Among the greatest gaming laptops, there are a number of kinds. Some go for as a lot RGB lighting as they will muster, whereas others go for the usual black and purple look we have seen for a decade. But a current pattern has been to make gaming laptops extra refined than prior to now, with a extra refined gamer aptitude. Alienware’s newest effort could also be its most refined and but additionally among the many most fashionable I’ve ever seen.
The Alienware x17 is not simply redesigned externally, although, with its tender edges and ports virtually completely on the rear . It additionally has a brand new four-fan cooling system and a brand new thermal interface materials, each of that are proprietary to its guardian firm, Dell.
All of this engineering, although, comes at a value. The approach we reviewed the laptop computer, with high-end elements from Intel and Nvidia, in addition to 2TB of storage and a mechanical keyboard is greater than $3,600, and you might go increased. That makes the x17 a laptop computer for these with means. If you need a designer laptop computer, you are paying for the model.
Design of the Alienware x17
It’s been awhile since we have seen a brand new design from Alienware, and this one is a little bit of a shock. Typically, 17-inch gaming laptops are thick, heavy machines that worth operate over kind. The Alienware x17, although, goals to be each thinner and extra highly effective than opponents, whereas nonetheless sustaining a glance that ensures you recognize that it is for under essentially the most mature avid gamers.
Specifically, this pocket book is 0.84 inches thick, whereas nonetheless packing an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and eleventh Gen Intel processor, all cooled on this elegant construct. (More on Alienware’s distinctive, four-fan cooling system in a while).
The lid and the underside of the laptop computer are gentle grey that Alienware calls “lunar gentle.” The firm claims that an additional “excessive endurance” clear coat of paint will shield it from getting stained, however solely time will inform how effectively it really works. Either approach, the lid is emblazoned with a giant militaristic “17” in white, in addition to an Alienware brand with full RGB lighting. The touchpad, too, lights up — one thing Alienware hasn’t accomplished in just a few years, although there’s a small black border across the RGB this time. (Touchpad lighting used to go edge-to-edge.)
But while you elevate the lid up, the colour pallet modifications to black. There’s a skinny bezel across the 17.3-inch show, whereas the keyboard is black with RGB lettering and backlighting and the wrist relaxation has a soft-touch really feel to it. The energy button can be an Alienware brand with RGB, nested amongst some honeycomb-shaped vents.
Alienware laptops have historically positioned a lot of its ports on the again of the laptop computer. On the x17, virtually all of them are there. The energy jack is on the left aspect, whereas the three.5 mm headphone jack is on the appropriate. But since the remainder of the edges are lined in venting, every part else is inside an ovular RGB gentle ring on the rear, together with a Thunderbolt 4 port, USB Type-C and Type-A, HDMI 2.1, a micro SD card sluggish and mini DisplayPort. The final of these feels a bit dated, contemplating the choice for USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 to a full-sized Displayport cable, however in any other case it is a good checklist. Some creatives may need it had a full-sized SD card reader.
While it is not a dealbreaker, it is puzzling that Alienware did not place the facility jack within the again, the place it could be out of the way in which. In this setup, it is the lone cable jutting out of the left aspect. A single USB port would have been extra simply reachable and extra helpful in that location.
At 15.72 x 11.79 x 0.8 inches, the x17 is sort of skinny for one thing this highly effective. But at 7.05 kilos, it is deceptively heavy for its dimension. It’s a surprisingly substantial machine. Lift along with your knees, not your again.
The current flagship Alienware m17 R4 is 6.6 kilos and 15.74 x 11.56 x 0.87 inches is not actually that a lot larger. It’s lighter, nonetheless, at 6.6 kilos. The MSI GE76 Raider, in the meantime, is 15.63 x 10.57 x 1.08 inches and 6.39 kilos. The Razer Blade Pro 17 is definitely the slimmest of the bunch at 15.55 x 10.24 x 0.78 inches and 6.06 kilos.
Alienware x17 Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i7-11800H |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR6, 165W Max graphics energy, 1,545 MHz enhance clock) |
| Memory | 32GB DDR4-3200 |
| Storage | 2x 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD in RAID0 |
| Display | 17.3 inches, 3840 x 2160, 120 Hz |
| Networking | Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, Micro SD card slot, Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5 mm headphone/mic jack |
| Camera | 720p, IR |
| Battery | 87 WHr |
| Power Adapter | 330 W |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Dimensions(WxDxH) | 15.72 x 11.79 x 0.84 inches / 399.23 x 299.49 x 21.4 mm |
| Weight | 7.05 kilos / 3.2 kg |
| Price (as configured) | $3,606.39 |
Gaming and Graphics on the Alienware x17
Editor’s word: September 24: Following our overview being printed, Alienware pushed out a BIOS replace to allow discrete graphics to run constantly over the mux swap. We, nonetheless, take a look at with out of the field settings.
