We put the M17x through the paces with today’s top games, like Call of Duty Black Ops with settings cranked to the max, and found ourselves with power to spare. While it didn’t improve our gaming skills, getting killed in Call of Duty never looked so beautiful.

The Alienware M17x Strikes a Bright and Intimidating Pose

Quick Specs

Inside the sleek black exterior you’ll find a blazing fast Intel Core i7 2.2Ghz Sandy Bridge quad core processor, 8GB RAM and 1.35TB of Storage in RAID0. From a graphics standpoint, our unit was configured with an AMD Radeon HD 6970M GPU with 1GB RAM.

The notebook has a Blu-Ray drive and a 17″ display with 1080P resolution so that you can game in full HD. The notebook also includes Intel Wireless Display and the WirelessHD for multiple wireless display options.

Who is the Alienware M17x For?

The Alienware M17x is a notebook for gamers and power users, but mostly gamers. If you want a notebook that won’t leave you wanting when it comes to gaming, this is one of the notebooks you need at the top of your list.

The notebook is portable enough that you can take it to a LAN party, but this isn’t meant to go out on a daily basis. If you like to play console games too, you’ll appreciate the HDMI-in port that allows you to use the display just like you would your HDTV. If you need loads of power for demanding programs, Alienware is also a popular choice, but you should also consider mobile workstations.

Hands On Video

Build and Design

The Alienware M17x keeps the same distinct look you are used to, which means defined edges and a very strong look. This time around though, the M17x looks more refined. There are still plenty of lights and vents galore, but the finish feels a little better on your hands and the notebook is a bit trimmer, perhaps as svelte as you can expect on a 17″ gaming notebook.

The Alienware M17x Has Defined Lines, But A Svelter Body.

The M17x feels very solid in your hands, and that’s not because it is a hefty notebook. The hinges are sturdy and overall build quality is impressive.

The design is something you’ll either love or hate. The defined edges and corners are exactly what you would expect on an Alienware machine, and mix well with the vent lights and backlit keyboard.

Customize the look of your Alienware M17x keyboard with With Built-in Software.

You can use the Alienware FX studio to change the color of the backlighting and any LED-lit areas. The studio allows you to use pretty much any color you can create by dragging the color sliders around. You can even have the keyboard zones set for different colors for looks or for fast locating while gaming. Sadly you can’t pick the color of individual keys, or of the WASD keys.

Features

The Alienware M17x has a laundry list of features, but the biggest feature is the fact that this notebook is ready for gaming. During my time with the notebook, there wasn’t a time where I needed to to turn down settings or noticed lag. This is thanks to a speedy processor, powerful GPU and plenty of RAM. If you can afford it, pick up the Wireless HD upgrade, which will allow you to wirelessly use your HDTV as a bigger display when you are at home.

Display

The Alienware M17x  has a great looking 17.3″ display with a full 1080P resolution. This means you’ll have a full HD gaming experience no matter where you are. You can also use the HDMI-in to turn this display into your connection for a console or for another computer if you need a second display.

Opt for the 1080P HD Display Upgrade if You can Afford it.

This upgrade is a must in my book, not only for gaming, but also for using the notebook to get work done. At 1080P, you can work on two documents side by side, or watch a movie on one side while you work on the other side.

When gaming, the display is wonderful. Colors are nice and rich, with no noticeable ghosting or lag during my time with the notebook. Playing Call of Duty Black Ops on this HD display was a joy, as was using the HDMI in to play other games from an Xbox 360.

Keyboard and Touchpad

This isn’t a keyboard I would pick for work, but if you need to tap out a few term papers or wrap up the occasional work project you will be alright. The keys feel good, with a soft finish and offer a large surface to hit while you are gaming. The only real disappointment I have with the keyboard is the amount of give in the WASD key area. As you saw n the hands on video above, the M17x keyboard bows heavily in this area. An area you would expect to be top notch in a gaming notebook.

The Alienware M17x has a Decent Keyboard, but Mushy WASD Keys.

The mousepad on the mousepad performs well enough for random gaming sessions, web browsing and daily use. That said, I would still pack an external mouse in your bag for gaming sessions, but in all it was a decent, and spacious, touchpad.

Processor and Performance

There’s not much to say about the Alienware M17x performance. The quad core Core i7 processor and Radeon HD 6970 GPU make for an amazing team. Unlike some powerful combos, the M17x handles your day to day tasks just as well as it does the power intense gaming and movie creation tasks.

