DELL XPS M1730 (PENRYN)

Mobile Gaming Beast



The newest Dell XPS M1730 (Penryn) is an awe-inspiring piece of technological splendor. A bold statement, yes, but one that's easily warranted by this masterfully designed gaming laptop, despite its size and heft.

Weight is, in fact, this rig's only limitation. With its gigantic AC adapter, the weight of the 17-inch, widescreen M1730 jumps to almost 14 pounds. Nonetheless, the M1730 is a terrifict example of where technology is heading. LED lights shine out through the grilles of the front speakers and from underneath the keyboard, the numeric keypad, and the center of the lid. You can also customize the lights with Dell's quickset software. If you're more interested in conserving power or battery life, the intensity of these lights can be lowered or turned off.

The feature set is solid, for the most part, except for the aging DVI-out connector. The 2.8-GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 represents the M1830's move to "Penryn" core. The M1730 also includes a built-in PhysX card from Ageia-a first for a laptop, as well as dual nVidia GeForce 8800M GTX graphics cards.

The M1730's SYSmark 2007 Preview Overall score was slightly behind our comparison system, the Alienware Area-51 m15x (by 6 percent). The system's video-encoding score also came up short. Scores on CineBench R10 and Photoshop tests, on the other hand, were as impressive as those of the Alienware laptop. Result on the World in Conflict and Crysis gaming tests were 1.7 times and 7.2 times as high, resprectively, as those of the Alienware. As for battery life, the Dell laptop's score of 1 hour 30 minutes on MobileMark 2007 sentences it to a life near a power outlet. But for serious gamers, the game experience is what counts th emost. Here the M1730 easily takes first prize. If you're looking for an all-around laptop that's still strong on gaming, however, I'd recommend going for the Alienware system. -Cisco Cheng


Specs: Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 (2.8 GHz); 4GB DDR2 SDRAM; 250GB,7,200-rpm hard drive; SLi nVidia GeForce 8800M GTX, 512MB; 17-inch, 1,920-by-1,200 display; Intel Wireless Wi-FI Link 4965AGN: 10.7 pounds (13.7 pounds travel); dual-layer DVD+-R; four USB ports; one FireWire port, 85-Wh, zz-Ah, lithium ion battery; Windows XP Prx`ofessional.

PC Magazine November 2008
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