Alienware

[kyrax12]

How good are the Alienware laptop brands. Their design is a bit flashy, but I would like to game on the go.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Pretty bad IIRC. Haven't checked in year or so. I think MSI has a good line.

 

[Zodiark1593]

http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?cid=6&id=430

Forget Alienware, seriously. With MSI's new laptop, you get a 2880 x 1620 display, an i7, an SSD + HDD, and a GTX 780M. And, it's a 15" laptop to boot. Yes, the resolution is a little steep for the video card, but the GTX 780M is essentially an underclocked fully enabled desktop GTX 680, so with some settings cut back, I'm sure it can manage.

Are you drooling yet?

 

[frozentundra123456]

http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?cid=6&id=430

Forget Alienware, seriously. With MSI's new laptop, you get a 2880 x 1620 display, an i7, an SSD + HDD, and a GTX 780M. And, it's a 15" laptop to boot. Yes, the resolution is a little steep for the video card, but the GTX 780M is essentially an underclocked fully enabled desktop GTX 680, so with some settings cut back, I'm sure it can manage.

Are you drooling yet?

Very nice, but I have reservations about that resolution. Seems like you would have to run any fairly demanding game at a non-native resolution, which might actually look worse than on a 1080p screen. I would also think text would be very small on a 15 inch screen. I have a 15 inch 1080p work laptop, and honestly don't see the point of any higher resolution.

As to the OP, I would check the Lenovo website. They often have great deals on somewhat less powerful gaming laptops. My grandson has an Asus gaming laptop which has been quite good. Regarding Alienware, I think they make good products, but they are usually overpriced and the styling is a bit garish.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Very nice, but I have reservations about that resolution. Seems like you would have to run any fairly demanding game at a non-native resolution, which might actually look worse than on a 1080p screen. I would also think text would be very small on a 15 inch screen. I have a 15 inch 1080p work laptop, and honestly don't see the point of any higher resolution.

As to the OP, I would check the Lenovo website. They often have great deals on somewhat less powerful gaming laptops. My grandson has an Asus gaming laptop which has been quite good. Regarding Alienware, I think they make good products, but they are usually overpriced and the styling is a bit garish.

I'm a bit biased toward the res myself. That thing is like a dream mobile workstation for CUDA based 3d rendering, and a gaming powerhouse. My two biggest hobbies very well satisfied right there. NNow I just need 2 grand randomly laying around.

 

[kyrax12]

So just a precaution, how long can a laptop last if the GPU hit 85 degrees Celsius constantly?

I play demanding games like Farcry 3 on my y410p and sometimes the GPU temp can hit 90 degrees c.

HOw does the alienware fare against heat?

 

[frozentundra123456]

So just a precaution, how long can a laptop last if the GPU hit 85 degrees Celsius constantly?

I play demanding games like Farcry 3 on my y410p and sometimes the GPU temp can hit 90 degrees c.

HOw does the alienware fare against heat?

I hate to ask this question, but it comes up every time someone wants a gaming laptop. Do you really need a gaming laptop? You can get a much more powerful gaming desktop, and have money left over to get a tablet or moderately priced laptop for mobility.

I ask because you brought up temperature issues. I have had very poor luck with longevity with laptops and they are so difficult and expensive to repair that it usually is better to just replace one than repair it. A desktop, especially for gaming, will run much cooler, be upgradable, and can be repaired much easier.

As to your specific question, 90 deg C on the gpu is probably within the limit of specs, but I cant imagine that it is good for long term reliability of the gpu or other components around it. It would depend of model I suppose, but I think Alienware laptops in general are fairly well designed for cooling.

 

[kyrax12]

I hate to ask this question, but it comes up every time someone wants a gaming laptop. Do you really need a gaming laptop? You can get a much more powerful gaming desktop, and have money left over to get a tablet or moderately priced laptop for mobility.

I ask because you brought up temperature issues. I have had very poor luck with longevity with laptops and they are so difficult and expensive to repair that it usually is better to just replace one than repair it. A desktop, especially for gaming, will run much cooler, be upgradable, and can be repaired much easier.

As to your specific question, 90 deg C on the gpu is probably within the limit of specs, but I cant imagine that it is good for long term reliability of the gpu or other components around it. It would depend of model I suppose, but I think Alienware laptops in general are fairly well designed for cooling.

