Alienware's gaming laptop range has consistently set the benchmark, winning our award for best gaming laptop of the year in 2009 and 2010. The M17x has now been updated with a new design, Intel Sandy Bridge technology and full 3D functionality.
The anodised aluminium design of the original model has been replaced by an eye-catching and hard-wearing rubberised coating, and the design looks great.
At 4.5kg it's a very heavy machine and best used at your desk, but offers 175 minutes of battery power when needed.
Usability is excellent. The large, backlit keyboard spans the width of the chassis and the tactile keys respond well, for comfortable long-term use. The huge touchpad is just as good to use and is also backlit around its border.
Raw power is this machine's real strength. Using a quad-core processor from Intel's cutting-edge Sandy Bridge Core i7 range, this is by far the most powerful laptop we've seen to date. Even the most demanding software runs flawlessly and complex multi-tasking is handled with an effortless ease.
Gaming power is just as impressive. While our review sample failed to match the level of graphical performance of the original M17x – due to its use of a single Nvidia graphics card rather than a dual- GPU configuration – there's enough power for fast and smooth 3D gaming.
Benchmarks
Battery life: 175 minutes
MobileMark 2007: 340
3DMark 2003: 35,907
Stunning 3D screen
Games and movies are shown in stunning detail by the 17.3-inch screen. The 1080p high-definition panel is extremely bright and vibrant, offering vivid colours, deep black levels and bright whites, and is ideal for watching HD movies via the integrated Blu-ray/DVD optical drive.
A key selling point of the new M17x is its 3D abilities, but as with most 3D laptops the experience is mixed. While the 3D effect adds impressive depth to images, wearing the active shutter glasses greatly reduces the vibrancy of the screen.
We also found the 3D effect can also cause slight headaches when used for extended periods, due to the technology tricking your brain into seeing a three-dimensional image that doesn't exist.
Features are as comprehensive as you'd expect. Almost every possible connection is provided, from USB 3.0 to eSATA, HDMI and DisplayPort, making this a cutting-edge gaming and multimedia laptop that will last you for many years to come.
By building on its already flawless foundation, the new M17x ratchets up power and features to make this the best gaming laptop you can buy. While the 3D abilities are inherently flawed, they don't reduce the impact of this exceptional and feature-packed laptop.
