If the previous Alienware M11x R3 spec leak got you all giddy, then we have some good news for you: according to a manual dug up by one of our eagle-eyed readers, it appears that this year’s M11x refresh will indeed be coming with second-gen Core i5 ULV and Core i7 ULV options, along with a faster DDR3 bus (1333MHz instead of 800MHz), a higher-res webcam (2MP instead of 1.3MP), an HD TrueLife LCD, and optional 3G / 4G mobile broadband.
But of course, the real meat on this laptop is its graphics card, which turns out to be an NVIDIA GeForce GT540M with either 1Gb or 2GB of dedicated memory — not bad for a laptop of this size. Unsurprisingly, no dates or prices are mentioned here, but given the early start of inventory clearance, it shouldn’t be long before Round Rock reveals all.
Dell recently launched an update to its Alienware M11x gaming ultraportable laptop. The new model has the same high performance NVIDIA graphics as the first generation 11.6 inch, 4.5 pound gaming rig. But the new models feature Core i-series processors while the original came with a choice of an Intel Pentium SU4100 or Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor.
The folks at Notebook Review recently found themselves at an event where they could check out a few of the new models, and they ran a quick benchmark to see how the new CPUs stack up against the earlier models. Not surprisingly, the laptop scored highest with the new Core i7-640UM CPU, followed by the Core i5-520UM CPU. The Intel Pentium Dual Core SU4100 processor came in last… sort of.
It turns out that if you overclock the SU4100 chip, it actually comes in second. The new chips are also overclockable though, so that point is probably moot. Notebook Review didn’t have a chance to benchmark the same computer with an SU7300 chip, but I’d be surprised if it didn’t fall somewhere between the SU4100 and Core i5-520UM processor in terms of performance.
It’s worth noting that the wPrime test run by Notebook Review is primarily a test of CPU performance. Since the new CPU options are the main differences between the newer M11x models and the older ones, that seems fair. But this particular benchmark doesn’t really tell you that much about the gaming performance of these laptops.
Dell’s Alienware M11x is already one of the most powerful 11 inch laptops you can buy, at least when it comes to gaming performance. The machine currently uses a dual core Intel CULV processor and an NVIDIA GT 335M graphics card with 1GB of dedicated video memory. But now it looks like Dell plans to refresh the notebook with a new line of Intel processors designed to balance power consumption with, well… power.
Shufflegazine got word from a Dell exec that the laptop will be available with a choice of Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors as soon as next month.
It’s not entirely clear what the update will do to battery life. The Alienware M11x with an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor a Pentium Dual Core SU4100 gets about 2 hours of hardcore gaming, or between 4 and 6 hours of web browsing and other casual use.
Dell’s Alienware M11x has already earned a reputation as a solid gaming machine that weighs just about 4 pounds and has a starting price of just $700. While there are plenty of other 11.6 inch laptops on the market that are smaller and cheaper, none come with the powerful NVIDIA GT335M graphics for getting your 3D fragging on like the M11x.
But Dell launched the M11x just before NVIDIA introduced its new Optimus technology. So while the Alienware M11x actually has NVIDIA graphics and Intel integrated graphics, you have to manually switch between the two depending on what you’re doing. It looks like Dell could address that this summer by releasing a new version of the M11x with Optimus support. That means the computer will automatically switch between integrated and dedicated graphics depending on what you’re using your computer for, which should greatly improve battery life.
Notebook Review forum member Darkhan suggests that the laptop could also get a new Intel CPU at the same time. The refresh could come in late June or early July. But while Darkhan seems to know what he’s talking about, it’s probably safest to take anything you read in internet forums with a few grains of salt.
But of course, the real meat on this laptop is its graphics card, which turns out to be an NVIDIA GeForce GT540M with either 1Gb or 2GB of dedicated memory — not bad for a laptop of this size. Unsurprisingly, no dates or prices are mentioned here, but given the early start of inventory clearance, it shouldn’t be long before Round Rock reveals all.