NetbookShow

The Alienware M18x 18.4-inch gaming notebook by Dell is now available for purchase.

With prices ranging from $2,000 to around $6,000, the M18x features 2nd Genaration Intel Core quad-core processor choices, up to a factory-overclocked i7 2920XM Extreme edition at 4GHz, and single and dual AMD/ATI and Nvidia video card options. Customers can choose between the single and dual 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M or dual-only 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6970M.

RAM can be expanded up to 32GB if you choose 1333MHz memory modules, while maximum for faster 1600MHz memory is 16GB. There are also various storage options, such as up to 750GB of traditional hard drive storage or a 256GB solid state drive. Both HDD and SDD storage capacity can be doubled, since the Alienware M18x has two internal storage bays. Additionally, there’s a single-unit 500GB hybrid HDD/SSD option. Optical drive options are a DVD burner, Blu-ray combo drive and Blu-ray writer.

The display resolution is of course full HD, while high-end audio experience is provided by a built-in 2.1 speaker system with subwoofer, 5.1- or 7.1-channel output, and Klipsch technology.

The mobile gaming rig is capable to stream 3D games and multimedia to a 3D-compatible external display via the HDMI 1.4 port or wirelessly via optionally-built-in WirelessHD technology. It has a 3MP web camera, Wi-Fi, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA/USB 2.0 connector, and a 9-in-1 media card reader.

When it comes to design, the 12-pound M18x has a distinctive anodized aluminum chassis in black or red color. AlienFX LED lighting allows you to choose color and transition effects and assign them to different zones on the case, including the keyboard, touchpad and more. On its left site, the keyboard has 5 programmable keys, enabling up to 15 distinct functions per application.

The laptop runs Windows 7 OS.

The preliminary ship date for the Alienware M18x is 05/26/2011. It can be ordered via Dell’s website.

Dell today unleashed the Alienware M18x, M14x and M11x R3 notebooks for gamers.

The mobile gaming rigs feature 18.4″, 14″, and 11.6″ displays respectively, and incorporate the latest Intel “Sandy Bridge” processors, as well as ATI and NVIDIA dedicated video cards.

The Alienware M18x is a brand new top-of-the-line model and the first Dell and Alienware laptop with an 18.4″ screen. Besides the 1080p display, the notebook sports a factory overclocked Intel Core i7 Extreme Quad Core processor that runs at up to 4GHz clock speed, optional dual graphics cards, and up to 32GB of 1,333MHz DDR3 memory.

Dell’s M14x is the first Alienware 14-incher. It has Core i-series CPU choices with enabled overclocking, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M GPU, up to 8GB 1,600MHz RAM, and 1366×768 or 1600×900 resolution.

The smallest member of the Alienware gaming laptop family has got its third refresh. The M11x R3 also has an overclockable Intel chip and fatures the GeForce GT 540M, maximal 16GB 1,333MHz system memory, and a 1366×768 screen.

All of the announced notebooks have Alienware’s a distinctive design, capability to output 3D content to an external 3D-enabled display via an HDMI port, and USB 3.0 technology. The m18x additionally has an HDMI-in port and Wireless Display solution by Intel, while the M14x and M11x R3 provide optional WiMAX connectivity and have Klipsch speakers.

The Alienware M14x and M11x R3 are available for purchase now and start at $1,199 and $999, respectively. The M18x is expected to hit the market next month and its pricing is currently unknown.

We’ve been hearing rumors of an 18-inch addition to the Alienware  line for some time, and now its big-eyed visage is making an appearance — in Canada.

The M18x configuration page has gone live on Dell’s Canadian site, though curiously it’s displaying what looks to be a picture of the M17x. The system starts at just over $2,000 CAD with a 2.8GHz Core i7 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 320GB of storage, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M graphics. But, our more well-heeled neighbors to the north can step up to a 3.4GHz processor, 8GB of memory, 750GB of storage, and dual AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics cards, pushing the price up nearly another $1,000. The 18.4-inch display manages a full 1080p resolution and you can have any operating system you like — so long as its Windows 7 Home Premium. The estimated ship date has this thing leaving the factory in early May, which means it should start hitting the domestic configurator soon enough.

