Alienware 17in Laptop

Alienware x17: A designer gaming laptop

There are different styles among the best gaming laptops. Some want as much RGB lighting as they can muster, while others opt for the standard black-and-red look we've seen for a decade. However, the trend of recent times has been to make gaming laptops more delicate than in the past, with a more refined gaming taste. Alienware's latest effort may be its sleekest yet most stylish I've seen.

The Alienware x17 isn't just redesigned externally though, with soft edges and ports almost exclusively on the back. Also, it boasts a brand-new thermal interface material and a brand-new four-fan cooling system, both of which belong to its parent firm Dell.

However, all this engineering comes at a cost. The way we reviewed the laptop, with top-of-the-line parts from Intel and Nvidia, as well as 2TB of storage and a mechanical keyboard, it's more than $3,600, and you can go higher. This makes the x17 a laptop for those with the means. If you want a designer laptop, you pay for the brand.

Alienware x17: Design

It's been a while since we've seen a new design from Alienware, and this one is a bit of a surprise. 17-inch gaming laptops are typically thick and heavy machines that prioritize function over form. However, the Alienware x17 aims to be thinner and more powerful than the competition, while maintaining a look that lets you know it's only meant for the most advanced gamers.

Specifically, this laptop is 0.84 inches thick, while still packing an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and an 11th Gen Intel processor, all cooled in this sleek design. (More to come on Alienware's distinctive four-fan cooling technology.)

The lid and bottom of the notebook are light gray, which Alienware calls "lunar light." The company claims the extra "high durability" of the clear coat will protect it from dirt, but only time will tell how well it works. Either way, the lid is adorned with a large militaristic "17" in white, as well as the Alienware logo in full RGB lighting. The touchpad also lights up - something Alienware hasn't done in a few years, although this time there's a small black border around the RGB. (Touchpad lighting used to be edge-to-edge.)

But when you lift the lid, the color palette changes to black. There's a thin bezel around the 17.3-inch display, while the keyboard is black with RGB lettering and backlighting, and the wrist rest feels soft to the touch. The power button is also the Alienware logo with RGB, nestled between some honeycomb holes.

Alienware laptops traditionally place a number of their ports on the back of the laptop. Almost all of them are there on x17. The power jack is on the left while the 3.5mm headphone jack is on the right. But since the rest of the sides are covered with ventilation, everything else is in the ovular RGB light ring on the back, including the Thunderbolt 4 port, USB Type-C and Type-A, HDMI 2.1, slow and mini SD card. DisplayPort. The last of these seems a little dated considering the option of USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 to a full-sized Displayport cable, but otherwise it's a good list. Some artists might like a full-sized SD card reader.

While not a dealbreaker, it's striking that Alienware didn't put the power connector in the back where it would be out of the way. In this setup, it's the only cable protruding from the left side. A single USB port would be more easily accessible and useful in this location.

At 15.72 x 11.79 x 0.8 inches, the x17 is pretty slim for something this powerful. Nonetheless, it is rather hefty for its size at 7.05 pounds. It's a surprisingly powerful machine. Lift your knees, not your back.

 

At 6.6 pounds and 15.74 x 11.56 x 0.87 inches, Alienware's current flagship m17 R4 isn't really that much bigger. However, it is lighter at 6.6 pounds. The MSI GE76 Raider, meanwhile, is 15.63 by 10.57 by 1.08 inches and 6.39 pounds. The Razer Blade Pro 17 is actually the thinnest of them all at 15.55 x 10.24 x 0.78 inches and 6.06 pounds.

 

Alienware x17: Specifications
CPU	Intel Core i7-11800H
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR6, 165W Max graphics power, 1,545 MHz boost clock)
Memory	32GB DDR4-3200
Storage	2x 1TB M.2 (NVMe SSD)
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)	399.23 x 299.49 x 21.4 mm / 15.72 x 11.79 x 0.84 Inches
Weight	7.05 pounds / 3.2 kg
Price (as configured)	$3,606.39

Gaming and graphics on the Alienware x17

Editor's Note: September 24th: After our review was published, Alienware released a BIOS update that allows discrete graphics to run continuously via a mux switch. However, we are testing with out-of-the-box settings.

I decided to put the Alienware x17 and its RTX 3080, a high-end laptop graphics card, through their paces using Deathloop, the latest FPS from Arkane Studios. This game, the latest Alienware did not disappoint. At 1080p, the Deathloop laptop ran between 80 and 93 frames per second on ultra settings, including battle. It even managed ultra settings in 4K, though it dropped to 38-45fps.

I also ran the notebook through traditional benchmarks, which were a bit complicated. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, best), the Alienware x17 ran the game at 77fps, but in practice, the MSI GE76 Raider (106fps), Alienware m17 R4 (103fps) and even RTX 3070 (86) fps) in Razer Blade Pro 17. In Tomb Raider with 4K x17 quality and 38 fps.

The Alienware x17 fared much better on Grand Theft Auto V (1080p, very high), running the game at 129 frames per second, just two frames ahead of the Raider and higher than the Blade Pro and m17 R4.

