Featured: If you’re a PC junkie, be sure to check out this Dell Alienware X51 hands-on report from our Chris Davies. If mobile is more of your thing, check this out – iPhone 4S Spigen GLAS.t and Ultimate Class Screen Protector Review. And our Chris Burns gives his opinion in this latest column – StumbleUpon changes repeat Digg blunders of old.

Mobile: It wasn’t a huge day for mobile news, but it was interesting because it’s not often the name Haliburton comes up in this category. The company you may know as being embroiled in Bush-era controvery is dumping the Blackberry to switch to corporate iPhones. And on the Android side, Lenovo has released an Android 4.0 timeline for those wanting a ThinkPad upgrade. And that’s all for today. Check back tomorrow for the Tuesday evening wrap-up.

The Xbox comparisons are hard to avoid. Just like Microsoft’s console, the X51 delivers a combination of slick matte- and gloss-finish plastic along with a decidedly stylized aesthetic that some will find appealing and others may consider simply over the top. Alienware goes the whole hog with illumination, too, slapping LEDs behind the fascia logo and the side grilles. These can be set to custom colors, or to change according to the current Windows app or even depending on the current gameplay. If you want the lighting to glow an ominous red when you’re under attack, you can have it.

Although Alienware has played up the small footprint of the X51, it’s worth remembering that these things are relative to the company’s humongous regular desktops. The X51 is no nettop, in fact it’s a fairly hefty unit, equal certainly to an Xbox 360. That allows it to accommodate not only an optical drive – Dell will outfit it with a DVD burner or a Blu-ray – but a discrete graphics card, your choice of NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 545 1GB graphics or GeForce GTX 555 1GB.

If you’re thinking of the Alienware X51 as a compact alternative to an HTPC set-top box, however, prepare to be surprised. Packing gaming-level processing power into a PC requires some space, and though Dell’s minimum specification starts out with an Intel Core i3 processor, it’s no surprise that the company expects the Core i5 and i7 options to be more popular.

In short, this is quite the compromise in comparison to your regular, dedicated console. The Alienware X51 is roughly akin to the 360 in size, but it kicks off at around twice the price and, arguably, is capable of twice as much functionality. That power and flexibility comes with a price tag to match, and you lose the plug-and-play ease of a dedicated console. Look out for the full Alienware X51 review very soon.

For the first laptop in this list, the M17X R4, there will be options for how pumped up you’d like your interior to be. GPU options include two NVIDIA options: GeForce VTX 660M or GeForce GTX 675M, and one AMD Radeon 7970M. As for the R2 units, the first one M14X R2 will feature a GPU coming as part of the motherboard, and options including 1GB and 2GB right out of the box. On the M18X R2 the only detail known at the moment is the option for a red or black exterior.

Of course according to That 70′s Show if you’re an average shopper looking for a refrigerator, color is your most important feature – so perhaps that’s all we need! We will keep looking out for future options of course, and we expect them to be dropped sooner than later. Meanwhile check out our current favorite playing a bit of the ol’ Gotham City as well as the newest news on Alienware’s other options out already:

[via Dell News and More]

Fast, small PCs aren’t especially new, though it’s only now that processor and graphics technology has caught up that SFF models can hold a candle to the bulky PC gaming rigs of old. Sony and Microsoft fettle their dedicated consoles to pretty much a single purpose, delivering optimum gaming performance from a device that has to work as an predictable appliance; it also means their abilities are pretty much unchanged since their hardware was first announced. The X51, in its high-spec’d form at least, is likely to be capable of better graphics and handling more intensive games.

The tipping point will come when Windows 8 arrives. Microsoft has already said that it plans to support Xbox LIVE on Windows 8 PCs, hooking platform-specific as well as other titles into the social and ranking system. “Live has been successful on the Windows Phone. Live will be built into the PC” Microsoft’s VP of global marketing Mike Delman said back in June 2011. “It will be the service where you get your entertainment. We were talking about it – you will not just see consoles and handhelds at this show next year, this show’s going to morph into other devices.”

Now Microsoft’s not stupid. It knows it has a perfectly serviceable console platform in Xbox, and the likelihood of it doing anything that legitimately threatens the Xbox 360′s rising appeal – or the potential success of the next-gen Xbox – is low. Still, there are a lot of people out there who might not buy a dedicated console but could be swayed to pick up a compact box that delivers not only gaming but HTPC functionality.

That blurring of the distinctions between console and computer – and, indeed, phone – all fit in with something the company has referred to as “three screens and a cloud”; gaming, desktop and mobile platforms all interlinked, your entertainment following you on the most appropriate device at any one time. Microsoft has also been readying its Kinect for Windows kit recently, promising a February launch for developers at least. Still, when the motion-sensing bar makes it to broad availability – we’re guessing at around the time Windows 8 hits PCs later in 2012 – it will bulldoze through another differentiator between 360 and the desktop.

Pricing will remain the big differentiator, at least for the moment. The X51 kicks off at $699, though that’s with a Core i3 processor; figure on spending $1,149 upwards if you want a Core i7 chip instead, and we’ve a feeling most hardcore gamers will. That’s enough to buy six Xbox 360 consoles with spare change left over, or one console, a Kinect and a whole catalog of games.

Still, consoles as we know them are gradually being squeezed, with capable and compact PCs at one side and the rise of casual gaming on affordable Smart TV set-top boxes at the other. Just as has been the case in mobile, with dedicated portable consoles losing out in favor to gaming smartphones and PMPs like Apple’s iPod touch, the center of our living room entertainment is also evolving. Alienware’s X51 isn’t going to kill the Xbox 360 and PS3 today, but it’s further evidence the old guard of gaming needs to step it up if they want to remain relevant tomorrow.

The company even finds room to slot in a DVD burner, with a Blu-ray drive as an option. Storage is courtesy of a 1TB 7,200rpm HDD, and there’s room on the Mini-ITX motherboard for up to 8GB of DDR3 memory.

Connectivity includes gigabit ethernet along with WiFi a/b/g/n, six USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, audio in/out, HDMI 1.4, a pair of digital audio ports (optical and coax) and standard analog audio. The dinky desktop is supplied with a 250W PSU as standard, but those keen to overclock the X51 can specify a 330W PSU instead.

Vertical or horizontal positioning is supported, and unlike many SFF chassis there’s the promise of easy access to the guts of the system for upgrades and general tinkering. The traditional Alienware lighting is present too, with customizable zones, and the Alienware Command Center app is preinstalled to handle power management and other performance aspects.

The Alienware X51 is available direct from Dell now, priced from $699. That gets you a Core i3 chip and 4GB of memory.

Easy access to the internal components is a given, with the whole side-panel slotting off easily. Four hard-drive bays side side-on, with a choice of HDD or SSD storage, while there’s room for two extra 5.25-inch drives up-front alongside the standard optical drive. LED lighting means not only does the Aurora look good in the dark, but it’s easy to see what you’re poking at when working on the insides.

An Intel factory overclock, optional 3D graphics and multi-display support, and tool-free component fittings round out the key points. The Alienware Aurora R4 is priced from $2,199, and will go on sale through Dell today.