I made a decision to place the Alienware x17 and its RTX 3080, a top-of-the-line laptop computer graphics card, via their paces utilizing Deathloop, Arkane Studios’ newest FPS.n that sport, Alienware’s newest did not disappoint. At 1080p, the laptop computer ran Deathloop at extremely settings between 80 and 93 frames per second, together with in battle. It may even deal with extremely settings at 4K, although it dropped to between 38 and 45 frames per second.
We additionally ran the laptop computer via our conventional benchmarks, which have been a bit extra blended. On Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, highest), the Alienware x17 ran the sport at 77 fps, however truly fell behind the opposite laptops, together with the MSI GE76 Raider (106 fps), Alienware m17 R4 (103 fps) and even the Razer Blade Pro 17, with an RTX 3070 (86 fps). At 4K, the x17 rand Tomb Raider at 38 fps.
The Alienware x17 did much better on Grand Theft Auto V (1080p, very excessive), working the sport at 129 frames per second, simply two frames shy of the Raider, and better than each the Blade Pro and the m17 R4.
We noticed comparable outcomes on Far Cry New Dawn (1080p, extremely), the place the x17 performed at 94 fps, simply behind the Raider’s 99 fps, although right here the opposite Alienware, the m17 R4, took the crown at 104 fps.
Similarly, on Borderlands 3, the elder Alienware took the lead on badass settings at 1080p, hitting 102 fps in comparison with the x17’s 94 fps. On Red Dead Redemption 2 at medium settings and 1080p, the x17 ran 1t 81 fps, on par with the m17 and beating the Raider at 77 fps.
We additionally ran the Alienware x17 via our go-to gauntlet: Metro Exodus at RTX settings for 15 runs, which simulates roughly half an hour of gaming. The first runs began at 71 fps, however slowly dropped to only underneath 68 fps by the final run. The common body charge was 68.98 fps.
During that take a look at, the CPU ran at a mean of 4.16 GHz and measured a mean temperature of 75.77 levels Celsius (168.39 levels Fahrenheit). There have been some situations of CPU thermal throttling, however it was fixed. The GPU ran at a mean of 1,429.43 MHz and a mean temperature of 73.42 levels Celsius (164.16 levels Fahrenheit).
Productivity Performance
Our overview unit got here packing an Intel Core i7-11800H, 32GB of RAM, a pair of 1TB M.2 PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 (appearing as one drive in Windows), and, in fact, the RTX 3080. In our testing, it confirmed a wider vary than gaming: it has productiveness muscle, too.
On Geekbench 5, an total efficiency take a look at, the Alienware earned a single-core rating of 1,539 and a multi-core rating of 9,024. That’s the next multi-core rating than the MSI GE76 Raider (8,388), however decrease on single-core. The x17 additionally beats the Alienware m17 R4.
The x17 copied 25GB of recordsdata at a charge of 1,226.67 MBps, coming in simply behind the Raider (1,309.64 MBps) however simply beating each the m17 and the Razer Blade.
On our Handbrake take a look at, the x17 transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in 5 minutes and 41 seconds, quicker than the m17 R4 (6:44) and the remainder of the sphere.
Alienware x17 Cooling
The cooling within the Alienware x17 is exclusive, and completely different from the remainder of the “Cryo-Tech” it makes use of in its different laptops.
The apparent half is that this: there are 4 followers. You not often see a laptop computer with greater than two. Alienware refers back to the quad fan tech as “a patent-pending business unique.” The concept is that the followers are supposed to maneuver air all through the system, overlaying hotspots. They may even run independently at completely different speeds to prioritize airflow to the CPU, GPU or assist scale back exterior temperatures.
The CPU does not simply use bizarre thermal paste. Alienware is utilizing a “gallium-silicone” materials it’s advertising and marketing as Element 31, which the corporate says will allow you to play at secure charges for a protracted time frame. Alienware does not use Element 31 in techniques with RTX 3060 GPUs – simply RTX 3070 and RTX 3080.
Display on Alienware x17
Our Alienware x17 overview unit boasted a 17.3-inch, 16:9 show with a 4K (3840 x 2160) decision and 120 Hz refresh charge. It additionally occurs to be very vibrant with wonderful colour. You also can go for 1080p 165 Hz and 360 Hz panels.
The 4K / 120 Hz combo is a little bit of a curious one. Even essentially the most highly effective laptop computer graphics playing cards wrestle getting some video games to play at 60 frames per second at 4K, so 120 fps appears sort of nuts. I suppose for some indie titles, it may work, in addition to for enjoying video games in 1080p.
