Alienware Area-51 m15x
Notebook Specifications
Notebook: Alienware Area-51 m15x (Area-51 Series)Processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX 512 MB
Display: 15.4 inch, 16:10, 1920x1200 pixels, glossy: no
Weight: 3.56kg
Price: 2780 euro
Average of 27 scores (from 36 reviews)
Reviews for the Alienware Area-51 m15x
Source: Reg Hardware
You pay a steep price for the Alienware m15x with all the bells and whistles and in return you get a colossal amount of gaming power with graphics that would shame many a desktop PC.
80%, Preis schlecht, Leistung hervorragend
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/19/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 40% performance: 95%
Source: PC World
The only potential downer here, besides the laptop's price, is that all of the LED lighting that helps you customize your machine also makes the top of the display feel a little flimsy. Yep, the display, probably the most susceptible part of the computer, creaks when you lift it. Honestly, that's the most disconcerting thing about the Alienware Area 51 m15x--and, considering the portable's cost, I can't help but notice it.
80 von 100, Leistung sehr gut, Verarbeitung mangelhaft, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/12/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 40% performance: 90% workmanship: 50%
Source: Techradar
Alienware has long been recognised as a premium brand for gaming enthusiasts, especially for desktop PCs, but its history with gaming laptops has been less impressive. This is due to the company using generic chassis designs, rather than opting to design their own. This has all changed with the launch of the Alienware Area-51 m51x (£2136 inc. VAT), its first real gaming laptop.
3.5 von 5, Leistung mäßig, Display gut
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/21/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 60% display: 80%
Source: Techspot
Almost two years after reviewing a flagship notebook like Alienware's own Aurora m9700 SLI, it seems little has changed in the notebook world if you are a gamer. Although the Area-51 m15x is considerably more powerful than the Aurora, it still suffers from many of the same problems we complained about back then.
The performance of the Alienware Area-51 m15x is impressive for a notebook, we will give it that much. However, when compared to a budget desktop gaming system, it did not fair all that well and for the most part it was slightly slower. As noted before, there are obvious implications on why we shouldn't be comparing a notebook to a desktop system, but having that said, we feel that the comparison needs to be made. As we see it, the Area-51 m15x is intended to be a desktop replacement for LAN goers. Rather than packing up your desktop case, LCD screen, keyboard, mouse, and cables, it is much easier and nicer to simply unfold a notebook and get it on. Unfortunately for gamers this has become a bit of a pipe dream, as most notebooks are grossly underpowered, and those that come close, like the Area-51 m15x, cost a small fortune.
Leistung gut, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/18/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 80%
Source: Laptop Logic
There's plenty of love for this version of Alienware, it’s size factor and perfect blend of power and mobility will appeal to many. Pairing the lightning-fast Core2Duo Xtreme processor with a speedy 512 MB 8800m GTX video card and 4 GB of RAM - it makes for a very quick, very satisfying laptop experience, which is often reserved for larger notebooks, or even mid-range desktops. However, the base point starts at $1,799, and like Mt Everest – can climb to unreachable heights for many consumers, nearing our model price at $4,808.00. Granted our m15x came with all the extras, like a seconday hard drive, Blu-ray disc burner, and an extra battery. We love the addition of an HDMI port, and we think it’s a great idea to connect your laptop to your home theater, an option that's a little tougher to find in the competition, and we’re guessing you have plenty of fun toys to connect that HDMI port if you can buy this laptop. Simply stated, If you're in the market for a high-class gaming laptop, have the money to spend, and love the “new” Alienware design, this is an excellent purchase.
3.5 von 5, Leistung sehr gut
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/05/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 90%
Source: Mobile Computer
The specifications are mostly great, but they’re wrapped in a case that makes the Area-51 m15x feel cheap – something that it certainly isn't.
3 von 6, Leistung sehr gut, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/25/2008
Rating: Total score: 50% price: 40% performance: 90%
Source: vnunet.com
The battle between desktops and notebooks has shifted to gaming laptops too, with the majority of Alienware’s sales coming from the latter. So you’d expect the company to have put a lot of effort into its latest notebook, the Area-51 m15x. It’s a modest affair on paper, containing one, rather than two, 8800M GTX graphics cards and a 15.4in screen; most gaming laptops use bigger displays. A fast and compact gaming laptop with a funky lighting system to boot
(von 5): 4, Ausstattung 5, Leistung 4, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/17/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 40% performance: 80% features: 100%
Source: vnunet.com
Alienware sells two notebooks in the UK and this is its smaller design. In fact, it’s the smallest one we've seen to use an Nvidia Geforce 8800M GTX, which is the fastest mobile graphics card on the market. The most compact gaming notebook around, with excellent processor and graphics card and a unique lighting system.
