Samsung's Best HDTV's - Click HereAlienware M15x (Intel Core i7 720QM, 250GB HDD, 3GB)
Manufacturer: Alienware Part number: DKCWFW1
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Alienware's big and bulky 15-inch M15x pulls out most of the stops, thanks to a superpowered CPU.
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CNET editors' review
Alienware M15x (Intel Core i7 720QM, 250GB HDD, 3GB) price range: $1,199.00
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 11/13/2009
- Released on: 10/15/2009
The good: Amazingly powerful for a 15-inch laptop; highly configurable; adds 16:9 display.
The bad: Configuration options can get expensive; far from portable.
The bottom line: Alienware's big and bulky 15-inch M15x pulls out most of the stops, thanks to a superpowered CPU.
Keeping the same revised look and feel as the recent 17-inch M17x version, the Alienware M15x is an imposing black slab of computing power that's thicker and heavier than most 17-inch laptops.
We love having high-end options such as Intel's uberpowerful Core i7-920XM CPU, and it's a plus that Alienware has finally gotten onboard the 16:9 display bandwagon; but if you want serious gamer options such as dual video cards or two hard drives, you'll have to trade up the bigger 17-inch model.
While it starts at a deceptively promising $1,499, our review unit clocked in at $3,199, which is a steep premium for a system with a single GPU and hard drive (not even a solid state one, at that). Still, the Alienware mystique counts for something, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better built, or faster, 15-inch laptop.
| Price as reviewed / Starting price | $1,349 / $1,499 |
| Processor | 2.0GHz Intel Core i7-920XM |
| Memory | 4GB, 1,333MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 500GB 7,200rpm |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel PM55 Express Chipset |
| Graphics | 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 14.9x12.2 inches |
| Height | 1.9 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.6 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 9.4/10.9 pounds |
| Category | Mainstream |
The new look of the M15x is essentially a slightly shrunken clone of the current 17-inch M17x. Much like that model, this M15x has a modern minimalist design. There are fewer distracting flourishes on the keyboard tray than on previous Alienware systems, and there's a slick edge-to-edge glass overlay on the display. The front edge, rather than squared off, has an angled automotive-inspired grille that helps the overall look from being too slablike, complete with adjustable glowing lights.
The anodized aluminum case is built like a tank, but also about as heavy as one. Even though this is technically a fairly portable 15-inch laptop, we don't see it taking too many trips out of the house.
Alienware's Fusion FX lighting and settings control system is a unique selling point. You can set the color for the backlit keyboard in four separate zones, meaning you can create a rainbowlike design across the keys. The same software package also provides a fairly comprehensive power control suite, which offers more detailed options than the basic Windows power settings, as well as security controls, including facial recognition log-in software.
The keyboard has a more traditional tapered key design, rather than the wider, flat keys many laptop makers are partial to these days. When we reviewed the similar-looking 17-inch model, Alienware explained that these tapered keys provide more space between the individual letters, which is better for first-person shooters, which make heavy use of the WASD keys.
The 15.6-inch wide-screen LED 16:9 display offers a 1,920x1,080-pixel native resolution, which is as good as you'd find on any 17-inch or larger laptop. That matches the 1080p standard for Blu-ray and other HD video, making the M15x well-suited for media watching. For $100 less, you can opt for a lower resolution 1,600x900-pixel screen, but we don't see why anyone would.
| Alienware M15x | Average for category [mainstream] | |
| Video | VGA-out, DisplayPort | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | 5.1 speakers, headphone (2x)/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 3 USB 2.0 (1 USB/eSATA), SD card reader | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader, eSATA |
| Expansion | ExpressCard/54 | ExpressCard/54 |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | DVD burner/Blu-ray player | DVD burner |
Dell continues to push the DisplayPort standard as an alternative to HDMI, and having only three USB ports may be a bit limiting for a gaming machine, but other than that, the M15x is well-equipped for networking, expansion, and accessories.
As expected from Dell and Alienware, there are enough configuration options to create some very different final products (as well as easily doubling the price). The most notable is the new Intel Core i7-920XM CPU. It's a whopping $900 upgrade over the default Core i7 720QM (itself nothing to sneeze at), and includes a requirement that you also choose the larger nine-cell battery option.