As you’ll see below, the M17x is suited well for gamers, but is also a good fit for end users who need access to portable processing power. After testing out Adobe CS 5.5 on the unit I was not left wanting. Sony Vegas Movie Studio also made quick work of several video projects.

Multimedia and Gaming

The M17x is the first gaming notebook I have used, where I had to turn all of the settings up when I entered a game. From Portal 2 to Call of Duty Black Ops and Just Cause 2, the games performed brilliantly on high settings. The details looked sharp and there was no slow down while playing. Sadly, this does not translate into making me a better gamer, but getting killed in Call of Duty never looked so good.

If you want to play the latest games out there, without worrying about your settings or slow down, the M17x will get you there.

If you need a larger screen to game on, just turn on Wireless HD. This optional upgrade allows you to play games lag free on a wireless external display. You can check out the video below for a demonstration of the WirelessHD system and adapter in use.

When it comes to watching movies or TV on the M17x, you can use the built in display, or use the Wireless HDMI setup shown above. This proved a great way to get past the pesky Hulu Plus restrictions on shows you can watch on your Xbox 360 or mobile device.

Audio and Speakers

The speakers in this large notebook are by Klipsch, and include a dedicated subwoofer. The system offers a 5.1 surround experience, which can help you place the location of others while gaming, and can handle digital 7.1 sorround sound over HDMI or SPDIF.

The speakers handle in game audio well, and the virtual surround was easy enough to hear while walking about a level with flames in Portal 2. I personally have trouble placing and reacting to the noises in a fast paced game like Call of Duty, but if your reactions are faster this could give you an edge.

The Backlit Vents Channel Sound Towards you.

Music sounds good, but there was a surprising lack of bass given the dedicated subwoofer. Overall audio quality for music is OK, but don’t think the subwoofer will deliver pounding bass.

Watching movies is a enjoyable, even with much background noise in a scene the dialogue was easy to understand.

Heat and Noise

This notebook can get hot during gaming sessions, but you should expect this from a 17″ Quad Core gaming notebook that isn’t meant to sit on your lap anyway.

Noise wasn’t loud enough to disturb gaming sessions, and shouldn’t be an issue during your average web browsing.

Battery Life

Obviously the Alienware M17x has a healthy appetite for power, but the ability to switch to the integrated Intel GPU will earn you some decent on the go battery life. Using the Laptop Magazine Battery Testing tool, which simulates web browsing, the M17x lasted four hours and 11 minutes.

Gaming will cut into this, as will watching videos, but if you need battery-powered web browsing, you can get through half a day. Impressive given the poor battery life of single GPU systems we have used before.

Connectivity

The Alienware M17X has a handy collection of ports, including a few you don’t normally find on a notebook.

Left: Kensington, Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, Displayport, USB 3.0, USB 3.0, SP DIF, Mic, Headphone, Headphone

Right: Blu-Ray Drive, SD card Reader, USB 2.0, USB 2.0, eSata USB Combo, HDMI In

The front of the notebook has no ports, and the rear only has a power port.

The 2.0MP webcam proved capable for Skype calls, delivering a good video chat experience and accurate colors on images.

Value

The Alienware M17x notebooks start at $1,499, which is an attractive price for a gaming notebook. The unit we reviewed, with the display and WiHD upgrades, as well as RAID hard drives, 8GB RAM and a high-end video card actually clocks in around $2,500.

If you are looking for a dedicated gaming machine, and you have the money to spend, you certainly get a lot of bang or your money. If you are a casual gamer, you may want to look at the entry-level specs, which are still pretty impressive, or look at the M11x and M14x, which have lower starting prices and similar options.

Conclusion

When it comes to unbridled power and striking looks, the Alienware M17x delivers. You won’t be left wanting a bit more power while gaming, and the ability to get on Facebook and surf the web for four hours while on the go is also a nice touch.

The experience is complete thanks to the 1080P HD screen upgrade and the ability to game and entertain on the big screen with Wireless HD. WiHD may be an expensive add-on, but it’s central to the enjoyment I had with this powerful gaming notebook.

