Introducing the Alienware M18x R2

Around the launch of the Alienware M17x R3, Alienware essentially bifurcated its high end notebook offerings into single-GPU (the M17x R3) and dual-GPU (the M18x). The M17x R3 was slimmed down from its beefy predecessor and the M17x actually remains one of the sleeker desktop replacement notebooks available. The M18x had to take its place at the top of Alienware's stack, then, as their contender for the most powerful gaming notebook on the market.

That contention continues with the M18x R2, which like the M17x R4 we recently reviewed is more of an incremental update than a fully-fledged new design. The R2, like the R4, brings with it an Ivy Bridge CPU and a pair of Kepler-based NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M GPUs in SLI. As we saw, NVIDIA made fantastic gains with the 680M over the 580M; if that didn't impress you enough, you may want to hold on to your hat because two 680Ms in SLI are liable to blow your mind.

If you're having trouble getting psyched about this monster, I don't really blame you. We reviewed a pair of Alienware M18x's last year and came away with mixed feelings. Performance was as fast as you could ask for, bar none, but the M18x really pushes the limits of just how big a gaming notebook can get. It's heavy enough that it can be uncomfortable on your lap or even to cart around from place to place, and I've even personally recommended to people shopping for gaming notebooks to go with the smaller M17x. The M17x is easier to move around, can benefit from Optimus instead of having to stick to switchable graphics (that demand rebooting), and I actually prefer not having the gaming macro keys.

Of course, those macro keys and the potential for SLI may swing some users. If you're one of those users, the M18x R2 may be for you, so let's dig in.

Alienware M18x R2 Gaming Notebook
Processor Intel Core i7-3820QM
(4x2.7GHz + HTT, 3.7GHz Turbo, 22nm, 8MB L3, 45W)
Chipset Intel HM77
Memory 4x4GB Hynix DDR3-1600 (Max 4x8GB)
Graphics 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M 2GB GDDR5 in SLI
(1344 CUDA cores, 719MHz/3.6GHz core/memory clocks, 256-bit memory bus)
Display 18.4" LED Glossy 16:9 1080p (1920x1080)
Samsung 184HT (SEC5448)
Hard Drive(s) 2x Samsung PM830 256GB SATA 6Gbps SSD in RAID 0

(includes open mSATA slot and third 2.5" drive bay)
Optical Drive Slot-loading Blu-ray/DVDRW Combo (HL-DT-ST CA30N)
Networking Atheros AR8151 PCIe Gigabit Ethernet
Killer Wireless-N 1103 Network Adapter
Bluetooth 4.0
Audio SoundBlaster Recon3Di (CA0132) HD Audio
Stereo speakers with subwoofer
S/PDIF, mic, and two headphone jacks
Battery 12-Cell, 11.1V, 97Wh
Front Side N/A (Speaker grilles)
Right Side ExpressCard/54
Slot-loading optical drive
MMC/SD/MS Flash reader
2x USB 3.0
eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port
HDMI input
Left Side Kensington lock
Ethernet port
VGA
HDMI
Mini-DisplayPort
2x USB 3.0
S/PDIF, mic, and two headphone jacks
Back Side AC jack
2x exhaust vents
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Dimensions 17.17" x 12.7" x 2.09-2.15"
436mm x 322.5mm x 53-54.7mm
Weight ~11.93 lbs (5.41kg)
Extras 2.1MP Webcam
Backlit keyboard with 10-key and programmable macro keys
Flash reader (MMC, SD/Mini SD, MS/Duo/Pro/Pro Duo)
USB 3.0
SoundBlaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro
Configurable lighting
Warranty 1-year standard warranty
2-year, 3-year, and 4-year extended warranties available
Pricing Starting at $1,999
Price as configured: $4,304

One thing's for certain, the Alienware M18x R2 as we have it in for review does not come cheap. Its starting price of $1,999 for just an i7-3610QM and a single GTX 660M is pretty high to begin with, and the upgrades are all pricy. This is another one of the reasons why I tend to recommend the M17x over its bigger brother, but if you absolutely must have the most performance you can cram in a notebook, pricetag be damned, obviously this is the way to go.

