Alienware M17x at E3: Exclusive Video Hands-On Discussion

Article & Voice by Charles P. Jefferies
Video Composed by Lee C. Howley

Greetings from E3 - today we take an exclusive in-depth look at the new Alienware M17x gaming notebook. This all-aluminum beast can be configured with dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 280M 1GB graphics card and an overclockable Intel Extreme quad-core processor. The M17x comes already well-equipped at its base price of $1,799. Read on to see our take.

Read the full content of this Article: Alienware M17x at E3: Exclusive Video Hands-On

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Excellent little video review !!!! God Bless

 

Chaz - very nice video and write-up - Thanks! I had heard that it was all-aluminum but didn't know that it's machined like the Mac's. I'm looking forward to a full review. PS - I think 'benzel' might be 'bezel'.

 

Why must everything make my T60 feel so weak and unpowerful

 

Chaz, is that your voice?!

 

Thanks for the review Chaz!!!

 

It's great to see it's lived up to the advertising!

Small AC adapter.
Very reasonable prices in this class.
Factory Overclocking abilities via the bios.
Aluminum chassis and anodized aluminum clad exterior.
On board integrated graphics for extended battery life.
Reinforced keys for heavy gaming usage.
Nvidia 260 GTX, 260 GTX SLI, and 280 GTX SLI options.
They truely have achieved making The "All Powerful" gaming laptop!

IMO, this is the laptop gaming rig by which all "others" will be measured.

Great job Alienware/Dell!!

Thanks for the info Chaz.

 

Audio is really low, Chaz. =( Apart from that, great review. =p

 

Yes the audio is very low. Could you up it?

 

I was shocked at the size of the power adapter. My M17's was at least twice the size of this one. The vid is a bit grainy, and the voice low but from the few shots of the keyboard and case layout it looks like a really solid, well built case. Looking forward more to some extensive pics coming up, the teaser you left in the the m17x lounge looks amazing.

 

This notebooks looks and sounds better everyday.

 

Thats the Slim 3p 240w adapter they now use on the Precision M6400's

 

What a machine. I would much prefer a right angled power cable as they seem to last longer for me. The light is a nice touch though. Nice review btw.

 

Thanks for the replies, I am glad you guys are enjoying it. It's harder than you think to take video and then find a way to put it together. I did the best I could. If you have questions, ask them.

Here's a pic of Alienware's booth at the show:

 

The AC power adapter is perhaps the most impressive thing... other than that, this isn't "The most powerful laptop in the universe" until we compare it to the new Clevo models...

 

Off topic,

Chaz go see the Phillies vs. Dodgers while you're out there!

 

With a 240W PSU it must serve much better as a room heater than most notebooks.

John

 

Thanks for the vid Chaz. You previously mentioned the upcoming CrossfireX support for M17x but do you happen to know any more details about them?

I know specific release dates wouldn't ever be said but I'm more interested in if anything was mentioned about how/if the Nvidia chipset is going to work with ATI cards. For example if there will be switchable graphics still.

 

thanks chaz you secured my buy

 

I'll ask about the Nvidia + ATI cards.

We were informed that dual ATI HD 4870s will be available in this beast, so we'll see how that works; no timeframe/pricing at the moment. Kind of an interesting combo - Intel CPU, Nidia chipset, ATI graphics. Lol - Alienware said they had to jump through a lot of hoops to get that working.

 

Thanks Chaz. I can imagine the hoop jumping...the first thing I thought of when I heard the news of the 4870s was how's that going to work with the 9400M chipset.

Which side will control the graphics switching (if there will be any) Nvidia's HybridPower or ATI's CrossfireX....

 

Umm, where are those Cleevo models you speak of?

This new "All Powerful" Alienware laptop is here and now.

 

Props to the M17x:

Same power in a smaller form factor than a M98U
Resolution options
Smaller M6400 AC Adapter
Fanboy lighting options out the wazoo
Utilizing Dell's much more advanced ordering and distribution system

Here's hoping they also embrace Dell's warranty program and the ability to transfer said warranty

Is it for me? Nah. I'm even starting to realize I play WoW 80-90% of the time on my desktop (30" Apple Cinema might have something to do with that, heh) and I've been neglecting it lately in regards to hardware upgrades.

