Opinions on Alienware laptops.

[Zodiark1593]

Yes, I know they're pricy, but that's kinda beside the point at the moment.

Anyway, I just got wind of where I'll be moving with the family. Basically, satellite internet is the only viable web access at this place which means no gaming on it, unless I take my system down to Starbucks over in town. So it's a definite my future online gaming will be done with a laptop.

Anyway, what I am after is no compromises on the GPU, however, still have a machine that can hold it's own on battery if need be (no point keeping two lappys to myself if I don't have to). The Alienware M18x looks to fit the bill here, housing dual GPUs, and also being able to fall back to it's IGP when needed. For awhile, I was looking at some Clevo based systems, but the lack of muxed graphics unfortunately means I can't use them as actual laptops either.

Tl;dr = Dual GPUs + Muxed/switchable Graphics

Anyway, price aside, any notable flaws with this line of laptops that I'd need to look at, or perhaps any quirks with Win 8 on it. (will probably downgrade to 7 anyway though provided no issues with drivers). I've a few months before I decide to pull the trigger, so best to find out all I can.

edit: If there's an alternative that provides what I'm looking for, then please post it. Seriously, I want options to look at.

 

[lawlz]

I've had a variety of gaming laptops in my life. Dell XPS, Sager, Clevo, and yes, even Alienware. I've owned 4 Alienwares, the M11X, M14X, M17X-R2, and an M17X-R3. I loved each and every one to death but all of them had a variety of problems. The M11X, M14X, and R3 each needed a motherboard replacement. The M17X-R2's GPU's went out on me after 7 months. They perform solidly when they work, with great cooling designs, but they are just too unreliable for me to continue using/buying their products.

I will say one thing though, Dell/Alienware warranties are top-notch and if you were to buy one, an extended warranty is a MUST. Don't cheap out when buying it, pay the extra $100-$300 for the extended warranty or you're going to regret it down the road should something happen and in my experience, something will happen. Thanks to Dell/Alienware's great warranties, I was never out for long, 2-3 days at most. I would call in, troubleshoot the problem, and then have parts Fedex'ed overnight with a tech to my house the next business day.

 

[lakedude]

Are you sure the Clevo based systems can not turn off the big graphics card(s) in favor of integrated when the big gun(s) are not needed?

 

[Zodiark1593]

Are you sure the Clevo based systems can not turn off the big graphics card(s) in favor of integrated when the big gun(s) are not needed?

Yes, I am sure. Dual GPU's do not function with Optimus/Enduro, and newer Clevo systems do not have any sort of physical mux switch. :|

 

[lakedude]

Learn something new every day...

 

[Zodiark1593]

I've had a variety of gaming laptops in my life. Dell XPS, Sager, Clevo, and yes, even Alienware. I've owned 4 Alienwares, the M11X, M14X, M17X-R2, and an M17X-R3. I loved each and every one to death but all of them had a variety of problems. The M11X, M14X, and R3 each needed a motherboard replacement. The M17X-R2's GPU's went out on me after 7 months. They perform solidly when they work, with great cooling designs, but they are just too unreliable for me to continue using/buying their products.

I will say one thing though, Dell/Alienware warranties are top-notch and if you were to buy one, an extended warranty is a MUST. Don't cheap out when buying it, pay the extra $100-$300 for the extended warranty or you're going to regret it down the road should something happen and in my experience, something will happen. Thanks to Dell/Alienware's great warranties, I was never out for long, 2-3 days at most. I would call in, troubleshoot the problem, and then have parts Fedex'ed overnight with a tech to my house the next business day.

I suppose that's the nature of stuffing the near-equivalent of desktop components inside a laptop chassis, heat being only one consideration. Good to know that Dell honors their warranty. Still, the failure rate bothers me. I don't intend on buying another machine for at least another 5 years, hence the overkill. :hmm:

In addition, I was also intending for my current laptop to go to their parents to replace their Athlon XP PC, however, if the failure rate is that bad, I might reconsider...
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