Performance Overview

We tested the Alienware system at both 1280x1024 and 1680x1050 (the panel's native resolution). As we can clearly see, the ATI Mobility Radeon X800 XT is no slouch when it comes to pushing pixels around. The 1280x1024 numbers are great, but on a notebook like this, everyone will want to run native resolution. Half Life 2 was tested using our custom coast_12 demo, and Doom 3 ran with 8xAF enabled (as we used High Quality mode for our tests).

Mobility Radeon X800 XT Performance


And at native resolution, we have very playable frame rates. We can enable 4xAA/8xAF on any of these titles and not have any problems. It would even be possible to run at higher resolutions with an external monitor, but the panel that comes with our tested system is definitely beautiful.

Mobility Radeon X800 XT Performance


Comparing the Mobility Radeon X800 XT to desktop parts shows us just how powerful a part that we are dealing with. Our notebook even beats the desktop X850 XT in a couple of tests as our X850 XT numbers were run on slightly older drivers. Generally, this part will keep up with the highest end ATI desktop part with no problems.

Doom 3 Performance

Doom 3 Performance

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory


Quite impressive performance numbers, indeed.

Index Final Words
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  • Shadowmage - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    Damn i just noticed that the article even failed to mention the CLOCK SPEEDS it was running at! :(

    Remember that laptop manufacturers love to mess with the clock speeds to artificially enhance battery life and heat.

    Also does it use DDR1 or DDR3?
  • DerekWilson - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    heh ... fixed the second incorrect use of 1024x768 :-)

  • Shadowmage - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    #2: The Prescott will take at least 110W, but the X800XT Mobility will actually use less power than the 6800 Ultra go: 35W vs 66W!
  • Shadowmage - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    Jeez, you're using a default Sager notebook which SUPPORTS the standard X800 Mobility AND the 6800 go (but not the ultra).

    I like to see it compared to both of those for a few more benchmarks, please.
  • bhtooefr - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    No, you didn't ;-)

    "We tested the Alienware system at both 1280x1024 and 1680x1050 (the panel's native resolution). As we can clearly see, the ATI Mobility Radeon X800 XT is no slouch when it comes to pushing pixels around. The **1024x768** numbers are great, but on a notebook like this everyone will want to run native resolution."
  • DerekWilson - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    fixed the 1024x768 typo -- thanks
  • Warder45 - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    Typo on the performance page. Is it 1024x768 you tested at or 1280x1024?

    I have to agree with #3, since Alienware is not locked into intel like dell, they should have gone the A64 route. However even that seems dumb when the Dell XPS with a Pentium-M chip did just as well as a desktop system, and without the heat and noise.

    The only thing keeping me back is battery life. If I could get 4+ hours of full gametime on one battery I'd be good, but 2 hours is just too short.
  • Icehawk - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    A buddy was looking at this machine - looking at the spec's I said it has got to be a nut roaster!

    Interesting that both NV and ATI's laptop products are actually faster than the desktop equivalent from all appearances by a small margin.

    Definitely cool to see that laptops could eventually become the main type of consumer machine with faster 2.5" HDs and these new gen VCs.
  • gibhunter - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    Stupid decision on Alienware's part. Why go with P4 when a similar level of performance can be achieved with mobile A64 or high end Centrino part and the fan noise could be lessened by a great deal with either of those CPUs. Not to battery life and heat output. P4 3800 is a freaking oven. I wouldn't be surprised if you could cook eggs on the underside of that laptop.
  • snedzad - Monday, June 6, 2005 - link

    I wonder about TDP rating of this "laptop". Who needs this machine, really?

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