With that superpowerful processor, we saw some of our best performance numbers to date, even beating a hybrid laptop built with desktop quad-core components. Make no mistake, you're paying a lot for the privilege, but at least for right now, no one will have a faster laptop if you go for the most expensive processor upgrade.
Actually using the Alienware M15x was a smooth, pleasing experience--windows snapped open and shut instantly, annoying pauses were virtually nonexistent. Gaming was likewise excellent, even with only a single video card. Running Unreal Tournament 3 at a whopping 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution, we got 99 frames per second. A few SLI dual-card laptops, such as the Asus W90, could beat that, but not by much, and even those systems fell behind at lower resolutions. The combo of a killer CPU and a good single GPU was a powerful one, and we can only imagine what we'll get from the first system we test with a Core i7-920XM plus dual Nvidia GeForce 260M or 280M video cards
 Juice box |
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| Alienware M15x | Performance (Avg watts/hour) |
| Off (60%) | 0.36 |
| Sleep (10%) | 1.73 |
| Idle (15%) | 36.36 |
| Load (15%) | 125.68 |
| Raw kWh Number | 216.33 |
| Annual Energy Cost | $24.55 |
As one would expect, the Alienware M15x won't run very long away from a wall socket. Even with the extended nine-cell battery (required by the Core i7 920 processor), the system ran for 1 hour and 46 minutes on our video playback battery drain test. That's alright for a high-powered desktop replacement, but very low for a 15-inch system with at least pretensions of portability.
Alienware includes an industry-standard one-year parts and labor warranty with the system, which includes in-home service. Upgrading to a three-year plan will cost an extra $299, and several other options are available for purchase, including "Tech Team" coverage for all your Dell products. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, an online knowledge base and driver downloads.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
 |
1,280x800, 0X AA, 0X AF* | |
1,440x900, 4X AA, 8X AF* | |
1,920x1,200, 4X AA, 8X AF* |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations:
Alienware M15x
Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core i7-920XM; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M; 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Asus G51J-A1
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 1.6GHz Intel Core i7-720QM; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M; (2) 320GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 1.6GHz Intel Core i7-720QM; 6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTS 250M; HDD #1: 64GB, Toshiba SSD / HDD #2: 320GB Hitachi 7,200rpm
Gateway P-7808u
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS; 500GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Asus W90VP-X1
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9600; 6GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 512MB Dual ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2; 320GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Malibal Veda Clevo M980NU
Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit); 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9300; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; (2) 512MB SLI Nvidia GeForce GTX 280M; (Nvidia Stripe) 250GB 5,400rpm / 80GB Solid Sate Drive
iBuyPower M865TU
Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 (64-bit); 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9800; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M; 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm
User reviews
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SUPPORT TERRIBLE - Alienware (Dell) Censored My Review
by RogueBarbarian on November 25, 2009
Pros: - Very fast - who said Windows 7 is slow, it screams on this beast !!!
- Best keyboard I have ever felt on a laptop.Cons: - Terrible Support
- Glossy screen very hard to keep lint and finger print free, scratches easily so be careful
- Battery life - even with minimal activity less than 2 hoursSummary: Dell support is terrible. I have a simple application error with their built-In AlienFX system configuration application when reconfiguring the Synaptic trackpad. The Maintenance link on the laptop start menu ...
Summary: Dell support is terrible. I have a simple application error with their built-In AlienFX system configuration application when reconfiguring the Synaptic trackpad. The Maintenance link on the laptop start menu does not work, so I called Alienware. 10 hours on the phone over 2 days to get support from Aiienware. Alienware will not give you an account number for newer alienware products so forget about using their site for support. Dell live chat and tech support bounces you to the Alienware support line, Anyway, I finally got to a support person at Alienware they directed me back to the Dell driver support site for a driver update, requesting I backdate the driver. I did that and it did not fix the problem. I tried the Dell Live chat and was told my customer number was invalid and i did not have a valid Dell warranty. At Dell Customer support they told me I had to talk to Alienware customer support. I called alienware again, and after 4 hours listening to elevator music, I figured I could live with the problem until, hopefully, an update becomes available. How I get that update however is unknown ;(
I posted a tamer version of this review on the alienware.com website and it was never posted, apparently they censor non-favorable reviews. In the mail today, i received an extended warranty opportunity for 3 years, over $300, I laughed and threw it in the garbage. I would say this was a one of a kind problem but it seems be be a common theme in reading subsequent reviews, which i would have done first if the machine wasn't such a new product line when I bought it.
