Test Setup
Below are the tested configurations for the four laptops included in this roundup. Again, keep in mind that the Gateway P-171XL and the tested configuration for the Sager and NP9262 are no longer available. The P-171XL has been replaced by the P-173XL, which has a slower processor as well as a lower price. The NP9262 is now available with Penryn-based processors, including quad-core models, and it ships with 9800M GT instead of 8800M GTX. The 9800M GT is virtually identical to the 8800M GTX, except it has a 20% higher clock GPU speed (with the same amount of memory bandwidth).
| Alienware m15x Test System | |
| Processor | Core 2 Extreme X9000 (2.80GHz 6MB 800FSB) |
| Memory | 2x2048MB Qimonda DDR2-667 5-5-5-15 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX 512MB NVIDIA drivers: 175.80 (Beta from Alienware) Intel GMA X3100 for BinaryGFX |
| Display | 15.4" WUXGA (1920x1200) Matte (LG Philips LP154WU1) |
| Hard Drive | 1x200GB Seagate Momentus 7200.2 (ST9200420ASG) |
| Optical Drive | Matshita BD-MLT UJ-220S Blu-ray/DVD Recorder |
| Battery | 9-Cell 56WHr 6-Cell 41WHr (Optional Smart Bay) |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit |
| Gateway P-171XL FX Test System | |
| Processor | Core 2 Extreme X7900 (2.80GHz 4MB 667FSB) |
| Memory | 2x2048MB Samsung DDR2-667 5-5-5-15 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS 512MB NVIDIA drivers: 175.95 (Hacked from LaptopVideo2Go.com) |
| Display | 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) Matte (Samsung LTN170WU-L02) |
| Hard Drive | 2x200GB Seagate Momentus 7200.2 in RAID 0 (ST9200420AS) |
| Optical Drive | Toshiba TS-L802A HD-DVD Reader/DVD Recorder |
| Battery | 9-Cell 86WHr |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit |
| Gateway P-6831 FX Test System | |
| Processor | Core 2 Duo T5450 (1.67GHz 2MB 667FSB) |
| Memory | 1x1024MB + 1x2048MB Samsung DDR2-667 5-5-5-15 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS 512MB NVIDIA drivers: 167.46 (from Gateway) |
| Display | 17" WXGA+ (1440x900) UltraBright (Samsung LTN170X2-L02) |
| Hard Drive | 250GB 5400RPM Western Digital (Scorpio WD2500BEVS-22UST0) |
| Optical Drive | Optiarc AD-7563A DVD Recorder |
| Battery | 9-Cell 86WHr |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit |
| Gateway P-7811 FX Test System | |
| Processor | Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz 3MB 1066FSB) |
| Memory | 2x2048MB Samsung DDR3-1066 7-7-7-20 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS 512MB NVIDIA drivers: 176.02 (Beta from Gateway) |
| Display | 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) Glossy (AU Optronics AUO 1088) |
| Hard Drive | 200GB Seagate Momentus 7200.2 (ST9200420AS) |
| Optical Drive | 8X SuperMulti DVD Recorder |
| Battery | 9-Cell 86WHr |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit |
| Sager NP9262 Test System | |
| Processor | Core 2 Duo E6850 (3.00GHz 4MB 1333FSB) |
| Memory | 2x1024MB Apacer Technology DDR2-800 5-5-5-18 |
| Graphics | Dual NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX 512MB NVIDIA drivers: 175.95 (from Sager) |
| Display | 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) Matte (LG Philips LP171WU1? - "LPL 0801" in ASTRA32) |
| Hard Drive | 160GB Seagate Momentus 7200.2 (ST9160823AS) |
| Optical Drive | TSST Corp TS-L632H DVD Recorder |
| Battery | 12-Cell 97WHr |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit |
We certainly expect the Sager NP9262 to place at the top of the charts in pretty much everything, followed by the Alienware m15x and then the two Gateway notebooks. The P-171XL has a faster hard drive subsystem and processor while the P-7811 has a faster graphics chip. We will also be taking a detailed look at battery life, noise levels, and LCD quality. The Alienware m15x supports both discrete and integrated graphics, which we will benchmark where appropriate. (That means we won't be running our gaming tests - most of them fail completely, and even those that work don't provide acceptable performance.)
