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Best Alienware 17in laptop

Dell’s Alienware is the top choice to get a gaming laptop. With years of industry experience, Dell’s Alienware has consistently produced excellent gaming laptops with great specs, designs, and prices. How to choose the best Alienware 17-inch series?

This article talks explicitly about 17-inch Dell Alienware gaming laptops. All you need to know; is how they look, how they perform, which is best, how they work, and their pricing. This guide would make purchasing an Alienware machine a piece of cake. Let’s go!

Alienware 17-inch Pricing and Configuration

Pricing

A product with all and even more than you need to have an incredible gaming experience will cost you a great deal of money. Thankfully, the value of the Dell Alienware 17-inch laptop is commensurate with its price.

For this machine, you can spend as little as $1499 and as much as $2999. Either way, they will both get the job done.

Configuration

An Alienware laptop that costs up to $1499 has a configuration as follows; 1256GB Hard Disk Size, 16 GB Memory, 3.5GHz CPU Speed, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, and 15.6-inch screen size.

Simultaneously, an Alienware laptop with a price of up to $2599 possesses a configuration of; 1 TB Hard Disk Size, 16 GB Memory, 4.7GHz CPU Speed, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8 GB GPU, and 17.3-inch screen size.

Our List of Alienware 17-inch Gaming Laptops

Even before the acquisition of Alienware by Dell, ten years after it was founded, this top gaming brand has consistently produced the best gaming computers that every gamer would love to have. The configuration, specs, design, and pricing has been carefully examined to give laptops excellent performance.

Over the years, several Alienware 17-inch gaming computers have been produced. We’ve carefully researched and analyzed the lengthy list to give you the best Alienware 17-inch laptops in 2022/2023 for gaming. Let’s have a look.

Picture

Name

Rating

Pros

Price


Best Gaming

Dell Alienware X17 R2 Gaming

  • 17.3", FHD 1920x1080, 360Hz, Non-Touch, 1ms, Advanced Optimus, CV+, NVIDIA G-SYNC

  • Intel Core i9-12900HK (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 20 threads, up to 5.00 GHz Turbo)

  • GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 16 GB GDDR6

  • 32 GB, 2 x 16 GB, DDR5, 4800 MHz

  •  2 TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD

Alienware X17 R2 Gaming 

  • 17.3" display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 360Hz

  • CPU: Intel Intel Core i7 processors 4.7 GHz 

  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6 

  • RAM: 16 GB, DDR, 4800 MHz, dual-channel

  • SSD: 1 TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe

Alienware M17 R5 AMD Ryzen Gaming

  • 17.3 FHD (1920 x 1080) 165Hz 3ms, ComfortView Plus, AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen: 9 6900HX & 7 6800H

  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT

  • RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5 4800MHz and 32GB DDR5 4800MHz

  • SSD: 256 GB SSD, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

Alienware Area 51M R2 Gaming

  • 17.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS Display w/ NVIDIA G-SYNC + Tobii eyetracking technology

  • CPU: Core i9-10900K 

  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB GDDR6 (OC Ready)

  • RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) 2400MHz DDR4 Memory

  • SSD: 2 X 256GB PCIe Solid State Drive (R0) + 1TB (+8GB SSHD) Hybrid Drive

Budget

Alienware M17 R4 Gaming Laptop

  • 17.3" FHD (Full HD 1920 x 1080) 360Hz 5ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut with NVIDIA-GSYNC technology

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-10870H (8-Core, 16MB Cache, up to 5.0GHz Max Turbo Frequency)

  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6

  • RAM: 16GB 2933MHz DDR4 , 1 TB PCIe SSD

  • SSD: 1TB (+8GB SSHD) Hybrid Drive

Review

1. Dell Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop (Core i9, RTX 3080 Ti)

Dell Alienware X17 R2 (Core i9, RTX 3080 Ti) - Top Alienware 17-inch gaming laptop

This series laptop is the newest model of the Dell Alienware 17-inch series. It combines high performance and excellent responsiveness with its superb features—a dream in reality for every gamer.

