Alienware M11x R2 Review

Alienware m11x

Review Summary:

The Alienware M11x R2 is a terrific update to the original M11x, but only offers a modest performance boost.

Pros

• Ultraportable gaming notebook
• Fantastic design and durability
• Better CPU options and Nvidia Optimus

Cons

• No matte screen option
• Integrated battery
• Not much better than the original M11x

Alienware M11x R2 Full Review

 

Dell enjoyed overnight success with the Alienware M11x earlier this year. This 11-inch notebook outperforms many larger laptops and is priced below $1000. Unfortunately for Dell, consumers quickly started asking for an Alienware M11x with Intel Core i7 processors. Now, less than 6 months after the release of the M11x comes the M11x R2 with Intel Core i7 and Nvidia Optimus technology for automatic graphics switching. Is this the perfect M11x? The answer might surprise you.

Our review unit of the Alienware M11x R2 features the following specifications:

• 1.20GHz Intel Core i7 640UM (4MB Cache, max turbo frequency 2.266GHz)
• 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 (2 x 2GB)
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
• 11.6" WXGA WideHD LED Backlit display (1366x768)
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
• Nvidia GeForce GT 335M Discrete Graphics (1GB GDDR3) with switchable Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics
• 802.11b/g/n, 10/100 LAN
• 3-in-1 card reader
• 8-Cell Li-ion 64WH battery, 90W Power Supply
• Dimensions: (W x L x H) 11.25" x 9.19" x 1.29"
• Weight: 4.4lbs
• Starting price: $799.99
• Price as configured: $1,299.99

Build and Design
We reviewed the Alienware M11x a short while ago and the new "Revision 2" (R2) version of the M11x is virtually identical. Anyone familiar with the other gaming notebooks in the Alienware family should instantly recognize the design of the new M11x. In many ways the designers at Alienware tried to make this 11-inch notebook look like a tiny twin of the 15-inch M15x or the 17-inch M17x. A large part of that design heritage is the unique style of Alienware machines. Many laptops look all but identical when the lids are closed, but an Alienware laptop stands out thanks to the stylized lid with futuristic lines and a silver alien head logo.  The biggest design change with the M11x R2 is the new "Soft Touch Stealth Black" finish. Compared to the old glossy black finish on the original M11x, the new exterior feels like it's coated in a rubberized protective layer similar to a business-class ThinkPad.

Also like a ThinkPad, the M11x R2 maintains the boxy design of the original M11x without a tapered edge like most notebooks. Laptops like the Dell Inspiron 11z or the HP Envy series get thinner as you move to the outside edges and thicker toward the center of the notebook. The chassis of the M11x doesn't do that because Alienware engineers needed all that space for the discrete graphics card, extra cooling, and the integrated battery. The integrated battery is also something to keep in mind when talking about the thickness of this notebook. The M11x might seem thick with its height of 1.29 inches, but if you buy the Dell Inspiron 11z or Lenovo IdeaPad U150 with 6-cell extended life batteries then they are actually thicker than this Alienware machine.

Build quality is second to none thanks to the previously mentioned magnesium alloy construction combined with matte black plastics. The exterior of the notebook feels rock solid with just a little bit of flex on the back of the screen lid when you apply pressure. The keyboard and palmrest don't suffer from any noticeable flex even under heavy typing pressure. Again, the M11x is still the most durable 11-inch notebook we've reviewed in our lab. The M11x easily rivals the build quality of some business notebooks that label themselves as being "business-rugged." The build quality hasn't changed with the new revision of this notebook ... it just received a nicer finish.

Another essential element of the Alienware design is the use of customizable LED lighting in key areas around the notebook. The first thing that most people notice is the gorgeous backlit keyboard and two front panels, but my personal favorite is the backlit alien head located above the keyboard. Using the AlienFX software included on the M11x you can set this logo to light up in a number of different ways to alert you of your battery status. I set the alien head on my original M11x to light up blue on AC power and red when it's running on battery power. This is a fantastic way to alert the user if the power cord is accidentally unplugged during a game. Two additional areas that light up on the M11x are the alien head on the back of the screen and the intake vent on the bottom of the notebook. These two areas, however, aren't configurable with the AlienFX software -- the vent uses the same lighting as the keyboard and the alien head on the screen lid is illuminated by the LCD when the laptop is running. US customers also still have the option of getting a personalized, laser-etched name plate on the bottom of the M11x R2.