When I performed Deathloop on the Alienware x17, the sport regarded nice, each at 4K and 1080p. The sport was good and vibrant, and a number of the ’60s orange hues popped in in any other case bland grey fortresses within the snowy Complex stage.
I used the laptop computer to look at Tears of Steel, our go-to 4K movie. Several scenes happen on a bridge overlooking a canal, and the timber on both aspect have been lush shades of inexperienced, whereas the character Celia’s vibrant blue jacket contrasts with a pink stripe on her pants.
In our lab testing, we decided that the Alienware x17’s show reproduces 116.2% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, handily defeating the remainder of the sphere.
The x17 additionally measured 438 nits of common brightness, far and away extra luminous than the remainder of the gaming laptops we examined. The subsequent greatest was the MSI GE75 Raider, at 319 nits.
Keyboard and Touchpad on Alienware x17
If you are keen to spend some extra cash (on prime of an already costly gaming laptop computer, I’d add), the Alienware x17 has an elective Cherry MX “extremely low-profile” mechanical switches. These debuted on the Alienware m15 R4 and m17 R4 earlier this yr, however it’s the primary time I received to strive them.
I sort of felt like my thoughts was being tricked as I took the 10fastfingers.com typing take a look at. I reached 115 phrases per minute, which is in a standard vary for me. But what was extra essential was that keyfeel. Honestly, it took me a while to get used to, however I like that mechanical really feel. As a contact typist, it merely gave me that click on I like. But it is also loud (not Cherry Blue loud, however far louder than your common membrane keyboard), and I may see that disturbing some individuals.
The structure could also be a bit unusual to some. Unlike on the m17 R4, there is no quantity pad right here. I’m advantageous with that, however there may be one additional row, the place the quantity keys are positioned. We usually discover these on the operate row and even the arrow keys, so this takes some getting used to. There additionally are no media keys to pause or swap between music tracks for while you’re not gaming (or for many who hearken to music whereas they do).
There are, nonetheless, 5 macro features on keys F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6 (labeled, A, B, C, D and E), that you need to use to create macros.
The touchpad measures roughly 2.4 x 4.8 inches, it is simply giant sufficient for four-finger Windows gestures, and I wish to see one thing a bit bigger. That being mentioned, in case you’re utilizing this as a gaming machine primarily, you will seemingly have a mouse hooked as much as it.
Audio on Alienware x17
The audio system on the x17 are a blended bag. There’s two 4-watt audio system, however they level out from beneath the laptop computer’s wrist relaxation. They’re OK for gaming. When I performed Deathloop, dialogue was clear, although taking pictures did not ship a lot of a punch. The background music sounded advantageous, however not thrilling.
For music, they get decently loud, however CHVRCHES’ “How Not to Drown” sounded muddy, with drums and keyboards getting misplaced with guitars and vocals, all preventing for dominance. Switching to the music audio preset in Alienware Command Center did not do something to assist.
Upgradeability of Alienware x17
To pop open the Alienware x17’s hood, you will want a Phillips head screwdriver. A dimension 1 or 0 ought to do the trick.
There are 4 screws to take away: the 2 nearest the palm relaxation and the 2 closest to the rear. The relaxation are captive screws that you simply loosen.
Well, they’re imagined to be captive. One of these screws utterly got here out of our unit. Once I received it open, the small steel washer was free. Alienware knowledgeable me that this may not trigger guarantee points.
That did not forestall me from opening the laptop computer, although it did not merely slide open like Dell’s official maintenance handbook suggests. Some aggressive spudding helped me pop it open from one free nook and thoroughly take the underside off.
The inside might seem a bit extra sophisticated than different laptops, particularly with two additional followers and a few severe heatsink brackets. But the battery, each RAM slots and two SSD slots are all simply accessible for replacements and upgrades. In our case, they have been already crammed.
Battery Life on Alienware x17
17-inch gaming notebooks often function desktop replacements for a cause. One of them is that, like many gaming laptops, they do not are inclined to final that lengthy on a cost.
On our take a look at which entails shopping the net, streaming video and working OpenGL assessments, all whereas related to Wi-Fi with the display at 150 nits of brightness, the Alienware x17 lasted for 4 hours and 31 minutes.
That’s a greater displaying than the Alienware m17 (2:05, the worst of the group) and the MSI GE76 Raider (2:40), however the Razer Blade Pro 17 lasted virtually six hours.
Of course, whereas gaming, none of those laptops will final very lengthy. You ought to plug in whilst you play for greatest efficiency.
