That Alienware M11X was using I think a Core 2 Duo ULV 1.3GHz processor. I'm not sure whether or not it was a Core i3/i5. Also, the Dell rep told me that pricing starts at $700-$799 and could be configured to up to about $1000 and maxed out at $1500. This is what they told me yesterday.
That would put it up against the ASUS UL series, but then the question is whether or not they allow overclocking of the CULV processor. I know that the UL80Vt at 1.3GHz showed some CPU limitations even with a G210M in some games, so the GT335M would definitely want a faster CPU. If Alienware does the same thing as ASUS and allows you to overclock the bus to 133MHz (for a final CPU speed of 1733MHz), then the GT335M would work really well.
Personally, I'd still be happier with a 13.3" chassis, but I know some people prefer 10" to 12" laptops.
True... at least for now. This is particularly odd considering the Studio 15 comes with an HD 4570 (and no option not to have it). Dell tends to change up the configuration options on their laptops on a regular basis, though, so don't be surprised to see discrete GPUs show up on the Studio 17 in the future. (And don't be surprised if they don't show up either!)
Not to nitpick but "Inspiron line will use the new X4500 Arrandale IGP" isn't accurate; the 4500 chipset goes with Core2 processors, not with then new Arrandales. The new one is signficantly better; don't want to confuse people.
Darn, I was dying to see what Asus has. And I hope Dell fixes the USB and throttling issues on the M15x...wish that came with these new options, but I doubt it.
I have a few other pics I can add to that, but other than the Essentio CG5275 I don't have anything to add. The CG5275 is a Core i3/i5 gaming laptop with GTX 260M... I don't know anything else right now.
Honestly, without personal verification of the problem, I leave it to the users to talk about this sort of thing. This article was just a rundown of various laptop updates seen at CES and nothing more. Anyone looking to spend $1500+ on a laptop really ought to spend some time reading multiple reviews and attempting to find out if there are any known problems.
Your issues with the M15x are duly noted and if we ever get another one for testing we'll try to replicate the problem. Would I buy a 15x, though? With or without the throttling concern, there are a lot of other laptops that would be higher on my list.
I sent you an e-mail regarding the M15x throttling problem before. It would be nice if Anandtech mentioned it before users go out and buy one and discover their $3000 shiny new toy throttles in their favorite games.
Yea, well I know Arrandale is the next big Intel thing, but I can't help I am not to excited.
I can see that integrating the stuff into the CPU is the way to go, but that's not what they have been doing here.
I mean they didn't really move the memory interface into the CPU like the Core iWhatever numbering should imply.
What they did is they shrunk the Core 2 to 32nm and the Northbridge to 45nm, then sticking them on one die.
And the new integrated GPU sucks like every Intel GPU sucked ever since they started making them.
Since they didn't put the memory interface on the CPU (why by the way? AMD does it since forever and GPU in the northbridge still works), they should have left the Northbridge outside the Chip casing so NVIDIA could still offer their better GPUs.
You didn't understand what Arrandale is. It is a "full Core i7", just with 2 cores instead of 4. You get everything: HT, the new cache system as well as new instructions. And it's the same excellent memory controller. Yes, it's not on the CPU die, but it's not connected via a limiting FSB either. It's connected via a "fast enough" on package link (much shorter and thus easy to implement) between GPU and CPU die. Sure, the graphics is not for 3D, but it does anything else in a power efficient way. It's free, so why complain? Want to game -> external GPU. Everyone else -> enjoy less power consumption.
Just take a look at the performance of i7 860 versus i5 660: in typical apps their're almost similar, as they both turbo to similar clock speeds.
"It is a "full Core i7", just with 2 cores instead of 4."
Nope. It isn't. The memory controler is NOT in the CPU die, but in the Graphic/Northbride chip.
So it's simply not a full Core i7. If it was I would be very excited. But it isn't.
M.
That ENVY 15 looks insane. It already just got a huge price drop (if you forgo a quad of course...), and now HP is tearing another $300 just for kicks and giggles.
Ya, that Alienware 11" and the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 are the only ones I'm interested in.
I don't need a super powerful laptop, but I want it to be small and at least play games at crap resolutions. Battery life isn't too important. Enough to watch a single movie, is more than enough for me.
The Lenovo is a pretty nice idea. If the tablet portion can run videos (doesn't have to be HD), I'd be extremely happy with such a product. Ability to run games isn't a deal breaker for me. It'd be nice if it could, but not necessary.
Ok, that 11 incher suddenly appeared on my short-list of thin and lights to watch: Asus UL40/50/80VT, Asus N81/X83, and now this. The price is ... very interesting.
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27 Comments
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RMSistight - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
That Alienware M11X was using I think a Core 2 Duo ULV 1.3GHz processor. I'm not sure whether or not it was a Core i3/i5. Also, the Dell rep told me that pricing starts at $700-$799 and could be configured to up to about $1000 and maxed out at $1500. This is what they told me yesterday.JarredWalton - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
That would put it up against the ASUS UL series, but then the question is whether or not they allow overclocking of the CULV processor. I know that the UL80Vt at 1.3GHz showed some CPU limitations even with a G210M in some games, so the GT335M would definitely want a faster CPU. If Alienware does the same thing as ASUS and allows you to overclock the bus to 133MHz (for a final CPU speed of 1733MHz), then the GT335M would work really well.Personally, I'd still be happier with a 13.3" chassis, but I know some people prefer 10" to 12" laptops.
golfbum - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
Looks like Dell is going all discrete video so far rather than using the Arrandale graphics.Wonder what their angle is?