Speaking of the bottom of the notebook, the M11x is likewise stunning even from underneath. The bottom panel is largely flat and smooth with speaker grill holes for the downward-firing stereo speakers, the cooling fan intake, and battery meter. If you're interested in upgrading the internal components on your M11x you'll be happy to learn that all user-serviceable parts are located under a single access panel on the bottom of the notebook. Accessing the CPU, graphics or the cooling fan is much more complicated, but most consumers honestly don't need to get to those inner workings.

The single massive cover panel for the battery, hard drive, wireless cards and memory slots uses standard Phillips screws for easy disassembly. It's also worth mentioning that Dell/Alienware were kind enough to use retention clips on all the screws ... so when you unscrew the bottom panel the tiny screws won't fall out and get lost on the floor. No warranty void if removed stickers were found anywhere, although there was some yellow tape over the edge of the hard drive and battery. In any case, Alienware considers the internal battery, hard drive, RAM and wireless cards to all be user-serviceable parts. Also, the one-year, on-site service warranty should handle any issues that pop up during the first year and you can always buy extended service warranties if you desire. Long story short, if you want to replace the battery or upgrade the usual suspects then it's pretty easy to do so.

Screen and Speakers
The 11.6" LED-backlit screen on the M11x R2 is identical to the screen on the original M11x, which appears identical to the screen on the Dell Inspiron 11z. With a resolution of 1366x768 you have as much screen space as full-size notebooks, meaning that menus and other items that need more vertical space are no longer a problem. The panel looks great, with good color reproduction and very even lighting thanks to the LED-backlighting. Contrast is average, and varies depending on the vertical viewing angle. The viewing sweet spot is very narrow, so if you move your head just a little bit you won't see an entirely black screen during dark scenes in a game. Instead, you either see some shift at the top or some at the bottom. Brighter colors don't have this problem and look fantastic in everything from viewing images to just browsing the web.

Once again, our only significant complaint about the screen on the M11x is the lack of a matte screen option. Glossy screens look cool when you see them in a store or when you first take your laptop out of the box, but glossy screens also cause obvious reflections on the screen and make it much more difficult to see what's on the screen when you're under strong indoor lighting or direct sunlight. Dell really needs to offer a matte screen option on this notebook since it's designed to be taken everywhere ... and you can't always control your lighting environment when traveling.

Speaker quality is far above average for an 11-inch notebook and the maximum volume output is both loud enough to fill a large meeting room and clear enough to be heard without obvious distortion. Although the stereo speakers on the M11x are downward-firing drivers located on the bottom front edge of the notebook, Alienware engineers also designed two small sound channels into the chassis to direct sound forward through the two decorative LED panels on the front on the notebook. So despite the fact that most of the sound is directed down there is also some sound being thrown forward at the user. Although the M11x has two excellent headphone jacks you might be perfectly happy with the built-in speakers on this laptop.

Keyboard and Touchpad
For many years Alienware notebooks have used a distinctive keyboard design with adjustable LED backlighting so you can view the keyboard in the dark. The M11x continues this tradition with one of the best, if not THE best, keyboard we've used on an 11-inch notebook. In general, the keyboard uses individual keys with a traditional shape that is slightly curved in the middle of each key. Key spacing is quite good and each key has the perfect amount of feedback with minimal side travel. The big difference between this keyboard and the keyboards on other 11-inch notebooks is that the keys have excellent LED backlighting with a transparent key frame and key labels using a futuristic font that looks like something out of Star Trek. More importantly, the support frame beneath the keyboard is rock solid. We couldn't get the keyboard on this M11x to flex even under severe typing pressure. Likewise, the matte plastic palmrests will handle hours of game play without bending or squeaking plastics. Typing noise is minimal, with no loud "click clack" noises while typing. The only minor issue we have with the keyboard is that the matte paint on the keys doesn't like natural skin oils. You'll have to wipe down the keyboard from time to time or some of the keys will start to look oily ... particularly the W, A, S, and D keys if you're a heavy gamer.