Update: More specs and a UK price – from £1,999 – now added:

• 2nd Generation 3000 series Intel Core i7 Six Core Processor Options
• New Intel X79 Express Chipset with Unlocked BIOS for Overclocking1
• Single and Dual Graphics Options:
• - 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 68702
• - 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 69502
• - 1.25GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti2
• - 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 5802
• - Dual 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6870 – AMD CrossFireX2
• - Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6950 – AMD CrossFireX2
• 8GB or 16GB Quad Channel 1600MHz DDR3 Memory Options2
• Fast 7,200RPM Hard Drive Options up to 2TB; 256GB and 512GB SSD Options4
• Single and Dual Optical Drive Options; Including Blu-ray Disc Reader and Burner
• High Quality Audio Options:
• - Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software (Standard)
• - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (Optional)
• - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium (Optional)
• System Dimensions: height: 16.77” (426mm), depth: 25.39” (645mm), width: 9.85” (250mm); weight: starting at 45lbs (20.41kg)

Storyline

The storyline here is one that takes place some months after the prison madness of Batman: Arkham Asylum, the first game in this series. What’s gone on since then is the city government of Gotham City has created a walled-in miniature town in which all the criminals that would otherwise have been sent to the asylum for the criminally insane have been confined – this city is called Arkham City. This and the fact that a set of corrupt police officers under the orders of the fellow who’s been left in charge of the city have tossed Bruce Wayne in the city to fend for himself make this storyline appear rather familiar.

This is a re-written version of Escape from New York (or Escape from Los Angeles, if you prefer), and Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, is Snake Plissken. Once you’ve been pulled into the city by the sinister Hugo Strange, who is running the city in this storyline, your goal is to continue the investigation you started before you were captured – and with your endless arsenal of gadgets, abilities, and skills in both the combat and detective arenas, you’ll have more than an engaging time doing so. The story does aim at making this a quintessential Batman game as it does appear to try to contain each and every one of the main villains, but of course its unlikely nature is easily trumped by the vastness of the environment and your complete freedom in exploring all of your possibilities.

This is a Batman story, and because it takes on the story started in the first Arkham game and expands upon it by literally turning the asylum into an entire city, it’s great. And not only do you get to move through the main storyline, there are side-stories and tasks you can attain as well. And of course, what good game centered around a city would be complete without Grand Theft Auto free-play, your ability to explore nearly without limit!

Gameplay

When you play this game, you are Batman. You’ll want to put on your movie-quality Batman mask and put on the sharp gloves because you’ll feel like you’re the real deal. You play the part of the real detective Batman, the one with vast sets of maps, decoding tools, and your trusty pal Alfred Pennyworth (aka Bruce Wayne’s butler and Batman’s most valuable helper, for those of you unfamiliar). You also play the part of the fully equipped Batman, complete with every little Bat-tool you’ve ever heard of. Fly to the tops of buildings with your Line Launcher pulling you from the ground all the way up, glide around the town with your cape-cum-Bat-Glider, and traverse the landscape as you discover the ever-changing set of situations in the whole of Arkham City.

You’ve got levels on top of levels of ways to interact with your environment, from punching a bad guy in the face to attaching a line to a horizon scaffold to lower yourself down on top of the enemy head-first. You can attack a villain from above, flipping down to knock him out with your boot. You can make a glide-attack from a half-mile above a group of gangsters directly to a fellow’s face. Toss your Remote Controlled Batarang and make it flip and fly from your hand down the aisle, around the corner, and under a table to hit a notorious fellow in the kneecap. You will know the meaning of a diverse set of views and controls when you work here in the city.

You’ll want to choose your controls wisely. The folks who make the game have some special edition Batarang controllers you can use, but know this: there are many ways. When you see the demonstration video you’ll see your humble narrator using the keyboard on the laptop and a plain ol’ two-button and a scroll wheel mouse. You’ve got many choices, to say the least.

Graphics

Again I must say that this is far and away the most aesthetically voluptuous video game I’ve ever played, and with the setup I’ve got running here there’s no waiting for anything. Flowing cape, purple haze, and masses of bats haunt your vision as you move through a very real (yet virtual, believe it or not) world of Arkham City. You’ll walk across a collapsing set of poles over motel metal, gaze over the masses of buildings complete with weather, and move in and out of cinematics without even a moment’s delay.

When you fight a set of gangsters, you’ll know you’ve beaten them all because whichever ends up being your final punch or kick is swiftly zoomed in on shown in ultra slow-motion. It’s just lovely. Have a peek at the enhancements you’ll be working with should you play this game with the same GPU we’re having a look at here – lots more floaties!

Hands-on with Batman: Arkham City on an Alienware M17xR3

The 3rd Dimension

I played this game in 3D with the NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 wireless 3D glasses you see in the hands-on video. Notice in the video that you’re not seeing in 3D — that’s not because the 3D glasses don’t work, its because the camera can’t translate the effect. What you’re seeing instead is one of two frames that the glasses would otherwise send to your two eyes for the full 3D effect. And that effect is good. Where I’m by no means a fan of the 3D era we’re in right this moment, these glasses fit my face, the lenses cover my eyes adequately, and I don’t get a headache like I did with the ol’ blue and red glasses or these no-glasses 3D effects we’re seeing with some smartphones this past year.

Those are nasty, this is undeniably good.

Wrap-up

This game is the one rig giants will be using as their go-to for “look at how amazing this machine is” for quite some time, without a doubt. The folks at Rocksteady Studios have done a fantastic job of both developing and delivering the game, this including promoting the game with several offers on each different iteration of the game – like Gamestop where you’ll find the reviews sitting at 10 out of 10 almost without end. This game is out now for several platforms including Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, but as this PC version is without a doubt the most aesthetically powerful, this is the one you should get. Suit up now.

And know this – as with all of our reviews here on SlashGear of products like smartphones, tablets, computers of all types, and even the tiniest of remote control vehicles, you’re welcome to continue to ask questions throughout the future that your humble narrator (or whoever did each particular review) will do their best to answer. In other words – what else do you want to know?

Alienware will offer the Killer adapter on the M18x, M17x, M14x, and M11x gaming notebooks as an option. The WiFi card allows for less latency and data speeds up to 450Mbps. The card has intelligence inside that recognizes gaming traffic and prioritizes it for less lag and smoother online play. Anyone that has played an online game before will appreciate the reduced latency.

The network card inside the notebooks features Advanced Stream detect to classify the traffic and prioritize games. It also has visual bandwidth control to allow the user to see what applications are using the most bandwidth and kill them if needed. Pricing for the optional card is unknown.

NVIDIA points out that the machine will work in SLI modem inside the gaming notebook as well for blazing fast performance. The Alienware M17x will offer a single GTX 580M and will use Optimus technology to allow for up to five hours of run time when doing simple things like browsing Facebook. NVIDIA says that the single GPU is also powerful enough to deliver 100 fps in Call of Duty: Black Ops.

NVIDIA says the new GTX 580M has up to six times the tessellation performance than any other notebook GPU. The GPU supports 3D Vision, 3DTV Play software, and Optimus technology along with SLI in certain notebooks. The GPU also supports PhysX, CUDA, and uses Verde notebook drivers. There is no word on pricing or availability of the notebooks at this time.

The Alienware M14X has GeForce GT 555M graphics with either 1.5GB or 3GB of dedicated memory, together with using NVIDIA Optimus intelligent GPU switching. That allows the notebook to reach up to six hours runtime on a single charge. The display runs at 1366 x 768 or, optionally, 1600 x 900; other options include WiMAX. Ports include USB 3.0 and HDMI 1.4i, while pricing starts at $1,199.

Meanwhile the updated M11x now has up to 10 hours battery life thanks to the new processors and Optimus graphics, while still finding room inside the compact chassis for optional LTE, WiMAX or 3G connectivity. It’s priced from $999. As for the Alienware M18x, that will drop in May from $1,999.

Update: UK pricing will be from £899 for the M11x and from $1,099 for the M14x.

