Alienware's M17x R3: An Antidote to Clevo
by Dustin Sklavos on June 20, 2011 9:06 AM ESTApplication and Futuremark Performance
The Intel Core i7-2720QM and AMD Radeon HD 6970M powering the Alienware M17x R3 should provide more than enough power for any task. Keeping with our updated testing suite, we'll start with the breakdown of PCMark 7 performance.
Inexplicably, the Alienware M17x R3 hangs out in the middle of the pack for almost every test. When you get to the storage score, it's clear the RAIDed HDDs just aren't cutting it. The 2720QM is a more than fast enough processor, so why is it having issues lagging behind the i7-2630QM? The HDDs underperform, but here's the weird part: the ASUS G73SW also has two Seagate HDDs in RAID 0 (500GB instead of 750GB). How the two newer 750GB 7200RPM drives can trail the 500GB RAID 0 HDDs remains a mystery, but it appears ASUS is better optimized in the storage arena.
PCMark Vantage remains just as confusing, but once we get to Cinebench and the x264 benchmark, the M17x performs exactly where it should be. If anything the Clevo P150HM seems unusually sprightly. It's also interesting to get another good look at just how far behind Sandy Bridge leaves the last generation mobile quad-core processors.
3DMark performance again seems to favor the unusually quick Clevo P150HM, while the GeForce GTX 485M soars past the 6970Ms in 3DMark Vantage. Futuremark isn't everything, though, as we'll soon see with the gaming tests.
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RoninX - Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - link
Yes, I would find it very useful to see both performance and run time stats for gaming on the battery.Right now, I'm pretty satisfied with the balance of power vs battery life on my XPS 15, but I am curious what sort of price you pay in terms of run time if you move up to a gaming laptop like the M14x (or the equivalent rigs from Clevo or ASUS).
Likewise, I'm curious whether you actually get better performance on the gaming laptops while on battery (as compared to a general-purpose high-end laptop like the XPS 15), or whether the actual performance ends up being equivalent (or worse) due to throttling.
Hrel - Monday, June 20, 2011 - link
http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np5165-clevo-w150hr-p...JarredWalton - Monday, June 20, 2011 - link
I'll have a review of one of those in the near future (not from XoticPC, but it's the same Clevo W150HR chassis); I would say "better" is all relative. If you mean it will have better battery life, then yes, it's better. If you mean it offers okay performance in games, but it's not as fast as GTX 460M, then yes, it's "better". The GT 555M is half-way between GT 540M and GTX 460M, though, which means the 6970M is over twice as fast... and 1080p gaming on the 555M is definitely a stretch.Dustin Sklavos - Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - link
Immediate disqualification on the grounds that you still have to put up with that Clevo keyboard. ;)b0tch02 - Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - link
Does this Clevo have the capability for 6970m CF? No.Maybe you prefer the Optimus technology of the Clevo?
"Better" how? What is your definition of better? Because everyones opinion differs - people buy different laptops for different reasons/applications/funtions...
You're comparing apples to oranges.
prophet001 - Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - link
Nice article. Thank you for typing it up. I have been looking for a replacement for my aging XPS and this might be it.I was wondering though if you have any idea what the SSD option is. Is it worth it to maybe get the laptop with the SSD option and then purchase a 2nd HDD after you receive it for storage purposes?
The drive situation and the keyboard issue are the only two things that would keep me from purchasing it (well that and the fact that the XPS I have now is 1920 x 1200).
Thank you again
Dustin Sklavos - Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - link
It's my understanding the SSDs that Dell ships the notebooks with aren't the best. Under the circumstances you may be best off ordering it with a single HDD and then upgrading to an SSD of your choosing.JasonInofuentes - Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - link
Seriously, putting some really great hardware through its paces. Makes me wonder, if this is the first laptop that's made you regret having to send it back, what's your daily driver?Either way, great job, can't wait to see the M11x R3view.
Jason
Uritziel - Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - link
LOL, nice.Dustin Sklavos - Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - link
It's not the first one, but it's definitely the one I've wanted the most out of all the machines I've tested, desktop and notebook. My personal desktop is powerful enough that the demons I test aren't that interesting (they're noisy and generate a ton of heat), but I've been looking for a new 17" notebook and the M17x R3 is sooooo perfect. :(Honestly I'm just thankful I get the chance to test these things at all so I can see and know there's something out there to shoot for.