The Synaptics touchpad is both pleasing and depressing at the same time on the M11x. If I was using this touchpad on any other Dell notebook I would be absolutely thrilled. The honeycomb textured surface makes for an ideal touchpad texture (allowing for smooth, controlled finger movement) and the drivers seem perfectly calibrated straight out of the box for minimal lag and precision tracking. The touchpad buttons have soft, springy movement with quiet clicks, though the full touchpad button press might be a little too deep for my taste. Indeed, this is a great touchpad ... but it's a touchpad.

Any gaming enthusiast will tell you that you MUST use an external mouse when gaming. Sure, the M11x is an ultraportable laptop and people generally use touchpads for typical activities, but the main reason people are buying this machine rather than a Dell Inspiron 11z or an HP Mini 311 is that you can play games on the M11x. Dell really should have included a quality wireless mouse or even a small wired gaming mouse as "standard" equipment with the M11x.

Ports and Features
The selection of ports on the M11x R2 is mostly unchanged from the port layout on the original M11x. However, the switch to Core i5 and Core i7 processors did require one design change from Dell's Alienware team: the removal of the VGA port. The larger heat sink required for the higher performance CPUs means that one of the three video out ports on the M11x had to be sacrificed. Since most gamers user HDMI or DisplayPort with external monitors, Alienware engineers decided to lose the old VGA port. Students or business professionals who connect their laptops to old projectors might have a problem with this, but it's a minor sacrifice.

The Alienware M11x R2 still includes three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, a 3-in-1 media card slot, Ethernet, all of the standard audio jacks, and the previously mentioned HDMI and DisplayPort connections. Yes, you don't get a built-in optical drive with the M11x ... and we're glad. Not only would a DVD or Blu-ray drive have taken up space and made the notebook heavier and more power hungry, but most consumers are downloading content rather than using disks. You can even choose to let Alienware pre-install STEAM on your M11x when you place your order on the Dell website. For those of you who aren't familiar with Steam, it's essentially like iTunes for PC gaming -- using the Steam software you can browse the online Steam Store and purchase almost any PC game which you then download and install on your PC.

Alienware still includes a DVD restore disk with the M11x rather than including a bootable USB flash drive, but I guess DVDs are cheaper. Hopefully anyone who needs to use the restore disk already owns an external optical drive.

We would still like to see either a combo USB/eSATA port or USB 3.0 on the Alienware M11x R2 so that owners can connect high-speed external storage to this notebook. Now that more USB 3.0 devices are showing up it's time that Alienware add USB 3.0 to its notebooks.

With that said, let's take a quick tour around the M11x R2:

Front: AlienFX lights and speaker grills

Rear: Display hinge, AC power jack, and heat vent

Left: Kensington lock slot, DisplayPort, HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Media card reader, and FireWire

Right: Dual headphone jacks, one microphone jack, and two USB

Performance and Benchmarks
One of the essential hardware elements that made the original Alienware M11x possible was the use of Intel dual-core consumer ultra-low voltage (CULV) processors. These CPUs consume only a fraction of the power that other Intel processors use and also produce less heat (both essential for an ultraportable gaming notebook). The new Intel Core i5 and Core i7 low voltage processors provide similar power and heat savings with better performance. The base price of the M11x R2 still includes the older Core 2 Duo processor, but a few hundred dollars extra gets you the newer CPU options.

Our review sample of the M11x R2 came with the 1.20GHz Intel Core i7 640UM processor. This is the fastest CPU option for the M11x and comes with 4MB cache and automatically overclocks up to 2.266GHz thanks to Intel turbo frequency technology.

Speaking of automatic features, the M11x R2 also includes the same Nvidia GeForce GT 335M discrete graphics card with 1GB of dedicated GDDR3 memory as well as automatic switchable graphics thanks to the Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics and Nvidia Optimus technology. For those who don't know what Optimus is, it's basically a technology that allows the computer to automatically use discrete graphics when you need them (like when you're playing a game) and switch to integrated graphics when you don't need extreme graphics performance and need maximum battery life.