Pocket-lint reports that sources have told it that the launch of the m18x and the m14x notebooks are due today. Alienware has a teaser site up right now that geeks interested in the notebooks can register with for more information. These should be some nice gaming machines.

The m18x will use an NVIDIA GTX 460M processor, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB HDD. It also uses a 2.8GHz Core i7 CPU, 8GHz of RAM, and 750GB HDD. One of the upgrade processors is a 3.4GHz unit, and other upgrades include 8GB of RAM, and 750GB of storage.

[via Pocket-lint]

They show the usual chunky, angular lines we’re familiar with from Alienware machines these days, along with a backlit keyboard which can, as with the M11x, be cycled through various hues. Ports include three USB 2.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, VGA, ethernet, various audio in/out and a memory card reader.

As for the guts of the notebook, we already knew that there’d be an Intel Core i7-2820QM processor along with either 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080 displays, plus a range of HDD and SSD storage. Graphics are courtesy of NVIDIA’s GeForce GT555M GPU, and there’ll be optional embedded WiMAX or LTE.

[via Engadget]

It will have an 11.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768. The screen is LED backlit and has a TrueLife glossy panel. The RAM options for the machine are 1GB-8GB and all RAM sticks run 1333MHz and are DDR3. There will be three CPU options with a Core i5-2537M, a Core i7-2617M, and a Core i7-2675M option.

Storage options will be up to 750GB HDD with a 256GB SSD option offered. Options for 3G and LTE/WiMax 4G will be available as well. It will come in red or black finishes. The only big questions whether or not a discrete GPU will be offered. With Alienware, being a gaming brand I would bet a discrete GPU is an option. The machine is pegged for launch in early April at an undisclosed price.

[via Dell-lab]

Klipsch has announced that its speakers will be used on the first 3D gaming notebook from Alienware. The new machine will be the first release in a series of new notebooks from Alienware that will use Klipsch speakers to give superior sound quality. The speakers should sound great; Klipsch makes some of the best audio gear on the market today.

The new M17x will launch this month starting at $1499. The machine will have a 3D 17-inch screen and it will use Intel Sandy Bridge processors with four cores. The notebook will also have HDMI in for playing the Xbox and PS3 3D style and the 3D screen will be an option.

Buyers will get to choose between a pair of AMD Radeon HD 6970M GPUs in CrossFireX configuration, or a pair of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M GPUs in SLI configuration. The Dell engineer also suggests that there will be “another LCD option for the M18X” though he can’t yet reveal what it is.

The Alienware M18x will be available in black or red, with a standard 12-cell 97Whr battery. No word on pricing or release dates at this stage.

[via Notebook Italia]

Some clues were dropped to the hardware configuration by a Dell person going by Eric G. The notebook still looks great, especially in the red color seen in the image above. The new features of the rig will supposedly include a 9-cell 93Whr battery. That battery should give the machine decent run time for a gaming notebook.

The real cool feature of the updated notebook is a new mobile GPU from AMD. The machine is pegged to get a new Radeon HD 6870 of HD 69070 mobile GPU using MxM form factors. The only catch here is that there is no official HD 6000 series for mobile GPUs. If the data from the Dell leak is accurate, we should be hearing about the new line soon. Right before the holiday season is the perfect time for AMD to launch a new line.

Currently the new CPUs aren’t showing up in the US system, though European buyers can choose them.  The Core i5 CPU is available in a £849 model ($1,230) while the Core i7 CPU is a £180 ($261) upgrade on top of that.

Meanwhile Engadget are claiming that they’ve seen internal Dell documentation pointing to a similar refresh for the US model happening sometime today.  All in all, it should add up to an even more successful machine than the one we reviewed a few months back.

[Thanks Pete!]

Video after the cut

Shuffle Magazine interviewed Clune at DCC 2010, and he broke the news that the M11x is indeed throwing out its current Pentium SU4100 1.30GHz and Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.30GHz processor options in favor of the faster Intel chips.  That would potentially make the M11x the fastest 11.6-inch notebook you could buy.

As for the other half of the rumors – that Dell would use NVIDIA’s Optimus technology for intelligently switching graphics – there’s no word.  However, the current M11x models do indeed use NVIDIA GPUs, and so it seems likely that Dell would continue to pick the best of the graphics company’s offerings for what’s turning into a compact flagship.

[Thanks Fahd!]

A rumor is going around that the M11x might be getting some even better tech this summer. According to Engadget, the M11x is set to get an NVIDIA Optimus update and new Intel CPUs. Optimus tech would mean the rig will have both integrated and discrete GPUs.

That little gem will help the machines battery life and give gamer’s better graphics. The new Intel Core 2010 line of CPUs will also land in the rig now that the shortage is said to be over. These two new features should make for an all around better machine. This is still an unconfirmed rumor at this point, but both of these upgrades would certainly make sense.

It’s certainly a distinctive notebook. Like larger Alienware models, the M11x swaps the curves so fashionable in current mainstream laptops for a blunter, angular design. The company have happily shown a little more restraint when it comes to grilles, contours and fluting, but there’s still no doubting the family lineage. The backlit Alienware logo on the notebook’s lid is mirrored by a second, slightly smaller logo just above the keyboard that acts as power button and status indicator.

The keyboard itself, meanwhile, uses Alienware’s stylized font, and the flat keycaps are reasonable to type on. There’s a decent amount of key travel, though it’s not a particularly quiet ‘board, but we’re not 100-percent convinced by the layout. It feels a little cramped in terms of width, perhaps because Alienware have slotted in a row of Home/End/Page Up/Page Down keys on the far right; most frustrating are the unduly narrow arrow keys, and we often found ourselves hitting the Windows context menu button when we meant to press left.

Alienware M11x unboxing video:

As for the trackpad, that’s a discrete textured square with tactile buttons underneath it. The standard Synaptics multitouch gestures – such as two-finger scrolling and pinch-zoom – are turned off by default. If it’s easy to miss the pad, that’s because of Alienware’s LED lighting effects. The entire keyboard is backlit, as is the Alienware logo (both the text under the display and the Alien-head power button), the status indicators on the top left of the ‘board, and the two grills inset into the front edge of the notebook. A manager app called AlienFX is preloaded, from which you can independently set each color from a wheel of different hues, before saving it as an overall color scheme. It’s also possible to choose two different schemes to automatically load depending on whether the M11x is on mains or battery power. It’s perhaps a little gimmicky, but it does lift the otherwise somber gloss-black finish of our review unit.

It also – at least the “Alienware” text – serves to fill some of the space left around the display. The 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 panel has a reasonably deep bezel above and underneath, though the TFT LCD itself is bright and crisp. Colors are particularly well saturated, a side-effect of the otherwise moderately frustrating glossy screen coating that can make finding a reflection-free angle a chore. Not such an issue when browsing or writing emails, but dark, moody games can sometimes leave you trying to peer past your own reflection to see what might be lurking round the corner.

Of course, if the onboard display isn’t perfect, there’s plenty of choice for hooking up external monitors. The M11x has VGA, HDMI and DisplayPort, along with three USB 2.0 ports, a pair of headphone sockets, a single microphone input, FireWire, ethernet and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. That’s more impressive than some 15.6-inch notebooks, never mind an 11.6-inch machine. Standard wireless connectivity includes WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1. There’s also a SIM card slot, for use if you’ve spec’d the optional Gobi 3G wireless module, and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. Another tab in Alienware’s manager app is for Aliensense, the company’s face-recognition app, which over a short period of time can learn to spot your face and automatically log into Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (Professional and Ultimate are options).

