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Alienware GeForce 7900 SLI Notebook Tested

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the drooooool dept.

MojoKid writes "Dual Graphics in Notebooks have been in development for a long time now but very few Notebook vendors have actually brought products to market. Recently, NVIDIA's launch of the GeForce 7900 series enabled manufacturers like Alienware the ability to configure Dual GPU SLI systems in a Notebook form factor. HotHardware has a world's first look at the Alienware m9700 Aurora, that comes equipped with a pair of GeForce 7900 MXM modules in a Desktop Replacement form factor. With a 2.4GHz AMD Turion64 processor, SLI and a 17" panel, this machine has more horsepower and features than many high end Desktop setups."

18 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. notebook? by maynard · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dimension and Weight: ._1.85" x 15.65" x 11.75" ._Starting at 8.5 lbs.

    I would call that more a luggable than a notebook. As powerful as it might be, that's no laptop I'd want to carry around...

    1. Re:notebook? by vivek7006 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Also note the max battery life is 120 mins assuming that you are not playing a funky game. The article fails to mention how much the battery lasts if one plays a heavy game without connecting it to the power-supply.

      The starting weight is 8.5 lbs. Adding spare battery will only increase its weight. I admit that I have have never gamed on a laptop, but I fail to see its charm. A kickass destop is always better/cheaper/upgradable

    2. Re:notebook? by mobby_6kl · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's why it clearly says "Desktop Replacement form factor" in the summary.

    3. Re:notebook? by arose · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A set that can form a portable box, but accepts a standard internal components would be a better solution.

      --
      Analogies don't equal equalities, they are merely somewhat analogous.
    4. Re:notebook? by evildarkdeathclicheo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Perhaps this is an answer to those odd individuals who would normally lug around a desktop to a lanparty. Lets be honest, most people use their laptops at the office, and then at home. Usually they're always "plugged in". Saying that laptops are meant to be portable is like telling poorly endowed, middle-aged men that their hummer is meant to go offroad. -W

  2. and it'll be behind the curve in 6 months by bunions · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't understand why people buy super-high-end performance laptops. You pay a huge power, weight and cost premium for a laptop that will be top-o-the-line for very little time, and you can't upgrade it when that time passes.

    I guess I can imagine some niche markets - demo machines for software salesmen, stuff like that where a desktop is absolutely infeasible, but sheesh.

    --
    there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
    1. Re:and it'll be behind the curve in 6 months by tomstdenis · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's not advanced, it's just over done.

      It's like why eat 2000 calories in a day when you CAN eat 3000. It is not like this thing has efficient low power components. It's just an amalgamation of the highest end parts in one package.

      All it gives you is gloating power, as in "I shelled out a lot for this and you can't".

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  3. His battery is slain, and all on AC he fights by w33t · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Act V. Scene IV.

    "A fuel cell, a fuel cell, my kindom for a fuel cell!"

    SLI in laptops! So neat, but so...immobile. Portable, yes. But only within the range of the extension cord. Perhaps when that day comes when we get better mobile power sources we will not come to expect reduced (even if slightly) functionality from our personal devices. When that day comes we will come to expect only greatly increased prices!

    ----
    Music wants to be free

    --
    My Computer Music Tutorial Videos
  4. Re:Glossy screen... by Rolo+Tomasi · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, for the target group of these laptops this type of screen is just fine. They were specifically designed to be used in dark basements.

    --
    Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
  5. Heh by OverlordQ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    With a 2.4GHz AMD Turion64 processor, SLI and a 17" panel, this machine has more horsepower and features than many high end Desktop setups."

    Yea, probably cost alot more too.

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  6. Missplaced purpose? by BigFootApe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've always had my doubts about desktop replacement laptops. Usually, they're absolutely massive beasts with inferior battery life and a large price tag. Even then, they don't have the performance of a much cheaper desktop.

    To me, adding SLI to a DR laptop is just another draw on the battery with diminishing returns in performance. Does someone have a contrary opinion they'd like to share?

