PCMark05 Results

Longer bars are better

By toggling the fourth button, Binary GFX, and restarting the Alienware, we could switch from the GeForce Go 8800M graphics to the integrated Intel GPU built into the laptop's 965GM chipset. Combined with Stealth mode this boosted battery life beyond two hours of continuous use. The problem, of course, is that performance was greatly reduced yet you would still have to lug a 3.6kg laptop from pillar to post.

The alternative is to step up from the 6-cell battery to a 9-cell for £95 and maybe swap out the DVD writer for a 6-cell SmartBay battery for another £80. Or simply choose only to play games when you're connected to the mains.

Verdict

You pay a steep price for the Alienware m15x with all the bells and whistles and in return you get a colossal amount of gaming power with graphics that would shame many a desktop PC.

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