All that would be for naught if the M11x fell short when it comes to performance, and thankfully that’s very much not the case. Alienware offer a choice of two processors, Intel’s Pentium SU4100 1.30GHz in the entry-level machine or their Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.30GHz in the more expensive models. Out of the box they come overclocked; our review unit had the Core 2 Duo chip, running at 1.73GHz and paired with 4GB of DDR3 memory. Basic versions get just 2GB of memory, or you can specify up to 8GB. No matter the model, graphics are courtesy of NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 335M with a dedicated 1GB of GDDR3 memory; that’s switchable with Intel’s integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics chipset. Storage ranges from a 160GB 5,400rpm HDD, though 250GB to 500GB 7,200rpm HDDs, and finally a 256GB SSD, and the standard battery is an 8-cell 64 Whr pack (that requires you unscrewing the bottom panel to access).

Unlike other switchable graphics systems we’ve seen, which require you to log out of the OS or even reboot the notebook altogether, Alienware let you flip between the Intel and NVIDIA GPUs by hitting Fn+F6. NVIDIA’s Optimus system – which automatically chooses which GPU to use, based on what the user is asking of the system – isn’t present, but we can see some people preferring the manual control. The first time we flipped from integrated to standalone graphics the M11x had to download some audio drivers from Windows Update, but subsequent changes were fast and painless.

The Alienware M11x, then, is a Jekyll and Hyde machine, though to be fair only when it comes to visual crunching. We ran Geekbench, a synthetic test of processor and memory, and the M11x scored 2502 when on integrated graphics and 2512 on discrete graphics. Either way that’s a huge score given what we’re used to other ULV ultraportables managing; the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13, which has the same processor (though at its regular clock speed) manages just 2086 on the same test.

Where the difference is more obvious is in graphics performance. We switched over to PCMark Vantage, which tests all aspects of the notebook’s abilities and then rates it in categories such as productivity and gaming. Here, running with the integrated GPU, the M11x scored 4,080 PCMarks overall. Switch to the discrete graphics, meanwhile, and the overall PCMark Vantage score climbed to 4,802. That might not sound like a huge increase, but take a look at the individual categories and you get a clearer picture of what the NVIDIA GPU brings to the table. Gaming rose from 3,028 to 5,500, while Windows 7′s speed at crunching photos and importing them almost doubled. Looking at the GPU’s ability to manipulate images, that increased almost tenfold.

Given everything going on inside the M11x, we were concerned as to how hot the system might run. Happily even when under pressure the above-average cooling fan keeps the notebook from getting too hot for comfort. The downside, of course, is that it’s a little noisier than rival machines; not so bad when you’re gaming or watching a movie, since the notebook’s surprisingly decent speaker system is sufficient to drown out the background hum, but you’ll notice it in a normal room.

Alienware reckon you’ll see up to 8.5 hours of runtime from the M11x, as long as you’re only using the integrated GPU. In practice, we saw just under seven hours from a full charge, comprising basic web browsing over WiFI and some audio playback. Turning off the LED backlighting for the keyboard and logos eked out a few more minutes, and if you’re really keen you can head into the BIOS and turn off CPU overclocking. With the NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M active, meanwhile, the M11x made it to just over four hours of HD playback, running a locally-stored 1080p video scaled to suit the 720p-capable display.

Of course, the big question is how much AC-free gaming can you manage from a full charge, and that of course depends on how system intensive the game itself is. It’s worth remembering that Alienware specifically chose not to have the M11x automatically throttle the CPU/GPU when running on battery power; that means you always get the full benefit of the hardware, but it does take its toll on runtimes. Still, we found we could manage around 2hrs 45 minutes of solid gaming before the M11x expired, and notching down the display backlight (and, to a lesser extent, the color lighting effects) squeezed out a few extra minutes.

It’s important to remember that removing the battery itself isn’t straightforward, and requires physically unscrewing the bottom of the M11x; not something you’d want to do while in-transit. There’s a handy five-stage LED power level meter on the bottom, though, which means you can check battery status without necessarily booting up the notebook. Incidentally, a cold boot takes 46 seconds to the desktop (with the system tray fully loaded) while resuming from Windows 7 standby takes under 3 seconds.

There’s certainly plenty to love about the Alienware M11x. The switchable graphics convert this 11.6-inch ultraportable between a mild-mannered, long-legged web workhorse, with sufficient battery life to get you through most of a work day, and a serious gaming machine that’s as happy playing the latest titles while on the train as it is pumping it out through your HDTV. You’ll pay for the privilege, of course; while the M11x starts at $799 in the US or £549 in the UK, our particular review unit (with the 256GB SSD, Core 2 Duo processor and 4GB of memory) comes out to an altogether more hefty $1,539 in the US or £1,169 in the UK.

This isn’t the be-all and end-all in mobile gaming; while the overclocked processor is certainly capable, it’s ULV roots mean it’s not on a par with the latest Core i5 and Core i7 chips you’ll find in bigger notebooks. That’s the payoff for longer runtimes when you’re on integrated graphics. Still, we’ve a feeling that’s a compromise those people keen on an 11.6-inch machine will be willing to make. Non-gamers looking for a graphically-capable ultraportable should also find plenty to like here (though they might wish the design was slightly less “Alienware” and more discrete). All-day battery life with simultaneous gaming is still some way off, but for now the Alienware M11x is ahead of the pack.

You can’t argue with the Alienware M11x’s spec sheet.  Our review model has the upgraded Intel Core 2 Duo 1.3GHz SU7300 processor (the regular CPU is a dualcore Pentium SU4100) together with 4GB of DDR3 memory (8GB max) and the 256GB SSD (a 320GB 7,200rpm HDD is standard).  There are also dual-graphics, the regular Intel integrated chipset and NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 335M with 1GB of its own memory.  On the Intel GPU, with the standard 6-cell battery, Dell reckon you’ll see up to 8.5hrs of runtime; obviously that’ll be brought right down if you flip over to the GeForce chip and start gaming.

Ports are plentiful, with VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort for hooking up external screens if the 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 LED-backlit LCD isn’t big enough for you, as well as FireWire, USB and gigabit ethernet.  eSATA does seem an odd omission, though, and of course there’s no optical drive (though Dell tell us there’ll be an optional external drive available as an accessory).

Build quality is high, though the M11x is a real fingerprint magnet.  The “Cosmic Black” casing is sturdy, but it’s the high-gloss display which is already proving tricky to keep smear-free.  We wouldn’t argue with a little extra brightness at its maximum setting, either.  The keyboard – like several other parts of the notebook – is LED backlit and there’s a preloaded app which you can use to cycle through various colors; more importantly it has above-average travel and doesn’t feel mushy.  No room for a separate numeric keypad, but Alienware do slap their trademark glyphs across the standard gaming keys.

We’ve not had a chance to put the Alienware M11x through its paces with benchmarking or gaming yet, but already the components are showing a turn of speed we wouldn’t usually expect from a machine this size.  Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit loads quickly, and resuming from standby takes mere seconds.  If battery life really does live up to Dell’s claims then this could easily become one of our favorite ultraportables.  Until the full review, then, enjoy the live gallery and unboxing video!

Dell Alienware M11x unboxing:

The whole thing weighs under 4.5lbs, and has up to 500GB hard-drive, a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M video chipset, WiFi b/g/n and optional 3G WWAN.  Connectivity includes HDMI, VGA, three USB 2.0, FireWire and a multiformat memory card reader, and the ultraportable scores over 6,100 in 3DMark 06.

