Laptops & Desktops

John Morris & Sean Portnoy

Alienware goes massive with M18x gaming laptop behemoth

By | April 13, 2011, 3:35am PDT

Summary: Alienware’s working hard to fill out its gaming laptop lineup with options at every conceivable size. First, the M14x surfaced, and now it appears Dell’s high-octane performance division is readying the M18x. The M18x came to light yesterday on Dell’s Canadian site, only to be subsequently pulled down. That didn’t start tech bloggers from gathering info [...]

Alienware’s working hard to fill out its gaming laptop lineup with options at every conceivable size. First, the M14x surfaced, and now it appears Dell’s high-octane performance division is readying the M18x.

The M18x came to light yesterday on Dell’s Canadian site, only to be subsequently pulled down. That didn’t start tech bloggers from gathering info about the new gaming laptop, which apparently will house an Intel Core-i7 Extreme processor with an option to overclock it to 4GHz, the option of either an AMD CrossFireX or Nvidia SLI dual-graphics-cards configuration, up to 32GB of RAM, and a 1,920×1,080 18.4-inch display.

While it was posted, the M18x had a starting price of $2,000 Canadian, which got you 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 graphics card. Obviously, you’ll pay considerably more for those ultimate killer specs listed above.

When you’ll be able to part with that money is unclear, but if you like your laptops huge, hot, and heavy, the M18x will be available soonish, so start saving.

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Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist.

Disclosure

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist; currently, all work that Sean does is on a contractural basis. Sean has also written corporate communications documents for CA.

Sean does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.

Biography

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNet nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.

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RE: Alienware goes massive with M18x gaming laptop behemoth
Relorian@... 14th Apr 2011
When your laptop weighs just as much as your desk top it ceases to be a laptop. More so when it must run as hot as a desk top with a quarter of the ventilation options.
That thing must weigh a ton, eat batteries for breakfast, and run beyond hot. I mean seriously, at this point, why not just build a desktop? I just think these expensive gaming laptops just aren't worth it. The argument I always get from people is that they don't want to carry a desktop to a LAN party, but these laptops are just getting bigger and heavier anyway...
@Bates_

I have to agree here. The laptop concept seems to have been lost with these boutique vendors Alienware,Voodoo etc. The laptop was designed for MOBILE COMPUTING. These systems are basically desktop rigs in a clamshell which is pointless. If you are such a sissy that you cannot carry your rig to a lan party then you do not need to go to one.
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Not entirely pointless
Mr. Copro Encephalic to You 13th Apr 2011
@MLHACK

Doing on-site GPGPU data analysis with something like this would be nice even at 10 lbs if it had dual GPUs. However, I would like to see just how many TFLOPs you could get before the battery dies.

On the other hand, I have to agree that buying this to play games is a bit silly, even if you are flying or on the train a lot.
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@MLHACK "even at 10 lbs if it had dual GPUs"

the m17x I had was 13lbs, I imagine this will be at least 2lbs heavier.
Bring it on! I'll throw some change it's way!
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I love my Alienware. It will eat you for breakfast.
too bad they couldnt have taken better pictures or was that on purpose? everywhere this has been reported the images are all dark and dreary is this gamin lappie afraid of the light or something?
Why the down-shift to 1920x1080 display resolution? Yeah I know about HD multimedia, but serious workstation or gaming needs 1920x(1200-1400) in my opinion.
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@eli@... yeah my M17x had the 1900x1200 display and it was niiiice
AMEN!!!!! to what eli stated!
I've been incredibly disappointed with the LOSS of screen real-estate on Alienware in their latest fad of laptops. Simply four months ago, the screen real-estate was at least a reasonable 1920x1200. Come on, Dell/Alienware, be more forthcoming with what makes a powerhouse---give us the FEATURES we need, not scaled back limitations.
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I like my OriginPC laptop, the CS is far superior to dell and they are more reliable... and my 15.4" has a 1920x1200 display, quad core and ssd. Ok no sli in the 15" model but it still runs crusis at 35 to 40fps.
I like my OriginPC laptop, the CS is far superior to dell and they are more reliable. My 15.4" eon is 1920x1200, quad core,hybrid hd, VERY fast ok no sli/crossfire but it still plays any new game like crysis2 with ease
I like this concept. 1920x1080 suits me fine as I like the 16:9 aspect ratio (and a bonus that HD video always fits perfectly). Would still have one of these than a desktop because I can move it within seconds rather than having to shuttle back and forth out of the car getting various bits and pieces, only to find some ass has stolen the monitor when my back was turned. Battery life I don't care about as it's really just a UPS isn't it. wink
When your laptop weighs just as much as your desk top it ceases to be a laptop. More so when it must run as hot as a desk top with a quarter of the ventilation options.

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