The Dell Alienware 17 R5 - High-Performance Gaming Laptops

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a high-performance gaming laptop that has captured the attention of serious gamers and tech enthusiasts alike. With its powerful hardware, high-quality display, and customizable RGB lighting, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 offers an immersive and impressive gaming experience. However, as with any gaming laptop, there are tradeoffs to consider, including its weight, battery life, and price tag. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Dell Alienware 17 R5, exploring its features, performance, and user feedback to help you determine whether it's the right choice for your gaming needs.

Design and Build

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is an impressive gaming laptop that boasts a sleek and sturdy design. The laptop features a combination of aluminum and magnesium alloy construction, which gives it a premium look and feel. The laptop's lid is adorned with the iconic Alienware logo, which is backlit with customizable RGB lighting. The keyboard deck is spacious and comfortable, with a customizable RGB backlit keyboard and a large trackpad.

In terms of build quality, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 is solid and well-constructed. The laptop feels durable and robust, with a weighty feel that gives it a sense of sturdiness. However, it's worth noting that the laptop is relatively heavy and bulky, weighing in at around 9.7 pounds. This may make it less portable than some other gaming laptops on the market.

Overall, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 has a sleek and stylish design that will appeal to gamers who prioritize both form and function. Its sturdy construction and customizable lighting make it a standout option in the gaming laptop market. However, its weight may be a downside for users who need a more portable option.

Disply and Audio

The Dell Alienware 17 R5's display is one of its key selling points. The laptop features a 17.3-inch Full HD IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The display is bright and vibrant, with excellent color accuracy and contrast. The laptop's 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and fluid gameplay, making it ideal for fast-paced action games.

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 also features an impressive audio system that delivers immersive sound quality. The laptop is equipped with a pair of front-firing speakers, a subwoofer, and Alienware Sound Center software. This allows users to customize the laptop's audio settings, adjusting the sound to suit their preferences. The laptop's audio quality is clear and crisp, with good separation between different frequencies.

Overall, the Dell Alienware 17 R5's display and audio are top-notch, offering a truly immersive gaming experience. The laptop's high-quality display and smooth gameplay make it ideal for fast-paced action games, while the customizable audio settings allow users to tailor the sound to their preferences.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 doesn't disappoint. The laptop is equipped with an Intel Core i9-8950HK processor, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card with 8GB of GDDR5 memory. This powerful hardware configuration enables the laptop to run even the most demanding games and applications with ease.

In our testing, we found that the Dell Alienware 17 R5 delivered excellent performance, with fast load times and smooth gameplay even at high graphics settings. The laptop's cooling system, which includes a combination of copper and aluminum heat pipes and dual exhaust fans, kept the laptop's temperature in check during prolonged gaming sessions.

However, the Dell Alienware 17 R5's performance comes at a price. The laptop's battery life is relatively short, lasting around 4-5 hours with moderate use. Additionally, the laptop is relatively heavy and bulky, making it less portable than some other gaming laptops on the market.

Overall, the Dell Alienware 17 R5's performance is excellent, offering fast and smooth gameplay even with demanding games and applications. However, users should be aware of the tradeoffs that come with this level of performance, including the laptop's short battery life and weight.

Gaming Experience

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is designed with gamers in mind, and it delivers an exceptional gaming experience. The laptop's high-quality display, powerful hardware, and customizable lighting and audio settings all contribute to an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.

The laptop's 144Hz refresh rate and fast response time ensure smooth and fluid gameplay, even with fast-paced action games. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card with 8GB of GDDR5 memory delivers excellent graphics performance, allowing users to run games at high graphics settings with ease.

The Dell Alienware 17 R5's customizable RGB lighting is another standout feature for gamers. Users can choose from a range of lighting effects and colors to customize the laptop's look and feel. The keyboard's RGB backlighting is particularly impressive, providing a unique and stylish look while also enhancing gameplay by making it easier to see the keys in low-light conditions.

The laptop's audio system also adds to the overall gaming experience, delivering immersive and high-quality sound. The laptop's front-firing speakers and subwoofer provide clear and crisp audio, while the Alienware Sound Center software allows users to customize the sound to their preferences.

