Alienware M14x

Bottom Line

When you want to take your game on the road but don't want to lug around a 17-inch, 10-pound-plus behemoth, experts say the Alienware M14x is the best option available. The latest version can't quite keep up with the most powerful gaming systems, but it doesn't fall that far short and it's cheap for a gaming notebook.

Performance

Gets the job done. While it trades out some power for its portability, the current version of the Alienware M14x -- informally called Revision 2, or just R2 -- can still play modern titles at low to moderate graphics settings and lasts more than five hours on a charge, something few gaming laptops can claim. The notebook also breezes through standard computing tasks and even some more intensive ones like basic media encoding.

The base version includes a third-generation Ivy Bridge i5-3230M CPU, 6 GB of RAM, a 500 GB SATA drive and an Nvidia GT 650M GPU. Several reviewers test a beefier configuration with 8 GB RAM, a 32 GB solid-state cache drive and a Core i7 CPU, all of which add a bit to the final price tag.

Ergonomics

Highly portable. Most gaming notebooks are massive, 17-inch-plus beasts weighing 10 pounds or more, the svelte Razer Blade (*Est. $2,500 and up) excluded. At 6.45 pounds and 1.49 inches thick, the Alienware M14x R2 won't trick anyone into thinking it's an Ultrabook, but it's very portable for a gaming-focused laptop. The keyboard and trackpad also win praise for their sturdy comfort. Alienware is known for stuffing its portable PCs with ports, but the M14x R2 has fewer than its bigger brother due to its relatively slight frame. There are still plenty, however, including HDMI and a pair of USB 3.0 connections.

Design

One of the nicer-looking options around. As far as gaming notebooks go, experts say the Alienware series is the belle of the ball with its customizable backlighting and distinctive lid. However, it's nowhere near as attractive as the glass or aluminum designs being tried out by Apple nor the Ultrabooks offered by the likes of Asus and HP. The 1,366-by-768-pixel display resolution might sound low, but experts say it fits the 14-inch screen well, and a 1,600-by-900-pixel LED option is available if you want more pixels per inch. Reviewers say colors pop onscreen and the audio sounds great with 7.1 surround sound output available.

Support & reliability

Good customer service, but could be more reliable. The M14x's one-year warranty is nothing special. Alienware is known for its excellent customer service, but it fails to win a Readers' Choice award at PCMag.com this year. Although the line has slightly above-average defect rates, that's fairly common with high-end gaming notebooks.

Value

A great budget option for on-the-go gamers. When you consider the entire package -- strong graphics, small footprint and excellent ergonomics -- it's tough to find a more capable gaming notebook priced as low as the M14x's base configuration. However, serious gamers may want to step things up a bit. Even-smaller 11-inch gaming notebooks from other brands are available, but they don't enjoy the Alienware M14x R2's sterling reputation with reviewers and tend to run hot.