In terms of day-to-day activities the new Core i7 processor feels "snappier" than the overclocked SU4100 processor in my personal M11x. That said, in average applications like Microsoft Office or Internet Explorer you won't notice a difference. The Core i7 processor provides a noticeable speed boost when playing CPU-intense games, but that's the only time the difference is obvious.

We'll get to our in-game tests later in the review, but in the meantime here are a few synthetic benchmarks to see how the M11x compares to other ultraportable notebooks as well as the original M11x with SU4100 processor at stock speed, overclocked, and overclocked with SSD.

wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

PCMark Vantage measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):

3DMark Vantage measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):

CrystalDiskMark storage drive performance test:

Heat and Noise
I was a little concerned about how hot and noisy the M11x R2 might be thanks to the new Core i7 processor, but there are still basically just two noise levels you get from the Alienware M11x: whisper quiet or a loud fan that sounds like someone is using a hairdryer in the next room. The default fan speed is always on at a low setting that is so quiet that you might think the fan is off. However, when overclocking the CPU or gaming the fan will frequently kick into high mode pushing hot air away from the CPU and GPU inside the notebook. On one hand this is good because you know that dangerous heat isn't roasting your laptop, but it means that the M11x might be annoying to coworkers or classmates in a quiet office or classroom environment. The external temperatures on the M11x R2 are still "lap friendly" but it is a few degrees warmer than the earlier release of the M11x thanks to the new processor and the discrete graphics card. All temperatures shown below are listed in degrees Fahrenheit and were recorded when the CPU and the discrete graphics were working hard playing Mass Effect 2 for more than one hour.

Battery Life
Thanks to the Nvidia Optimus switchable graphics inside the M11x R2, you don't have to worry about checking your laptop to see if you left your discrete graphics card running. This notebook automatically detects when you need the discrete graphics and when you just need the best possible battery life. That said, thanks to the higher performance processor and the inability to lock the GPU in integrated mode, the battery life of the new M11x R2 is lower than the older M11x. In our lab tests with the screen set to 70 percent brightness, Windows 7 set to a "balanced" power profile, and Wi-Fi on and loading a new website at a regular interval we obtained 5 hours and 2 minutes of battery life. This is well below the 6+ hours of battery life we got from the original M11x, but it's still pretty impressive.

We also tested the M11x while gaming with CPU overclocking enabled, Nvidia discrete graphics on, brightness set to 70 percent and Wi-Fi on while running Mass Effect 2 using the Steam application. The M11x was able to play Mass Effect 2flawlessly for 1 hour and 58 minutes before the notebook shut down. The amount of in-game time could have been extended by lowering the screen brightness.

The integrated 8-Cell Lithium-Ion battery inside the M11x is rated at 64WH and is powered by a standard 90W power supply. Although we're talking about an integrated battery this is one of the most powerful batteries we've seen in an 11-inch notebook. Also, despite the fact that we prefer to see removable batteries this internal battery is quite easy to remove and replace using the instructions included in the user manual.

Another element of the battery that we really like to see is the one-touch battery indicator located on the bottom of the notebook. Five white LEDs let you know how much battery life is left and whether you need to bring your AC adapter with you when you go to class or that next office meeting. The battery meter works even when the laptop is powered off, so it's a fantastic way to check your battery status when you're in a hurry.

Gaming Performance
While synthetic benchmarks like PCMark and 3DMark help provide a rough idea of how one laptop performs compared to another, playing actual games is the only way to know how a notebook performs with specific games. Another key thing to consider is how the notebook performs when it's plugged in and how it performs on battery power. Most gaming notebooks "throttle back" the graphics card (GPU) and sometimes even the CPU when you unplug the power cord. This is great for battery life but horrible for gaming performance. The M11x R2, like the original M11x, continues to provide maximum CPU and GPU performance even when it's unplugged. To that end, the in-game performance benchmarks listed below are an accurate indication of what you'll experience with the M11x regardless of whether you're playing with the laptop plugged in or unplugged.