    1. Re:Missplaced purpose? by bigtrouble77 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      These machines are not supposed to replace laptops and they really aren't meant to run off the battery very frequently.

      What they are meant for is transporting a VERY powerful machine easily. The reality is that with this machine you have very powerful processing, a very high end lcd screen (you can't even buy a wuxga screen for a desktop), a built in UPS, keyboard and mouse all in one compact package.

      I have a Sager 9750 and almost never run it on battey. But I do use it for work as my primary machine where I use Maya, photoshop and eclipse. I need a wuxga screen for my eclipse work, and you simply can't get one for a desktop. When I bring the machine home I can play any game I want as the graphics adapter is very powerful and upgradable.

      Finally, I have gentoo running on a second 100gb hd which I use about 50% of the time. The machine does absolutely everything, it's extremely portable and it has features (17" wuxga) that desktops don't. The killer functionality is that I can have my main machine with me where ever I go (as long as there's an ac outlet) and I don't have to make any compromises.

  7. Not for everyone...NO!? by cyngus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Of course this computer isn't for everyone, but if you do the LAN party thing, then this is much more convenient than dragging around a desktop. Maybe you just want your computer to take up less space, could it be, could it?! If Apple didn't make the Mini it would be an easy decision for me that I would buy a 'Book because perhaps the most appealing thing to me is not portability of a computer, but that it doesn't take up much space and can be easily moved if I want to use the space for something else. Stop automatically crying, "Why would anyone do this, its hot, its expensive, if not as powerful...blah...blah...blah," engage your brain, think, and you might just discover that while this machine is not for everyone it has utility for some. Everything is about tradeoffs and for some this machine makes the right ones.

  8. Re:Speaking of dual monitors... by generic-man · · Score: 4, Informative

    You want Synergy for the keyboard, mouse, and clipboard sharing. Move your mouse to the right edge of LinuxComputer1 and it moves over to the left edge of WindowsComputer2. For the file sharing stuff you're on your own though.

    --
    For more information, click here.
  9. iBUYPOWER by king.nerdhome · · Score: 2, Informative

    ibuypower.com has a 19" SLI Notebook for about the same price as the Alienware. Actually cheaper... Later.

  10. Ditto by phorm · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have an HP zd7000 laptop. It's new a few years out of date, but still manages to keep up with most desktops. In its time it was better than my desktop, with 80GB HDD (easily added to with a USB HDD, and some high-end laptops have two HDD bays), a GeForce 5600 (dedicated memory), and 1GB of RAM (well, that after I made HP send me a 1GB because a design flaw causes crashes with RAM in both slots), 17" widescreen (non-gloss), and a 2.8Ghz P-4 processor.

    Nice and toasty on the lap if you're playing games, but on a desk and jacked in it still competes nicely against most desktops, and happily plays games up to Half Life 2, Quake 4, and BattleField 2 (which oddly plays better in Wine/Linux due to driver issues).

    All-in-all, for what I use my laptop for I'd probably go for another 'desktop replacement' as it's rather convenient over hauling the ol 'hoss out to a LAN party.

  11. Re:If it's behind the curve in 6 months, it's a bo by bunions · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "They're a lot cheaper than boats or fancy cars, and they work a lot better."

    I dunno, I'd wager my car works a lot better as a car than that Alienware does. Looking at the photos, I don't think it'd seat more than two.

    I'll be here all week, folks.

    Seriously tho, my point is that they're bad at being laptops: short battery life, weighs a ton. I guess some people just like spending money, and that's fine, but I guess what I'm saying is that I'm surprised at the (apparent) number of people who think it's a good laptop.

    --
    there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
  12. Misleading header by S3D · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is not a first review, and this laptop is not manufactured by Alienware. This laptop is really a Clevo M590K, rebranded as Alienware. It's also avalable from a lot of other reseller like Sager, Voodoo PC etc. For ages Alienware was trying to get credit for "reseach" a"design" of laptops of Clevo. All that it really doing is modifing the lids.