Alienware M17 Laptop Review

The Alienware M17 is a frighteningly powerful, portable gaming machine that leaves other devices trailing in its wake.

The entry-level version of this extra-terrestrial laptop comes equipped with 160GB of hard drive, 2 gig of RAM, a 2.26GHz Intel P8400 dual-core processor and an ATI Radeon HD 3870 graphics card.

Alienware M17

The Ultimate Gaming Laptop

Buy the Alienware M17 Laptop

However, choose the premium M17 package and you will possess a gaming laptop that is powered by the latest Intel quad-core Q9100 processor - four processor cores running at 2.26GHz – and includes 4GB of DDR3 memory, 160GB hard drive and two ATI HD 3870 graphics cards. As a result, the M17 is able to display any of the latest gaming titles at the highest setting, on the highest resolution, with ease!

The laptop is also armed with a 17-inch LCD widescreen display with a full-HD resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, which makes it great for viewing the latest blockbusters.

Other features packed underneath the alien-sculpted hood include a PC Card and SDHC card slots, three USB 2.0 ports, VGA, FireWire, and ethernet jacks.

Alienware M17

Downsides

Measuring an enormous 45 by 397 by 299mm and weighing a full 5kg, the M17 is not a laptop for carrying around on a regular basis. In addition to its bulky design, the battery life is poor (2 hours maximum to be precise), but that's to be expected from a gaming laptop.

However, the major downside with the M17 laptop is the price. Dell’s Alienware machines are premium-performance packages that come with premium prices and the M17 is no exception. Prices start at £1,110 and can easily top £2,000 once all the added extras have been thrown in – the Q9100 quad-core processor alone carries £648 premium.

Conclusion

The Alienware M17 laptop is a fantastic piece of kit that is defiantly worth forking out for if you’re a games-obsessed fanatic. With ultra fast speed, brilliant graphics, plenty of memory and a beautiful HD resolution LCD display it delivers where it matters. Add to this a range of high-end customisation options and you have the ultimate gaming laptop.