Alienware ships m15x with Core 2 Extreme, 8800M GTX

Alienware today quietly began shipping the m15x, its new-era gaming notebook. Besides a new minimalist look with a backlit keyboard, the portable is the first 15.4-inch system to include performance parts normally reserved for 17-inch desktop replacements; with custom orders, users can fit a 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme while the top-end system includes a 512MB GeForce 8800M GTX that matches the performance of better desktop cards. It also makes room for a second hard drive bay for those who want such options as a 64GB solid-state drive for performance without compromising on a larger hard drive.

The system is being split into three key models. A base system will start at $!,499 with a 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo, a mid-range GeForce 8600M GS for video, and 1GB of memory; moving up to $2,099 jumps to a 2GHz processor, twice the RAM, as well as a faster GeForce 8700M GT graphics chip. A top $2,699 version adds the quicker GeForce 8800M GTX as well as a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo. The two higher-end versions are available today but are expected to land at customers' doors by February 1st.