What makes a gaming laptop “A Gaming Laptop”? This question may seem very easy to answer. That is the right yet a powerful configuration makes an ordinary laptop into a gaming machine. Isn’t it?
No, that’s nor really a satisfying answer to a professional gamer neither to me honestly. In order to satiate my thirst for gaming desktops and laptops, I have been testing the latest gaming machines since very long (even though I don’t remember the day I began). With this constant flux and passion, I bought this time the Alienware m17 R4 on my table. This is the one which remains under the spotlight at CES 2021 virtual conference held this year.
Highlighting the major improvements you are going to get in Alienware m17 R4 from its predecessors are the addition of the latest RTX 3080 mobile graphics card, new level of Ray Tracing 2.0, solid rectifications on Advanced Optimus and Cryo-Technology, though the most attractive feature we are getting is its 360Hz refresh rate. As a result of which, this beast is putting the next gear for the fastest and most powerful gaming performance that we can have.
Alienware m17 R4 configuration
With impeccable efficiency this time Dell is putting in, includes the 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10980HK processor with 8 cores, up to 5.3Ghz boost frequency along with 16MB Cache. This NoteBook CPU is based on the 14nm Comet Lake microarchitecture, i.e. extremely powerful and fast enough to handle the most aggressive multitasking.
Alienware m17 R4 consists of Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 mobile GPU with 16GB video memory and GDDR6 memory type. This laptop graphics card has 2nd generation Ray Tracing and 3rdgeneration Tensor Cores. It boosts up to 1710Mhz, has 6144 Cuda Cores and 256-bit width.
This RTX 3080 bears Advanced Optimus, enabling the long battery life performance, including the free of artifacts and lag free gameplay.
Further, it includes 32GB RAM and 1TB RAID0 + 512GB PCIe SSD. Alienware m17 R4 is a 17.3 inch wide FHD display with 360Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time. It has 100% sRGB color gamut and 300cd/m2 brightness and is G-Sync supportive.
It weighs 6.5lbs. And the dimension this 360Hz gaming laptop is having is, 15.7 width x 11.5 depth x 0.8 height.
Alienware m17 R4 keyboard and touchpad
It has an island style 4 zone AlienFX RGB keyboard with the right amount of distant keys, highly effective for prolong gaming sessions without feeling finger strain. The glass precision touchpad is very smooth and sleek for the touch, it is so accurate and so responsive
Alienware m17 R4 design
Alienware m17 R4 is having similar Alienware symbolic design dedication. Although, there is no change in the chassis and rear honeycomb vent, yet still this doesn’t fail to impress me to my core and literally brings a soothing smile on my face with a single touch on its magnificent exterior. This gaming notebook is made of magnesium alloy coating. There are two colors available, one is Lunar Light (I have in front of me) and the other one is Dark Side of the Moon that is in black color. The lid has a Alienware head emblem in the center, the opening of the lid is very easy, you can lift with two fingers without effort.
Alienware m17 R4 camera
It has 720p (HD) RGB camera with digital-array microphone.
Alienware m17 R4 ports
There are 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB Type A (one of them is Powershare Technology supportive), 3x Thunderbolt 3, 1x HDMI 2.1 (HDCP 2.2), 1x Mini DP 1.4, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x headphone jack, 1x power port and 1x Alienware Graphics Amplifier. Moreover, it has 1 Micro SD card and 1 lock slot.
Alienware m17 R4 gaming mode performance
Now this is the place where my most interest lies and I believe if you’re a gamer, then this part is the most awaited for you too. Alienware m17 R4 is a dedicated gaming laptop with RTX 3080 mobile graphics card, 10th generation Intel core i9 8 core processor and a FHD 17.3 inch gaming screen with 360Hz refresh rate priviligde. Everything is set on the peak to deliver the best gaming experience to you. That’s what I have experienced and found out this beast is indeed something extraordinary this time by Alienware nailing what it has proven parallel to their stance.
The alienware command center let the user play effortlessly under the Game Library where there is auto Tune game functionality and Fusion is waiting for you, it makes the best game profile with best refresh rates with optimal scaling that could be ever set manually, plus the overclocking, optimum cooling, power and audio is tweaked automatically as well. In short, it infers, in order to get the best gaming experience, you need to give the strings fully to Alienware, that’s how the user can have immersive gaming precision.
I have tested Alienware m17 R4 on 1080p resolution on low, medium, high and ultra high graphics settings for different game tiles. The results are pretty much satisfactory, playing Cyberpunk 2077 brings 173, 123, 70 and 59 frames per second, on respective settings. Werewolf: The Apocalypse has 185, 142, 91 and 72FPS. Far Cry 6 brings 101, 76, 30 and 18FPS, whereas there are 99, 76, 49 and 28 frame rates for Far Cry 5.
Thumbs ups for
- Gorgeous signature design
- Powerful RTX 3080 mobile graphics card
- Improved Cryo-Tec cooling
- 360Hz refresh rate display screen
Thumbs Down for
- Insufficient battery life specially for gaming
- This beast is expensive
Conclusion
This ferocious gaming beast is certainly the best gaming laptop that we can have this year. Its powerful configuration and gorgeous exposure is something divine for gamers. Whatever the game you want to play, Alienware m17 R4 is very much capable of handling those, including the most demanding and popular games of 2021. The most significant contribution is from the RTX 3080 laptop graphics card and 360Hz refresh rate, putting an end to the observants, game enthusiasts and analysts here.