We saw similar results on Far Cry New Dawn (1080p, ultra), where the x17 played at 94fps, just behind the Raider's 99fps, though another Alienware, the m17 R4, took the crown here at 104fps.

Similarly, on Borderlands 3, the older Alienware took the lead at the 1080p setting, hitting 102fps compared to the x17's 94fps. On Red Dead Redemption 2 at medium settings and 1080p, the x17 ran at 1t 81 fps, on par with the m17 and beating the Raider at 77 fps.

We also put the Alienware x17 through our baseline gauntlet: Metro Exodus at RTX settings for 15 runs, which simulates roughly half an hour of gameplay. Initially running at 71 frames per second, the last run eventually dipped to little under 68 fps. It was 68.98 frames per second on average.

During this test, the CPU was running at an average frequency of 4.16 GHz with an average temperature of 75.77 °C (168.39 °F). There were a few instances of CPU thermal bottleneck, but it was consistent. The GPU ran at an average of 1429.43 MHz with an average temperature of 73.42 °C (164.16 °F).

Productivity Performance

Our test unit came with an Intel Core i7-11800H, 32GB of RAM, a pair of 1TB M.2 PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 (functioning as a single drive in Windows) and, of course, an RTX 3080. In our testing, it showed more range than games: it also has the muscle productivity.

On Geekbench 5, an overall performance test, the Alienware scored a single-core score of 1,539 and a multi-core score of 9,024. That's a higher multi-core score than the MSI GE76 Raider (8,388), but lower on a single core. The Alienware m17 R4 loses against the x17 as well.

The x17 copied 25GB of files at 1,226.67MB/s, putting it just behind the Raider (1,309.64MB/s), but easily beating both the m17 and the Razer Blade.

In our handbrake test, the x17 transcoded 4K video to 1080p in 5 minutes and 41 seconds, faster than the m17 R4 (6:44) and the rest of the field.

Cooling: Alienware x17

The cooling system used by Alienware in its x17 laptop is distinct from the rest of the "Cryo-Tech" it employs in its other laptops.

There are four fans, which is the apparent fact. A laptop with more than two is uncommon. Alienware refers to the quad fan technology as a "patent industry exclusive". The idea is that the fans are supposed to move air throughout the system and cover hotspots. They can even run independently at different speeds to favor airflow to the CPU, GPU, or help reduce external temperatures.

The CPU doesn't just use ordinary thermal paste. Alienware uses a "gallium-silicon" material it markets as Element 31, which the company says will let you play at stable rates for long periods of time. Alienware does not use Element 31 in systems with RTX 3060 GPUs - only the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080.

Display of Alienware x17

Our Alienware x17 review unit boasted a 17.3-inch 16:9 display with 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has fantastic colour and is quite brilliant. You can also opt for 1080p 165Hz and 360Hz panels.

The combination of 4K / 120 Hz is a bit curious. Even the most powerful laptop graphics cards struggle to play some games at 60fps in 4K, so 120fps seems like a stretch. I suppose it might work for some indie titles, as well as 1080p gaming.

Both in 4K and 1080p, Deathloop looked fantastic when I played it on the Alienware x17. The game was nice and bright, with some 60s orange hues popping up in the otherwise bland gray fortresses of the snowy complex level.

I used the laptop to watch Tears of Steel, our favorite movie in 4K. Several scenes take place on a bridge overlooking a canal, and the trees on either side were lush shades of green, while Celia's character's bright blue jacket contrasts with the pink stripe on her pants.

In our lab testing, we found that the Alienware x17's display reproduces 116.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, easily beating the rest of the field.

The x17 also measured 438 nits of average brightness, far brighter than other gaming laptops we've tested. Next best was the MSI GE75 Raider with 319 rivets.

Keyboard & touchpad of Alienware x17

If you're willing to spend some extra money (on top of an already expensive gaming laptop, I might add), the Alienware x17 has optional Cherry MX "ultra low-profile" mechanical switches. These debuted on the Alienware m15 R4 and m17 R4 earlier this year, but this is the first time I've been able to try them out.

I felt like my mind was tricked when I took the 10fastfingers.com typing test. I hit 115 words per minute, which is a normal range for me. But what was more important was that key feeling. Honestly, it took me a while to get used to, but I love the mechanical feel. As a touch typist, it simply gave me that click that I love. But it's also loud (not cherry blue, but much louder than your average membrane keyboard) and I could see that bothering some people.

The layout may be a bit strange for some. Unlike the m17 R4, there is no numeric keypad. I'm fine with that, but there is one extra row where the volume keys are located. We often find them on the function bar or even on the arrow keys, so you'll have to get used to it. There are also no keys to play or switch between music tracks when you're not playing (or for those who listen to music while playing).

However, there are five macro functions (labeled A, B, C, D, and E) on the F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6 keys that you can use to create macros.

At roughly 2.4 by 4.8 inches, the touchpad is just the right size for four-finger Windows gestures, and I'd like to see something a little bigger. That being said, if you're primarily using this as a gaming machine, you'll probably have a mouse attached to it.

