Dell might be dropping its gamer-oriented XPS line of performance notebooks, but their new stake in the gaming hardware brand Alienware gives them a new face for the gaming public. Dell/Alienware is currently setting to launch a new “All Powerful” campaign to mark the merger, starting off with a new gaming laptop, the M17x.
It’s pretty big, but it does come loaded with a heavy spec for performance. This 17-inch laptop runs on a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor (or a Core 2 Quad Extreme with an upgrade option), 4GB of DDR3 RAM (expandable up to 8GB), and a 1GB Nvidia GTX260M graphics processor for high-end 3D gaming. The system’s chipset also comes with integrated GeForce 9400M graphics for low-power needs, enabled by Nvidia’s HybridPower tech that allows you to switch between discreet graphics for performance and integrated graphics for power efficiency.
The rest of the spec includes a 250GB 7200-rpm hard drive (upgradeable to 1TB or a solid state drive) for storage, a slot-loading DVD-RW or a dual-layer BD drive, Wi-fi g/n, and a nine-call battery to power everything. The large frame also holds enough space for eSATA, FireWire and USB connections, HDMI and 6.1-channel audio for porting audio and video, and enough space for a backlit keyboard and a separate number-pad for gaming.
There’s no word on an official launchdate yet, but the $1799 M17x should be available to more countries and regions than before, thanks to Dell and Alienware’s plan for expansion.