 

It is under Dell's warranty program and has the option for CompleteCare accidental coverage.

 

More hyperbole please

IMO its very meh - apart from the solid case. I love CNC'ed and anodized aluminum!

Sager boys won't be moved by this and the i7 Clevo is more powerful at that weight/price.

I'll wait for the next gen platform this time next year and then I'll get one. Unless the ODMs learn how to CNC aluminum.

 

the i7 means CRAP, it is not for gaming

the M17x is WAYYYYYY more powerful then the Sager 9820.
( i presume were talking about gaming here)

 

48x0 GPUs are awesome, but the mobility drivers are the pits.

G92 is getting long in the tooth, but according Anandtech it still competes pretty well with SLi 8800m GTX beating the w90's Crossfire setup.

 

If I am getting two super fast mobile GPUs I want the fastest CPU I can get. That is i7.

 

But you're not getting two super fast mobile GPUs in the Sager 9820 you're getting one. ;þ

 

the sager 9820 is ment for work
M98NU is for gaming .....

so if you want 2 fastest GPU's your going to have to settle for a Overclocked Quad core because that is Not enough

 

Right; the Sager NP9820 "only" has a single GTX 280M while the new M17x has dual GTX 280Ms; that's a big difference in performance.

 

not to mentions the Quadcore that can be overclocked......

you may be able to encode a video in half the time but we can game harder

 

Funny though, AW needed Dell's help to actually come up with stuff that was considered decently priced.

On a more serious note, Sager and AW fans need to stop headbutting on this issue, it's getting old. Very old.

 

i could not agree more....
(but on a side note: look who started it...a sager fan)

 

I didn't start it , im just tired of AW sucks it doesn't have i7 but sager does..... am i right or am I wrong?

ignorance is a pet peeve of mine ... i hate being wrong myself

 

i was not refering to you Moo...
(unless you are a closet sager fan)

 

o lol i am a closet AW fan

 

Ain't no closet big enough for that.

At any rate, I'm also tired of people comparing the D900F with the M17X. It's a pointless comparison, the M98NU is a far more accurate comparison.

Sure, the D900F does have i7 desktop CPUs, it'll out Wprime the M17X any day, it will even outperform the M17X in some CPU limited games, but it will be beaten down in any GPU limited game, which are far more common on the market. Supreme Commander would probably be one, seeing as to how current GPUs already max out the game, the only advantage gained is with CPU improvement.

I have to admit though, part of the fact that AW has this many recent converts is its much more reasonable pricing in the recent year or two.

No offense to you, Mr Moo, but considering how hard you worked for your M17, the original prices for the M17X, M15X or M9750 would have been a lot further out of your price range. AW's lowered prices made you a recent fan. You are a pretty good example of a recent convert to AW due to its lowered pricing. It's highly unlikely that you could have afforded being a fan if the prices hadn't been reduced to reasonable levels. I'm quite sure you would find that hard to disagree with.

Rob41, on the other hand, has had several AW machines, and is fine with paying the premium. Thanks to Dell's purchase of AW, now he gets more for his buck too.

 

LOL ..... i have right not 1600 easy with out selling my m17 ( i dont wanna hear how much you have (any one) )

i work quite hard....Sorry i am young by the way and never have needed or wanted a high end gaming computer. I make minimum wage .... and if i couldn't afford it i would not buy it.

i am 18 i dont need to Own a bunch of machine to know anything. I know they are overpriced and used to be double the price of now they are a boutique brand they are supposed to be for the people who have the money and want it, if not quite whining its expensive.

 

Exactly. That was my main point. The price cuts definitely helped AW become more palatable to the typical consumer. So if you didn't want a high end computer, why did you get one?

On another note, I don't really consider AW a boutique brand anymore. It's becoming subsumed into the giant of Dell, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. On the bright side though, it's doing far better than Voodoo.

 

if i needed one i would of went to AW i dont understand the logic?

i never wanted one before i got mine .... i thought that was a given

and i have saved and can afford one now i think 3200 is enough to get one 3 years ago and one now

 

First sentence needs fixing. Not sure what you mean. Punctuation/grammar needs fixing.

