Dell acquired Alienware quite some time ago, and now it is time for the next generation computer under the new brand. Besides the latest processors from Intel, we find a bunch of options for the graphics, including AMD’s latest Radeon HD 7970M in CrossFire configuration.
With Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors new gaming notebooks and muscle packages are appearing here and there, and Dell is no exception. They are largely the same as we have seen before, considering function and design, but it is what hides inside that is new. Common for all models is the choice of DVD RW reader or Blu-ray, and the HM77 chipset from Intel.
Alienware M14x R2 comes with up to two harddrives/SSD units and 6 to 16 GB RAM ram. The choice of processor goes from Core i5-2450M, while we await the first dual-core Ivy Bridge processors, and moves up to the quad-core Core i7-3610QM, Core i7-3720QM and Core i7-3820QM. The choice of graphics card is a GeForce GT 650M from the new Kepler family from NVIDIA, with 384 CUDA cores clocked at 735 MHz with 1 or 2 GB GDDR5 memory at 4000 MHz and 128-bit bus. The 14″ screen can be had with 1366 x 768 or 1600 x 900 px resolution. It weighs in at 2.92 kg.
Alienware M17x R4 is a 4.26 kg beast and gets up tot two harddrives/SSD units, but also harddrive+SSD-cache can be selected and the choice of RAM varies from 6 to 32 GB. Here we only find quad-core processors in the form of Core i7-3610QM, Core i7-3720QM or Core i7-3820QM. There are three screen options with M17x R4, which measures 17.3″. The first alternative is 1600 x 900, and the other two are 1920 x 1080 px resolution. The last alternative is a 1920 x 1080 screen with 120 Hz for support for 3D Vision from NVIDIA. For graphics we find three options:
- GeForce GTX 660M is also from the new Kepler family from NVIDIA, and gets 384 CUDA cores at 835 MHz and 2 GB GDDR5 memory at 4000 MHz, with 128-bit bus.
- Next is NVIDIA’s most powerful graphics card of today, GTX 675M from the older Fermi family with 384 cores at 620 MHz, and 2 GB GDDR5 memory at 3000 MHz with a wider 256-bit memory bus.
- Last but definitely not least we have AMD’s latest flagship Radeon HD 7970M. The card sports 1280 Radeon cores clocked at 850 MHz with 256-bit memory bus and two 2 GB GDDR5 memories at 4800 MHz.
Last comes Alienware M18x R2 that is simply big in every manner imaginable, starting with a weight at 5.41 kg. Besides the same quad-core processors as the model above it also has Intel’s most powerful Core i7-3920XM at 2.9 GHz with Turbo at up to 3.8 GHz, This processor can also be had overclocked and then the Turbo kicks up to 4.1 GHz. The choice of RAM is identical with 6 to 32 GB, but you can also get 8 GB Intel XMP memory at 1866 MHz. The computer has an 18.4″ screen, but there is only one option; 1920 x 1080 px resolution, and if need 120 Hz, M17x seems to be the only option. In terms of graphics cards there are no less than five different options:
- GeForce GTX 660M with 384 CUDA cores at 835 MHz, 2 GB GDDR5 memory at 4000 MHz and 128-bit bus.
- GeForce GTX 675M with 384 CUDA cores at 620 MHz, 2 GB GDDR5 memory at 3000 MHz and 256-bit bus. GTX 675M in SLI also available.
- Last we have the most powerful solution for notebooks today AMD Radeon HD 7970M with 1280 Radeon cores at 850 MHz, 2 GB GDDR5 memory at 4800 MHz with 256-bit memory bus. There is also a CrossFire configuration, which should bring performance above both HD 7970 and GTX 680 for desktops.
Alienware M14x R2, M17x R4 and M18x R2 start at 1099, 1499 and 1999 dollar. We are looking into the possibilities of testing one of Alienware’s new systems, where the fresh AMD Radeon HD 7970M is of course of big interest to us
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