In its most prominent release since being acquired by Dellback in 2006, gaminglaptop manufacturer Alienware has unveiled what it calls the most powerful 17-inch gaming laptop in the world - the M17x. While this may seem like a bold claim, it may well prove to be the gamer to beat.

Using an entirely new design scheme, the large chassis of the M17x is built from anodised aluminium and is available in a choice of metallic silver or black finishes. Buyers can configure their systems from a range of Intel Core 2 Duo, Quad and Extreme processors, andup to 8GB of DDR3 memory.

Up to 1TB of hard disk space or 256GB of Solid State Drive storage can also be configured, and a Blu-ray drive can be added for full HD compatibility. A choice of nVidia GeForce GTX 260M or 280M GPUs running alone or in an SLI configuration can be chosen for maximum performance.

You can also switch between dedicated and integrated graphics to save power when required and extra features include facial recognition software, a backlit keyboard, a dual CCFL backlit LCD screen and a 2-megapixel webcam. Available now, the M17x starts at £1699 (inc. VAT).

Via What Laptop