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NotebookGamer - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
I've been wanting to see a gaming laptops showdown between the Clevo matched up against the m1730.I got my NP9262 from Factor Gaming.
cg0def - Monday, September 15, 2008 - link
Say it ain so! I still remember when Alienware laptops used to look good. What happened guys? Oh, nm dell bough them ... well tough luck ...jfdmit - Saturday, September 13, 2008 - link
I exchanged my crashing 7811 for another one today, and so far it's working perfectly. No lockups, no webcam crashes, just speed and stability. I can finally see the real potential of this great gaming machine. It really does seem to be luck of draw whether you get a good one or a dud.jfdmit - Thursday, September 11, 2008 - link
As I noted in the comment I added to your first review of this machine, I've had a pretty bad time with stability. It doesn't matter whether I use the stock 176, or the patched 177.92 or 177.98 drivers, my 7811 is still totally unstable when playing games that even moderately tax the graphics subsystem. Spore locks the machine hard after an hour. Crysis gets about 30 minutes. Thereafter, the locks happen more and more frequently, interspersed with occasional BSODs.I suspect the problem is heat. The increasing frequency of the lockups when gaming, coupled with the fact that the machine works fine for non-gaming tasks, makes me think that the machine's cooling system just can't handle the load. I've ensured that there is plenty of room underneath the machine and even set it on a laptop cooling pad, but none of this has made any difference.
Unfortunately, as it stands, I cannot recomment the 7811 as a gaming PC.
Ben - Sunday, August 31, 2008 - link
Thanks for the article, but I expected more than 3 laptops when I read the title, "roundup".Ben - Sunday, August 31, 2008 - link
OK, you have 3 models listed on the index, you say 4 in the test setup, and then there's 5 benchmarks.I guess 5 is enough for a "roundup" though. :)
JarredWalton - Sunday, August 31, 2008 - link
Four "new" models, and one returning model. This was originally going to be a seven laptop roundup, but the text was already too long. The next three are midrange options.ikjadoon - Sunday, August 31, 2008 - link
What gives? Overdrive PC overclocks their laptops and Velocity Micro has some fine systems, too..Great review, however. :)
rvikul - Sunday, August 31, 2008 - link
I went to BestBuy today to take a look at the Gateway model. thought i'd add a few observations.I was surprised by how large the laptop was. The optical drive kept popping out and would not close properly, but that could be due to customer abuse on the display model.
I am not too thrilled about the form factor - it looks kinda ugly but thats subjective. Ethernet port is on the side which is weird since i would like it hidden behind the laptop. For a gaming laptop I dont see the need for a full keyboard. The arrow keys are really cramped together.
nycromes - Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - link
I actually purchased the P7811fx from BB this weekend. For those interested it is $200 off (at least in my area) and you get a free PC game up to $50 value.It does have a large form factor, in fact it wont fit most 17' carrying cases. Sitting on my lap, it feels like a table because it is so large. I don't mind though, I wanted the 17 in screen as well as a full keyboard. Many people want a keypad for uses in things like MMOs, that is a big selling point for me.
As for the optical drive... it opens easily. Mine will stay closed unless I push on the button (which as indicated in this roundup, is very easy to do just picking it up).
From what I have read, the lockups on these machines are only affecting some laptops. Many people have exchanged in the 14 day window to get one and their problems have been fixed.
Oh, the wireless button feels kinda cheap... I will have to see how long it lasts. I look forward to being able to upgrade it in the future (hopefully) and keep this laptop for a long time. Its a good machine, the colors aren't fabulous, but they don't really bother me. Its a great time to get one if you are looking at it since it is discounted right now.