Of course, the Alienware M11x is already on sale now, at least for preorder customers, though for the $799 entry price you obviously get a more moderate system with a 1.3GHz Pentium CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard-drive.  Throw in the headline functionality and you’re looking more in the region of $1,500.

Left 4 Dead 2 on the Alienware M11x:

Press Release:

DELL DELIVERS PHENOMENAL GAMING POWER IN ITTY BITTY LAPTOP: ALIENWARE M11X

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Feb. 2, 2010 – Today Dell launches the much anticipated Alienware M11x – the most powerful 11-inch laptop in the universe. Unveiled at CES 2010 where the gaming community praised the small yet powerful laptop, the new Alienware M11x truly redefines mobile gaming. The Alienware M11x harnesses the gaming power of a 15-inch laptop in an 11-inch design weighing in at just under 4.5 pounds. Starting at $799, the ultra-compact M11x is the perfect on-the-go gaming companion that will delight gamers and students and doesn’t weigh down a backpack. The Alienware M11x is the latest example of how people around the world benefit from the Dell and Alienware collaboration.

Alienware M11x Key Specs:
· Processor: Up to Intel® Core™2 Duo SU7300 (1.3GHz, 800 MHz, 3 MB)
· Graphics: 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M
· Memory: Up to 8GB DDR33 1066MHz
· Hard Drive: Up to 500GB4 7200RPM or 256GB4 Solid State Drive
· Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate (64-bit)
· Connection: 802.11 b/g/n & Optional Internal WWAN
· Ports: HDMI / VGA / 3 USB / Media Card Reader / FireWire
· Battery Life: Up to 8.5 Hours of Battery Life1
· Performance: Over 6,100 3DMark 06 Score! 2

Quotes:
“Among all the exciting products that debuted at CES we firmly believe that the Alienware M11x stood out because it packs an unprecedented amount of horsepower into a small form factor, making real gaming possible in a whole new segment,” said Rene Haas, general manager of notebook products at NVIDIA . “It goes without saying that the fastest sub-12 inch laptop in the universe needs a powerful GPU and we are thrilled that Alienware selected the NVIDIA GeForce GT335M to power the Alienware M11x.”

“The Alienware M11X is an exciting evolution in the PC gaming segment. Intel is thrilled to see the new M11X make a successful splash in the market. It recently won CNET’s best gaming platform at CES. Even more exciting the M11X is powered by an Intel ultra-low voltage cpu – which makes the system very thin and compact with an 11.6” screen. A real testament to Alienware ingenuity and Intel performance.” says Intel’s Doug Parker – Director, Americas Marketing

“The extraordinary performance of the Alienware m11x redefines, in a big way, the capabilities of small form factor laptops,” said Arthur Lewis, general manager, Dell Gaming Group. “By combining this level of graphics performance, with over-clockable CPUs in a truly mobile product – all for less than $1,000 — Dell once again demonstrates its commitment to making superior technology accessible to all.”

A lot went into the engineering and design of the M11x. Find out about the project, its code name, and what it took to pack this much punch into such a small laptop: ‘A brief history of the M11x’

1Based on lab testing. Varies by configuration, operating conditions and other factors. Maximum battery capacity decreases with time and use.
2Based on Futuremark 3DMark 2006 test performed by Dell Labs in January 2010. Actual performance will vary based on configuration, usage and manufacturing variability.
3 Significant system memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.
4 GB means 1 billion bytes and TB equals 1 trillion bytes; actual capacity varies with preloaded material and operating environment and will be less.

Already noted is the Nvidia GT335M switchable graphics, but the processor options have been leaked in slides showing up on Chinese megasite Sina.  The Alienware netbook can be outfit with either the Pentium SU4100 as well as the Core 2 Duo SU7300, higher performing chips than you would normally expect from a netbook (then again, it’s Alienware who’s making this bad boy).

The pre-order page for the Alienware M11x jumped up a couple of hours ago, retaining its $799 price tag, coming with a 1.3GHz Pentium SU4100, NVIDIA GeForce GT335M, 2GB RAM, and 160GB HDD. More power?  Upgrade the CPU to a  1.3GHz Core 2 Duo SU7300 for $100, the RAM to 8GB for $350, and the HDD to a 256GB SSD for $570. Mobile broadband is available via either Verizon/ AT&T for an extra $125.  All that extra juice starts to add up pretty fast.  The M11x is shipping March 1st, a month from today.

Seen initially back at this year’s CES, the Alienware M11x was announced for the price of $999.  But Engadget received a tip scraped from the official Alienware site – the HTML source to be specific:

“The Alienware M11x, with over 6.5 hours of battery life and weighing under 4.5 lbs. will start at an amazing $799! Leave it to the folks at Alienware to enable truly mobile performance gaming at an affordable price.”

Since when did netbooks become that cheap, that powerful (and that ferociously designed)?

The Alienware M17x and M15x have 17-inch and 15-inch displays, respectively, and processors from Intel’s new Core i7 range.  The larger machine can be outfitted with twin graphics cards, too, and prices start from $1,799 for the M17x and $1,399 for the M15x.

As for the OptX AW2310, that’s a 23-inch Full HD widescreen LCD that supports NVIDIA’s 3D Vision technology.  When used with the graphics company’s optional 3D glasses, it supports stereoscopic gaming, 80,000:1 dynamic contrast and inputs via one DVI or two HDMI ports.  The monitor will be $499, though the NVIDIA 3D Vision kit is sold separately.

Dell haven’t been too liberal with full specifications for the Alienware M11X, but they have divulged some benchmarking results.  The netbook-sized ultraportable managed 6,000 to 7,000 scores in 3DMark, which adds up to 50fps performance in Crysis and 30fps in CoD at the highest settings.  There’s also an HDMI connector for plugging in an HDTV.

That’s impressive stuff, though we’ve a feeling you may have to shell out a few upgrades over and above the $999 starting price if you want the best performance.  Still, Dell expect the Alienware M11X to arrive later in 2010; hopefully they’ll have more details closer to launch.

The M15x now gets Core i7 processors and an optional 1GB NVIDIA GTX 260M GPU. The notebook can also be optioned with 8GB of DDR3 RAM. Prices for the new machines start at $1,499. The M17x gaming notebook can now be optioned with dual 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4870 video cards.

Alienware also offered updates to its Aurora and Aurora ALX line of gaming desktops with Core i7 Extreme Edition CPUs overclocked to 3.6GHz from the factory. The machines can now also get optional dual 1GB ATI HD 5870 graphics and up to 24GB of RAM. Prices for the machines start at $1,999.

Press Release:

DELL FEEDS GAMERS’ PASSIONS WITH FIVE NEW ‘ALL POWERFUL’ ALIENWARE GAMING RIGS

All-New Alienware Gaming Systems Include the M15x Laptop and Aurora and Area-51 Desktops
Alienware M15x Features the New Intel® Mobile Core™ i7 Processor
Alienware M17x Laptop Receives Up To 145 Percent Graphics Performance Boost with Addition of Dual 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility™ HD 4870
Alienware Peripherals, Including the New Alienware TactX Keyboard and Mouse, Offer Gamers a Fully-Integrated PC Gaming Ecosystem
ROUND ROCK, Texas, Sept. 23, 2009 – PC Gamers now have five new ways to level up with a fleet of high-performance gaming rigs from Alienware, including four overclocked* liquid-cooled desktop systems and the most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe.

Jointly developed by the Dell and Alienware teams, and featuring the latest technologies for maximum performance, aggressive designs and unmatched customization and personalization through Alienware’s exclusive Command Center software suite, these systems represent a new era in PC gaming.

