A second-generation Core i5 processor and beefier graphics make the Alienware M11x R3 one powerful gaming ultraportable.
We've long been fans of the Alienware M11x because the 11.6-inch laptop is the only machine of its size that takes gaming seriously. With a starting price of $1099, the new third-generation Alienware M11x R3 is more expensive than most systems this compact, but with a 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 CPU and Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics, this mini rig promises plenty of performance along with legendary Alienware styling. But how does this notebook deliver for gamers on the go?
Design
The Alienware M11x R3 has the same design as its predecessors, complete with an all-black rubberized lid that has the lighted Alienware logo, raven-black stylings on the sides, two lighted grilles on the front lip, and a sleek Alien-themed keyboard on the inside. The entire chassis has the curves of some kind of alien spaceship.
Better still, the keyboard, front grilles, the Alienware name on the bezel, and the little Alien head above the keyboard can all light up in different colors of your choosing. Using the bundled Alienware AlienFX software, you can set each of these areas to illuminate in any of 20 different colors, turning your notebook into a tiny Empire State Building.
At 11.2 x 9.2 x 1.3 inches and 4.6 pounds, the M11x feels thick and bulky for its size. By comparison, the 11-inch HP Pavilion dm1z weighs only 3.4 pounds. However, the Alienware notebook is more than portable enough to fit in any bag and go anywhere with you.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Alienware M11x's colorfully backlit keyboard offers strong tactile feedback with no flex and good key placement. However, the layout feels somewhat cramped because the keys are so close together. When we tried the Ten Thumbs Typing test, we scored 82 words per minute with a 3-percent error rate, a bit faster but more error-prone than our typical 80-wpm, 1-percent error score.
The 3.1 x 1.6-inch textured touchpad on the M11x provides accurate navigation around the desktop and supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, though these are disabled by default. Once we enabled it, pinch-to-zoom worked fairly well on pictures. Just don't expect two-finger scrolling or three-finger flicks out of this Synaptics pad. The two discrete mouse buttons offered good feedback.
The Alienware M11x R3 has the same design as its predecessors, complete with an all-black rubberized lid that has the lighted Alienware logo, raven-black stylings on the sides, two lighted grilles on the front lip, and a sleek Alien-themed keyboard on the inside. The entire chassis has the curves of some kind of alien spaceship.
Better still, the keyboard, front grilles, the Alienware name on the bezel, and the little Alien head above the keyboard can all light up in different colors of your choosing. Using the bundled Alienware AlienFX software, you can set each of these areas to illuminate in any of 20 different colors, turning your notebook into a tiny Empire State Building.
At 11.2 x 9.2 x 1.3 inches and 4.6 pounds, the M11x feels thick and bulky for its size. By comparison, the 11-inch HP Pavilion dm1z weighs only 3.4 pounds. However, the Alienware notebook is more than portable enough to fit in any bag and go anywhere with you.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Alienware M11x's colorfully backlit keyboard offers strong tactile feedback with no flex and good key placement. However, the layout feels somewhat cramped because the keys are so close together. When we tried the Ten Thumbs Typing test, we scored 82 words per minute with a 3-percent error rate, a bit faster but more error-prone than our typical 80-wpm, 1-percent error score.
The 3.1 x 1.6-inch textured touchpad on the M11x provides accurate navigation around the desktop and supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, though these are disabled by default. Once we enabled it, pinch-to-zoom worked fairly well on pictures. Just don't expect two-finger scrolling or three-finger flicks out of this Synaptics pad. The two discrete mouse buttons offered good feedback.
Display and Audio
The M11x's glossy 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display provides bright colors and sharp images, but mediocre viewing angles cause images to wash out at even 45 degrees. The system's speedy Core i5 CPU and Nvidia GT540M graphics chip are more than adequate for playing full HD movies; both a 1080p YouTube trailer for Cowboys and Aliens and a 1080p QuickTime video of the same clip were sharp, noise-free, and smooth.
The bottom-mounted speakers on the M11x R3 got plenty loud when we streamed "Otherside" from The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unfortunately, because the two bottom-mounted speakers are so close to each other (the right side speaker is actually in the middle), the audio has a flat, monotone quality that reminded us of a clock radio. However, turning on the Waves MaxxAudio setting helped a little. We could further tweak the sound using different presets for movies, music, voice, and gaming. You can also fine-tune the audio using the built-in equalizer.
Heat
The Alienware M11x stayed reasonably cool throughout our testing. After we streamed video at full screen for 15 minutes, the keyboard measured a chilly 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the touchpad a reasonable 92 degrees, and the bottom an acceptable 97 degrees. We consider temperatures below 95 degrees comfortable for the top surface of a notebook, with temps around 100 common for the bottom surface.
Ports and Webcam
For an 11.6-inch notebook, the Alienware M11x R3 has its fair share of interesting ports. On the right side are two different headphone jacks, a microphone jack, and two USB 3.0 ports. On the left side are DisplayPort, HDMI out, Ethernet, and FireWire ports, along with an SD card reader, a microSD card reader, and a USB 2.0 port.
The 2-megapixel HD webcam offered bright, sharp images even in low-light situations. Whether we were standing in front of the office window with sunlight streaming, sitting in our cubicle with overhead fluorescent light, or taking pictures in our dimly lit living room, our face appeared even brighter than the light in the room. When we conducted a Skype call in a shadowy area of our house, even fine details of our face were visible.
For an 11.6-inch notebook, the Alienware M11x R3 has its fair share of interesting ports. On the right side are two different headphone jacks, a microphone jack, and two USB 3.0 ports. On the left side are DisplayPort, HDMI out, Ethernet, and FireWire ports, along with an SD card reader, a microSD card reader, and a USB 2.0 port.
The 2-megapixel HD webcam offered bright, sharp images even in low-light situations. Whether we were standing in front of the office window with sunlight streaming, sitting in our cubicle with overhead fluorescent light, or taking pictures in our dimly lit living room, our face appeared even brighter than the light in the room. When we conducted a Skype call in a shadowy area of our house, even fine details of our face were visible.
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