The Alienware M18x Review

[Scionyde]

Ah that makes sense

 

I honestly think its good value, I always challenge people to find me something better for my money, and nobody can.. even though this thing is 2 years old I bet its hard to find anything better even now

 

Well, that's probably an unfair challenge, because as far as I know, nobody makes an 18" laptop except Alienware

 

I've had an okay experience with my m14x r2, but I imagine most of the negatives I've experienced are probably associated with the fact that it's such a relatively small form factor. My next laptop's going to be around 17", I think, but I'll probably go with a different brand because I don't want to spend quite so much.

[ShadowCaptain]

Well, that's probably an unfair challenge, because as far as I know, nobody makes an 18" laptop except Alienware

 

I've had an okay experience with my m14x r2, but I imagine most of the negatives I've experienced are probably associated with the fact that it's such a relatively small form factor. My next laptop's going to be around 17", I think, but I'll probably go with a different brand because I don't want to spend quite so much.

 

Well the 18" part I would let slide, not many laptops with crossfire/sli though,

 

What negatives can I ask? I always wish I had an m14x instead of this, the only downside is its currently NOT the most powerful 14" laptop, and you can get more power for your money. The design is gorgeous as usual though.

[Scionyde]

Well the 18" part I would let slide, not many laptops with crossfire/sli though,

 

What negatives can I ask? I always wish I had an m14x instead of this, the only downside is its currently NOT the most powerful 14" laptop, and you can get more power for your money. The design is gorgeous as usual though.

 

Ah, right, SLI. I think Sager/Clevo laptops have some SLI options, but overall not too many brands do it.

 

Well, the m14x I have is over 2 years old, so they might have improved upon it. Heat is one issue I've been having, in that palm rests get almost uncomfortably warm when running games. I know heating issues will always be present on a gaming laptop, but some laptops are better than others when it comes to keeping surface temps cooler in places where the user has direct contact. The fan is quite loud as well, with a single heatpipe/single fan design. Again, that's probably an issue a lot of gaming laptops will have, but certain models like the Asus G750 are supposed to be much better in that respect. 

 

I'm not a huge fan of the rubberized finish they used, either. I don't have oily hands, but my palms seem to leave shiny spots on the palm rests after a while, and it seems generally hard to clean. I also don't care for the glossy screen they chose to use, since it reflects other light sources extremely easily. 

 

They're not terrible issues or anything, though. Still, I bought it when I didn't know much about computer hardware, and the specs were probably pretty anemic for the money I spent. i7-3610QM, GT 650M, 1600x900 screen, 500GB HDD in 2012 for around ~$1100 - I probably could've done better. 

[ShadowCaptain]

SNIP

 

Yeah I have a clevo based laptop too, its a great little beast

 

The new M14x (aside from its meh hardware) is a MUCH better design, more metal, less rubberised plastic and an IPS matte display FINALLY 

 

Much better cooling, I just wish they offered more than the 765m something like a 770m, or even a 780m would be PERFECT

 

Yeah their 14" laptop was never the best in class which sucks because, the 17" and especially 18" have the most powerful hardware for any laptop (obviously other brands have this too)

[Legion]

 

 

 

These are the two reasons I won't buy a gaming laptop. 

 

Great Review though enjoyed reading.

[ShadowCaptain]

 

These are the two reasons I won't buy a gaming laptop. 

 

Great Review though enjoyed reading.

 

Out of 7 gaming laptops I have owned this is the only one with an oversized power brick

 

Glad you enjoyed the read

[dyent10]

alienware laptops has come a long way since the m17x back in 2009. suprisingly, it only requires a 200w psu considering it a single 7970m requires 100w. 

[ShadowCaptain]

alienware laptops has come a long way since the m17x back in 2009. suprisingly, it only requires a 200w psu considering it a single 7970m requires 100w. 

 

yeah its pretty beast, unfortunately these days its not the BEST performer but it still magages to play most games on high at 1080p 60

[VinceLoh89]

Very interesting review! I would love to see Metro Light review on your M18X mate! =D 

It's expensive but upgradability is my main focus here! 

[ShadowCaptain]

Very interesting review! I would love to see Metro Light review on your M18X mate! =D 

It's expensive but upgradability is my main focus here! 

 

It is perfectly playable at 1080p on decent settings, I didnt have my desktop when I played last light, and I ran it on near highest settings (from memory)

 

want me to benchmark it for you? 