Alienware M17x Gallery

Alienware M17x Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Alienware M18X in Red

The Alienware M18x comes factory overclocked at an amazing 4.0GHz Intel Core i7 Extreme quad core processor, up to 16GB DDR3 1600 MHz RAM or 32GB DDR3 RAM 1333MHz and 1.5TB hard drive options or a 512GB SSD. Dell allows you to max out the Alienware M18X with 5.1 performance audio, optional WirelessHD Display for HDMI quality wireless connectivity to your HDTV and USB 3.0 ports for faster data connectivity.

The Alienware M18x is getting an upgrade that lets you choose between a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M GPU with 2GB GDDR5 RAM and dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M GPUs with 4GB GDDR5 RAM in SLI configuration for incredible power in a portable package.

Sample Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M GPU performance

While you’re on the go, enjoy the spacious 18.4″ display on the M18X with a 1080P HD resolution. Thanks to the powerful GPU you can play in 1080P without turning down the details.

Improvements

The new Alienware M18X isn’t just toting the latest Nvidia GPU into the fragfest, it also brings a few new physical changes to the party. The new keyboard centered touchpad should eliminate errant mouse movement while gaming. The display has  anew edge rubber seal which is designed to complement the refined look of the Alienware line which is sleeker, but not small enough to be called thin. Rounding out the enhancements is the new Alienware TactX Macro Keys, which allow you to customize 5 keys to for easy access to up to 15 distinct functions per game.

Alienware M18X Gallery

Alienware M18X Lands With Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 Performance FPS Benchmark

The new Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M GPU delivers a host of great gaming features that will necessitate a keyboard drool cleanup after reading what Nvidia has packed into the latest high-end gaming GPUs. The GeForce GTX 580M GPU brings up to 384 Cuda Cores and up to 2GB GDDR5 RAM to the party in order to deliver a 30% FPS boost over the competition.

“The best game support. The best gaming features. The best gaming performance available anywhere. That’s the essence of the GeForce GTX 580M,” said Rene Haas general manager of notebook products at NVIDIA in a press release announcing the new GPUs, adding, “With power like this, you can turn all the knobs to 11.”

Nvidia GTX 580M Crysis 2 Demo with Ultra Settings

Be sure to crank the resolution up to 1080P if you want to see the details.

Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M Features

• 3D Vision – Access to 525 3DTV ready titles
• Nvidia Optimus – Automatically switch between GPUs – “5 hours on Facebook, 100FPS in COD:Black Ops”
• DirectX11 – Direct X 11 support.
• PhysX - More detailed and realistic gameplay through physics.
• SLI – Double down with SLI configurations for 2x Scaling.
• Enhanced Tessellation – See greater detail in-game.
• Verde Drivers – Optimized, often updated drivers.

Example of Tessellation with the GeForce GTX 580M

Nvidia GTX 580M Equipped Notebooks

• Alienware M18X – optional SLI
• Alienware M17X – with Optimus
• Clevo P170HM3 – with Nvidia 3D Vision
• Clevo P270WM – with Nvidia 3D Vision, optional SLI

GeForce GTX 570M Announced

In addition the flagship GTX 580M GPU, Nvidia has also announced the Nvidia GTX 570M GPU which delivers a 20% boost in performance compared to previous generations thanks to the availability of up to 336 Cores, and either 1.5GB or 3GB of GDDR5 RAM. The first notebook to sport the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 570M GPU will be the MSI GT780R.

Availability of GTX 580M & GTX 570M Equipped Notebooks

The Alienware M18X is available starting today with the new NVIDIA Geforce GTX 580M with shipments starting in about a week. The Clevo models have no announced pricing or availability. The Alienware M17X will soon be available for order with the GTX 580M GPU, but no specific date has been given.

The MSI GT780R with the new GeForce GT570M is available starting today worldwide.

Additional announcements are expected in the coming days regarding increased availability and pricing of systems.

MSI GTX 580M GTX 570M Specs

Nvidia Launches GTX 580M – “Fastest. Notebook GPU. Ever.” is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Alienware M18X Specs

The Dell Alienware M18x uses 2nd Generation Intel Core i7 processors, all the way up to the Huron River Intel Core i7 2920XM Overclocked from the factory with a Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz, up to 32GB of 1333MHz RAM or up to 16GB of 1600MHz RAM. The 18.4″ LED backlit display has a 1920 x 1080P resolution.

The Alienware M18x comes with a large array of storage options including up to a 750GB 7200RPM hard drive, 256GB SSD or RAID setups including dual SSDs.

On the Video card side, the Alienware M18x comes with the latest options from AMD and NVIDIA including the following choices.

