The Aurora m9700’s performance numbers are just as high as its build quality. The notebook is saddled with a mere Turion ML44 processor, but the SLI GPU array enabled 3DMark03 scores above 21,000 and a F.E.A.R. frame rate of 67 fps with the settings maxed out, good enough for a third-place finish. With the display’s subtle color depth and crisp brightness, gaming was a total pleasure. F.E.A.R. has never looked this good on a machine with this price. While other notebooks dispel heat through the front and sides, warming up the palm rest, Alienware keeps the Aurora m9700’s heat directed through the rear of the notebook, making for more comfortable long-term usage. The system’s media and audio performance were also quite good; if the sound was a bit more powerful, this would be an unbeatable system.