Alienware M17x Gaming Laptop

A few months ago we published our review of Alienware’s m15x gaming notebook. After a few initial stumbles the system ended up being a big hit for Alienware and it earned a reputation for being one of the most capable 15-inch gaming systems currently produced. The m15x currently starts at $1299, but comfortably spec’d it will put you somewhere between $2000 and $3000 dollars.

As much as we liked (and still like) the m15x, it did not take long for Alienware to follow it up with a 17-inch model, the m17x. This gaming notebook is extremely similar to its smaller counterpart, but the move to a larger chassis means a few extras features are made possible. This notebook starts off at $2399 and goes up, rather quickly, from there.

Because the m17x is so similar to the m15x, be sure to check out on our review of that system. This article will be focusing on the features that make the m17x the king, so while you check back on the old review, just keep in mind that many of the features, like they keyboard, lighting, design philosophy, materials and so on, are basically unchanged.

The m17x, as tested, arrived outfitted with an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz) processor, 4GB of RAM, Windows Vista Home Premium, a 500GB hard drive (RAID1 and RAID0 options are available), and a Blu-ray optical drive. Graphics are handled by dual NVIDIA 9800M GT video cards with SLI enabled. The 17-inch display runs at 1920×1200 and it has the backlit keyboard (a $50 upgrade). As tested the price of the system is about $4399 thanks mostly to the graphics ($700), RAM ($350), and disk ($500). There is room for upgrades past our system in the processor (including a X9000) and storage (you can added a second hard drive or a 128GB SSD), if you want to break the bank. What this ultimately means is that that while the m17x starts out under $2500 the final price will probably be substantially above that. It doesn’t mean you’ll have to drop $4500, but almost certainly over $3000. This doesn’t make it unique among gaming notebooks, but there are more economical solutions if you are will to make a few sacrifices.
From a performance standpoint, the m17x does not have many rivals. It runs a great processor and 4GB of RAM, but what really sets it apart is its SLI video. Two video cards might not be easy on the wallet, but it means almost unrivaled power in a mobile system, especially when using the 9800M GT setup. The PCMark Vantage score was 3980 and 3DMark Vantage was 6117. The average Far Cry 2 benchmark run (1920×1200, all setting on highest) was 35.83.

What this all adds up to is a very powerful machine and one of the most capable gaming rigs on the market (as the price would have you assume). The game plowed through current titles like Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, and Left 4 Dead at 1920×1200 at the highest settings with hardly a slowdown. It’s going to take some time before software catches up with this hardware, so you can save some money and downgrade some parts if you’d like. For comparison you can look at the m15x, or, on the workstation front, the ThinkPad W700 and HP EliteBook 8730w.

Past the performance, there is a lot to like about the m17x. The overall build quality feels better than the m15x. This seems odd given that the system is larger, but there are less creaks and flex than the previous system we tested. This could be Alienware learning its lessons over time or just a different chassis coming together better, but it was noticeable. The keyboard now gets a full number pad on the side, but past that almost all the features of the m17x are similar to those on the 15-inch model. The lighting, cursor controls, touch-sensitive volume adjustment/power button, and LED status icons are all the same.As far as usability goes, it’s a pretty nice setup. The keyboard is more then acceptable, and the cursor controls, which are seamlessly blended into the case, are serviceable, but you’ll be gaming with a mouse anyway. The LCD hinges still aren’t very tight, so any movement still causes the display to flop around for a second or two.

As far as the exterior of the m17x goes, you get the same slab design as before. This is to say that the system is sleek and nearly featureless, in other words a big improvement over the old design (as well as the newer m17). It’s not a computer that you’ll be wanting to move around very often (it’s not only 16.1 x 11.5 x 2.1 inches, but the AC adapter is tremendous, and then you have to worry about moving around something so expensive), but if you do throw it in your oversized bag it should get to where you are going in one piece. This will give you a chance to check out the custom-engraved nameplate on the bottom. One downside about the design is its thickness–the m17x is over two inch thick, which means your hands are elevated while typing.

External connections include four USB slots, a ExpressCard/54 slot, a card reader, HDMI, 1394A, 1394B, ethernet, S-video, optical out, HDTV tuner, headphones, microphone, and audio out. It’s a nice selection, even though you lose VGA and HDMI (and don’t have DisplayPort) but you do pick up two FireWire connections, which is very cool. When looking at these you can’t miss the system’s venting, which is featured extensively on the front and back sides the m17x’s, as well as above the keyboard.

As far as battery life goes, it’s pretty much a non-factor since this is not the type of system you will generally be using on-the-go. That said, you should be able to pull under 90 minutes out of the battery, depending on the sort of work you are doing. It will probably be more along the lines of an hour if you are doing work that requires anything out of the processor/graphics.

Before wrapping it, it’s worth understanding the difference between the m17x and the newer m17. The m17 uses ATI graphics, including a CrossFire option, and has some more choices concerning the processor. There is a 1440×900 display option and the system uses the old style case, with the spine going down the middle. The m17 can get quite powerful, but the more interesting thing about it is how it can be a cheaper pick for someone looking for a 17-inch Alienware notebook.

Overall, the Alienware m17x didn’t disappoint. Expectations were high given how well the m15x did and this computer’s substantial price tag, but it handled everything we could throw at it. This includes some of today’s most demanding games at their highest settings as well as workstation testing. The notebook has a very nice display, a solid design, cool lighting, and a ton of features so if you have the cash, and you don’t want a desktop, the m17x is hard to beat. There are cheaper routes–and the m17 could be a good way to cut back on costs–but the m17x remains one of our dream notebooks.