Alienware M11x R3: Portable Powerhouse
by Dustin Sklavos on July 22, 2011 1:15 AM ESTBattery, Noise, and Heat
We've already established that the updated Alienware M11x offers substantially more processor and graphics performance than its predecessors, enough to hang with and oftentimes even beat last generation's mainstream notebooks. With the same battery as the previous two generations, is it more frugal in power consumption as well?
While we would've liked to see a healthy improvement of battery life across the board, only the idle running time gets a big boost; everything else is status quo. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as the M11x line is capable of a respectable 6+ hours of running time surfing the internet and 4+ hours of high definition movie playback. The R3 is at least on par with the Penryn-based first-generation model, and the slightly reduced battery life of the Arrandale-based R2 is nowhere to be found. In two years we've basically doubled performance in the M11x without increasing power consumption.
Thermal performance is frankly excellent, too, and unlike the troubled M14x fan noise isn't as big an issue as long as the intake's noise is muffled by the table. The M11x R3 isn't as powerful as the quad-core-equipped M14x and doesn't enjoy as nice a screen, but it runs cooler, lasts longer on the battery, and is quieter. Gamers looking for a portable solution are going to have to seriously consider whether or not they want the added size, noise, and performance of the M14x against the M11x R3; personally I'm not even sure which one I'd go for.
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Luke2.0 - Saturday, August 6, 2011 - link
I see, thank you for bringing up the cost issue as well.Now if anyone's still here... which one of these is the most expensive (or the least)?
1) 1600MHz, with 128-bit and 2 channels yielding 51.2 GB/s (AMD Llano)
2) 2000MHz, with 64-bit and 2 channels yielding 32 GB/s (Intel Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, with premium memory modules)
3) 1866MHz, with 128-bit and 2 channels yielding 59.7 GB/s (AMD Trinity, estimate)
Thank you
Death666Angel - Saturday, July 23, 2011 - link
Hey!Thanks for the review, just one thing: It would be nice to get the dimensions and weight figures in international units as well (cm/mm and kg). Anandtech has it in some articles and it's missing in others. :-)
frozentundra123456 - Saturday, July 23, 2011 - link
Impressive performance in such a small package, but I am not sure I would want to game on an 11 inch screen, no matter what the resolution. And the price just seems too high.I would prefer to get a 1000.00 gaming desktop and a 500.00 netbook, tablet, or small laptop.
I wonder what kind of performance a Llano chip could provide in a small form factor like this, if it would fit into the heat, power, and size envelope. Maybe you could get some sort of decent light gaming and save a lot of money.
rousseauhk - Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - link
Have seen a few reviews of this laptop, but for some reason none mention the battery performance under a gaming load. For a laptop thats a dedicated portable gaming machine, I'm astonished that none of the reviewers seem to think its important.Does anyone have any figures for this?
cheers
/rhk
Bolas - Monday, October 31, 2011 - link
Just bought a couple Alienware laptops, an m17x R3 and an m11x R3.I'm enjoying the m11x more than I thought I would. The portability is great!
I can put my m11x in the same backpack as the m17x so that I can game when I game. In other words, a guest comp for the "victim".