So buyer beware, if nothing is wrong, you got a great machine, if something goes wrong, you really have a problem.
This is almost comic.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Attractive design but bad service
Pros: Nice design and performance
Cons: My Alienware had some factory problems and the support that I have got has been really disappointing. I am trying to get my money back with no success, I guess I will have to wait until they found whats wrong with my laptop so they can fix it.
Summary: Too bad such a nice computer has a bad support service. Solving the problem is taking ages, by the time its fixed it won't be the top computer anymore.
Summary: Too bad such a nice computer has a bad support service. Solving the problem is taking ages, by the time its fixed it won't be the top computer anymore.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Its a beast of a laptop with some dissapointments
by Yelonde on November 26, 2009
Pros: Core i7 with multithreading, fast ram, SSD, decent graphics
Cons: Huge laptop, even for a 15 inch, battery life sucks, 64-bit windows7 drivers are not compatible
Summary: So, I got this laptop recently with the SSD, and with the Geforce 240 m graphics; I don't necessarily game on this thing, I just needed something that would ...
Summary: So, I got this laptop recently with the SSD, and with the Geforce 240 m graphics; I don't necessarily game on this thing, I just needed something that would be a productive machine for a couple years.
Heres what I liked:
The screen was great, it comes with 1080 p on a 15 inch screen, something a lot of computers, even the macbook pro 15 doesn't have
The 240 M is a good graphics card, not the best, but good. I bet you it will play crysis at least at high settings with at least 30 FPS +.
The SSD will probably last longer than a conventional hard-drive
The machine is simple on the inside, no flashy tags or covers, etc.
What I didn't like:
Motherboard and GPU failed. Im getting it replaced within the week.
Battery life is terrible, even with the best option, I am getting around 3 hours.
Windows 7 drivers are not there yet, and the upgrade disables a lot of programs, such as the facial recognition program.
The touchpad movement/transition to screen appears the be choppy, it makes me wonder if I have bad drivers for that as well.
For a $3000 computer, you'd think that they could go beyond plastic casings.
In conclusion, even for a 15 inch, it is very bulky, and I would consider it a desktop replacement that you would rarely walk around with. Its a powerful machine without a doubt, and the graphics/gaming/multimedia performance is top notch, but I would have to say that there are just a few things here and there that wouldn't make this product perfect either.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Terrible Product
by TechMC on January 4, 2010
Pros: Looks Nice from a distance
Cons: Very Heavy! LCD is flimsy! Support is HORRIBLE!!!!!!
Summary: Do not waste your money on this laptop.
Summary: Do not waste your money on this laptop.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love it for what i do. The workmanship is outstanding.
by fa18aq2 on February 4, 2010
Pros: Everything
Cons: Ok the weight, but it just fine by me.
Summary: Don't judge this by everything you read bad about Dell and Alienware. Do your reseach and the buy one of the best deaktop replacement you can get.
Summary: Don't judge this by everything you read bad about Dell and Alienware. Do your reseach and the buy one of the best deaktop replacement you can get.
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Hope your's works
by Arch_MJ on January 31, 2010
Pros: Blazing Fast (can give most desktops a run for their money) Great back-lit keyboard. Form makes its large size seem not so large.
Cons: Everyone I know including me that has it had to run a clean reinstall of the OS just to knock out all the preloaded bugs. Only 2, yes, TWO usb ports. Display port instead of HDMI. Expect to fix any problems yourself alienware support is usless.
Summary: Great gaming PC that can handle everyone from new games to 3d software. Heavy but worth the weight. Burdened by some of the worst customer support that can only compare ...
Summary: Great gaming PC that can handle everyone from new games to 3d software. Heavy but worth the weight. Burdened by some of the worst customer support that can only compare to when I owned an Acer.
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Do Not Buy
by capodd on January 29, 2010
Pros: Cool looking, good specs
Cons: They dont work! Working is an important feature of any laptop, when they dont that is bad.