Heat on Alienware x17
At least for pores and skin temperatures, the Alienware x17’s cooling system will get the job accomplished. We ran it via our normal gaming gauntlet, working the Metro Exodus benchmark, and took pores and skin temperatures in the direction of the tip of that take a look at.
Between the G and H keys on the heart of the keyboard, the Alienware measured 42 levels Celsius (107.6 levels Fahrenheit). Meanwhile, the underside of the laptop computer measured 46.9 levels Celsius (116.42 levels Fahrenheit) at its hottest level, a vent close to the again. The keyboard does really feel sizzling whereas gaming — my fingers received a bit sweaty (gross) when enjoying Deathloop.
Additionally, as a result of warmth is dispelled from each the edges and the again, you are prone to get some sizzling air in your mouse hand.
Webcam on Alienware x17
Alienware included a 720p webcam on the x17. It’s a slight failing, as different 17-inch laptops, the MSI’s GE76 Raider, have moved on to 1080p.
Beyond the decision, which is not the end-all-be-all, the image from this webcam has a problem with colour. Specifically, a purple t-shirt I used to be sporting regarded extra orange once I examined the webcam out. That being mentioned, element was first rate sufficient for a laptop computer digicam, but when that is going to be your day by day driver, it’s possible you’ll need to spend money on one of many greatest webcams.
One factor this webcam does have going for it’s infrared assist, so you need to use it to log in with Windows Hello facial recognition. Some gaming laptops nonetheless haven’t any biometrics in any respect, so I appreciated the characteristic.
Software and Warranty on Alienware x17
Those who get an Alienware x17 will discover a handful of functions already put in once they boot it up the primary time.
The large piece of software program it’s possible you’ll need to maintain round is Alienware Command Center, a catch-all utility to manage thermals, regulate audio, swap between energy profiles, change lighting and verify part utilization. If your laptop computer has an overclockable CPU, you possibly can regulate that right here, as effectively.
Most of the opposite software program is re-named software program from Alienware’s guardian firm, Dell. They embody Alienware Customer Connect, largely designed to push surveys about Dell’s merchandise, and Alienware Mobile Connect to reply texts and make calls through your smartphone.
Of course, most Windows 10 laptops include bloat constructed into the OS, and that is nonetheless the case right here. Ours, as an example, had Roblox, Tik Tok, Spotify and Hidden City: Hidden Object Adventure submitting up our begin menu.
Dell sells the Alienware x17 with a 1-year guarantee, although you possibly can pay additional to increase that as much as 4 years and add unintentional harm assist.
Configurations of Alienware x17
This laptop computer does not come low-cost.
We examined the Alienware x17 with an Intel Core i7-11800H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 32GB of DDR4-3220 RAM, 2TB of storage (a pair of 1TB M.2 NVMe SSDs in RAID 0), Cherry MX low-profile key switches and a 4K (3840 x 2160), 120 Hz show. As of this writing, that can run you $3,606.39.
The base stage mannequin is $2,155.99, which will get you a similar processor, however bumps you to a GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and 1080p, 165 Hz display,with out the Cherry MX keys
If you cash is not any object, you possibly can enhance the CPU to a Core i9-11980HK, get 64GB of quicker RAM (3466 MHz) and enhance the storage to 4TB, whereas retaining the RTX 3080, Cherry MX keyboard and 4K display. That will run you $4,615.79
Each configuration may be additional customized. For occasion, there’s an possibility for a 1080p, 360 HZ G-Sync show ($98), a non-mechanical keyboard (the bump to CherryMX is $49 and effectively value it) and completely different quantities of RAM and storage.
Bottom Line
There’s no argument that the Alienware x17 is likely one of the sleekest gaming laptops I’ve seen in a very long time. The new design is as fairly and fashionable as gaming laptops get nowadays. The display, too, is beautiful and vibrant. It’s uncommon that I get pleasure from merely a gaming laptop computer a lot.
And the internals are attention-grabbing, too, with quad followers and a brand new cooling materials in Element 31. However, in my utilization and testing, I did discover the system can get a bit steamy. And whereas each sport we ran was playable, and often aggressive, there have been just a few situations the place additional warmth might have been the rationale that the x17 wasn’t essentially the most aggressive laptop computer within the discipline.
If you need one thing that runs a bit cooler however nonetheless like this aesthetic, Alienware’s m17 R4 remains to be a good selection, as is the MSI GE76 Raider, although that is a thicker machine. Both of these have been simply barely extra constant in our gaming testing.
But if you’d like one thing that appears good with the choices for prime of the road elements, together with a superb mechanical keyboard, check out the Alienware x17. Just make certain you are able to take the hit to your checking account.
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