Latest Alienware range brings powerful M18X laptop

M18X - looking pretty awesome, not cheap
M18X - looking pretty awesome, not cheap

Dell has unveiled its latest Alienware laptops, with a refreshed M11X gaming netbook joined by the 18-inch M18X and the M14X.

The headliner is the M18X – very much a desktop replacement rather than something you'll be carrying around with you in daily life – which apparently "lays claim to the title of the most powerful 18-inch gaming laptop in the universe". A bold claim indeed.

The 18-incher will come with dual-graphics technology and an Intel Core i7 Extreme CPU, factory overclocked to a whopping 4GHz..

Pwn

"If you're a gamer, you're going to love our new family of laptops, which deliver on the features gamers care most about – uncompromised graphics performance, and lifelike 3D gaming," said Arthur Lewis, general manager of Alienware.

"We are committed to delivering the best gaming systems for enthusiasts everywhere and we take great pride in helping them 'pwn', no matter where they are in the world."

All of the laptops have HDMI 1.4 and SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, the M14X also offers up Core i7 processor options while the M11X has been updated from its already impressive specs to offer up "second-generation Intel Core i processors with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M."

The prices start at over a grand and work their way up quickly as you pick off the best options. But this is unashamedly high-end gaming kit, so you wouldn't expect bargain basement prices anyway.

Alienware's highlights for each laptop are:

M18x:

· An 18.4-inch FHD WLED 1080p display for the best visuals possible
· Powerful Dual GPU options with the fastest graphics memory (GDDR5) on all graphics options
· Both AMD and NVIDIA graphics options, in Crossfire X and SLI, respectively
· New Intel "Huron River" Architecture with a new factory overclocked Intel Core i7 Extreme Quad Core processor up to 4GHz
· Upgradeable to up to 32GB 1333MHz memory
· HDMI/Display Port output & HDMI-in
· 3D output option 3D displays

M14x:

· 14-inch WLED HD (720p) display standard (1366x768) or optional 14-inch WLED HD+ (900p) display (1600x900)
· Second-generation overclockable Intel Core i7 CPUs with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
· Updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with up to 3GB of VRAM
· NVIDIA Optimus technology to extend battery life
· Up to 8GB of 1600MHz extreme-performance system memory
· HDMI 1.4 to support connectivity on HDTVs and 7.1 digital audio
· Audio powered by Klipsch (onboard speakers)

M11x:

· An 11.6-inch WLED HD (720p) display (WXGA 1366x768)
· Second-generation overclockable Intel Core i CPUs with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
· Updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
· Up to 16GB of 1333MHz high-performance system memory
· HDMI 1.4 to support connectivity on HDTVs and 7.1 digital audio
· Audio powered by Klipsch (onboard speakers)

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.