The All powerful Alienware Aurora, Aurora ALX, Area-51 and Area-51 ALX desktops and the Alienware M15x laptop join the M17x, launched in June, to expand the Alienware arsenal and reaffirm Dell’s position as visionary and designer of the industry’s most coveted gaming systems.

The News:
Alienware M15x – The most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe. Sporting Alienware’s acclaimed new mobile ID which debuted with the M17x laptop, the M15x offers Alienware performance in a compact package guaranteed to appeal to mobile enthusiasts and hardcore gamers on the go. The first Alienware laptop to feature a mobile Core i7 processor, the M15x also offers a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M GPU* and up to 8GB DDR3 1333MHz memory* to take on, and dominate, even the most intense game titles. Prices start at $1,499 and additional technical specifications are here.
Alienware Aurora and Aurora ALX – The Aurora is most upgradeable and the Aurora ALX is the most powerful MicroATX desktops Alienware has ever created. Featuring the latest Intel® Core™ i7 processors, including an optional Extreme Edition overclocked** to 3.6GHz, the Aurora line of desktops are designed to deliver the power needed for hardcore gaming, pro-level HD audio and video editing, 3D animation and more. To crank up your gaming performance, Aurora and Aurora ALX have options for dual 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards, up to 24GB DDR3 1333MHz memory[asterisk] or 12GB DDR3 1600MHz memory, respectively, and up to 2TB of hard drive storage – all in a compact, MicroATX chassis for taking up less desk space. Prices start at $1,299 and additional technical specs are here.
Alienware Area-51 and Area-51 ALX designed for extreme gamers and tech enthusiasts who demand only the latest, most advanced equipment, the Area-51 line of desktops features Intel Core i7 processors factory overclocked* to an intense 3.86GHz for peak performance. To max out your graphics benchmarks, these systems offer the quad-GPU power of dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 graphics cards. Other featured specs include up to 12GB DDR3* memory clocked at 1333MHz or 1600MHz, respectively, and six easy-access, cable-free hard drive bays that support both 7,200RPM and 10,000RPM drives, solid state drives and RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10 configurations. Prices begin at $1,999.
The ALX brand denotes a distinguished class of Alienware systems that deliver both unique designs and peak performance. Both Aurora ALX and Area-51 ALX offer technology options beyond their respective standard editions, allowing for higher benchmarks, extended future-proofing and all-around increased bragging rights. Aurora ALX features design elements not available on Aurora such as the Active Venting louver system, internal theater lighting and cable-free hard drive bays. Area-51 ALX ups the ante with an anodized aluminum body and motorized front panel. All Alienware desktops also offer CPU liquid cooling right out of the box which allows the ease of overclocking that deliver extreme computing.

Also announced today, Alienware customers can now configure the M17x laptop with the intense power of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 in both single and ATI CrossFireX configurations for up to a 145 percent graphics performance increase1. The result is an immersive, cinematic experience when playing the latest HD games and movies.

Alienware users can build out a complete, high-performance gaming ecosystem with the recently announced Alienware TactX Mouse and Keyboard, and the Alienware OptX™ AW2210 Monitor which features a 21.5-inch full HD screen for experiencing the latest generation games and HD movies in glorious 1080p resolution.

The Aurora and Aurora ALX start at $1,299, and are available for order immediately at www.alienware.com
The Area 51 and Area 51 ALX start at $1,999, and will be available to order in the coming weeks.
The Alienware M15x starts at $1,499 and is available for order immediately at www.alienware.com
The branded peripherals can be ordered immediately at: www.alienware.com

Alienware is one of two brand pillars within Dell’s broader consumer portfolio. Dell’s Alienware gaming brand delivers high-performance computing for enthusiasts and tech lovers alike, and complements the Adamo by Dell brand, which offers unmatched style, design and craftsmanship. Alienware and Adamo are the standard-bearers of Dell’s personalization efforts, which extend to the entire consumer portfolio, including Inspiron and Studio and Dell Design Studio, which reinvents the way people can customize their laptops as extensions of self-expression.

Quotes:

“These newest additions to the Alienware lineup represent the culmination of months of hard work, bringing together two world-class teams to create a family of world-class products targeting PC gamers,” said Arthur Lewis, general manager of Dell’s Gaming Group. “Our current offering of desktops, notebooks and peripheral products signals our commitment to providing the best PC gaming experience possible and to being the global industry leader for PC gaming products.”

“Alienware systems are, and always have been, our benchmark for PC gaming performance,” said Michael Tatelman, vice president of sales and marketing for Dell’s consumer business. “Through the Alienware brand, Dell is committed to offering gamers the richest possible PC gaming experience with the latest technology and coolest designs.”

“The new Intel® Core™ i7 mobile processor redefines expectations for performance, flexibility and extreme gaming on mobile platforms,” said Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of the PC Client Group at Intel. “We are pleased that Alienware has designed the Intel® Core™ i7 920Xm processor into their latest mobile gaming laptop.”

“As the first-ever DirectX® 11-capable graphics card, the ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 is the pinnacle of PC graphics performance,” said Matt Skynner, Vice President & General Manager, GPU Division, AMD. “By pairing the awesome power of this card with Alienware’s reputation for industry-leading technology, gamers can expect an unmatched gaming experience.”

The keyboard is called the Alienware TactX keyboard has six macro keys that can be customized and it can store unlimited user profiles. The WASD gaming cluster has anti-ghosting technology and the keyboard sports a full array of multimedia controls. Customization with AlienFX lighting for two zones is built-in as well.

The Alienware TactX Mouse has a 5000 DPI laser engine and sports on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. The mouse has five customizable buttons and features both vertical and horizontal scrolling along with AlienFX customizable lighting. The TactX headset has a retractable mic and a three-piece design for easy transport to and from your favorite LAN party. Alienware also debuted a new OptX 21.5-inch LCD with an 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 2MS response time and a resolution of 1920 x 1080.

The casing is an anodized red aluminum, adding a sophisticated and sleek look to the device. It also sports a backlit keyboard that lights up with red tinting. This is the default, but you can actually change the light color within the software.

The Nebula Red version of the M17x notebook costs an extra $99 to the $1,799 price tag. The rest of the specs are the same including a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, a 250GB hard drive, a DVD burner, a 1GB GeForce GTX 260M and 4GB RAM. You can get this new model of the notebook in August.

It’s also HD quality with 1080p and features both DVI and HDMI ports for greater flexibility. Gaming consoles and your Blu-ray player can be connected while you’re still hooked up to your computer, which is super convenient.

Other specs include a TN panel, a 2ms pixel response time, a matte finish and a 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. You can get the Alienware OptX AW2210 now for $299.

There’s also a dual-layer Blu-ray drive, nine-cell battery, GeForce 9400M G1 GPU with HybridPower (in case you want to save some battery runtime) and more ports and connectivity than you can shake a brace of cables at.  WiFi draft-n is joined by FireWire, four USB 2.0, eSATA, HDMI, DisplayPort and an ExpressCard slot. 

Still, when you’ve got an 11.68lb anodized aluminum laptop measuring 15.98 x 12.65 x 2.11 inches there’s more than enough room to funnel in the superlatives.  Admittedly, a lot of these headline-grabbers are optional, hence the starting price of $1,799 when it “officially” arrives.

As with past Alienware products, the company is positioning the new Allpowerful range as offering superfluous performance, hence the tagline “Be the first to view the unearthly power” (which you can see by hovering over the text).  Looking at the site’s source-code confirms that both laptops and desktops will be launched.

