The Alienware M14x laptop is geared towards hard-core gamers with deep pockets, who are looking to take high performance gaming on the road.
The gaming laptop features Nvidia Optimus technology with DirectX 11, combining power with cutting-edge 3D graphics. The device is built on Intel's HD GPU and also comes with WiFi or WiMax with up to 4G speeds.
The laptop allows users to adjust the level of performance and is highly customisable, right down to choosing the colour of the backlit LED lights on the keyboard, the front grille and touchpad. The keyboard and touchpad are very responsive and comfortable to type on, and users can customise touchpad sensitivity.
For the power conscious, the M14x laptop automatically adjusts power consumption and can provide up to six hours of battery life on a single charge. The AlienFusion Power Management console lets users decide when they need maximum performance for gaming or when to scale back power for less intensive applications, such as working on an MS Word document.
The 14.10-inch display has a sharp 1600 x 900 resolution with a glossy finish. The quality of sound was surprisingly impressive and professional despite the small size of the speakers.
Gamers might also like the fact that the laptop can come preloaded with Steam, popular digital distribution gaming software that enables users to buy PC games online. In addition, each M14x comes with a metal-etched plate at the bottom of the device, where gamers can mark their name, clan name and nickname.
Overall, I was impressed with the speed, graphics quality and performance when playing games. There was no lag but it took more than three minutes to start up, which is a long time in gaming terms.
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i7 Processor 2630QM (2.0Ghz)
Display: 14.10-inch widescreen high-definition (1600x900) WLED with TrueLife
Memory: 4GB, 1600MHz DDR3 dual channel
Hard drive: 750GB Serial ATA (7200RPM)
Graphics: 3GB Nvidia GeForce GT555M
Sound card: Integrated high-definition 5.1 performance audio
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
Retail price: R17 999 including VAT
Pros: Slick design, high performance, crisp graphics
Cons: Expensive, slow to start up and very heavy for its compact size
Rating: 8/10
Contact: Incredible Connection
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