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.

Folks have been waiting for the third revision of the 11.6-inch Alienware M11x (R3) ever since there have been hints of it on Dell’s webpages. Notebook Italia has discovered the specs (listed below) and a release date next month in April. No mention of graphics card and a few others – does it have USB 3.0? No pictures available yet but it’s noted that the design will be identical to the previous revisions of the M11x. No word on pricing.

Dell Alienware M11x R3

* Intel Core i5-2537M (1.4GHz to 2.3GHz), Core i7-2617M (1.5GHz to 2.6GHz) and Core i7-2657M (1.6GHz to 2.7GHz) processors
* 1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM
* 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, 640GB, 750GB, SATA II, 7200rpm HDD OR 256GB SSD
* 11.6 inch, 1366×768 pixels display (glossy)
* WWAN 3G LTE / WiMAX 4G
* 63WHr 8-cell
* Red and Black (soft touch)

Altec Lansing does it, as does Harman Kardon. Oh, and lest we forget about Beats.

We’re talking about companies that have gone the extra mile (and paid a certain price) to get their speakers into the shells of laptops, and now the fine folks at Alienware are grabbing a top-tier name of their own: Klipsch. Despite being snapped up by Audiovox  a few months ago, the outfit’s powering ahead with an apparent plan for expansion. Today, Alienware’s launching its first-ever Klipsch-equipped laptop, the 3D-enabled M17x. Not only will buyers find Intel’s newest Sandy Bridge CPUs, a 1080p 3D panel, custom lighting controls and an HDMI input, but they’ll also be gifted with a set of Klipsch drivers and MaxxAudio 3 software from Waves. Hard to say if the partnership will soon bleed over to even more of Alienware’s machines, but all logical signs are pointing to “yes.” As for this guy? It’ll ship this month starting at $1,499.

Unfortunately for some Alienware M17x owners problems still exist within their systems, reported problems suggest a power-related graphics problems, even after Alienware has now finally stated they have fixed the apparent DPC latency issues with the laptop.

Apparently the symptoms are similar to that of the DPC latency issue, which is causing a few problems with diagnosis. However the new problem seems to be effecting the highest specification systems with the GPU taking more power than is available.

Dell has now apparently fixed the issue on its most recent Alienware M17x laptops but is still unwilling it seems, to provide replacement systems to the early adopters experiencing the problems, according to the Notebook Review forums. It also currently looks like a swap-out to replace the laptop is currently the only surefire way to correct the issue.

Dell is working on the next-gen Alienware M17x 17.3-inch gaming laptop which is based on 2nd Generation Intel Core “Sandy Bridge” processors, according to leaked info on NotebookReview forums.

The three spotted M17x configurations feature the Intel Core i7-2630QM and “Intel HD Graphics Family” GPU, the i7-2720QM paired with AMD Radeon HD 6900M, and the i7-2820QM with Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M graphics.

According to published Futuremark 3DMark06 benchmark results, the laptops score 15,940, 20,155 and 16,957 3DMark points, respectively.

Besides the new processors and video cards, the Alienware M17x has a refined case design.

There’s no info on availability date and pricing. The “Sandy Bridge” chips will be officially released on January 5th, 2011.

Update: Software engineer Eric G. has posted more details of the new M17x. The new version called M17x R3 will come with optional 3D display, AMD’s upcoming Radeon 6870M and 6970M mobile video cards, Nvidia GeForce 460M GTX option, a SiBeam Wireless HD card that offers “lossless FullHD 1080p video transfer to your LCD TV”, a 3.2MP web camera, and a new a 9-Cell 93Whr battery.

The Dell Alienware M15x 15.6″ gaming laptop is now available in select European and Asian countries with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M video card.

Besides the GTX 460M with 1.5GB of video memory, the Intel Core i3/i5/i7-powered M15x is available with the old GeForce GTX 260M, GT 240M, ATI Radeon HD 5730, and HD 5850.

According to Dell UK, the 460M option is £205 ($330) more expensive than the basic GT 240M.

The Alienware M15x in the US is still shipping with old GPUs only.

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.