It's rare to see an Ivy Bridge CPU like the Intel Core i7-3820QM floating around in the wild. While top-end CPUs like the i7-3770K easily find their way into desktops, most notebook vendors are content with entry level chips like the perfectly adequate i7-3610QM. The i7-3820QM is a respectable piece of kit, though, boasting a nominal 2.7GHz core clock and able to turbo up to 3.5GHz on all four cores or even an impressive 3.7GHz on a single core. That means that despite the low 45W TDP, the i7-3820QM is actually able to ramp up clocks to the point where it's competitive with last generation's desktop quad cores and nip at the heels of chips like the i7-3770 non-K.

What we're really here for are the pair of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M GPUs in SLI. As I mentioned in the M17x R4 review, the silicon is basically a die-harvested GK104 identical to a desktop GeForce GTX 670 but with reduced clocks. Interestingly, it seems Alienware is getting different 680Ms than boutiques, as the pair of 680Ms in the M18x R2, like the M17x R4, only have 2GB of GDDR5 instead of 4GB. I don't consider this a drawback at all; even the desktop GTX 680 has a very difficult time utilizing more than 2GB of GDDR5, so the extra 2GB just winds up being mostly a waste. I'd rather have just the 2GB of GDDR5 than gain maybe a frame or two at the cost of additional power and heat.

The pair of 256GB Samsung PM830 SSDs in RAID 0 is impressive and mightily fast, though I continue to be skeptical about the value of putting SSDs in a striped RAID. Alienware leaves the M18x expandable, though; there's an mSATA slot and a third drive bay if you need it.

Ultimately though, the M18x R2 is as much an incremental update over its predecessor as the M17x R4 was, so the pro's and con's from that shell still essentially carry over here. The addition of mSATA is appreciated, as is the Killer Networks wireless-n, but the Creative sound chip is more of a "well, that's nice" inclusion, and nothing about the shell itself has really changed. Even the display panel is the same. If you own a first-generation M18x, you may not be missing that much here.

Application and Futuremark Performance
Comments Locked

50 Comments

View All Comments

  • Silma - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    I won't.
    That's why I keep my M17xR2, with probably the best screen ever on a notebook.
  • Silma - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    Oop answered to quickly. Indeed, mostly true unfotunately.
  • noblemo - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    I prefer 16:10 aspect ratio, also. The Alienware displays are great, but I wish they offered the IPS RGBLED panel from the Precision mobile workstation as an option.
  • Dustin Sklavos - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    I prefer 16:10, too. My desktop monitors are all 16:10.

    The problem is that 16:10 in notebooks is basically all but gone. Even HP's top of the line mobile workstation with the IPS DreamColor display went to 1920x1080.

    You can kvetch and be upset all you want, but this is the direction the market went. If you're really going to write off generations of quality hardware over losing a whole 120 vertical pixels of real estate, well...
  • Pneumothorax - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    You're forgetting a big elephant in the room: Apple, Although not much in the gaming dept, even their latest retina mbp has a 16:10 screen. They all do except the 11 air. Just wish the PC guys would copy that, they're copying everything else...
  • N4g4rok - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    120 vertical pixels isn't worth the superiority complex.
  • secretmanofagent - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    Cynically speaking, sounds like you already have it.
  • N4g4rok - Friday, September 28, 2012 - link

    Quite possibly.

    But the point remains remains valid. Why pass up a display because of that difference?

    For practicality's sake, there's nothing wrong with it.
  • etundidor - Thursday, May 9, 2013 - link

    Is there any chance of upgrade tne M17x mobo in order to increase the RAM, Get SATA III 6G capacity and maintain this awesome display?
  • etundidor - Thursday, May 9, 2013 - link

    Hey guys, Is there any chance of upgrade the M17x R2 mobo in order to increase the RAM to 32 GB or 16GB at least , Get SATA III 6G capacity, manage two GTX 680M and maintain the M17x R2 awesome HD display?

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now