Not working = bad
I spent 2200 dollars on a "top of the line laptop". I got the blue screen of death the first month I got it.Summary: Summary of my experience
1) Payed $2200 for a "premium" laptop
2) Blue screen first month
3) Horrible customer support
-they lost my laptop for a month
-got it back ...Summary: Summary of my experience
1) Payed $2200 for a "premium" laptop
2) Blue screen first month
3) Horrible customer support
-they lost my laptop for a month
-got it back 3 months later
4) Laptop still did not work, blue screen within a week...
5) Cut my losses and sold it for parts
Do yourself a favor, this is not a fake story trying to hurt alienware...this company truely does make horrible products and doesnt seem to because they are certain things like this "never" happen...do a quick search on the internet see if im the only one. -
Best Laptop I've ever had
by birdfreak on December 1, 2009
Pros: Extremely Powerful CPU, Great GPU,ram, lights are extremely nice (bit too nice :-)), cooling, speakers are great, if you are to get 9-cell battery, it has a great battery much over 2 hours, amazing screens, touch buttons work perfectly, NO PROBLEMS
Cons: It is pretty heavy, however after a few days i have been accustomed to it. that's it
Summary: If you are looking for a powerhouse which could run through almost all games and software, and are not looking for a small laptop, this is a great choice, since ...
Summary: If you are looking for a powerhouse which could run through almost all games and software, and are not looking for a small laptop, this is a great choice, since ive had it for weeks and no problems have occurred, everything runs flawlessly. Heavy at first
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CNET is also censoring reviews
by pingo000 on November 30, 2009
Pros: nice design
Cons: too expensive
Summary: The first review for this product was censored by CNET. I posted that review a month ago. They changed it completely. It is funny that Dell reps are pushing their ...
Summary: The first review for this product was censored by CNET. I posted that review a month ago. They changed it completely. It is funny that Dell reps are pushing their customers to read the "reviews". In my case Windows 7 took 5 minutes to boot up and the Blue Ray drive would not play a normal DVD (the movie was choppy). The keybord was flimsy mounted and the webcam was pointing in the ceiling (the only way to use it was to keep the display at a less than 90 degree angle). A Dell "technician" came and replaced the drive and nothing changed. I believe the motherboard was the problem. The laptop is back at Dell and the only thing left from it are two screws which the Dell technician pushed them off the table to make me believe there are no more screws to put back. Needless to say that the technician treated the laptop very bad. The whole thing with Core i7 is a gimmick. I would go with a solid quad core at 2.53GHz or even dual core at 3GHz. Nobody needs 8 threads at 1.7GHz!!! So, beware of the reviews! I wonder how long this review is going to stay here....
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Best Performance laptop money can buy!
by hsingh89 on November 21, 2009
Pros: The graphics, the speed, the lights, the cooling system, and just about everything it has to offer.
Cons: Weight is a bit of an irritation, but otherwise it is fine. It may be a little too progressive to take out of the home.
Summary: I am very proud of Alienware for making such a spectacular product. This is the best high-end 15.6' laptop money can buy. It can run any game, such as ...
Summary: I am very proud of Alienware for making such a spectacular product. This is the best high-end 15.6' laptop money can buy. It can run any game, such as Crysis, play it superbly, and still stay cool to the touch! This is the first laptop I have ever used that didn't heat up when gaming and I must say it's amazing. The pricing is actually very attractive as well because a laptop with this much power used to cost quite a bit 2 years ago.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Alienware
- Part number: DKCWFW1
- Bottom Line: Alienware's big and bulky 15-inch M15x pulls out most of the stops, thanks to a superpowered CPU.
General
- Notebook type Gaming laptop
Processor
- Processor Intel 330M / 2.13 GHz
RAM
- Installed Size 3 GB
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM
Storage
- Hard Drive 250 GB - 7200 rpm
Optical Storage
- Type Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Display
- Display Type 15.6
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor 512MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M
- Video Memory 512 MB
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Manufacturer info
- Alienware
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Alienware products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.alienware.com/
- Address:
13456 SW 131 Street, Miami, FL 33186 - Phone: 1-800-ALIENWARE
- Email: support@alienware.com
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