Alienware AM18X-8636BK 18-Inch Laptop (Space Black)

by Dell

• 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz,3.1GHz,w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
• 8 GB Dual Channel DDR3
• 750 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
• 18.4-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 WLED screen
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Product Description

Amazon.com

Take control of your gaming with the Alienware M18X multimedia laptop (model AM18X-8636BK), which is designed with aggressive lines and an in-your-face attitude. It features a stunning, Full HD 1080p 18.4-inch display and a powerful second-generation, quad-core Intel Core i7 processor. Additionally, it offers ultra-fast DDR3 system memory and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics with 1.5 GB of video memory. Taken together, this combination of high-performance technologies allow you to rip through the latest 3D games at lightning-fast frame-rates.

The best mobile gaming experience
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AlienFX Lighting Controls.

 

AlienTouch Touchpad Controls.

 

AlienTactX Macro Key Controls.

This Alienware laptop features two speedy USB 3.0 ports--the latest development in USB data transfer technology. Perfect for transferring and retrieving large files between your PC and an external hard drive or digital camera, USB 3.0 offers the speediest, most efficient way get what you need from external devices. (It also comes with two standard USB 2.0 ports and a combo eSATA/USB port, plus USB 3.0 is backward compatible.)

The Alienware Command Center brings you intuitive access to applications and controls, so you can easily adjust details like lighting effects and power. Other features include a 750 GB hard drive, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, double-layer DVD drive, Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, 3.0-megapixel webcam, and both HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs. It's pre-loaded with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit).

One-Stop Gaming and Entertainment Center

Whether you want to watch movies, listen to music or connect with friends, the Alienware M18x lets you turn your gaming laptop into a home theater system, anytime you please.

Watch, Play, Connect: Hook up any compatible device with an HDMI output to your Alienware M18x or catch your favorite shows with an optional TV tuner and remote.

Big Sound, Small Speakers: Get more immersive gaming experience than you ever expected from a laptop with audio powered by Klipsch. Or, wake the neighbors with support for up to 7.1 Surround Sound Audio.

Command and Customize:

Control and personalize your system from the user-friendly Alienware Command Center.

AlienFX Lighting Controls allow you to choose from an array of color and transition effects and assign them to distinct zones, including the keyboard, touchpad and more. AlienTouch Touchpad Controls allow you to customize your touchpad’s sensitivity to prevent accidental contact, and activate virtual scrolling to enable vertical and horizontal scrolling with just a touch. AlienTactX Macro Key Controls let your keys do the clobbering. The M18x comes with five programmable keyboard keys, for up to 15 distinct functions per application. AlienFusion Power Management allows you to decide when you need maximum performance, or when to scale back power for less intensive applications.

Built for Speed

The second-generation Intel Core i7 mobile processors for laptops deliver top-of-the-line adaptable speed and responsiveness making it your ideal choice for visibly smart performance. Intel's Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. And Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking. It also comes equipped with Intel Quick Sync Video, which provides accelerated encoding, decoding, and transcoding features (for converting video for portable players or online sharing).

Razor-Sharp Graphics

The Alienware M18x has leading-edge NVIDIA performance graphics for powerful photo and video editing and high-resolution gaming with breathtaking detail. Want to edit, share and watch your HD videos without the wait? NVIDIA graphics let you speed up your high-res photo editing, HD video enhancing, and web surfing like never before.

NVIDIA Optimus technology automatically optimizes your battery life while maintaining the graphics performance you expect--completely, seamlessly and transparently--whether you're watching an HD movie, surfing the web or playing a game.

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Key Specifications Full HD 1080p 18.4-inch LED-backlit display with 1920 x 1080 resolution 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7-2670QM quad-core processor (3.1 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology; 6 MB L3 cache). 750 GB SATA hard drive (7200 RPM) 8 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1600 MHz; 32 GB maximum from 4 DIMM slots) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics with 1.5 GB of GDDR5 discrete graphics memory plus Optimus Technology. 8x multi-format CD/DVD drive 3-megapixel HD webcam 2.1 speaker configuration with audio powered by Klipsch plus Waves MAXXAudio 3 audio enhancement 12-cell high-capacity battery Dimensions and Weight: 17.17 x 12.68 x 2.13 inches (WxDxH); 11.93 pounds

Wireless & Networking Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks (requires Wireless-N router to optimize speed and range). Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity provides faster throughput while minimizing on power requirements. It's compatible with new Bluetooth 3.0-enabled devices as well as backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as printers and cell phones. Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) Connectivity & Expansion 2 ultra-fast USB 3.0 ports with up to 10x the speed of USB 2.0 (and is backward compatible with your USB 2.0 peripherals). 1 eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port (with PowerShare for charging devices even when laptop is off) 2 standard USB 2.0 ports 1 HDMI output (version 1.4) for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable. 1 HDMI input (version 1.3) 1 mini DisplayPort video output VGA video output (analog, RGB) 9-in-1 memory card reader (supports SD, SDIO, SDXC, SDHC, MS, MS Pro, MMC, MSXC, xD) Combo SPDIF optical output and standard analog headphone jack Microphone/line-in port (retaskable for 5.1 analog audio output) 2 audio out jacks

What's in the Box

This package contains the Alienware AM18X-8636BK notebook PC, AC adapter, 12-cell battery, and printed documentation.

Warranty

1-year limited hardware warranty; 24/7 phone support; in-home service after remote diagnosis

Included Software

McAfee SecurityCenter with Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Firewall (30-day Subscription)

Why Alienware?