4 von 5, Leistung gut, Display gut, Preis schlecht, Verarbeitung schlecht
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/09/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 40% performance: 80% display: 80% workmanship: 40%
Source: PC Advisor
If you can afford it and you have the muscles to carry it about, the Alienware Area 51 m15x is quite simply the quickest and best gaming laptop we've seen. Game on.
(von 5): 4.5, Preis 3.5, Verarbeitung 4.5, Ausstattung 5
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/30/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 70% features: 100% workmanship: 90%
Source: Comp Reviews
Alienware's Area-51 m15x is a very versatile system depending upon how it is configured. Overall, it has very strong performance and is highly customizable in terms of its looks thanks to option chassis color choices and LED lighting that can vary between different colors. Of course, it is a very high cost system for such flexibility.
4 von 5, Leistung sehr gut, Preis schlecht, Emissionen mangelhaft
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/29/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 40% performance: 90% emissions: 50%
Source: PC Mag
With a spectacular display of LEDs, a futuristic design, and phenomenal performance scores, the Alienware Area-51 m15x gaming laptop has no competition on planet Earth.
4.5 von 5, Preis sehr schlecht, Leistung sehr gut, Mobilität gut, Display ausgezeichnet
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 30% performance: 90% display: 95% mobility: 80%
Source: Trusted Reviews
It's smaller than most gaming notebooks and thanks to a superb lighting system, it looks the part too. But performance is where it counts and the Alienware Area-51 m15x has it in spades. A generous selection of options means you can tailor it to your needs, and all this combined makes this arguably the best gaming notebook currently available.
(von 10): 9, Ausstattung 9, Leistung 10, Preis 8
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/24/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% features: 90%
Source: PC Pro
With your average gaming desktop PC boasting a heat output which would rival that of your average space heater, the very idea of cramming hot, powerful components into the tiny confines of a laptop seems faintly ridiculous. Alienware's latest blends obscene power with surprising portability, but both come at a cost.
5 von 6, Leistung gut, Mobilität gut, Preis schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 40% performance: 80% mobility: 80%
Source: Notebookreview.com
I have to be brutally honest - the Alienware Area-51 m15x is the best-rounded gaming machine I have tested. It really is. How Alienware managed to pack ultra high-performance components typically only found in the largest of desktop replacements into a 15.4-inch, 1.3-inch thin, 7-lb package and still manage good battery life I do not know. The m15x is both a fabulous gaming machine and a practical machine on the go. It can score almost 9,500 points in 3DMark06 yet get almost three hours of battery life with the standard battery. Throw a second battery in the Smart Bay and it gets nearly five. And let us not forget about the looks - they do not appeal to everyone of course, but anyone can admit the m15x is like nothing else. Alienware put a lot of time and effort into this design and it shows.
Leistung ausgezeichnet, Mobilität gut, Emissionen gut, Display gut, Preis schlecht, Verarbeitung mangelhaft
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/24/2008
Rating: price: 40% performance: 95% display: 80% mobility: 80% workmanship: 50% emissions: 80%
Source: Laptop Mag
Overall, the Alienware Area-51 m15x delivers the power you need to play the most demanding games, and it’s much more compact than competing rigs. We wish the speakers were a bit louder and that the system offered better wireless range, but no other 15.4-inch system can hold a candle to this rig.
4.5 von 5, Leistung sehr gut, Mobilität schlecht
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/10/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% performance: 90% mobility: 40%
Source: CNet
Alienware's amazingly powerful flagship Area-51 m15x has the insides down, but our finicky aesthetic sense isn't sold on the look of this otherwise awesome 15-inch powerhouse of a gaming laptop.