The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is a 12th Gen Intel Core i9 12900HK (the best intel Alder Lake mobile CPU) with a turbo speed of up to 5.00 GHz, ensuring boundary-breaking gaming performance.

Your gaming laptop needs to run smoothly while playing games, so Dell didn’t want to mess with the performance of the Alienware X17 R2, which has an NVMe SSD of up to 2TB and 64GB of RAM. That is much more than today’s recommendation of 16GB RAM for comfortable gaming.

As expected, the screen size is 17.3 inches, Full HD 1920×1080, non-touch, 1ms time response. NVidia G-SYNC technology will give your games excellent color and clarity without screen tear-off. 

The X17 Intel Core i9 series has an OS of Windows 11 Pro and an incredible array of ports for; USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-C, Audio Jack, HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, and a power adapter port.

Every gamer looks out for the GPU and CPU (arguably the most essential feature for a gaming PC). The Alienware X17 R2 i9 didn’t disappoint with its recommended NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 16GB GDDR6 Advanced Graphics Coprocessor to make your gaming super fast.


Pros


Cons

  • Powerful overall and gaming performance

  • Stunning design

  • Great, clicky keyboard

  • Good heat dissipation

  • Extremely expensive

  • Poor webcam

  • A bit larger and heavier than the competition

Product Specs

Dell Alienware X17 R2 Gaming

Display

17.3", FHD 1920x1080, 360Hz, Non-Touch, 1ms, Advanced Optimus, CV+, NVIDIA G-SYNC

CPU

Intel Core i9-12900HK (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 20 threads, up to 5.00 GHz Turbo)

GPU

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 16 GB GDDR6

RAM

32 GB, 2 x 16 GB, DDR5, 4800 MHz, dual-channel

SSD

 2 TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD

Network

Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1675 802.11ax 2x2

Connectors

2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports with PowerShare
1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 -C port with DisplayPort and Power Delivery
1 Thunderbolt Type 4 port with Power Delivery
1 Universal Audio Jack
1 HDMI 2.1 port
1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4
1 RJ45 Ethernet port
1 power-adapter port

Other

Fusion (Includes support for Overclock, Thermal, Power, Audio, and Audio Recon profiles)
Touchpad Multi-touch gesture Premium Precision glass touchpad with integrated scrolling

Battery

4-cell, 67Wh

Dimensions (W x D x H)

12.56 x 15.85 x 1.25 inches

Weight

10.40 lbs

OS

Windows 10 Home

2. Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop (Core i7, RTX 3070 Ti)

Alienware X17 R2 (Core i7, RTX 3070 Ti) - Top Alienware 17-inch gaming laptop

Here comes another thin, perfect laptop R2 gaming laptop Alienware 17-inch for gamers of all kinds. Like the Core i9 series, the Alienware 17-inch X17 R2 Gen with Intel Core i7 12700 gives you a superb gaming experience.

Suppose you need a gaming computer with stunning visuals. In that case, the Alienware X17 R2 i7 features a full HD detail, a 17.3-inch display, 1920×1080 resolution, 360Hz 1ms refresh rate, and a ComfortView Plus, making every angle covered for an incredible sight.

You will experience an incredible performance with this beast possessing a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 12700H processor and a speed of 4.7GHz. Additionally, a RAM of 16 GB and an SSD of 1 TB complete smooth running.

For incredible graphics, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti with 8GB GDDR6 memory gives it a great game experience.

In the heat of the gaming action, the temperature of every laptop is subject to change and is bound to get hot. To solve this unavoidable problem, the thermal design on this laptop expels warm air through the vents on the sides, ensuring airflow is maximized.