We’re also expecting it to be an expensive range, given Alienware’s traditional pricing structure, and offer the latest in high-performance processors and graphics options.  It’s possible that the new PCs could coincide with the change in Intel’s Core i7 line-up; their new Extreme 3.33GHz chip has been tipped to arrive around the end of May 2009.

[Thanks Philip-R!]

Each system has a choice of single or dual ATI or NVIDIA graphics cards, complete with ATI CrossfireX and NVIDIA SLI support, together with multiple single or dual-drive storage options.  Each offers support for RAID 1, 0 and 1+0, for a maximum of 2TB in the XPS or 4TB on the Alienware PCs.  Alienware buyers also get a choice of 750, 1000 or 1200-watt power supplies.

The Alienware Area-51 X58 starts at $1,649 with a Core i7-920 ($500 to upgrade to the i7-940; $1,200 for the i7-965 Extreme), while the Area-51 ALX X-58 starts at $3,699 with a Core i7 940 ($700 for the i7-965 Extreme).  Meanwhile the Dell XPS 730x starts at $1,999 with a Core i7-940 ($1,171 for the i7-965 Extreme).  All are available to order now.

Press Release:

Dell Gaming Launches Three All-New Systems Featuring Intel® Core™ i7 and Core i7 Extreme Processors

MIAMI –(Business Wire)– Nov 17, 2008 Dell Gaming brings unprecedented speed and performance with the launch of the Intel® Core™ i7, offering users the world’s most powerful processors on three all-new extreme gaming desktops; the Alienware Area-51® X-58, Alienware Area-51 ALX X-58 and the Dell XPS 730x. By incorporating Intel’s breakthrough new microarchitecture into these three dynamic systems, Dell Gaming delivers a revolutionary leap in in-game performance. The Intel Core i7 processor generates a greater number of instructions per clock cycle, enhancing the systems’ simultaneous processing capabilities. This translates into improved physics, greater environmental interactivity, more intelligent AI and an overall boost in the immersive, real-to-life experience hardcore gamers demand.

The News

Available today at www.alienware.com/X58 and www.dell.com/gaming, the Alienware Area-51 X-58 and ALX X-58 feature up to 12GB of triple channel DDR3 memory, while the XPS 730x offers up to 6GB. All three systems utilize the all-new Intel QuickPath Architecture to speed up communication between the processor and components throughout the systems. This delivers faster load times between game levels without sacrificing background applications such as game utility packages, surfing the Net or downloading movies and music. With a performance increase of over 20 percent compared to the previous generation platform, Intel Core i7 processors help these rigs crank out maximum benchmarks at peak game settings.
In addition to this aggressive performance, the Area-51 X-58, Area-51 ALX X-58 and XPS 730x feature Dell Gaming exclusives such as:
Alienware AlienFX® customizable lighting controls: Allows gamers to customize the system looks with software-controlled multi-zone lighting. Includes event-driven activities, like changing automatically when programs are launched or email is received.
Alienware Command Center: Advanced user controls in a centralized, user- friendly access port for exclusive applications such as AlienFX® lighting and AlienFusion power management. (Alienware Only)
XPS internal theater lighting for “under the hood” activities: a series of battery powered LEDs automatically light the interior when the side panel is removed. (XPS Only)
Dell Gaming’s bold, signature case designs, giving gamers maximum customization and an intense, immersive user experience.
Gaming enthusiasts will be able to configure Dell gaming systems to meet their unique specification with options like:
Air-cooled or AlienIce™ or H2C high-performance cooled CPUs and chipsets
Video card solutions from both ATI and NVIDIA, and all systems are ATI CrossfireX™ and NVIDIA SLI-ready.
Multiple single and dual hard drive options, with support for RAID 1, 0, and 1+0 (up to 2TB on XPS, 4TB on Alienware).
Choice of 750, 1000, 1200-watt power supply (Alienware only)
With Intel Core i7 processors, you get the advantage of:

Intel 45nm Technology – delivers higher speeds, enhanced efficiency and improved thermal management
Intel QuickPath Architecture – utilizes an on-board memory controller to move beyond the capabilities of the FSB and enjoy the full benefits of multi-core and microarchitecture-based CPUs
Intel Hyper-Threading – enables Windows to deliver eight-threaded performance capability on four cores
64-Bit OS Ready – processes double the information of 32-bit-based systems, increasing responsiveness and maximizing your hardware’s potential
Intel Turbo Mode – shifts the processor into a higher gear for mind-blowing performance without a heat penalty
The Quotes

“By incorporating the revolutionary capabilities of Intel Core i7 and Core i7 Extreme Edition processors into the Alienware and XPS lines of gaming systems, Dell Gaming continues to lead the industry in delivering performance levels and in-game benchmarks that shatter all previously perceived limitations,” says Arthur Lewis, head of Dell gaming group.

“Intel Core i7 processors represent the next stage in the evolution of desktop performance,” says Doug Parker, Intel’s Director of Marketing for America’s Sales and Marketing Group. “By combining this dramatic technology with the expert engineering of Alienware and XPS systems, Intel and Dell are redefining gamers’ expectations for power and efficiency.”

For more information on Intel Core i7 processors in Alienware and XPS systems, please visit: www.alienware.com/X58 and www.dell.com/gaming.

The price starts with the lowest end version due to individual component pricing.  For a higher price you can upgrade to many of the better features seen in Alienwae’s catalog such as liquid cooling.  The base model will cost you $1,049 for a3GHz Core 2 Duo, a 750W power supply, a GeForce 9800 GT for video, 2GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive.

That is not such a bad price for an Alienware gaming tower these days.  For those who are looking for something a little more powerful and don’t mind forking out a little more money, you can get up to a quad-core 3GHz Core 2 Extreme, a 1,200W power supply, two Radeon HD 4870 X2s, 3TB of hard drives, Blue-ray and 8GB of memory. Alienware is saying that the Area-51 750i will be shipping orders in late November.

[Via Electronicista]

The casing, for instance, lacks the current sense of occasion and OTT styling, and looks more like a few key Alienware touches on an otherwise generic shell.  If you’re able to see past that and look, instead, at the components on offer, you can achieve some decent benchmarks: CNET saw 104 frames per second from the dual ATI Mobility Radeon HD3870 GPUs when playing Unreal Tournament III at 1,920 x 1,200.

Problem is, despite the compromises, you’re still paying a lot of money when you pick the most tempting customizations.  The basic M17 starts at just $1,399, but that doesn’t get you either a quad processor or dual graphics.  CNET’s review machine came in at $1,999, and even then it only has a Core 2 Duo CPU.

Other options include an integrated ATSC high-definition TV tuner and a choice of Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate.  No matter which you pick you’ll get three USB 2.0 ports, a combination eSATA/USB 2.0 port, ExpressCard slot, HDMI and VGA outputs.  Connectivity includes WiFi a/b/g/n (though only b/g is standard), Bluetooth 2.1 and gigabit ethernet, plus there’s a fingerprint scanner and webcam with facial-recognition.

You’ll need a fair amount of strength if you plan on lugging this 17-inch monster about though: it weighs a full 9.5lbs, which is heavier than many small-form-factor desktop PCs.  Pricing starts at $1,399, but you know that will get you a system that will cause embarrassment in the playground since that doesn’t even include CrossFire X; budget in excess of $3,299 for CrossFireX, Blu-ray, a Core 2 Extreme CPU and RAID array.

[Thanks Alex!]

