i have a great desktop pc with 3d vision etc , but i find i am working abroad most of the time , can you gays tell me if the alienware mx11 laptops are worth it , ie what games will they play , also seems to be confusing there seems to be a lot of different specs?
alienware mx11 laptop worth it ?
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I would say they're defiantly NOT worth it.
If you're wanting to buy a laptop then I would advise just building a rig for your place abroad (assuming you're going to be at the same place) and keeping your other one at home.
If you ever need word processing on the go then get a netbook with the change left over.
Those alienware laptops, in my opinion, aren't that suitable for gaming. They drain lots of battery so it would have to be plugged into the wall anyway.
To me it just makes more sense to build your own.
If you're wanting to buy a laptop then I would advise just building a rig for your place abroad (assuming you're going to be at the same place) and keeping your other one at home.
If you ever need word processing on the go then get a netbook with the change left over.
Those alienware laptops, in my opinion, aren't that suitable for gaming. They drain lots of battery so it would have to be plugged into the wall anyway.
To me it just makes more sense to build your own.
I had an m11x r1. It was ok.
Good points:
Amazing battery life (8hrs surfing and 2.5hrs gaming).
Nice Keyboard plus backlit
Good size for portability
Bad points:
Screen was terrible, poor contrast, brightness and viewing angles and it was so so glossy
Also it was difficult to game well on the 11" screen.
Build quility was not great, the hinges failed and its a known issue, I had one that cut out on battery and a replacement that failed within a month so all in all 3 within a year.
I then sold it and bought the R2, that one got sent back within 3 days because of:
same terrible screen, got very hot on the palmrest, battery life was only 5h/1.5h and I had loads of optimus issues which took nvidia/dell 5 months to resolve.
In the end I bought a 2010 mbp 13. It is similar in size, I get a good 10 hours in osx and about 2.5hrs gaming in bootcamp and I can play light games (ie SC2, COH, DOW2 play great but don't bother even trying BFBC2!)
If you are set on an alienware check out the new m14x, 14" screen will be easier to game on and it is quite powerful for a 14" notebook (quad cpu and nvidia 555m). Battery life is 4hrs surfing but you will be lucky to get an hour playing a light game.
Good points:
Amazing battery life (8hrs surfing and 2.5hrs gaming).
Nice Keyboard plus backlit
Good size for portability
Bad points:
Screen was terrible, poor contrast, brightness and viewing angles and it was so so glossy
Also it was difficult to game well on the 11" screen.
Build quility was not great, the hinges failed and its a known issue, I had one that cut out on battery and a replacement that failed within a month so all in all 3 within a year.
I then sold it and bought the R2, that one got sent back within 3 days because of:
same terrible screen, got very hot on the palmrest, battery life was only 5h/1.5h and I had loads of optimus issues which took nvidia/dell 5 months to resolve.
In the end I bought a 2010 mbp 13. It is similar in size, I get a good 10 hours in osx and about 2.5hrs gaming in bootcamp and I can play light games (ie SC2, COH, DOW2 play great but don't bother even trying BFBC2!)
If you are set on an alienware check out the new m14x, 14" screen will be easier to game on and it is quite powerful for a 14" notebook (quad cpu and nvidia 555m). Battery life is 4hrs surfing but you will be lucky to get an hour playing a light game.
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I have an alienware m11x r2 and it is a great piece of kit. Runs everything i chuck at it, i can only imagine that the new revision runs everything faster?
The speakers are great for such a small laptop. They are downfiring though so can be muffled if on your lap.
Battery is much better on the R1 than the R2, not sure on the R3 but expect it will be similar to R2
If gaming is a priority then get the R2/R3 as not only do you get higher cpu clocks but you also get hyperthreading which will help on certain titles (ie BFBC2). I found the R1 also struggled with COD BO whereas its playable on the R2.
Battery is much better on the R1 than the R2, not sure on the R3 but expect it will be similar to R2
If gaming is a priority then get the R2/R3 as not only do you get higher cpu clocks but you also get hyperthreading which will help on certain titles (ie BFBC2). I found the R1 also struggled with COD BO whereas its playable on the R2.
I don't find the screen a problem (Unless you take out in the sunshine
), even with the size it does a good job for gaming, which was one of the worries I had, but as it's not my main gaming rig I could deal with it on the move. The r1 has a better battery life, but is obviously a little bit slower than r2 (There are a few volt mods for the r1 to get it to match the r2, but requires some soldering).Haven't heard of the 5400, there is the 4100 or the slightly faster 7300. I know with mine (7300), it automatically overclocks to 1.7ghz.
Speakers aren't great, but I'm normally using headphones anyway, so didn't bother me. Both those games should play, a few settings will have to be turned down, but not to the extent you won't enjoy the games. Wow, because it's a CPU intensive game will probably be playable at medium settings, the r2 in this case would be a lot better for it.
I don't find the screen a problem (Unless you take out in the sunshine
Haven't heard of the 5400, there is the 4100 or the slightly faster 7300. I know with mine (7300), it automatically overclocks to 1.7ghz.
Speakers aren't great, but I'm normally using headphones anyway, so didn't bother me. Both those games should play, a few settings will have to be turned down, but not to the extent you won't enjoy the games. Wow, because it's a CPU intensive game will probably be playable at medium settings, the r2 in this case would be a lot better for it.
lol shows you everything is subjective!
I thought the screen was carp and speakers were good (for its size) and you are the opposite
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Ah, if a desktop really isn't an option then I still wouldn't get an alienware, unless you want to shell out loads for a products which is the same as a cheaper alternative.
If you still want to go with the alienware then have a look on some online auction sites, most of the time they have some of the older ones for great prices, but you pay for the hassle of chasing your money if something goes wrong.
If you still want to go with the alienware then have a look on some online auction sites, most of the time they have some of the older ones for great prices, but you pay for the hassle of chasing your money if something goes wrong.
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Worst advice I've heard recently
And why would that be the worst advice you've heard?
At the time of the advice given the OP didn't specify if he would be using it on the go, if he was situated in one place when he was abroad... Neither did he specify the specs of the mx11 he was after...
What would be the point in spending possibly 900+ on a laptop when he already has a decent rig at home?