Pros


Cons

  • Thin design with unique sci-fi style

  • Powerful gaming performance via GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and 12th Gen Core i9

  • Pleasing customizable per-key and chassis lighting

  • Satisfying optional Cherry MX mechanical keyboard

  • Steep starting price (and sky-high test configuration)

  • Slim (but not especially light) design doesn't add to practical portability

  • Fairly loud and hot under load

Product Specs

Alienware X17 R2 Gaming

Display

17.3" display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 360Hz 1ms refresh rate and ComfortView Plus

CPU

Intel Intel Core i7 processors 4.7 GHz 

GPU

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6 

RAM

16 GB, DDR, 4800 MHz, dual-channel

SSD

1 TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD

Network

Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1675 802.11ax 2x2

Connectors

2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports with PowerShare
1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 -C port with DisplayPort and Power Delivery
1 Thunderbolt Type 4 port with Power Delivery
1 Universal Audio Jack
1 HDMI 2.1 port
1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4
1 RJ45 Ethernet port
1 power-adapter port

Other

Bluetooth 5.2

Stereo Speakers and 8W Stereo tweeters

Battery

4-cell, 67Wh

Dimensions (W x D x H)

12.56 x 15.85 x 1.25 inches

Weight

Starting Weight: 3.02kg

Maximum Weight: 3.20kg

OS

Windows 10 Home

Read More: The Top MacBook Pro Alternatives for 2022

3. Alienware M17 R5 AMD Ryzen Gaming Laptop

Top Alienware 17-inch gaming laptop - Alienware M17 R5 AMD Ryzen

For so long, AMD Ryzen has set the bar for advanced desktop processor architecture suitable for gamers and artists alike. Their cutting-edge hardware and innovative software have been perfectly combined to produce the Alienware M17 R5 series laptop.

Gamers will have an amplified performance with the Alienware 17-inch M17 R5 possessing AMD Ryzen 6000 series mobile processors plus AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics.

A built-in MUX hardware is leveraged by the SmartAccess graphics that automatically switch the graphic output between the Ryzen APU and discrete Radeon GPU to increase performance. Your laptop’s power is dynamically shifted to help give extra performance.

The display is excellent; you will enjoy a premium 17-inch display and the ability to choose between a 160Hz Full HD, 360Hz Full HD, or an ultra-fast 120Hz Ultra-HD. You can also game longer, worrying less about the temperature. The shared cooling options between the APU and GPU fans do justice to the airflow.

You can enjoy the gaming experience at your own will by customizing the RGB lighting zones, maximizing the responsive keyboard that delivers a 1.8mm key travel and an audible experience.


Pros


Cons

  • Great battery life for a gaming laptop

  • Stellar mechanical keyboard option

  • Good display, with a 480 Hz option

  • Performance is just OK

  • A bit thicker and heavier than competing systems

  • Only one USB-C port

Product Specs

Alienware X17 R5 Gaming

Display

17.3 FHD (1920 x 1080) 165Hz 3ms, ComfortView Plus, AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

17.3 FHD (1920 x 1080) 360Hz 1ms, ComfortView Plus, AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

17.3 UHD (3840 x 2160) 120Hz 3ms, ComfortView Plus, AMD

CPU

AMD Ryzen: 9 6900HX & 7 6800H

GPU

AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT

AMD Radeon RX 6700M

RAM

16GB, 32GB, 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5 4800MHz and 32GB DDR5 4800MHz

SSD

SINGLE STORAGE CONFIGURATIONS

256 GB SSD, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD


DUAL STORAGE CONFIGURATIONS

512GB(2x256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD)

1TB (2x512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD)

2TB (2x1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD)

4TB (2x2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD)

Network

Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1675 802.11ax 2x2

Connectors

2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports with PowerShare
1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 -C port with DisplayPort and Power Delivery
1 Thunderbolt Type 4 port with Power Delivery
1 Universal Audio Jack
1 HDMI 2.1 port
1 Mini DisplayPort 1.4
1 RJ45 Ethernet port
1 power-adapter port

Other

Stereo speakers, 2.5W x 2= 5W total

Realtek ALC3254‎Bluetooth, 802.11ax

Battery

4-cell, 67Wh

Dimensions (W x D x H)

12.56 x 15.85 x 1.25 inches

Weight

3.3kg

OS

Windows 10 Home

4. Alienware Area 51M R2 Gaming Laptop

Alienware Area 51M R2 Gaming Laptop

 

 

Dell Alienware is popularly regarded as the world’s most powerful laptop, backed up by this old but gold machine. Considering it’s an older model, The Alienware Area 51M R2 laptop has unbelievable processing power, a premium cooling option, and an authentic desktop-gaming experience in the form of a computer.

