Digital Trends
Suddenly as of late, I’ve been getting a raft of questions about which particular laptop and PC models stand out for use with Windows 7. It must be shopping time, and my guess is that a bunch of you are tired of the aging desktop and notebook products you are using and are now on the hunt for something new. Here, I’ll walk you through the products that I think stand out in this regard, from low-cost netbooks to business laptops, desktops, and the sweetest DIY options out there. And away we go…
Alienware has been advertising its latest portable gaming rig as the “most powerful 17-inch laptop in the universe.” We’re not sure how to go about verifying the off-planet portion of that claim, but as far as Earthly laptops go, it’s hard to dispute. A fully tricked-out model like the one we had the opportunity to test comes equipped with Intel’s fastest mobile processor, a pair of NVIDIA’s quickest mobile graphics cards, and 8GB of the speediest memory around. It’s easily the best performing notebook we’ve ever tested. And, at over $5,000 fully loaded, it’s also one of the most expensive.
With the revamped E3 Expo set to kick off next week, gaming and entertainment companies are looking to get a jump on the buzz with pre-announcements and “accidental” slips that reveal product plans on the cusp of the event. So it is with Alienware’s long-teased “All Powerful” M17x notebook: the details have finally spilled, and we’re suer some gamers are busily sopping up drool.
With Intel’s new Core i7 processors and Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 295 cards drawing rave reviews from performance enthusiasts, it only makes sense that one system combining both would be among the best available. And Alienware’s X58 meets that expectation. The $5,200 gaming machine that recently arrived on our doorstep proves that proven components and attentive design produce a machine that’s nearly unstoppable. But is it worth it for the price tag?
Features and Design
Dell subsidiary Alienware doesn’t want to be left out of the new high-end crowd of gaming-oriented systems powered by Intel’s latest Core i7 processor, so it’s announced two new systems—the Alienware Area-51 X-58 and Area-51 ALX X-58—offering up to 12 GB of RAM, customizable lighting controls, and all the high-performance options gamers could want. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Alienware if all that came inexpensively.
"By incorporating the revolutionary capabilities of Intel Core i7 and Core i7 Extreme Edition processors into the Alienware and XPS lines of gaming systems," said Dell Gaming head Arthur Lewis, "Dell Gaming continues to lead the industry in delivering performance levels and in-game benchmarks that shatter all previously perceived limitations."
Before becoming a Dell subsidiary, Alienware was known for churning out ridiculously over-specced (and high-priced) gaming rigs. With the Dell acquisition, the company anticipated that its products would be able to reach a wider audience and find greater distribution…and while the company still churns out high-end gear, the company is making good on the notion of appealing to everyday consumers with systems like the new Area-51 750i desktop, which features Intel quad-code processing, serious graphics options, and PCI-Express 2.0…and a price tag starting at just $1,049.
Dell subsidiary Alienware has announced its new M17 gaming notebook, marking the first time an Alienware notebook has offered ATI CrossFireX technology, offering dual ATI mobility Radeon HD 3870 graphics controllers to push those pixels around. The system also sports a Intel Core 2 Duo or Intel Core 2 Extreme QX93000 processors, DDR memory, and a 17-inch 1,920 by 1,200 pixel display.
“By incorporating the all-out performance of CrossFireX graphics and quad-core processing into Alienware’s award-winning notebook lineup, the M17 delivers an impressive feature set at a price point that doesn’t break the bank,” said Alienware product and marketing VP Frank Azor, in a statement.
Alienware is a company that needs no introduction when it comes to gaming notebooks. The interstellar PC builder has been able to consistently raise the bar in the portable gaming space over and over, and with the Area-51 m15x it’s done it once again. Though the machine’s not without flaws, the m15x is almost the perfect gaming notebook due to its performance, tolerable size and killer features. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a desktop replacement that will actually be an upgrade to your standard go-to system, this is it.
Features and Design
Boutique computer maker Alienware—now a subsidiary of Dell—has always had a penchant for choosing raw horsepower over things like battery life and affordability. The company is sticking to its guns with a new edition of its Alienware Area-51 m15x notebook, adding a 2.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 “Penryn” CPU as an option to the 15.4-inch notebook. The move makes the x15x the only 15.4-inch system on the market today to sport the 45nm processor.
Alienware’s Area 51 notebooks have long been heralded as the cream of the crop in gaming notebooks, and the m9750 largely upholds this proud tradition. With its dual GeForce Go 7950 GTX videocards in SLI and Core 2 Duo processor, this is one blazing-fast notebook. The only downside to this much portable power is that it doubles as a space heater, battery life is laughable, and you’ll need a small fortune to pay for it.
Features and Design
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