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Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop Review
Dell has a large number of computer product lines. The one that interests me the most, however, is certainly the Alienware line, i.e. gaming PCs from Dell. This range is filled with PCs of various sizes and quite often already-solid PCs that have been renewed. The Alienware X17 R2 gaming laptop is the second version of this line of full-size laptops.
The Alienware x17 R2 is one of the most identifiable references in the portable gaming segment, with its recognizable look among a thousand and its explosive hardware intended for fierce competitors.
From the outside, the Alienware x17 R2 shows off the stunning monochrome aesthetic of the Legend 2.0, and inside, it has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, an Intel Alder Lake processor, and a 360Hz display.
Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop Specifications:
Model | Alienware X17 R2 |
PC type | Notebook |
Processor | Intel Core i7 12700H |
RAM | 32 GB DDR5 |
RAM frequency | 4800MHz |
Storage | 1 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD |
Graphic card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080px |
Diagonal | 17.3 inches |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Brightness | 400 cd/m² |
Screen frequency | 360Hz |
Touchscreen | Nope |
Battery Capacity | 87Wh |
Keyboard Type | Chiclet |
Backlit Keyboard | Yes |
Trackpad | Yes |
Loud speaker | x2 Stereo |
Connectors | 1 Mini-DisplayPort 1 HDMI 1 micro SD slot 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 2 USB-C (one 3.2 Gen 2 and one Thunderbolt 4) 1 RJ45 |
Wireless | WiFi 6 |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
Webcam | Full HD 1080p |
Weight | 3kg |
Screen: | 17.3″ 1920 x 1080 (FullHD), WVA, LED 165 Hz, Matrix 100% RGB color gamut |
Pros | Cons |
– Sensational gaming and processor speed – Quality screen 360 Hz – Sleek and neat design – Clear, nice keyboard – 3D facial recognition – good connection | – Expensive – Bad battery life |
Image Credit: Dell
Alienware X17 R2 Design
The laptop is made in a futuristic elegant style and is dressed mainly in a dark gray magnesium alloy case with black details and chopped sharp edges. I find the design of the Alienware x17 R2 to be positively eye-catching. The logo on the lid and the ambient LED lighting on the back are eye-catching, which by default glows in a pleasant turquoise color. The laptop lid also features the number 17, reminiscent of the N7 logo from Mass Effect.
As expected, the build quality is excellent, and the feel of the case is exceptionally outstanding. When you view it from the side, it is quite thin for a gaming laptop.
The attachment point is designed so that the back is about 6-7 mm higher than the rest of the case when the laptop is open. When closed, the rear lug is flush with the cover.
On the upper part above the screen, you find the webcam and two microphones of the computer, with the facial recognition system.
The Alienware x17 R2 laptop is rather well equipped in terms of connectivity. It has a pair of USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 receptacles, a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 receptacle, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a mini DisplayPort, a full-size HDMI 2.1 receptacle, and an Ethernet receptacle.
On the other hand, it stands out for the positioning of these ports. With the exception of the power socket and the 3.5mm jack, all ports are located on the rear panel. A provision that will quickly become exasperating if you regularly need to plug in USB keys or other transient devices. On the other hand, it is also very nice to have the Ethernet socket on the back, for example.
Keyboard
Let’s start by talking about the keyboard, the latter which is the main factor to be considered against a trackpad–a device not usually not used by gamers. The keyboard of the Alienware X17 R2 is a chiclet model, very classic on a laptop. However, since the latter is very classic, it is not the most pleasant to use. Certainly, it is not the feeling of a mechanical keyboard, but it remains practical to use and above all, so quiet. The key travel is very short and perfectly balanced to navigate quickly and smoothly in a competitive game. Tactile feedback is also surprisingly good, even on the membrane version.
As expected, there is also individual RGB lighting for each key. I also appreciate the presence of a column of dedicated media keys on the right that work pretty well in use. The only potential defect of this keyboard: is the absence of a numeric keypad.
The touchpad is a little small – 11×7 cm, but what’s the difference; no one will use it for games anyway. Overall, it is pleasant to the touch, very responsive, and precise, despite a few missed swipes here and there.
Display Screen:
While there is a 4k option for the Alienware x17 R2, my test sample had a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels with an almost insane 360Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. The screen supports Dolby Vision and Nvidia G-Sync and also provides 100% coverage of the sRGB color space.
According to the datasheet, the maximum brightness is rather weak at 300 nits, but my subjective impression is that this is not the case. First of all, if you activate “high-performance mode,” it looks much brighter. The 4k display delivers a maximum brightness of 500 nits at 120Hz and a 4ms response time.
Cooling
The ventilation profile is very aggressive by default; it is discreet at low revs but blows hard as soon as the hardware puts under pressure. Inevitably, it felts in the ear; but this has the merit of cooling the machine relatively quickly. For example, I did not feel any discomfort at the wrist rests.
Image Credit: Dell
Performance
The Alienware X17 R2 gaming laptop has a fairly muscular configuration, based on an Intel Core i7 12700H processor, a model with a total of 14 cores, six high-performance cores, and eight efficient cores. Intel takes a bit of the architecture that makes ARM processors by offering more cores, but above all, by modulating the performance of its processor. Here you find a total of 20 threads, i.e. 2 simulated by each high-performance core and 1 by each efficient core.
With that comes a total of 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which is nice on such a computer. An SSD with a capacity of 1 TB equips your version, but it is possible to add additional storage if necessary.
Finally, the graphics card here is the most powerful model available on a laptop at the moment, the 16 GB RTX 3080 Ti from Nvidia. This card, however, will heat up quite a bit but provides excellent performance, allowing you to play absolutely all games.
Sound quality
As for the sound quality, it is quite correct on this Alienware X17 R2. The speakers are located under the PC and allow good audio listening. If you find that the sound is relatively good, it is also powerful, which is a very good point.
Battery life
Alienware X17 R2 laptop comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 87 Wh. A full charge lasts only three hours in maximum power-saving mode. In gaming mode, the laptop runs for about 70-90 minutes.
Conclusion
Alienware X17 R2 gaming laptop is remarkably well built and, above all, excessively powerful. You have to be quite fussy to find faults with the X17R2 in use; it’s heavy artillery embedded in a futuristic setting with a marked identity. Its 360fps screen does wonders in-game, and its top-notch hardware is more than enough to devour any AAA game raw.
The laptop works quite fast, and like all other similar solutions, it warms well, when the heating has not yet been turned on in the house. Only a small issue with the built-in battery is frustrating since 3 hours in power-saving mode is catastrophically short.