The Alienware 17-inch Area 51M R2 is the first 17-inch gaming PC to support up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory at 2.90 GHz or 32 GB of DDR4 XMP memory at 3.2GHz, ensuring there’s enough RAM for heavy-duty gaming.

The Operating System is available with either Windows 11 or  Windows 10. Featuring an array of new upgrades at the time of its production, the Area 51M R2 is the first Alienware laptop to feature a 10th Gen Intel Core i9K processor and support up to 125W of power, taking it up to a new level amongst gaming computers at that time.

Also, the 360Hz Full HD option enables gamers to experience smooth gameplay, coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics or the AMD Radeon graphics for an uninterrupted and faster frame gaming experience.

One of Dell Inc’s trademarks is to feature a unique design in their products. The engineering team thoughtfully included a Hyper-efficient voltage regulation technology to ensure maximum performance with safeguarded thermal conditions for extended periods. The vapor chamber efficiently dissipates heat from the high-performance graphics option.

Although not as slim as newer versions of the Dell Alienware gaming computers, the Area 51M R2 still has a stunning look with AlienFX lighting featuring a striking ring of light at the system’s rear, beautifully showcasing the system’s performance.


Pros


Cons

  • Stunning space station aesthetic

  • Excellent graphics and overall performance

  • Lightning fast SSDs

  • All major components upgradable

  • Exorbitantly expensive

  • Mediocre NVMe SSD Selection

  • No MicroSD Card Slot

Product Specs

Alienware Area 51M R2

Display

17.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS Display w/ NVIDIA G-SYNC + Tobii eyetracking technology

CPU

Core i9-10900K

GPU

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB GDDR6 (OC Ready)

RAM

32GB (2x16GB) 2400MHz DDR4 Memory

SSD

2 X 256GB PCIe Solid State Drive (R0) + 1TB (+8GB SSHD) Hybrid Drive

Network

Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1675 802.11ax 2x2

Connectors

2 Type A USB 3.2 Gen 1

1 HDMI 2.0 Output with HDCP 2.2 Output

1 Mini Display Port

1 RJ45 Killer Ethernet

1 Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port

2 Power Adapter Port

1 Thunderbolt 3 Port

1 Type A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port with Powershare Technology

1 Global Headset Port

1 Audio Out 1/8 Port

Other

Stereo speakers, 2.5W x 2= 5W total

Realtek ALC3254‎Bluetooth, 802.11ax

Battery

4-cell, 67Wh

Dimensions (W x D x H)

214.81 x 381.89 x 438.16 mm

Weight

4.10kg

OS

Windows 10 Home

Read More: Top 6 Best Pink Laptops in 2022

5. Alienware M17 R4 Gaming Laptop (Core i7, RTX 3060 Ti)

Alienware M17 R4 Gaming Laptop (Core i7, RTX 3060 Ti)

Although Dell produced Alienware 17-inch M17 R4 gaming PC before the X17 series, it still offers solid performance for gaming enthusiasts. It is cheaper than both X17 laptops, and the battery life isn’t as long as the X17 series

The M17 R4 has an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 12700H and a decent CPU Speed of 2.2 GHz. The maximum refresh rate of 360 Hz makes it excellently sufficient for gaming. The USB ports are excellent, including Thunderbolt support. Its Operating System is Windows 10 Home.

Need we mention that at the time of this writing, the actual response time of this machine is up there among the best gaming PCs with a 3 ms. The speaker and microphone perform decently, likewise the webcam.