gb
assemblage - Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - link
Studio 17 with Intel i5-520m on Dell website only uses the Intel onboard graphics. No option for seperate video cardJarredWalton - Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - link
True... at least for now. This is particularly odd considering the Studio 15 comes with an HD 4570 (and no option not to have it). Dell tends to change up the configuration options on their laptops on a regular basis, though, so don't be surprised to see discrete GPUs show up on the Studio 17 in the future. (And don't be surprised if they don't show up either!)JarredWalton - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
Actually, they're doing hybrid AFAIK, so you can switch to IGP for power saving or discrete for performance. It's really the ideal solution right now.Roland00 - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
What are the turbo boost number for 2 cores active instead of 1 core active. I can't seem to find these numbers anywhere on the net.ruetheday - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
Not to nitpick but "Inspiron line will use the new X4500 Arrandale IGP" isn't accurate; the 4500 chipset goes with Core2 processors, not with then new Arrandales. The new one is signficantly better; don't want to confuse people.JarredWalton - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
You're right, sorry. I missed that the new name was just "Intel HD Graphics". Apparently there's no number (at least not right now).Etern205 - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
Looks like HP quickly yanked out their previous model the mini 110 off their site as both the 110 and 210 are the same besides the processor.The 110 also had the option to install a broadcom crystal hd accelerator.
SlyNine - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
On Dells site they have the XPS 16 studio, but it only has the 4670 1gig, not bad but not new.Wolfpup - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Darn, I was dying to see what Asus has. And I hope Dell fixes the USB and throttling issues on the M15x...wish that came with these new options, but I doubt it.JarredWalton - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
We already covered a bunch of ASUS stuff a couple days ago:http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i...">http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i...
I have a few other pics I can add to that, but other than the Essentio CG5275 I don't have anything to add. The CG5275 is a Core i3/i5 gaming laptop with GTX 260M... I don't know anything else right now.
5150Joker - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
Wow you deleted my comment about Dell's Alienware M15x throttling? Is Anandtech a shill website now?5150Joker - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
Nevermind, my mistake. It didn't show until I had to clear the cache.JarredWalton - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
Honestly, without personal verification of the problem, I leave it to the users to talk about this sort of thing. This article was just a rundown of various laptop updates seen at CES and nothing more. Anyone looking to spend $1500+ on a laptop really ought to spend some time reading multiple reviews and attempting to find out if there are any known problems.Your issues with the M15x are duly noted and if we ever get another one for testing we'll try to replicate the problem. Would I buy a 15x, though? With or without the throttling concern, there are a lot of other laptops that would be higher on my list.
5150Joker - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
I sent you an e-mail regarding the M15x throttling problem before. It would be nice if Anandtech mentioned it before users go out and buy one and discover their $3000 shiny new toy throttles in their favorite games.mschira - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Yea, well I know Arrandale is the next big Intel thing, but I can't help I am not to excited.I can see that integrating the stuff into the CPU is the way to go, but that's not what they have been doing here.
I mean they didn't really move the memory interface into the CPU like the Core iWhatever numbering should imply.
What they did is they shrunk the Core 2 to 32nm and the Northbridge to 45nm, then sticking them on one die.
And the new integrated GPU sucks like every Intel GPU sucked ever since they started making them.
Since they didn't put the memory interface on the CPU (why by the way? AMD does it since forever and GPU in the northbridge still works), they should have left the Northbridge outside the Chip casing so NVIDIA could still offer their better GPUs.
Pitty that all is.
M.
MrSpadge - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
You didn't understand what Arrandale is. It is a "full Core i7", just with 2 cores instead of 4. You get everything: HT, the new cache system as well as new instructions. And it's the same excellent memory controller. Yes, it's not on the CPU die, but it's not connected via a limiting FSB either. It's connected via a "fast enough" on package link (much shorter and thus easy to implement) between GPU and CPU die. Sure, the graphics is not for 3D, but it does anything else in a power efficient way. It's free, so why complain? Want to game -> external GPU. Everyone else -> enjoy less power consumption.Just take a look at the performance of i7 860 versus i5 660: in typical apps their're almost similar, as they both turbo to similar clock speeds.
MrS
mschira - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
"It is a "full Core i7", just with 2 cores instead of 4."Nope. It isn't. The memory controler is NOT in the CPU die, but in the Graphic/Northbride chip.
So it's simply not a full Core i7. If it was I would be very excited. But it isn't.
M.
8steve8 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Vostro V13 with Arrandale i5/i7 ULV CPU/GPU with an HDMI portintel 40/80GB G2 drives would be nice bonus
under $1k please
let's hope the msi X360 will be close.
ImSpartacus - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
That ENVY 15 looks insane. It already just got a huge price drop (if you forgo a quad of course...), and now HP is tearing another $300 just for kicks and giggles.http://techreport.com/discussions.x/18266">http://techreport.com/discussions.x/18266
A luxury 1080p i5 laptop with 4GB of DDR3, a 7200rpm 320GB HDD and the newest mobile graphics all for $1100 shipped? Sign me up.
Looks like HP is really looking to move these badboys.
assemblage - Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - link
Too bad it's not one of those 18.4" screensjigglywiggly - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
I am very intersted in that Alienware.afkrotch - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
Ya, that Alienware 11" and the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 are the only ones I'm interested in.I don't need a super powerful laptop, but I want it to be small and at least play games at crap resolutions. Battery life isn't too important. Enough to watch a single movie, is more than enough for me.
The Lenovo is a pretty nice idea. If the tablet portion can run videos (doesn't have to be HD), I'd be extremely happy with such a product. Ability to run games isn't a deal breaker for me. It'd be nice if it could, but not necessary.
ImSpartacus - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Yeah, it's extremely unique. Kudos to Alienware for creating such an approachable product.jimhsu - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
Ok, that 11 incher suddenly appeared on my short-list of thin and lights to watch: Asus UL40/50/80VT, Asus N81/X83, and now this. The price is ... very interesting.