The M11x R2 uses the same Nvidia GeForce GT 335M card but now includes Optimus technology so the user doesn't have to manually switch between discrete and integrated graphics. The 1GB of dedicated GDDR3 memory helps keep frame rates running at consistent levels in most games and you won't have to turn down detail settings all the time to get playable frame rates with modern games.

We decided to test three games with the new M11x R2 and compare the results against the original M11x to see if the real-world performance changed. To give you some idea what we're looking at, we typically want the frame rates during game play to stay above 30 frames per second (FPS) in order to provide fluid play and replicate cinema-like motion.

Left 4 Dead 2 is a modern first-person shooter, and the M11x with overclocked SU4100 processor managed to be perfectly playable even when all those zombies rush on the screen at once. That said, the new M11x R2 with Core i7 processor did an even better job keeping the frame rates up during attacks by zombie hordes. In this case, the computational strength of the new CPU kept the frame rates up when dozens of zombies rushed to attack.

M11x with SU4100 processor (overclocked):

M11x R2 with Core i7 processor:

Mass Effect 2 is an enjoyable sci-fi action game that combines elements of a role-playing game and a shooter. The original M11x handled this space adventure with only a few dips in frame rates. Once again, the M11x R2 proved that it could do the same with less of a drop in the frame rate during game play.

M11x with SU4100 processor (overclocked):

M11x R2 with Core i7 processor:

As nice as these results are, the old M11x did pretty good with these games as well. What about a game that the M11x with the SU4100 processor couldn't handle? The CPU-intense game, Shattered Horizon, is an online first-person shooter set in outer space where everyone is weightless and you're bouncing around asteroids shooting one another from every direction possible. This game requires a significant amount of math from the CPU to calculate acceleration, drift, angle of trajectory, etc. ... not only for your character but for every character you're playing against.

This is where the limitation of the old CULV processor inside the M11x really became obvious. Would the Core i7 processor in the M11x R2 do any better? Take a look. 

M11x with SU4100 processor (overclocked):

M11x R2 with Core i7 processor:

As you can see, the new M11x R2 with Core i7 radically improved in-game performance for Shattered Horizon. This same game was essentially a waste of time on the original M11x, but the new CPU makes this game perfectly playable.

The new M11x R2 with Core i7 is a terrific mobile gaming system in every way that matters. Where the old M11x suffered from weaknesses, the new M11x "pwns" the competition. Granted, the overall gaming performance of the M11x R2 doesn't crush the original M11x in less CPU-intense games, but that's because both notebooks use the same graphics. The thing that really makes us happy about the M11x R2 is you just don't have to worry about those CPU-intense games or sudden dips in your frame rates anymore. You can just install your games and have fun without too much concern over the hardware requirements.

ConclusionThe Alienware M11x R2 is every bit as amazing as the original M11x released earlier this year. Although there are other notebooks in the 13-inch and 14-inch sizes that provide excellent gaming performance, the Alienware M11x is still the only game in town if you want solid performance in an 11-inch laptop. The durable design, compact size, capable performance, and very affordable price make the M11x R2 the best choice for road warriors who also like to have fun.

Granted, the new Core i7 configuration doesn't offer that much more performance than the old M11x with overclocked Intel Pentium Dual Core SU4100, but the better processor and Nvidia Optimus provide two more reasons to buy the Alienware M11x R2 if you didn't already buy the original M11x. We still think Alienware needs to offer a matte screen option and a removable battery might be more attractive to some buyers. 

That said, the Alienware M11x is still your only choice if you're looking for an ultraportable gaming notebook.

Pros:

• Ultraportable gaming notebook
• Fantastic design and durability
• Better CPU options and Nvidia Optimus

Cons:

• No matte screen option
• Integrated battery
• Not much better than the original M11x

Individual Ratings: *
Software & Support 
Upgrade Capabilities 
Usability 
Design 
Performance 
Features 
Price/Value Rating 

* Ratings averaged to produce final score