Fastest. Notebook GPU. Ever

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M GPU Launches in Alienware M18x and M17x Notebooks With Record-Breaking Gaming Performance

SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 06/28/2011 -- NVIDIA today announced the world's fastest notebook graphics processing unit (GPU)i, the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M. Available now in the Alienware M18x, the new GPU sets new standards in industry leading benchmarks and games. It will also be available soon in the Alienware M17x notebook along with NVIDIA Optimus™ technology.

"The best game support. The best gaming features. The best gaming performance available anywhere. That's the essence of the GeForce GTX 580M," said Rene Haas, general manager of notebook products at NVIDIA. "With power like this, you can turn all the knobs to 11."

The first notebook PC to feature the GeForce GTX 580M, the Alienware M18x offers the option of two GeForce GTX 580M GPUs in one system for up to double the gaming performance, using NVIDIA SLI® technology. Not to be outdone, the Alienware M17x will offer the GeForce GTX 580M along with NVIDIA Optimus™ technology and will deliver 5 hours of battery life in Facebook, and 100 frames per second performance in Call of Duty: Black Ops.

"Gamers aspire to experience games at their highest settings," says Eddy Goyanes, product marketing manager for Alienware.

Processor

Intel® Core™ i7 2630QM 2.0GHz (2.8GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
Intel® Core™ i7 2720QM 2.2GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
Intel® Core™ i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
Intel® Core™ i7 2920XM, 2.5GHz (3.5GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
Intel® Core™ i7 2920XM Overclocked Turbo Boost to 4.0GHz (8MB Cache)

Operating System

Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-Bit
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

Memory6

4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS)
6GB DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS)
16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (4DIMMS)
32GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (4DIMMS)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)

Video Card

1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M
Dual 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M – NVIDIA® SLI® Enabled
Dual 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M – NVIDIA® SLI® Enabled
Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6970M - AMD CrossFireX™

Display

18.4 inch display (1920x1080)

Audio and Speakers

Internal High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio with WavesMAXX Audio (Standard)
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio with SoundBlaster MB Software (Optional)
2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer
Audio Powered by Klipsch®
7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port .

Hard Drive

Up to 1500GB7 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
Up to 512GB7 Solid State Drive SATA hard drive

Optical Drive

Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) (standard)
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

Power

High Capacity 12-cell Lithium Ion (97whr)

Camera

3.0 Megapixel HD Video and Picture Camera with dual digital microphones

Wireless

Networking and Wi-Fi Options
Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC (Standard)
Intel® Advanced-N 6200 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology (Standard)
Intel® Ultimate-N Wi-Fi Link 6300 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology (Optional)
60GHz WirelessHD Wireless Display - HDMI fidelity over wireless (Optional)

Bluetooth Option
Internal Bluetooth® 3.0 (Standard)

Ports, Slots & Chassis

External Chassis Connections
(1x) Power/DC-in Jack
(1x) RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet IPv6
(2x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Ports
(2x) Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Port
(1x) eSATA 3Gb/s + USB 2.0 Combo port (with PowerShare Technology)
(1x) Mini-Display Port
(1x) HDMI 1.4 Audio and Video Output
(1x) HDMI 1.3 Audio and Video Input
(1x) VGA Port
(1x) 9-in-1 Media Card Reader
(2x) Audio Out 1/8" Ports
(1x) Combo S/PDIF Optical output / Analog Headphone Line Out (7.1 digital audio output via S/PDIF)
(1x) Line In Microphone 1/8" Port (retaskable for 5.1 analog audio output)
(1x) Security Lock port

System Dimensions
Height
Front: 53.00mm (2.09 inches)
Rear: 54.20mm (2.13 inches)
Depth: 322.00 mm (12.68 inches)
Width: 436.00 mm (17.17 inches)
Starting at weight: 5.41 kg (11.93 lbs)

Color Options
Space Black Anodized Aluminum
Nebula Red Anodized Aluminum

Keyboard
4-Zone, multi-color RGB, 82 key keyboard with AlienFX™ lighting controls
5 user-programmable keys providing up to 15 distinct functions per application or game

Customizable Feature
Laser-Engraved Nameplate

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-m18x/pd.aspx

ICE Symmetrical Modeling

In this tutorial, 3D Technical Director Eric Thivierge will show you how to pull indices from a symmetry map then using a Point Index to Location node, access the symmetrical data on the opposite side of the mesh to allow for symmetrical modeling and transference of weight map data as well.

The Big Bang Theory

Warner Bros will also be there in force, with a 3,000-square-foot booth on the show floor and 16 shows in their lineup. Most of the shows are old standbys; then again, most are also beloved by the average convention-goer. The Big Bang Theory cast is always welcomed with enthusiasm, making their scheduled appearance a no-brainer. Likewise Chuck, Fringe, Nikita, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries and curiously apostrophe-free Childrens Hospital all will have no problem finding happy, receptive attendees to fill seats for a chance to glimpse their favorite star in the flesh. As for new fare, the enigmatic drama Alcatraz opens present-day with 302 people -- wardens and prisoners -- suddenly reappearing in the infamous prison, 50 years after their mysterious disappearance. It also stars Lost alumnus Jorge Garcia as a “hippie geek” Alcatraz expert, a challenging-sounding role that I hope he’s up for. Person of Interest is a sci-fi series about a computer program that predicts future crime victims (sounding a bit like Minority Report, but minus the precognitive crack babies who sit in a bathtub all day) and the former CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) who is tasked with trying to solve the crimes. Lastly, WB will roll out The Secret Circle, a young-adult fantasy-horror-romance series based on the book of the same name. In the series, teenaged Cassie (played by Britt Robertson) discovers she comes from a family of witches. Oh, and love; she also discovers love

Paramount First Studio This Year To Top $1B At Domestic Box Office

Thanks to the bounty from such films as Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Super 8, Thor, Rango and Kung Fu Panda 2, Paramount confirmed today that it has crossed the $1 billion mark at the domestic box office for the year. It is the first studio to surpass the milestone -- the fifth consecutive year it's been first. From Jan. 3-July 4, the studio's overall domestic cume is $1.024 billion. Earlier this month, Paramount Pictures International crossed the $1 billion mark in overseas box office.

Autodesk Masters 2011 nomination

It's time to nominate a Master for Maya, 3ds Max, Softimage and Mudbox. If you know of a Autodesk® Maya®, Autodesk® 3ds Max®, Autodesk® Softimage® or Autodesk® Mudbox™ artist whose work and contribution to 3D computer graphics deserves recognition, nominate them for an Autodesk Master Award.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: August 16, 2011
VOTING BEGINS: September 8, 2011
AWARDS ANNOUNCED: 3December Event, 2011