Dell Alienware 17-inch M17 R4 has a perfect display size of 17.3 inches, Full HD 1920×1080, an 100% sRGB NVIDIA-GSYNC technology color gamut, and a graphics coprocessor of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6. A 16GB RAM and a Hard Disk Size of 1 TB give you all you need for a perfect gaming experience.

The Dell Alienware 17-inch laptop is one of the cheapest and most valuable Alienware 17-inch series available.


Pros


Cons

  • Top-notch 360Hz display

  • Great gaming performance

  • Attractive chassis

  • Comfortable customizable keyboard

  • Bottom-mounted speakers

  • AMD's CPUs are faster

  • Heavy

Product Specs

Alienware M17 R4 Gaming

Display

17.3" FHD (Full HD 1920 x 1080) 360Hz 5ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut with NVIDIA-GSYNC technology

CPU

Intel Core i7-10870H (8-Core, 16MB Cache, up to 5.0GHz Max Turbo Frequency)

GPU

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6

RAM

16GB 2933MHz DDR4 , 1 TB PCIe SSD

SSD

 1TB (+8GB SSHD) Hybrid Drive

Network

Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1675 802.11ax 2x2

Connectors

2 Type A USB 3.2 Gen 1

1 HDMI 2.0 Output with HDCP 2.2 Output

1 Mini Display Port

1 RJ45 Killer Ethernet

1 Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port

2 Power Adapter Port

1 Thunderbolt 3 Port

1 Type A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port with Powershare Technology

1 Global Headset Port

1 Audio Out 1/8 Port

Other

Stereo speakers, 2.5W x 2= 5W total

Realtek ALC3254‎Bluetooth, 802.11ax

Battery

4-cell, 67Wh

Dimensions (W x D x H)

‎11.59 x 15.74 x 0.87 inches

Weight

4.10kg

OS

Windows 10 Home

FAQ

Knowing the specifications of a gaming PC is quite essential before purchasing one. You must consider the screen size, processor speed, memory capacity, battery life, and overall design (to mention a few).

The Alienware 17-inch being our case study laptop, must be carefully examined to convince you why it’s the top choice for any gaming enthusiast. We will answer crucial questions shortly.

Is Alienware’s 17-inch laptop valuable?

The fantastic thing about the Alienware laptop is its design specifically for gaming. Being a specialist in gaming, one would expect a lot of attention to making it incredibly comfortable for its users.

The 17-inch laptops are undoubtedly among the best gaming machines with excellent display sizes, video graphics cards, and CPUs. These qualities are spread out to other 17-inch Alienware models out there. You’d be sure of getting a great deal for your money with its highly esteemed qualities.

Do Alienware computers get very hot?

Hours of gaming on laptops will ultimately make them go hot. The same applies to Alienware computers. The CPU temperature on Alienware computers is reported to get to a high temperature, not only when gaming for hours but when it is under a heavy loading environment.

You can troubleshoot this high CPU temperature, and Dell’s support assist software will give you resolution steps to regulate the temperature. Ideally, the CPU temperature should be less than or equal to 100 degrees Celsius. But if the CPU temperature exceeds 100, you should contact Dell’s technical support team for a quick resolution.

Do Alienware laptops survive a long time?

We cannot readily determine the actual longevity of an Alienware laptop because they are subject to change, depending mainly on how it is used over time by the user. As the Alienware laptop gets older, it is expected that some components will stop working at full power.

Gaming with an Alienware laptop often demands that the battery life is long, and all the Dell Alienware gaming laptop models are designed to ensure you will get up to 10 hours of battery time.

However, overcharging the battery reduces battery life, keeping the laptop on for long periods without use, dusty motherboard, outdated drivers, excess heat, too much brightness, and exposure to direct sunlight could reduce the lifespan of the Alienware laptop.

Dell reserves good battery life whether you select XPS or Alienware pcs (17-inch). Still, how a laptop is used depends on how long it will last.

Conclusion

Suppose you decide to go for any of the Alienware computers examined above. In that case, you are guaranteed an excellent gaming experience as each machine is suitable for gaming and worth purchasing as your gaming laptop. It’s time to take gaming to a whole new level.

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