As for second sentence, no, hardly a given. You never wanted a high end computer, but got one anyway? You must have wanted it in order to be willing to pay for it in the first place. You might not have planned to get it initially, and your current want for a high end computer stems from your purchase, but your original want must have existed in order for you to be willing to shell out the money. Get it?

Last question, if I recall the M9750 prices as a guide before they fell, not much more than the basic models. AW was really overpriced then.

 

i got one when i wanted/needed one

i am going to school with CS/hardware major i wanted one for school so i finally decided to get one.

the first sentence confused me

any way i finally had a need so i decided to get one simple as that.

i reccomend xoticpc.com and other sites all the time, it was my choice to buy AW

 

Yea. That's what I meant. You got one when you needed one. And it happened that AW's prices weren't all that bad. That's pretty much my main point. I asked the first question because you said you have never needed or wanted a high end computer in an earlier post. I hope the confusion's cleared up.

Dell's takeover really helped AW obtain a far larger market. They are probably enjoying lower profit margins per unit, but far greater units sold right now.

I'll miss the XPS line, but the M17X is definitely something I'll be keeping an eye on, especially with Dell's complete care warranty. I love that thing.

 

This one maybe the very first AW laptop ever that I actually like. Anodized aluminum is big plus, it beats the plastic chassis of the Sager anyday. If the price is right, I may get one in the future.

 

It just amazes me how diehard fans of other brands love hating on Alienware so much that they can't even let Alienware have their deserved day in the sun.

They are the very first ones to get a gaming laptop to market with 280 GTX's in SLI.

They've got an aluminum chassis and an anodized aluminum exterior.

Does anyone else have an AC adapter this small on a high powered gaming rig?

I mean the list goes on, and we get "meh, not impressed" and "Oh, that's nothing"?

I think some people just love to hate on Alienware and take brand loyalty way too far.

I appreciate any gaming rig based on it's merits regardless of brand and certainly give it props when it's deserved.

 

I don't know, does a single FX3700M (basically lower clocked GT280M) make a laptop a high powered gaming rig? If so, the M6400 came out with the AC adapter that small. You should be thanking Dell for that, not so much AW.

As for the claim that it's the first gaming laptop to market with GTX280M in SLI, that's also spurious (for now). The estimated shipping date for the M17X is in July. The M98nu may still pip it to the spot, it's certainly been out from under wraps longer.

Note, I'm not saying the M98NU is better or worse, merely that some of your claims may also be biased. The M17X is a great machine in its own right. The aluminum chassis is certainly quite appetizing.

 

Make this one SAGER NP9262 owner that is very,very impressed with the new AW M17x.
I was hoping to swap out my GPU's for 280 GTX's, but as far as I know not going to happen because of compatibility issues and then this laptop comes along.
At first I was thinking to my self "No way this laptop is going to be affordable" but surprise, surprise it is!
The M17x does not only look great( in my eyes anyway) but potentionally and arguably is the "ALL POWERFUL" of gaming laptops.
Am I just a little jealous , maybe just a little bit, 280 GTX SLI , XQuad Core what's not to like.
Nice little hands on review, can't wait for a full review but I really might consider selling my SAGER for the AW( Did I just say that!).
Going to have to see some hands on numbers to make a final decision but it's going to be extremely tempting NOT to get this laptop.
Love the new look, love the power, price is reasonable, that's a grand slam in my book.
Still even saying all that it's going to be very hard for me to part ways with my SAGER ( hands down the best laptop I have ever owned)(EVER!) but
I keep hearing this little voice in my head that's saying " I WANT THIS AW LAPTOP! BAD!".
It's going to be a loooooooooooong wait until people start getting the units and post some numbers and owner testimonials. I am nervously excited!

 

WOW Chaz...great video and info

Thank you! I hope you had fun at E3.

 

just like everyone else, i'm really lookin forward to the hands on reviews.

this new m17x is really throwin a curve ball in my decisions. i was debating on building a i7 desktop and a dual monitor setup or a powerful 17" laptop. i really prefer the ergonomics of a gaming laptop and have done all of my gaming on laptops since the xps-line was first introduced. this is the first alienware laptop that has really caught my eye, aesthetically. i have really been wantin an edge to edge display-equipped laptop so i hope the new m17x will live up to all the hype, performance wise. if everything goes well, i will have this laptop in the next few months!

nice little review chaz.