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Alienware M18x R2

Specifications

Alienware M18x R2
Alienware M18x R2 (M18x Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-3920XM 4 x 2.9 - 3.8 GHz @ 4.1 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire - 2x 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 850 MHz, Memory: 1200 MHz, GDDR5, 8.934.2.1000
Memory
8 GB 
, 2x 4096 MB PC3-12800 SO-DIMM DDR3-RAM (1600 MHz), 4 slots, max. 32 GB
Display
18.40 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, Samsung 184HT (SEC5448), Diagonal: 46.74 cm, WLED, Full HD, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel HM77 (Panther Point)
Storage
Micron RealSSD C400 (MTFDDAK512MAM-1K1AB), 512 GB 
, + Toshiba MQ01ABD100, 1000 GB, 5400 rpm
Soundcard
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di @ Intel Panther Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 Express Card 54mm, 1 USB 2.0, 4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 2 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 eSata, Audio Connections: 2 audio out, 1 mic/line in, 1 SPDIF/line out (5.1 analog, 7.1 digital), Card Reader: 9-in-1
Networking
Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) (10MBit/s), Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVDRWBD CA30N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 55 x 436 x 323 ( = 2.17 x 17.17 x 12.72 in)
Battery
96 Wh Lithium-Ion, 12 cells, 0.65 kg
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2.1 mega pixel with 2 digital microphones
Additional features
power supply: 330 Watt, protective velvet cover, TactX mouse (extra charge), mouse pad, quick start guide, info pamphlets, divers DVDs (Drivers & Utilities, Resource, Resource Media, Application, Recovery), CyberLink PowerDVD 9.6, 12-36 Months Warranty
Weight
5.6 kg ( = 197.53 oz / 12.35 pounds), Power Supply: 1.34 kg ( = 47.27 oz / 2.95 pounds)
Price
5279 Euro

 

Pricecompare

Average Score: 88% - very good
Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
price: - %, performance: 100%, features: 88%, display: 82% mobility: 52%, workmanship: 90%, ergonomy: 87%, emissions: 78%

Reviews for the Alienware M18x R2

88% Review Alienware M18x R2 Notebook | Notebookcheck
CrossFire deluxe. Hardcore gamers who don't care to make friends with a desktop PC have come to the right address with Alienware. The massive M18x is looking for customers in its second revision now with dual GPU solutions. Does a double Radeon HD 7970M mean double the fun?
Test: Alienware M18x R2 - Gaming at its be(a)st
Source: HardwareLuxx German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/09/2012

Comment

Series:

The Alienware M18x Haswell is undeniably one of the most powerful portable gaming laptops one could hope for. It certainly doesn't come cheap, but it’s an ultra powerful gaming laptop, made of premium materials and design. This huge 18 inch monster weighs in at a massive 5.5 kg. It serves well as a desktop replacement, with occasional jaunts to LAN parties. Covered in anodized aluminum, the feel of this machine is premium all the way. The magnificent exterior with customizable lights is a party favor that is endlessly awesome. There’s even a HDMI port that can switch between input/output allowing use of a HDTV as display, or use of the Alienware M18x’s screen with input from a game console or a cable box.

One of the most unique features of this beast of a machine is that it runs two GeForce GTX 780M cards linked by Nvidia's SLI. The 1920x1080 display is absolutely stunning. Hardcore gamers will have no problems with maxed out settings. The Alienware M18x comes equipped with a slot-loading Blu-Ray drive for media lovers who want to make full use of this machine's graphic abilities. Because of the power-hungry, powerful graphic cards, the battery life is absolutely dismal despite the power saving features of the Haswell Intel Core i7 4900MQ. Using it far from a power outlet will be a very short lived experience. If money does not matter, this is definitely the laptop to own for gaming and performance. 

AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire: Two HD 7970M graphics card in Crossfire mode (also frequently referred to as HD 7970M CF).

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.  


3920XM: Fastest Ivy Bridge mobile CPU (and fastest mobile CPU at all) at the time of arrival (April 2012) and clocked at 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 3.8 GHz. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 4000 GPU running at 650-1300 MHz on a dual channel DDR3 memory controller. Compared to the other quad-core it features a 10W higher TDP of 55W.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


18.40": This display size is a standard format for desktop replacements (DTR). The DTR laptops are heavier to carry, need more power, but texts are easy to read and high resolutions are no problem. DTR are mainly intended for stationary desk use, where weight and energy hunger don't matter. In return, you enjoy the advantages of high resolutions (more details, better legibility).» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


5.6 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.


88%: 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.

 

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Current Prices
Stefan Hinum, 2012-08-15 (Update: 2012-08-15)