• 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M
• Dual 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M – NVIDIA SLI Enabled
• Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6970M – AMD CrossFireX

The notebook can also come configured with WirelessHD for a full 1080P wireless experience that can be used to game on your big screen. You will need to add about $300 to get the internal transmitter and the HDTV Adapter.

Alienware M18x Price and Availability

You can order the Alienware M18x now, starting at $1,999 (and going up to over $7,000) form Dell with an estimated ship date of May 25th.

You can save $50 off the Alienware M18x for a limited time with the coupon code BHW1L0MX0D?MCX.

Dell Alienware M18X available for Purchase, Priced at $1,999 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Joel is looking for a notebook that will handle coding as well as gaming, and wants to know the best notebooks for gaming and coding. Fortunately he has a decent budget set aside for a notebook so we are able to find some nice choices.

Because of the demanding nature of games, we’ll be focusing on the demands of games that Joel wants to play.

Joel writes:

I have two things that I’m essentially going to be doing with this:

1. Code – I’m a developer by trade and hobby, so do spend a good bit of time doing this away from the desktop. Pretty much this would dictate that the battery life not be absolutely horrid.
2. Game – This accounted for a large bit of the reasoning why I picked up the W3J five years ago. Typically if I’m driving down for a weekend, I don’t want to pack up my entire desktop (it’s a bit of a pain), but I would like to be able to play stuff with my friends. Ideally, it would still be able to run things nicely for a few years after the purchase (I’m looking at you, Diablo III).

My price range is probably up to the $1300-1500 range, but if there’s something definitely worth it, I would consider going over. As far as platform and OS, I don’t really have anything against OSX nor Windows, so I could really shoot for anything. Size of the screen/laptop also isn’t a terribly huge concern.

When it comes to gaming, Joel wants to be able to play games like Starcraft 2, Team Fortress 2, Portal 2 and Half Life games. The good news is that these games run pretty well on a range of hardware which opens up the options and the price ranges for a gaming notebook that can pull duty as a coding notebook during the day. He adds that he may want to play a game like Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim down the line.

The good news is that many of the notebooks announced at CES 2011 are finally available including the very capable Intel HD 3000 graphics, as well as recent additions from Alienware that use dedicated graphics solutions. With the latest 2nd Generation Intel Core i processors found on many notebooks you can play fairly demanding games even on the basic graphics processor because it is has many efficiencies that come from being built right into the same piece of silicon as the processor.

Notebook Recommendations: Gaming and Coding

Toshiba Satellite E305 14″ Notebook – $899

The Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 is a Best Buy Blue Label notebook that comes with a 2nd Gen Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM and integrated Intel graphics and a Hybrid hard drive. This notebook also includes Wireless Display 2.0 which allows you to beam video to the big screen. WiDi isn’t ready for gaming, but it is a nice feature and the Best Buy bundle includes the $100 adapter in the base price. This notebook also brings a backlit keyboard, an Anti-theft service, 2 year warranty and more.

We’ve been playing Just Cause 2 and Portal 2 on the unit which only has Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics and have had a silky smooth experience on Portal 2. Just Cause 2 is playable if we bump the settings down a bit, but that may not be a sacrifice Joel is willing to make.

Dell Alienware M14x 14″ Notebook - $1,199

The Dell Alienware M14x is a new gaming notebook from Dell that packs in power, but is still portable enough to meet Joel’s desire to take his computer home with him. The base model has a 1366×768 resolution 14″ display, but it can be upgraded to a 900P 1600×900 resolution. The Alienware M14x also comes with a backlit keyboard.

This notebook has a 2nd Gen 2.0 GHz Intel Core i7 processor with TurboBoost 2.0, 4GB RAM and a NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M GPU with 1.5GB video RAM. The NVIDIA GPU comes with Optimus technology to automatically switch between the discrete and integrated graphics.

This notebook has the chops to handle the games on Joel’s list and more.

MSI GX680 15.6″ Notebook - $1,199

The MSI GX680 is another option which includes a larger 15.6″ 1080P HD Display standard and uses a Quad Core Sandy Bridge Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M GPU with 1GB video RAM to power gaming sessions. The audio is powered by THX Truaudio and there is support for USB 3.0 for fast data transfers.