Sound of Alienware x17

The x17's speakers are available in a range of designs. There are two 4-watt speakers, but they protrude from the bottom of the laptop's wrist rest. They are fine for playing. When I played Deathloop, the dialogue was clear, although the gunfire didn't pack much of a punch. The background music sounded good but not exciting.

They're decently loud for music, but CHVRCHES' "How Not to Drown" sounded muddy, the drums and keyboards lost with the guitars and vocals, all fighting for dominance. Switching to the music sound preference in the Alienware Command Center didn't help.

Alienware x17: upgrade option

You will need a Phillips screwdriver to open the hood of the Alienware x17. A size of 1 or 0 should do.

There are four screws to remove: the two closest to the armrest and the two closest to the back. The rest are screws that you loosen.

Well, they are supposed to be captives. One of those screws completely fell out of our unit. As soon as I opened it, the small metal washer was loose. Alienware has informed me that this will not cause warranty issues.

This didn't stop me from opening the laptop, although it simply wouldn't open as suggested by the official Dell maintenance manual (it will open in a new tab). Some aggressive pudding helped me open it from one free corner and carefully remove the bottom.

The inside may seem a bit more complicated than other laptops, especially with two extra fans and some serious heatsink mounts. But the battery, both RAM slots and two SSD slots are easily accessible for replacements and upgrades. These were previously filled in our situation.

Battery life of Alienware x17

17-inch gaming laptops are usually used as a desktop replacement for a reason. One is that, like many gaming laptops, they don't last as long on a charge.

In our test, which includes web browsing, video streaming, and running OpenGL tests all while connected to Wi-Fi with a 150-nit screen, the Alienware x17 lasted 4 hours and 31 minutes.

That's a better showing than the Alienware m17 (2:05, worst of the bunch) and the MSI GE76 Raider (2:40), but the Razer Blade Pro 17 lasted nearly six hours.

Of course, none of these laptops last very long when playing games. For best performance, you should engage while playing.

Warming up of the Alienware x17

At least when it comes to skin temperatures, the Alienware x17's cooling system gets the job done. We put it through our usual gaming gauntlet, running the Metro Exodus benchmark and measuring skin temperatures towards the end of this test.

Between the G and H keys in the middle of the keyboard, the Alienware measured 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The warmest spot on the bottom of the laptop, the back vent, was 46.9 degrees Celsius (116.42 degrees Fahrenheit). The keyboard is hot when playing - my fingers got a little sweaty while playing Deathloop (gross).

Additionally, since the heat is dissipated from both the sides and the back, some hot air is likely to reach the hand of the mouse.

Webcam of Alienware x17

Alienware included a 720p webcam on the x17. It's a bit of a letdown, as another 17-inch laptop, MSI's GE76 Raider, has gone to 1080p.

In addition to the resolution, which is not the final solution, the image from this webcam has a color problem. In particular, the red t-shirt I was wearing looked more orange when I tested the webcam. That being said, detail was decent enough for a laptop camera, but if this is going to be your daily driver, you might want to invest in one of the best webcams out there.

One thing this webcam has is infrared support, so you can use it to log in with Windows Hello facial recognition. Some gaming laptops still have no biometrics at all, so I appreciated this feature.

Alienware x17: software & warranty

Those who get the Alienware x17 will notice that some programs are already installed on the first boot.

A great piece of software that should be available is the Alienware Command Center. It is a comprehensive program for thermal control, volume adjustment, power profile switching, brightness change and component usage check. If your laptop has an overclockable CPU, you can set it here as well.

Most of the other software has been renamed to that of Alienware's parent company, Dell. It includes Alienware Customer Connect, designed primarily for conducting surveys about Dell products, and Alienware Mobile Connect, for answering messages and making phone calls from your smartphone.

Of course, most Windows 10 laptops have bloat inside the operating system. For example, we had Roblox, Tik Tok, Spotify and Hidden City: Hidden Object Adventure in the start menu.

Dell sells the Alienware x17 with a one-year warranty, but you can pay extra to extend the warranty to four years and add accidental damage support.

Configure the Alienware x17

This laptop is not cheap.

Alienware x17 with Intel Core i7-11800H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 32GB DDR4-3220 RAM, 2TB storage (a pair of 1TB M.2 NVMe SSDs in RAID 0), low profile Cherry MX key switch. Tested below. 4K (3840 x 2160), 120 Hz display. At the time of writing, that would be $3,606.39.

The base model is $2,155.99 and can use the same processor, but without Cherry MX switches, and requires a GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, 1080p, 165Hz display.

If money isn't an issue, keep the RTX 3080, Cherry MX keyboard and 4K display, boost the CPU to a Core i9-11980HK, get a fast 64GB of RAM (3466MHz) and 4TB of expandable storage . It will cost you $4615.79

Each configuration can be further customized. For example, a 1080p, 360Hz G-Sync display ($98), a non-mechanical keyboard (upgrading to CherryMX is $49 and well worth it), and varying amounts of RAM and options. There is storage.

Result

The Alienware x17 is without a doubt one of the most sophisticated gaming laptops I've seen in a long time.