CES 2011: Alienware updates Aurora gaming desktop, M17x gaming laptop with latest hardware, 3D support

As part of its CES press event, Dell announced refreshes of two Alienware lines that include new hardware from Intel and Nvidia and 3D capabilities.

The latest member of the Aurora family of gaming desktops, the first in a MicroATX form factor, will feature new Intel Core i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge processors that will be overclocked and liquid-cooled and can support dual graphics cards (whether in AMD CrossFireX or Nvidia SLI flavor). Alienware is saying 3D support requires an Nvidia video board and 3D Vision Kit and 120Hz 3D-capable LCD. The new Aurora will be available on January 10 at the starting price of $1,799.

The flagship M17x gaming laptop is also going 3D, with an optional 120Hz 3D display letting you game and watch movies in three dimensions. It also will have Core i5 and i7 mobile Sandy Bridge CPUs and three graphics card options: the Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M (also needed for 3D capabilities), AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6870M, or the new Radeon HD 6970M (making it one of the first notebooks to use a new Radeon 6900 series card). The M17x refresh will also be available on the 10th, with a starting price of $1,499.