8.1 von 10, Display gut, Leistung gut
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/04/2008
Rating: Total score: 81% performance: 80% display: 80%
Foreign Reviews
Source: PC Praxis - 10/08
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 10/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 100% price: 70% performance: 80%
Source: Minitechnet
DE→ENonline available, Long, Date: 09/25/2008
Rating: Total score: 79% price: 40% performance: 100% features: 80% display: 60% mobility: 100% workmanship: 80% ergonomy: 60%
Source: c't - 16/08
DE→ENonline available, Long, Date: 08/15/2008
Rating: performance: 90% features: 90% display: 80% mobility: 40% ergonomy: 80% emissions: 30%
Source: PC Magazin - 7/08
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 08/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 100% price: 40% performance: 95% workmanship: 80%
Source: SFT - 8/08
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 08/01/2008
Rating: performance: 90% mobility: 40% workmanship: 40%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENonline available, Long, Date: 07/30/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 60% performance: 90% features: 50% display: 90% mobility: 30% workmanship: 60% ergonomy: 30%
Source: Gamestar - 7/08
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 07/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 86% price: 60% performance: 90% features: 40% display: 80% mobility: 80%
Source: Chip.de - 8/08
DE→EN, Very Short, Date: 07/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 50% performance: 95%
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy - 7-8
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 06/24/2008
Rating: performance: 90% display: 80%
Source: notebookforums.com
DE→EN, Short, Date: 06/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 95% performance: 100% display: 100% mobility: 90% workmanship: 90%
Source: Digital Trends
DE→ENonline available, Long, Date: 05/11/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 40% performance: 80% display: 80% mobility: 80%
Source: notebookforums.com
DE→ENonline available, Medium, Date: 05/10/2008
Rating: performance: 90% display: 80% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: PC Go - 6/08
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 05/02/2008
Rating: performance: 95% mobility: 40%
Source: PC Go - 6/08
DE→EN, Length Unknown, Date: 05/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 84% price: 60% performance: 80% mobility: 40%
Source: Notebookcheck
DE→ENonline available, Long, Date: 04/25/2008
Rating: Total score: 88% performance: 98% display: 90% mobility: 70% workmanship: 78% ergonomy: 85% emissions: 75%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENonline available, Medium, Date: 04/22/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 60% features: 80% ergonomy: 80%
Source: notebookforums.com
DE→ENonline available, Medium, Date: 04/02/2008
Rating: performance: 100% display: 90% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: notebookforums.com
DE→ENonline available, Long, Date: 03/26/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 100% display: 100% mobility: 90%
Source: notebookforums.com
DE→ENonline available, Medium, Date: 02/06/2008
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: notebookforums.com
DE→ENonline available, Short, Date: 01/10/2008
Rating: performance: 100% display: 100% mobility: 90% workmanship: 90%
Comment
NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX: The Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTX is based upon the desktop G92 chip and offers clearly better performance than the GeForce 8700M GT and 8800M GTS due to 256 bit memory bus.
These cards are compareable to enthusiasm desktop graphics cards, like the 9800M GT. The cards have a similar core, as their desktop counterparts, but are clocked lower and often have less shader processors. Modern games like Age of Conan, Race Driver Grid, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, or Gothic 3 should run fluently with high details (Crysis should run in medium to high details).
>> Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core 2 Extreme: The fastest Core 2 Duo variants of Intel are called Core 2 Extreme. Technically, these processors are based on a Merom/Penryn (X9000) core like all other Core 2 Duo processors, too.
X9000:
>> Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
15.4": 15 inch display-variants are the standard and are used for more than the half of all notebooks. 15.4 inch display with 16:10 are the standard for notebook displays. Nowadays, more and more 16:9 displays with 15.6 inch appear. The reason why so many people like displays with medium size is, that this size is not exhausting for the eyes, does not need too much energy and the laptops can be kept quite compact.
>> To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
3.56 kg: This laptop is heavy below average, compared with the average of notebooks. Therefore especially desktop replacements fit in this class of weight.
Alienware: Alienware is an American computer hardware company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell. It mainly assembles for high-performance gaming. Alienware also offers for sale rebadged laptops and computer peripherals, such as headsets, computer mice, monitors and keyboards. Alienware was founded in 1996. The corporate headquarters is located in Florida. Alienware established its EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) headquarters in Ireland, in 2002. 2005, Alienware brought in upwards of $170 million USD in annual sales and launched an international in 2003 with a presence in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica. The international market share is limited.
82.44%: This rating is to be considered as average, because the amount of notebooks with better ratings is about equal like the amount with worse ratings.
>> Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