Well not really, but the laptop I got was the Lenovo y410p and it was about 820$ for an intel i7 4700 and a 750m gt.

It was a pretty sweet deal, but looking back at it I think I would be better off if I have gotten a thinkpad instead.

They were around the same price really.

 

[Stone Rain]

Well not really, but the laptop I got was the Lenovo y410p and it was about 820$ for an intel i7 4700 and a 750m gt.

It was a pretty sweet deal, but looking back at it I think I would be better off if I have gotten a thinkpad instead.

They were around the same price really.

For $820 you can build a desktop that will run circles around that. Check out this build I threw together:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/stonvnox/saved/37Ps

An i5-4430, GTX 760, 8GB RAM, a 120GB SSD and a 1TB HDD.

Unless you are on the go 24/7 and absolutely must have a gaming laptop, I can't recommend anything except a desktop; a laptop gets you 1/3rd the performance and no upgrade-ability for the same cost.

 

[Enigmoid]

For $820 you can build a desktop that will run circles around that. Check out this build I threw together:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/stonvnox/saved/37Ps

An i5-4430, GTX 760, 8GB RAM, a 120GB SSD and a 1TB HDD.

Unless you are on the go 24/7 and absolutely must have a gaming laptop, I can't recommend anything except a desktop; a laptop gets you 1/3rd the performance and no upgrade-ability for the same cost.

Desktops are really only competitive if you already have all the peripherals. For a first time buyer (especially the low end) I would argue that a laptop can be almost as effective and have the portability. Especially the el cheapo $400 notebooks which get you a complete fully functional system but the OP is not in the market for that.

You build is great and beats the pants off any equivalently priced laptop in GPU performance + SSD (Not CPU performance as the i7-4700 is just as fast as the 4330 but has HT) but if the buyer needs a monitor, Windows, keyboard/speakers then its going to cost much more. IF the OP has those then the OP would be better off with a desktop.

 

[terpsy]

Alienware is a niche product and they do HANDLE gaming better than most laptops (Lenovo Included). They are not the slimmest laptops, but their cooling solutions is designed for that to eliminate throttling. My friend has the Alienware 14 and it is awesome and I am drooling over getting one myself. The IPS 1080 screen is perfect, and the machine plays everything (WoW, BF3 (doesn't have 4), SC II, Diablo III) without stutter and with eye candy on. He has the 4700 chip, 8 GB Ram, etc. The only upgrades were the Screen and the GPU (765mx I believe). You can often find coupons and sign up for Dell Advantage and get this laptop for about $1200-1300 with shipping and Tax (Depending on where you live). Again, my opinion, but the build quality of Alienware is top notch, and the machine was awesome, as well as quiet which would not have been the case with other laptops.

 

[kogunniyi]

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss any brand if I were you.

I have compared the Alienware m17x r4, which is by most accounts not as well-built as this year's Alienwares, with the MSI GT60 and GT70: the m17x feels tighter and sturdier all-round and comes with a better warranty, which you can extend without much trouble.

I think of MSIs as gimmicky and puerile. Don't assume that this one's 3k screen is good unless its contrast, color gamut, and accuracy are good. (I think that the Thinkpad W540 uses the same "2880x1620" screen though.

 

[alangrift]

They are the same as most regular gaming laptops from other companies. Pretty much when you buy Alienware you are buying the name mostly.

 

[JEDIYoda]

They are the same as most regular gaming laptops from other companies. Pretty much when you buy Alienware you are buying the name mostly.

that is not true at all! I bet you have never used an Alienware laptop...

 

[inf1nity]

http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?cid=6&id=430

Forget Alienware, seriously. With MSI's new laptop, you get a 2880 x 1620 display, an i7, an SSD + HDD, and a GTX 780M. And, it's a 15" laptop to boot. Yes, the resolution is a little steep for the video card, but the GTX 780M is essentially an underclocked fully enabled desktop GTX 680, so with some settings cut back, I'm sure it can manage.

Are you drooling yet?

With respect to this post, i'd like to advise the OP to read this thread before buying an MSI notebook
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=373522

Granted its not the same product but still.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Have you looked at this: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7554/best-gaming-laptops-and-notebooks-holiday-2013