Alienware M17x (HD 4870x2)

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Reviews for the Alienware M17x (HD 4870x2)

88% Test Alienware M17x (HD 4870 X2) Notebook
Source: Notebookcheck DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/24/2010
Rating: Total score: 88% performance: 98% display: 89% mobility: 48% workmanship: 94% ergonomy: 83% emissions: 76%

Comment

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2:

Two Mobility Radeon HD 4870 in Crossfire mode (similar to SLI). Doubles the power consumption but provides only 0-80% better performance depending on the application and driver support.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.  

620M:

The Core i7-620M is the fastest Dual-Core CPU for laptops (at the time of introduction in Q1 2010). The 620M clocks betwenn 2.66 and 3.33 GHz due to the Turbo Mode and because of Hyperthreading, 4 threads are executed simultaneously. In the package, Intel also included a second die with an integrated GPU (GMA HD) and a memory controller. Therefore, the TDP of 35 Watt of the whole package is still quite good.

17.00":

This range for display formats was and is a rarity. It is larger than the general standard of 15 inches, but not yet in the range of large workstations. One usually has higher screen resolutions available, but portability suffers from that.

5.5 kg:

A laptop in this weight range is a heavyweight that you rarely carry around. This is meant for desktops and the devices tend to score with a large display and high performance and replace desktop devices.

Alienware: Alienware was founded in the USA in 1996. The European headquarters is located in Ireland. Alienware has been part of the Dell Group since 2006. The product range mainly focuses on gaming laptops and desktops, which are developed and manufactured by Dell. The trademark is a slightly futuristic design with an Alien as the logo. Additionally, workstations for private and business customers are sold.

As with every brand, there are also some points of criticism with Alienware. Some customers have complained about the high prices of the products, while others have criticized the quality of customer services. There have also been some reports of problems with the reliability and durability of some Alienware products. However, many customers have also had positive experiences with the brand and appreciate the powerful gaming computers.

86.5%: This is an above-average rating. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that about one fifth of all tested models receive a better rating.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight