Dell M18x gaming notebook is enormous 18.4 in comes with spectacular spec and design. It is 1920 x 1080 display comes with 2GHz i7 2630QM CPU (Turbo Boost to 2.9GHz) and paltry 4GB of 1333MHz RAM, the only additions to make the difference during testing were the dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon 6970 GPUs in CrossfireX and the two 500GB Momentus XT drives in Raid 0 “Stripe”. Initial misgivings aside, the results were nonetheless impressive. M18x running windows 7 64-bits.
Alienware in gaming is a bit like Apple in computing, - you pay more, but you also get style in truckloads and machines finely engineered for the task.
The notebook is 436 x 322 x 53mm and with starting wight of 5.41KG , the M18x is almost as replacing your actual desktop. The large 99 x 56mm trackpad is the smoothest, most responsive and precise I’ve ever used. White-bordered 18 x 18mm keys make for comfortable typing, with good stroke distance and low noise.
The M18x is highly configurable, making any evaluation relative. The only standard components are the chassis and glossy 18.4in 1920 x 1080 WLED LCD screen. The screen is top-notch, with exceptional HD picture quality, stunning contrast and brightness, and excellent viewing angles.
Opting for the base model's single Geforce 460M graphics card is like installing a Golf GTI engine in a Ferrari. It might be reasonably nippy, but it's way short of the power the marque promises. I'd suggest the test unit supplied – itself a mid-to-low configuration – should be considered the true entry-level model.
The M18x is huge which it could be an disadvantage. the M18x is a head-turner, with its pedigree rhomboid chassis and imposing Pontiac Firebird-style front slope and grilles striking a deft balance between geek and chic. The M18x is scratch and smudge resistant. Port placement further exemplifies the meticulous attention to detail, with all the heavy cabling kept to the rear. Running along the left, from front to back, are two headphone, one mic and an S/PDIF sockets, plus two USB 3.0 ports, MiniDisplay, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet and a Kensington Lock.
Comes with 54mm Express Card and 9-in 1 card reader slots sit neatly above the slot-loading optical drive on the right, two USB ports and an eSata/USB 2.0 combo. The M18x comes also with an HDMI-in port, given the ubiquilty of HDTV's.
As is the large soft touch rubber wrist area, which provides excellent grip. Talking of grip, the half-octagon texturised-rubber panel at the cover's rear is dead handy when carrying this monster underarm.
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