 

Also the M18x can be upgraded using MXM graphics cards, tempted to spend £1000 putting SLI 980ms inside, instead of buying a new laptop.... tempted anyway

[Darkman]

It is perfectly playable at 1080p on decent settings, I didnt have my desktop when I played last light, and I ran it on near highest settings (from memory)

 

want me to benchmark it for you? 

 

Also the M18x can be upgraded using MXM graphics cards, tempted to spend £1000 putting SLI 980ms inside, instead of buying a new laptop.... tempted anyway

That would be cool. I remember, my friend had a M17x with an i7 4710U (I think) and SLI 770Ms. Sadly he doesn't have it anymore. His house burnt down, he lost everything except his EVGA GTX 660 ti from his old rig.

[ShadowCaptain]

That would be cool. I remember, my friend had a M17x with an i7 4710U (I think) and SLI 770Ms. Sadly he doesn't have it anymore. His house burnt down, he lost everything except his EVGA GTX 660 ti from his old rig.

 

Yeah though I do want to get something smaller and lighter I dunno, I am so indecisiveness and also very compulsive (however that works)

 

ah that sucks ><

[PapaGangster]

I take a dislike to ailenware, but readed your review since it is very good!

[ShadowCaptain]

I take a dislike to ailenware, but readed your review since it is very good!

 

Thanks bud

 

They do make some pretty bad ass laptops

[IMPERIUS]

I like that you just put a gun for size comparison

[VerticalDiscussions]

Is it thicker than FGM-148 Javelin or an XM25 IAWS :lol: ? Either ways a high end brick!

[ShadowCaptain]

Is it thicker than FGM-148 Javelin or an XM25 IAWS :lol: ? Either ways a high end brick!

 

I like that you just put a gun for size comparison

 

 

Well you have to compare it something

[campfred]

Thanks for the review! I liked it! 

[ShadowCaptain]

Thanks for the review! I liked it! 

 

Thanks

 

Hi to all..

Tell me please.

Torrent - exe file could be?

For example from this sites:

 

Erm.. think you are in the wrong place.... also... please get out of here asking how to pirate

 

You need help getting it? try visiting a shop

 

REPORTED

[Tim Drake]

I know this is old but eh, i'm bored.

 

+Well Structured Text

+Size comparisons

+High quality pictures

+provided videos

 

-Videos weren't of best quality

-Alienware ew

 

Really well done review <3

[ShadowCaptain]

I know this is old but eh, i'm bored.

 

+Well Structured Text

+Size comparisons

+High quality pictures

+provided videos

 

-Videos weren't of best quality

-Alienware ew

 

Really well done review <3

 

Thanks, it didnt even take that long, surprises how poor some reviews are on here, I am still proud of it, though I wish I had spent more time structuring it

 

Yeah the videos weren't great because my DSLR was being borrowed so I used my iPhone and had no tripod adapter

 

Next time I do a review it will be 1000000x more impressive (now I have my full frame DSLR and proper studio lights)

[Tim Drake]

Thanks, it didnt even take that long, surprises how poor some reviews are on here, I am still proud of it, though I wish I had spent more time structuring it

 

Yeah the videos weren't great because my DSLR was being borrowed so I used my iPhone and had no tripod adapter

 

Next time I do a review it will be 1000000x more impressive (now I have my full frame DSLR and proper studio lights)

 

Y u no in game record?

[SkilledRebuilds]

A friend of mine has that too and the only thing he found out of ALL the goodness, is one bad... CPU can't handle lagorith lossless 1080p/30 and BF4 at the same time (may have been isolated to something else) but we still just changed to the UT lossless codec and it was back to full performance Gaming+Recording 1080p/30.

 

A strong performer indeed!

[ShadowCaptain]

Y u no in game record?

 

Old AMD GPUs, I would have had to use fraps/dxtory which would have lowered the framerate...

 

on modern hardware I can use shadowplay, OBS and quicksync, amd rec etc but this was not available back then (or I did not know about it)

 

A friend of mine has that too and the only thing he found out of ALL the goodness, is one bad... CPU can't handle lagorith lossless 1080p/30 and BF4 at the same time (may have been isolated to something else) but we still just changed to the UT lossless codec and it was back to full performance Gaming+Recording 1080p/30.

 

A strong performer indeed!

 

Not tried, I would not use it for recording, I use my desktop for that (or I could use my elgato if I wanted)

 

I would bet most laptops would struggle with that, most laptops CPUs are not that powerful

[Nup]

I like that this review came out two years after you bought it, gave time to any underlying problems that may have become apparent.