This notebook is also a powerful gaming notebook, with a good collection of specs that should meet Joel’s gaming needs without breaking the bank. Compared to the M14x the display is better, but you give up a bit on the graphics end and have no backlit keyboard. More MSI Gx680 details.

Our Top Pick for a Gaming Notebook (and Coding)

The Alienware M14x. This notebook offers a great set of features and specs for the price. While we love the Toshiba E305 we are a bit concerned that the integrated graphics may leave Joel wanting down the road.

Best of all, Dell is running a special on the Alienware notebooks, including the M14x that drops the price by $50 with the coupon code BHW1L0MX0D?MCX when purchased through this Alienware link.

Notebook Buying Guide: Notebook for Gaming and Coding is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Dell Alienware M11x, M14x and M18x Features

These new Alienware gaming notebooks are packed with the latest 2nd generation Intel Core i “Sandy Bridge” processors and high end graphics including AMD and Nvidia on the M18x and Nvidia GeForce GT500M series GPUs on the M14x and the M11x. The Alienware M18x can even be configured with the powerful Intel Core i7 Extreme CPU option factory overclocked to 4GHz, which Dell is claiming as an industry first.

The Alienware notebooks bring a lot to the table for users that are serious about gaming. Some of the major features include the option to include Wireless HD which allows the M14x and the M18x to stream to the big screen latency free in HD.

Additionally, all three notebooks come with HDMI 1.4 which allows for the connection to 3D HDTVs for 3D gaming. On the connectivity side, look for SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports which deliver 10x the speed of the standard USB 2.0 ports.

Overall, the new Alienware M14x and M18X look like great additions to the Alienware gaming notebook lineup and the refreshed Alienware M11x looks like it will retain it’s crown as the king of 11″ gaming notebooks (nto that there are many of them).

Alienware M11x, M14x, M18x Pricing and Availability

• Alienware M11x – $999 - Available Now
• Alienware M14x - $1,199 – Available Now
• Alienware M18x – Pricing not released. Availability, coming soon.

Alienware M14x Review

If you want to see how the Alienware M14x handles, Laptop Mag has a full review of the new 14″ gaming notebook including benchmarks and a look at the striking design.

Alienware M11x, M14x, M18x Specs

Alienware M18x Specs:

• An 18.4-inch FHD WLED 1080p display for the best visuals possible
• Powerful Dual GPU options with the fastest graphics memory (GDDR5) on all graphics options
• Both AMD and NVIDIA graphics options, in Crossfire X and SLI, respectively
• New Intel “Huron River” Architecture with a new factory overclocked Intel Core i7 Extreme Quad Core processor up to 4GHz
• Upgradeable to up to 32GB 1333MHz memory
• HDMI/Display Port output & HDMI-in
• Wireless HD & 3D output options, delivering low-latency high-def content wirelessly or output to 3D displays

Alienware M14x Specs:

• 14-inch WLED HD (720p) display standard (1366×768) or optional 14-inch WLED HD+ (900p) display (1600×900)
• Second-generation Overclockable Intel Core i CPUs with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with up to 3GB of VRAM
• NVIDIA Optimus technology to extend battery life
• Up to 8GB of 1600MHz Extreme-Performance system memory
• HDMI 1.4 to support connectivity on HDTVs and 7.1 digital audio
• Audio powered by Klipsch (onboard speakers)
• Optional Intel WiMAX technology

Alienware M11x Specs:

• An 11.6-inch WLED HD (720p) display (WXGA 1366×768)
• Second-generation Overclockable Intel Core i CPUs with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
• Up to 16GB of 1333MHz high-performance system memory
• HDMI 1.4 to support connectivity on HDTVs and 7.1 digital audio
• Audio powered by Klipsch (onboard speakers)
• Optional Intel WiMAX technology

Dell Alienware M11x, M14x and M18x Arrive with Sandy Bridge, Wireless HD is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Dell Alienware M18x comes with an Intel Core™ i7 2630QM clocked at 2.0GHz with the ability to TurboBoost up to 2.8GHz. If you want more power, there is a 2.3GHZ Intel® Core™ i7 2820QM processor with TurboBoost up to 3.4GHz.

The standard graphics processor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M with 1.5GB GDDR5 RAM and there is an optional upgrade to a Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6970M with AMD CrossFireX.

The Alienware M18x comes with an 18.4″ WideFHD 1920 x 1080 resolution display that should be large enough, even for gamers who want to play ont eh big screen.