• The Alienware Vision: We aim to build the brand, shape the future and be the best. We offer speed-of-light execution and outstanding customer service. We strive to set the benchmark for excellence and innovation.
• Alienware shows pride by honoring six core values: innovation, quality, service, communication, people and performance.
• The philosophy is "Build it as if it were your own." The result is worldwide brand recognition and respect.

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Pin web sites with Internet Explorer 9 (view larger).

Windows 7 Home Premium The Best Entertainment Experience On Your PC Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, and rewind TV or record it to watch whenever and wherever you want. For the best entertainment experience, choose a PC with Windows 7. Windows 7: Your PC Simplified Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek and Shake, make it easier to manage all of your open windows. Find virtually anything on your PC--from documents to songs to email--just by typing a word or two with Windows Search. Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker. Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center to watch whenever and where ever you want.*

Get a Faster, Safer Web with a New PC and Internet Explorer 9 Helps protect against identity theft and malicious software with SmartScreen Filter. Movies, TV, and videos look better and run more smoothly. Create, Connect, and Share with Windows Live Windows 7 and Windows Live bring it all together for free. Get the free set of programs that make it simple to create and share amazing photos and movies, organize mail, and stay connected with your closest friends. Get free online storage with Windows Live SkyDrive. Sync files on your PCs automatically with Windows Live Mesh. Share photos during video chats with Windows Live Messenger.** Easily edit photos. Combine the best parts of multiple photos into one perfect photo with Photo Fuse. You can download Windows Live for FREE at download.live.com.

Create, connect, and share (see larger image).

Complete Your PC Experience with Microsoft Office 2010 Includes reduced functionality versions of Microsoft Word and Excel with advertising. (Note that PowerPoint or Outlook are not included.) Purchase Office 2010 today and get the most out of your new PC.   * Additional hardware may be required. Not available in all countries. (See windows.microsoft.com/products/windows-7/system-requirements/ for more information.) ** Requires a compatible microphone, speakers or headset, webcam, and broadband connection.

Product Description

Alienware M18x: The Most Powerful 18" Laptop in the Universe. With powerful graphics options including NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX technologies, the Alienware M18x delivers desktop performance in a mobile chassis. Put the competition to shame with an optional factory-overclocked Intel Core i7 Extreme processor. If an 18.4"" full HD display isn't big enough, you can wirelessly blast 3D games and HD content to any properly equipped external display.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars HORRIBLE Customer Service June 8, 2012

By J. Century

I thought you might want to know about a customer service nightmare I'm having with the Alienware Solution Station. My son is 13 and saved up to buy his Alienware M18x. He had a problem and tried to resent to factory settings and made a mistake. His bad...should have looked on line for instructions first. Still, we called Alienware and asked for help. For a fee, they said they would take care of it.

That was five weeks ago. Fourteen phone calls later. Four technician appointments - three of which had NO technician show up. First, they did the basic re-install. However, they couldn't get the wireless card to work and came to the obviously incorrect conclusion there was something wrong with the wireless card (it was working fine before we called them). I waited for a technician a few days later. He showed up, replaced the wireless card and it still didn't work. I called back. They worked on the software some more (remotely) and still couldn't fix the wireless. So, they decided that the replacement wireless card was bad and needed to be replaced again.

I received two confirmation calls from Dell but the technician never showed. When I called, I was told it was because the part was backordered. Nobody ever called to tell me (these are three hour time windows I'm waiting).

Then, two more confirmation calls for a couple days later. The technician never showed and lied about calling me and waiting 20 minutes. At that point I said that I wasn't going to wait again for a wireless card that was unnecessary in the first place. The Alienware support person asked what I wanted him to do - so I said I wanted him to fix the software. After about an hour, he did. He discovered that the technician who did the initial work (a month had passed at this point - and about 10 calls) did it incorrectly and nobody ever went back to check it. Then, however, it turns out we had a problem with graphics that we didn't have before.

He couldn't solve it and instead said that we needed a new graphics card. So, today, I waited again. I got two confirmation calls from Dell and the technician didn't show up. Again, because the part is on backorder, but nobody told me. So now, I've spent countless hours working with my son at times (of course, he has to go to school at some point), taking up time in my working day, and most of it wasted because the support people did the job incorrectly the first time, told me I needed parts I didn't need, and have on-site technicians who lie and don't call customers to tell them they aren't coming.

Today, I asked to talk to someone who might be interested in hearing about this. Tech support transferred me to customer service. They wanted to transfer me to tech support. Finally, I got the woman to understand that I thought they might want to know that their tech support has been terrible and their on-site technicians don't show up. She told me her manager would call me. Who is good for a bet that I don't hear a word?

So...I wait...with my frustrated kid...for the part that is on backorder and the technician who doesn't call and there's nothing I can do, except let other Alienware users know, just as a heads up. It may be a great notebook, but it's useless if my son can't use it.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome but... March 2, 2012

By Shawn Walters

Amazon Verified Purchase

The m18x is an awesome machine. But the biggest reason people choose the m18x over the m17x is the ability to have dual GPU (and 1" inch extra screen). This model does not offer a dual GPU, so keep that in mind. Another thing to keep in mind, this thing is HUGE. Literally you won't be able to lift it with one hand. You can carry it with one, but it's big and heavy. Heat dissipation is excellent on it. Thing never got hot. In the end I ended up returning this for a m17x. Btw, Amazon rocks!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best April 19, 2012

By BLOOD

Feels great, very solid.

Put in a 2nd hd ssd.

Unit runs great.

Item plays all games great. I have a 2 560m sli version and had a great amount of fun. Took my unit apart to replace all the grease with arctic silver 5. Since i did that, the fans almost never go at full speed.

My config is i7 2860, 2 sli 560m, 256 gb ssd, 128 gb ssd.