Guntizzle's Area51 m5500 Review

[Guntizzle]

Alienware m5500

First/Initial Impressions – Well, the first thing I thought about this beautiful machine is mainly “I'm not worthy!” but seriously out of all the laptops I used this is so far the best. Good specs. Screens a little dim, not loud, little hot.. but we will go over everything in more detail soon… the main reason I got this wonderful laptop is mainly my old m7700 I had was just getting too darn heavy at 13lbs (22lbs / my backpack fully loaded) and the battery life topping out at maybe an hour… just too bad.


15.4" Wide screen 1680x1050
Pentium M 2.0Ghz
80 GB 7200rpm HD
1Gig Ram
DVD+R Burner
Intel 2915 wireless card
Nvidia 6600go 256mb
MX518 1600dpi
Alienware Odyssey Backpack
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS PCMCIA



Alienware beginnings -
Well granted I did order right around Christmas (12/18/05) even though there was a 2 week ETA it took more about 21 days, but there was some Christmas delay on parts and a lot of you know an extra day waiting for your Alienware is like a day where u count every second. My laptop was on a separate truck than my backpack and SoundBlaster card but that was no biggie. I’m just glad it didn’t take like 2 months of delays and other such. I ordered online at www.Alienware.com

The System


Screen -
I can say this screen is quite high quality at 1680x1050 it’s a good size for me, I know that 1900x1200 is way to big even for my teenage eyes. The brightness was a little less than expected but still good none-the-less. No ghosting at all, response time is great. Viewing angle wide is great but vertical isn’t very good not its not bright but it gets a little blurry from some reason, only at extreme angles though normal it performs very well.





Rating – 8.5 of 10

Keyboard -
I can say this is the best laptop keyboard I’ve ever used, simple as that, granted it doesn’t have a keypad but that’s not really needed for me ( I don’t know what this Alt Gr key is but its works the same as an Alt key) so yep simple as that. The short cuts above the lappy keyboard actually do come in handy for me. They go 1. Default Browser launcher 2. Default Media player 3. Wifi card on/off switch










Rating 9.8 of 10


Touch pad -
it’s a very nice touch pad, about the same on the 7700 very good quality, the scroll bar I use a lot so its very handy.




Icons under the touch pad are a nice touch



Rating - 9 of 10

Speakers -
I must say, yes, I was disappointed in the speakers, but granted the last laptop I used had 4 speakers and a subwoofer on the lappy. They actually handle volume pretty well I blasted em just to see what they did and not to much fuzziness in there, probably due to they on right under the screen rather than on the base. But since I bought a SoundBlaster audigy card and a nice set of speakers so that problem was quickly solved









Rating - 6.8 of 10


Wireless -
Nothing new to really be said. Its performs very well and I have not had any stutter problems as some people with the Intel 2915 card have reported. Great range, I didn’t really test it but I knows its good across my house at 65% (I think my house is 60ft length wise) so overall I like it


Rating – 9.5 of 10

Battery Life -
I think this is where the laptop really shines, as you know most desktop replacements have poo-poo battery life, this lappy almost defies just that. I suppose ill make a table of battery life real and estimates

Battery

Intel Extreme
Wifi off
Screen darkest
Actual – 2hours 35mins

Intel Extreme
Wifi on
Screen Brightest
Estimate – 2hours 0mins

6600go 256mb
Wifi off
Screen darkest
Estimate – 1hour 55mins

6600go 256mb
Wifi on
Screen Brightest
Actual 1hours 40mins


Overall I’m very satisfied w/ battery life

Overall Rating - 9.2 of 10

Graphics -

- Nvidia 6600go 256mb to Intel Extreme switch
I find this feature the best thing on this laptop, the ability to add an hour of battery life with a flick of a switch, from desktop replacement to business laptop is very very nice

Rating 10 of 10

-Games
brief explanation and average FPS

Battlefield 2
I expected some slow downs as its one of the most demanding games I play nowadays so I stuck a few settings from high to medium, that helped a lot, only real slowdowns are with smoke, fog, or explosions (mainly artillery all in one hah)

Average FPS – 45 on Medium

Counter Strike Source
I was very happy w/ the performance on source w/ this lappy, I was actually expecting worse than what it got. No AF or AA on, everything else on high

Average FPS – 70 on High
Stress Test – 56FPS

Prince of Persia: Two Thrones
I’ve always like the PoP series from the old win95 version I had but its been greatly improved lately as some of u may have noticed.