The M18x comes standard with 4GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The RAM can be upgraded to 8GB DDR3 RAM and the hard drive can be bumped up to a 750GB 7200 RPM drive. The M18x is large enough, of course, to accommodate a Slot Load Dual Layer DVD Burner and the notebook has Intel Advanced N6200 a/g/n wireless.

The is also a built in HD 5.1 Surround sound system to immerse you in the gaming experience, which shouldn’t be too hard on this large gaming notebook.

The Alienware M18x comes in your choice of Quasar Blue, Astral Aqua, Mars Red, Nova Yellow, Terra Green, Plasma Purple.

The Dell Alienware M18x is only available in Canada with a starting price of $2,o00 CAD and a ship date of May 3. We expect to see a formal announcement from Dell U.S. regarding the Alienware M18X soon.

Dell Alienware M18x Specs

Dell Alienware M18x Invades Canada, U.S. Not Far Behind is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Dell will be producing a new Alienware gaming notebook, the Alienware M14x. This new system will fit between the smaller M11x and larger M17x gaming notebooks and it has some pretty powerful specs, according to the info coming out of Dell News and More.

The Dell Alienware M14x will have an Intel Core i7-2820QM 2.3GHz Sandy Bridge processor and will give users a 14″ display with the option of a 1366×768 resolution or for an upgrade a 1920×1080 display for a full 1080p HD experience while watching videos and playing games.

To go along with the new Intel processor and screen options, this gaming system will have the following:

• Storage: Either a 750GB 7200rpm hard drive or a 256GB SATA2 or SATA3 solid state drive
• NVIDIA GT555M graphics processor
• Either a LTE or a WiMax modem for mobile broadband
• Klipsch speakers for high quality music, movies or gaming sound

There is no shipping date or price available at this time. What we do know, is that this sounds like a very nice system.

With the 11″ version running around $800 retail and the larger 17″ computer starting at $1500, we would guess this one to be priced between $900 and $1200 for the base model. This will compare nicely for gaming to the fast new Apple MacBook Pro 15 we just reviewed so long as the battery life holds up.

Alienware M14x Gaming Notebook Revealed with Sandy Bridge is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Alienware M11X R3 could hit as soon as April with new Intel Core i5-2537M, Intel Core i7-2617M and Intel Core i7-2675M processor options which offer an impressive amount of power and come with the latest Intel integrated graphics which could handle your basic tasks with ease in order to save battery life.

The M11x is also likely to see the latest NVIDIA GeForce 4ooM series graphics processors to deliver what will likely the most powerful 11.6″ notebook on the market.

In addition to the new processor and graphics options, it’s also quite likely that the M11X R3 will see some of the same improvements as the larger Alienware M17x R3 which was debuted at CES 2011 earlier this year.

We won’t expect to see drastic changes in the style of the Alienware M11x R3, but we do expect that you will see a few subtle design changes that offer a nicer look and feel thanks to a slightly slimmer design. The design changes are speculation at this point, but make sense given the updates to the larger Alienware M17X.

If you are looking for a gaming notebook, that’s as portable as the 11.6″ Alienware M11x you may want to hold off on your purchase for a few more weeks to see what is in store from the line that defines portable gaming. The Alienware M11x currently retails for $799, but can be bought for as low as $599 right now for the base model which is a steal.

New Alienware M11x R3 Specs Leak, 2nd Gen Core CPU is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Notably Dell has stopped selling recently introduced Alienware M17x R.3 model which won our Best Notebook of CES award at CES 2011. Clicking on “Build Now” sends users to an empty page not found page. Other affected Dell models include the Dell Vostro 460, Dell XPS 8300 and Alienware Aurora R.3.

HP has cancelled an event scheduled for next week where the company had planned to announce a collection of new business laptops, notebooks and other computers using the Intel SandyBridge processor.

The HP consumer laptops like the Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition that are already up for sale with the flawed Intel chipsets can still be purchased, but they have a delivery date of March 2nd, which should allow HP to get a new processor in place.

MSI and Gigabyte have halted sales of their SandyBridge compatible motherboards until a fix has been finalized.

The recalls and delays could have been even worse if the numerous consumer laptops, slated for March and April, had made it to market. Even with an estimated billion dollar loss, this issue could have been much worse if it hadn’t been caught this early.

Intel Chipset Flaw Delays Laptops from Dell, HP, MSI and Others is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.