebook out there. Absolutely not. Is it the toughest/most durable 11-inch notebook I've personally seen? Yes.

If you're looking for true "business rugged" build quality then I'd suggest that you look at some of the Lenovo ThinkPads and HP EliteBooks. If you need extreme/fully rugged build quality then you'll want to take a look at the Panasonic ToughBooks, Dell XFR series notebooks, or something from one of the rugged niche manufacturers like GETAC.

 

Thanks for the reply Jerry. Not looking for super tough, just above average! I now have an M11x on order.

Oddly enough, I had a Panasonic Toughbook once. It was huge and heavy but rugged! It had Wireless-B internally and I bought a Wireless-G PC-card so my wife could use it in a non-wired room of the house. Anyway, she dropped it once and it landed directly on the slightly protruding Wireless-G card, driving the card into the mainboard like a dagger and killing it!
I sort of had to laugh that she found that Toughbook’s Achilles heel.

 

How does the M11x compare to the HP Envy you own?

 

the case of the R1 is in quite poor build quality as the hinge of the screen pretty much broke and started making cracking sounds after only a few months of light home usage.

Given that the R2 uses the same hinges.. i will not buy the R2.

Already considering warranty replacecment for my R1 but just dont know how to do it as i have never done warranty before in my life.

 

Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the R1. Sounds like you might have had a faulty unit. I haven't had any problems with the hinges on my personal M11x R1 and the test/loan unit of the M11x R2 feels equality durable in terms of the hinges.

 

Hey, OP, you're a rising star on Twitter! :smile:

OK, maybe not so much a rising star - unless you're also Justin Bieber - but Dell is twittering about your review.

There's no direct link as far as I can tell, but search "DellHomeOffers" and you'll find it.

Kudos!

 

I must confess that our Twitter presence isn't nearly as strong as it should be, but if you want to follow us on twitter, here we are:

notebookreview (notebookreview) on Twitter

 

Visual Studio doesn't require much processing power so you'd be fine with the SU7300, a DBMS such as SQL Server would do well with fast disk and lots of memory so the SSD would be good and just make sure to have 4GB+ of RAM.

 

Thanks Jerry and Andrew!
yep Disk i/o is biggest bottleneck for Sql Server.. however cubes would need all the cpu it can get. i'm thinking i5 +ssd would be decent compromise..

 

Good review. The only thing about the article that errked me was that the Mass Effect 2 benchmark comparison with the R1 Vs R2 was done at two different resolutions so it wasn't accurate. This needs to be updated with a proper comparison. That's my 2 cents.

 

I would just like to confirm something...

The review states that the Optimus technology switches between the discrete NVIDIA card and the Intel 4500MHD; shouldn't it be with the new Intel HD integrated graphics?

I thought the platform switched over when the M11x went from the old CULV platform to the new i5/i7 ULVs?

 

The M11x seems to be the portable companion to the M17x

 

Have to admit it is a nice looking machine! Again, though, the issue of a non-user serviceable battery bugs me. Ah well....

 

Well it doesn't go out as easy on some other laptop but its not that hard to get it out. It requires taking out what 7-8 screws to remove the bottom plate and then getting the actual battery out. I would say it's not a big deal. I would be more concerned of the plastic hinge able to hold up to the time it takes to wear out the battery.

 

This may be before the m11x problem arrised but there is an 127 page long thread over in the m11x forums about its "build quality", yet Iv never read anything about the lenovo y460 having problems other then people liking there machine. Not all laptops are made with the finest magnesium for flex etc... dosnt make them any less good as long as there is no defect.