Average FPS – 50 on High


Doom 3 -
Speaks for its self

Average FPS 30 on Ultra and no shadows

-3Dmark’s

2003



2005



-Overclocking
Warning! Overclocking can void you warranty and damage your machine, try at your own risk!
Yes, I may be crazy, yes I may be insane, but I decided to see how far I could push my brand spanking new system

Default Clocks
375core 600memory
Low Clocks
410core 660memory
Max Clocks
452core 710memory
Warning! Do Not Attempt!



I must say I’m very impressed w/ the overclockablility scores…

New 3dmarks

2003 Overclock




2005 Overclock





so as you see max clocks give substancal results

-Heat
I found the 6600card never got above 72c w/ forceware meter and the Intel extreme is much cooler but I forgot to take temp n frankly I don’t want to all I know its probably 10-20 degrees cooler

Rating - 9 of 10


Case -
Very sturdy could survive a few falls from table to floor if u ask me, not that I’m gonna try, that’s just what I think









-Cosmetics
I love the Alien eyes on this machine the new 2.0 eyes are quite a site





along with the new logo letters





classics grips also got a small redo but I still live em, come in handy when taking the laptop into/out of the backpack…





-Weight
w/ battery
7.1
w/o battery
6.4

Rating 9 of 10


Accessories-

Alienware Odyssey Backpack©™
I ordered this w/ my new lappy because I didn’t have my XL backpack n e more so I figured I needed some transport and it was new so I said what the hell n bought it. Very spacious and for all you 7700 owners it fits quite snuggly, tight, but snug.










Rating 9.5 of 10


Keychain – w00t!







Conclusion
overall a very very nice machine, few problems, many likes. I feel I got my moneys worth ($2,304.23) and am very happy

(These may be a bit weighted cuz I just owned a 7700 that’s was heavy/noisy/etc.)
Pro’s -
Graphic options
Battery life
Heat
Keyboard
Wireless
Thin and Light
Eyes!

Con’s -
View angles
Little noise
Speakers



Final Score – 9.7 of 10

Any other questions ask n ill try n add to the review .





This Model is now Discontunied

[BadCompany]

Very nice review and very nice machine.

[BennySpenny]

Thanks for the review!

I'm converting from the 7700 to the 5500 as well, and I'm extremely happy to hear that your machine doesn't seem to have the same heat and weight issues as the behemoth 7700.

[shazza]

Excellent job on the review, Guntizzle. From what you and others are saying, it looks like the 6600 video card is doing a good job with today's games.

[maxrule]

Nice Review. Whats With All The Dust And Finger Prints Already?!

[Vek]

Nice review! Grats on the machine. Hope you enjoy it.

[Guntizzle]

Originally Posted by maxrule

Nice Review. Whats With All The Dust And Finger Prints Already?!

a 2 yr old hangs around it lol, half sister..

[maxrule]

Originally Posted by Guntizzle

a 2 yr old hangs around it lol, half sister..

i was playing around bro. Did they send a keychain in the box with it?!?!? I hope i get one.

[Guntizzle]

Originally Posted by maxrule

i was playiung around bri. Did they send a keychain in the box with it?!?!? I hope o get one.

nah sry, i snagged one off of alienware richard when he still had some...

[mjdart]

Very nice and good review, I want one

[azncbr]

Great review. What utility did you use to overclock your video card. I have tried coolbits and it won't change it. I have also tried rivatuner and that doesn't change it either.

[sparda]

great review Guntizzle, hope you enjoy it

[redphyve]

Excellent Review Guntizzle! Makes me want one!

[Craig]

Great writeup!!

*Stuck*

[Guntizzle]

Originally Posted by azncbr

Great review. What utility did you use to overclock your video card. I have tried coolbits and it won't change it. I have also tried rivatuner and that doesn't change it either.

Rivatuner worked for me... u can also try atitool even tho its and nvidia card