Storage is courtesy of a 500GB, 7,200rpm hard-drive and there’s a DVD burner though no Blu-ray option.  Connectivity includes gigabit ethernet, eight USB 2.0 ports (two on the front panel), two Firewire ports, two S-Video ports and a total of four DVI ports from the two video cards.

The PSU is a 750W model and the OS is Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit.  However the two customer reviews (at time of writing) on Best Buy’s site aren’t particularly glowing – in fact, from the sound of it, the only thing glowing is the overheating graphics.  One reviewer suggests that the Radeon, at idle, sits at 78 degrees, and that crashes and freezes are commonplace

The Alienware Aurora Desktop is currently available, priced at $1,699.99.

The card is an option in the Aurora, Area-51 and Area-51 ALX, with the option to couple together two of the Radeon cards in CrossFireX configuration in certain ranges.  Expect the latter to weigh heavily both on your credit card and your electricity bill: it requires a 1,200W PSU.

Adding an ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 with 2GB is a sizable $550 option on the Aurora.  The dual CrossFireX setup, on the Area-51 ALX, is a $700 option.  There’s a demo video in which Alienware attempt to persuade you that it’s a sensible upgrade here.

The 3600M is already available on Dell’s Precision M6300 and HP’s 8710w, both 17-inch notebooks.  Alienware plan to offer the NVIDIA flagship GPU on the 17-inch Area-51 m17x soon.

Adding the Quadro FX 3600M increases the notebook’s price by $600.  The new m15x configuration will begin shipping on August 5th.

Press Release:

Alienware Area-51(R) m15x Now the First 15.4-Inch Notebook to Feature the NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) FX 3600M GPU

Alienware Offers Unprecedented Graphics Performance on Next-Generation CAD, DCC and Visualization Applications with the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M GPU, Now Available on the Area-51 m15x

Jul. 29, 2008 It’s not always just about fun and games. Alienware(R) – the leading manufacturer of high-performance desktop, notebook and entertainment systems – has announced that the Area-51(R) m15x notebook, already a favorite of gamers and entertainment enthusiasts, now offers the NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) FX 3600M GPU, redefining graphics performance on a 15.4-inch notebook to best address the needs of on-the-go digital content professionals.

As the only 15.4-inch notebook equipped with the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M, the Alienware Area-51 m15x is uniquely positioned to provide industrial designers and other creative professionals unrivaled graphics capabilities on a highly portable platform. The Quadro FX 3600M delivers support for Open GL 2.1, Shader Model 4.0, DirectX(R) 10 and more. Combining this graphics processor with the award-winning performance of the Area-51 m15x allows designers and engineers to work in complex, real-time, photorealistic environments throughout an array of CAD, DCC and scientific applications.

“The creation of the incredibly life-like games we enjoy today begins with bringing together revolutionary technology and outstanding performance. Alienware has always designed and engineered top-tier, high-performance systems to deliver the best experience possible, whether for a gamer or a 3D designer,” said Bryan de Zayas, Associate Director for Product Marketing at Alienware. “The addition of the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M GPU brings the capabilities of the Area-51 m15x to an all-new level and is just one more example of our commitment to develop unique and powerful systems that attract enthusiasts and creative professionals alike.”

“The Area-51 m15x is the ideal vehicle for the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M graphics processor,” said Shawn Worsell, product manager, Professional Solutions, NVIDIA. “NVIDIA and Alienware share a common dedication to delivering industry-leading graphics to our professional customers.”

Alienware also offers an NVIDIA Quadro FX 1600M on the Area-51 m9750 and will soon make available the Quadro FX 3600M on the Area-51 m17x to further provide customers with a broad range of processional-class solutions.

For more information, please visit: http://www.alienware.com/Quadro.

About Alienware

Alienware offers unique and award-winning technology products that incorporate state-of-the-art components, innovative engineering and design and unprecedented customer service. Alienware has been recognized by INC 500, won the Shoppers’ Choice Award as the Best Performance Desktop by Computer Shopper’s reader survey, had its Alienware Area-51 ranked among “The 25 Greatest PCs of All Time” by PC World and also received PC Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award in its 18th Annual Reader Survey. Alienware systems are available direct within the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, please visit http://www.alienware.com or call 1-800-ALIENWARE (254-3692).

The 7500 will now be offered with one NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 with 1GB of memory; the Area-51 will have a choice of a single 280 or a dual-SLI configuration. Meanwhile the flagship ALX will offer a 3-way SLI configuration. The ALX was recently upgraded to include a 3.2GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 overclocked to 4.0GHz, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and liquid-cooling. Prices start at $1,849 for the 7500.

While the GTX 280 boasts 50-percent more gaming performance over the first-generation NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra GPU, what will also interest many is its ability to take on some of the general processing usually undertaken by the computer’s main CPU. NVIDIA call this system CUDA; a similar approach is offered by AMD’s FireStream 9250.

Press Release:

Alienware Area-51(R) Desktops Get Muscular New NVIDIA Graphics

Alienware offers New NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 280 GPUs in their Area-51(R) desktop computers

MIAMI –(Business Wire)– Jun. 16, 2008 Alienware – the leading manufacturer of high-performance desktop, notebook and entertainment systems – reaffirms its commitment to providing only the most advanced graphics technology by offering the all-new NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 280 GPUs with the Area-51(R) family of desktop computers. Designed for unprecedented gaming performance, users can select the 602MHz GeForce GTX 280 GPU with a full 1GB of memory.

While the Alienware Area-51 7500 will support only a single GeForce GTX 280 GPU, the flagship Area-51 desktop will feature both a single card option and a dual-SLI(R) configuration. For gamers looking for a true burst of graphics power, the legendary Area-51 ALX desktop offers a 3-way SLI configuration for the world’s most advanced, most powerful graphics solution.

Features of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 200 line of graphics cards include:

– 2nd Generation NVIDIA Unified Architecture – 192 enhanced processor cores deliver 50- percent more gaming performance over the first-generation NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra GPU architecture.

– 3-way SLI Support – The leading graphics technology provides the world’s fastest gaming solution.

– NVIDIA PhysX(TM)-Ready – Onboard physics processing offers dynamic, life-like game environments for a more intense gaming experience.

– DirectX(R) 10 Support – Full support for Shader Model 4.0 brings cinematic effects and excitement to the leading next-generation games.

– 16x Anti-aliasing Technology – Reduce jagged edges for a smoother image and more immersive gaming.

– NVIDIA CUDA Technology: With the power of NVIDIA CUDA(TM) technology and the new CUDA runtime for Windows Vista, programmers can now offload the most intensive processing tasks from the CPU to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 200 GPUs, putting the power of up to 240 multi-threaded processor cores to work.

“Alienware has always and will always equip our award-winning desktops with only the most advanced components available,” says Marc Diana, Product Marketing Manager for Alienware. “That’s why we’re thrilled to offer the Area-51 family of desktops with the GeForce GTX 280 graphics card. The combination of Alienware’s expert engineering and the world’s most powerful GPUs creates an unbeatable gaming experience.”

“Alienware desktop PCs are the perfect vehicle for our new GeForce GTX 280 GPU,” said Ujesh Desai, general manger of desktop GPU business at NVIDIA. “We are excited that Alienware’s customers will be able to push the graphics and gaming boundaries of their PCs, and experience a whole new level of visual computing.”

“We’ve got industry-leading graphics, awesome performance and expert engineering,” remarked Diana. “That’s why hardcore gamers love us, and we definitely want to keep returning that love by giving them more of what they want.”

For more information about Alienware desktop systems with the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 GPU, please visit: http://www.alienware.com/GTX.