Alienware’s gaming machines have graced the pages of PC gaming magazines for over a decade, tempting gamers with tantalizing tech specs, a sci-fi aesthetic, and the promise of mind-bending performance. The Area-51 m17x’s high-end components, superior performance and unique look are sure to cause gamers fits of desire and hardware envy.
The Alienware Area-51 m17x is available with a range of components to suit your gaming needs. If you are looking for a champion amongst gaming laptops, you’re going to want to order the Area 51 m17x with the best hardware options available. This can be pricey, but at the end of the day, you’ll have ridiculously fast video and processing power. With a fully loaded Area-51 m17x, you can comfortably run the latest games on maximum settings or operate resource hungry video editing software. Who needs a bulky cinderblock under the desk when you can get the same power from a laptop?
Standout Features
• 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000
• dual GeForce 9800M GTs
• 17.1-inch screen
Features
Depending on your taste, the Alienware Area-51 m17x is either a cool looking gaming rig that reflects your interests, or a dated, somewhat juvenile-looking toy. The glowing, alien head power button and logo on the lid might not be for everybody. You do have the option however, of changing the color of alien logo’s eyes. Doubled up with the factory color options for the Area-51 m17x, you could conceivably be the proud owner of fuchsia laptop with a green-eyed alien head on the lid. Alien head aside, the Area-51 m17x is a sleek looking and reasonably sized laptop—given the power its packing, you can still slip it into a backpack or large laptop bag.
The top of the line hardware onboard the Area-51 m17x is undeniably stunning. With a 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 processor, dual GeForce 9800M GT graphics cards, and up to 4GB of ram, this baby was born for gaming. According to Laptop Magazine’s play tests, you can expect upwards of 150 frames per second on Call of Duty 4 at a 1024 x 768 resolution. If you are still chipping away at that level 70 character on World of Warcraft, frame rates of over 200 fps are standard on the Area-51 m17x. The notorious resource hog, Crysis, is even playable at above 30fps on high graphics settings. Gaming performance of this magnitude is almost overkill. The Area-51 m17x easily outperforms the cheaper Gateway P-173XL FX and Asus G50V A1.
With the 17-inch, widescreen display, you can really sit back and appreciate the computing power packed inside the Area-51 m17x. The chassis on the Area-51 m17x comes equipped with a backlit keyboard, backlit border for the touchpad, and a strip of buttons that control The Alienware Command Center—the program that allows you to modify power usage and change the color of your Alien’s glowing eyes. These features may sound like short-lived novelties, but we gamers disagree. The backlit keyboard, in particular, makes all the difference when gaming in a dim coffee shop or a dark office after hours.
With the option to equip a dual layer Blu-ray Disc Burner and a TV tuner, you can do more than challenge your friends to a late night fragfest with the Area-51 m17x. Add a terabyte hard drive, record your favorite TV shows, and the Area-51 m17x will serve beautifully as a home media center. The Area 51-m17x has two speakers and a subwoofer built in, but for high quality sound, external speakers are a good investment.
The Alienware Area-51 m17x is probably more powerful than the human brain, but, unsurprisingly, it does weigh a bit more. It’s not easy to cram computing power, a decent sound system and all the peripherals into a 16.1 x 11.5 x 2.1 inch box. At about 11 pounds, it can be physically taxing to drag around town. And if you plan on a lot of gaming without a plug outlet nearby, you can only expect about an hour and a half of playtime from the battery.
Value
Alienware’s Area-51 m17x is the unequivocal leader of gaming laptops on the market in terms of performance and price. In order to get your hands on a fully tricked-out Area-51 m17x, you’re looking at lightening your pocketbook by $5,449. Yes, that’s right. Over. Five. Thousand. Dollars. It is possible to shave a few hundred dollars of the price by opting to go without the Blu-ray reader/burner or terabyte hard drive. If the price of the Area-51 m17x intimidates you, take a look at the reasonably priced Gateway P-173X FX series or the Toshiba Qosmio X305 gaming laptop. They are both pretty powerful machines that retail for under $2000. You won’t get the celebrated performance of Alienware, but you just might sleep a bit easier.
Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet
No one contests the raw power and mind-boggling performance of the Area-51 m17x gaming laptop. Reviewers marvel at the power twin GeForce 9800M GT video cards and a 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 processor produce. Even with the impressive performance, reviewers note that the Area-51 m17x runs coolly and quietly for a gaming computer.
Many reviewers gawk at the bank busting price tag of the Area-51 m17x. The performance edge you get with an Area-51 m17x is undeniable, but many users prefer to wait a year for prices to drop.
You either love it or you hate it: the appearance of the Area-51 m17x has hordes of fans and haters, but does make a strong statement.
Summary
You really should be required to have a license to own the Alienware Area-51 m17x. It has that much power. Two GeForce 9800M GTs, a 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000, 4GB of ram, and a terabyte of storage space make the Area-51 m17x the definitive portable gaming machine or desktop replacement. The power and distinctive look of the Area-51 m17x combine to make the perfect package for hardcore gamers everywhere.
