Alienware M14x (Core i7 2630QM Processor 2GHz, 4GB RAM)

Typically, the difference between a 14-inch laptop and a 15-inch one is very slight, although we generally prefer the smaller of these two options for the sake of portability. When it comes to chunky gaming laptops, however, the difference can be more pronounced. While we wouldn't consider taking Alienware's 15-inch M15x laptop on the road, the new 14-inch version, unsurprisingly named the M14x, looks and feels a good deal smaller--even if it's still a beast compared with other 14-inch laptops.

For truly portable gaming, you'd want to stick with the popular 11-inch M11x, pretty much the only gaming ultraportable you'll find. But this new in-between size is enticing for those who want to take their games on a family vacation or business trip and still enjoy a reasonable screen size and generous 1,600 x 900-pixel screen resolution.

All these don't come cheap, and our review unit of the M14x costs S$3,242.65, which includes a high-end Intel Core i7 2820QM CPU, an Nvidia GeForce GT555M GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 750GB hard drive. Fortunately, more realistic configurations start at S$2,299.

Design

It's been a few years since Dell gave its Alienware lineup a makeover, and it's starting to show. Like the recent M11x, the new M14x has the same angular, almost automotive design as the 15- and 17-inch models of a few years ago. When we first saw it we thought it was a good step toward a more upscale feel, but since then we've seen a lot of sharp laptop designs that go even further toward a modern, minimalist look.

Specifications	Allienware M14x
Price as reviewed/Starting price	S$3,242.65/S$2,299
Processor	2.3GHz Intel Core i7 2820QM
Memory	8GB, 1,600MHz DDR3
Hard drive	750GB 7,200rpm
Chipset	Intel HM67
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GT 555M / Intel HD 3000
Operating system	Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit)
Dimensions (W x D)	340 x 246mm
Height	30.5mm
Screen size (diagonal)	14 inches
System weight (with AC adapter)	3kg (3.5kg)
Category	Midsized

The M14x has the same automotive-inspired grille along the front edge (which is only for show, not ventilation), a slick edge-to-edge glass overlay on the display, and a matte black chassis (the exterior of our system was a matte red). It's distinctive, to be sure, and will feel comfortable and familiar to longtime Alienware fans, but we're also eager for something new, and hopefully a bit slimmer. At 30.5mm and 3kg without the A/C adapter, this is still an effort to haul around more than occasionally.

Alienware's FX lighting and settings control system is still here. It lets you set the color for the backlit keyboard and the other light-up parts of the system. Backlit keys can be essential while gaming, as a black-on-black keyboard can be tough to make out in the dark.

The keyboard has a more traditional tapered key design, rather than the wider, flat keys many laptop makers are partial to these days. The company has previously said that these tapered keys provide more space between the individual letters, which is better for first-person shooters, which make heavy use of the WASD keys. We're not sure we have a favorite key design for playing games, but it's an interesting theory.

Alienware has always had excellent touchpads, although much of the rest of the laptop industry is catching up in terms of size. The smooth, matte texture on the touchpad feels great under your fingers, and the two large, distinct mouse buttons are welcome. As with previous Alienware laptops, the touchpad is demarcated by a backlit ring, the color of which is selectable. A few touchpad options, such as the size of the scroll bar, are controlled by an app called AlienTouch, but we didn't see any multitouch gestures such as two-finger scrolling.

Features

On a 14-inch display, we'd expect to normally find a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution, but for this much money, it's only natural to expect more. This model's native resolution is actually 1,600 x 900 pixels, which is a step up for gaming. We'd be tempted to ask for full 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution, but on a 14-inch screen text could become hard to make out. The built-in Klipsch speakers are as good as any we've heard in a laptop this size, and better than you'd find in many larger laptops.

	Alienware M14x	Average for category (midsized)
Video	VGA, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort	VGA, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, two headphone jacks, microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	One USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, SD card reader, SIM card slot.	Four USB 2.0, SD card reader, eSATA
Expansion	None	ExpressCard/54
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner

While the ports and connections on the M14x are mostly standard stuff, we appreciate the triple video-out setup of HDMI, VGA, and Mini DisplayPort. Missing are high-speed data ports such as eSATA and Thunderbolt, but you do get a pair of USB 3.0 connections and optional WiMax in certain regions.

You also get a potentially useful optional wireless display antenna, bundled with a Vizio-branded receiver, instead of the usual Netgear one (Alienware isn't using the more common Intel Wireless Display version of the technology). With that, you can hypothetically beam the action to a nearby big-screen TV, although we've been unable to make the connection yet, despite plenty of experience with the Intel/Netgear version of the technology.

Performance And Battery Life

The real star of the show is the quad-core Intel Core i7 2820QM processor, which sits at the top of Intel's current laptop lineup. It's a very powerful CPU, making it so that only recent very high-end systems, such as Apple's high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro, are comparable to the M14x in our benchmark tests. That said, it's more CPU than you probably need, and most M14x buyers should be fine taking the CPU down a few levels when selecting system options online to save some money.

The Nvidia GeForce GT555M is also a newer top-of-the-line part, and helped run our Unreal Tournament III test at 1,400 x 900-pixel resolution at 240.4 frames per second. Playing a more recent game, such as Mafia II, at 1,600 x 900-pixel resolution with very high graphics settings got us a more realistic number, 34.8fps. Either way, this is a zippy gaming machine and more than enough to handle the latest games (although not at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, as the M14x's screen resolution doesn't go that high).

When it's not needed the GPU switches off, thanks to Nvidia's Optimus technology, allowing the system to use Intel's default integrated graphics instead.









To be honest, no one expects great battery life from a gaming laptop. but when they start getting smaller in size, those expectations change. Add to that Intel's currently great reputation for helping extend battery life with its new CPUs, and you can't blame us for expecting a little more. And a little more is exactly what you get, with the M14x running for 2 hours 42 minutes in our video-playback battery drain test. That's about an hour longer than the most recent 15-inch Alienware laptop we tested, but almost 90 minutes less than parent company Dell's current XPS 15 laptop.



Alienware M14x
Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit); 2.3GHz Intel Core i7 2820M; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 3GB Nvidia GeForce GT 555M + 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 3000; 720GB Seagate 7,200rpm

Alienware M15X
Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 920XM; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M; 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm

Toshiba Satellite M645
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 2410M; 6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 415M + 64MB (Dedicated) Intel GMA HD; 640GB Toshiba 5,400rpm

Dell XPS L502X
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 2630QM; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 667MHz; 2GB NVIDIA GeForce 540M + 64MB(Dedicated) Intel GMA HD; 750GB Western Digital 7,200rpm

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Pro (Core i7 Sandy Bridge 2.7GHz)
OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard; 2.7GHz Intel Core i7; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Service And Support

Alienware provides an industry-standard one-year parts and labor warranty with the system, which includes in-home service. Support is accessible via a 24/7 phone line, an online knowledge base, and driver downloads.