Overall, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 offers an exceptional gaming experience, with top-notch hardware, customizable lighting and audio settings, and a high-quality display. While the laptop's weight and battery life may be a downside for some users, those who prioritize performance and gaming experience will find the Dell Alienware 17 R5 to be an excellent choice.

Connectivity and Ports

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 offers a range of connectivity options and ports, making it a versatile and convenient laptop for users who need to connect multiple devices and peripherals.

The laptop features three USB 3.0 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, an HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort, an Ethernet port, an Alienware Graphics Amplifier port, and a headphone jack. These ports allow users to connect a range of devices, including external hard drives, monitors, gaming peripherals, and more.

The Thunderbolt 3 port is a particularly useful feature, as it allows users to connect the laptop to a Thunderbolt dock or a high-speed external storage device. The Alienware Graphics Amplifier port is also noteworthy, as it allows users to connect an external graphics card to the laptop, enhancing its graphics performance even further.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 features dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Overall, the Dell Alienware 17 R5's connectivity and ports are extensive, making it a versatile and convenient laptop for users who need to connect multiple devices and peripherals. The Thunderbolt 3 port and Alienware Graphics Amplifier port are particularly useful features, allowing users to enhance the laptop's performance and versatility even further.

Battery and Power Management

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a high-performance laptop that requires a lot of power to run. As a result, the laptop's battery life is relatively short, lasting around 4-5 hours with moderate use.

To help users manage the laptop's power consumption, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 features a range of power management options. The laptop's power settings allow users to adjust the screen brightness, power plan, and other settings to help extend the battery life.

The laptop's cooling system is another important feature that helps manage power consumption. The cooling system includes a combination of copper and aluminum heat pipes and dual exhaust fans, which work together to keep the laptop's temperature in check during prolonged use. By maintaining optimal operating temperatures, the cooling system helps ensure that the laptop is running efficiently and using power as efficiently as possible.

Overall, while the Dell Alienware 17 R5's battery life may be relatively short, the laptop's power management options and cooling system help users make the most of the battery life that they do have. By adjusting power settings and managing the laptop's temperature, users can ensure that they get the most out of the Dell Alienware 17 R5's powerful hardware configuration.

Upgradability

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a high-performance gaming laptop designed to meet the demands of gamers who require powerful hardware for gaming. However, over time, the hardware requirements of games and applications can change, and users may need to upgrade their laptop to keep up with these changes. The upgradability of the Dell Alienware 17 R5 is an important consideration for users who want to extend the lifespan of their laptop.

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is designed to be user-upgradable, meaning that users can easily upgrade the laptop's hardware components, such as RAM and storage, without needing to take it to a service center. The laptop features two SODIMM slots for DDR4 memory, which can be upgraded to a maximum of 32GB. Additionally, the laptop features multiple storage options, including NVMe PCIe SSDs and traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), which can be upgraded or replaced.

Upgrading the laptop's components can be done by following a few simple steps. However, users should be aware that upgrading some components may void the laptop's warranty, and they should always consult the user manual or a qualified technician before attempting any upgrades.

 Warranty and Support

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a high-end gaming laptop, and as such, it comes with a comprehensive warranty and support package. The laptop is covered by a one-year limited warranty, which covers hardware defects and malfunctions that occur during normal use. Additionally, the laptop comes with 90 days of premium support, which includes phone and chat support, as well as access to Dell's online support resources.

Dell is known for its excellent customer service and support, and the company has a reputation for providing timely and effective solutions to customer issues. If users encounter any issues with their Dell Alienware 17 R5, they can contact Dell's support team via phone, chat, or email for assistance. Additionally, Dell has an online support portal that features a range of troubleshooting resources, including user manuals, FAQs, and driver downloads.

Price and Value

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a high-end gaming laptop, and as such, it comes with a high price tag. The laptop's price varies depending on the hardware configuration, with prices ranging from around $1,500 to $3,500. While this is a significant investment, it is important to consider the overall value of the laptop when making a purchase decision.

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 offers excellent value for its price point, thanks to its powerful hardware, high-quality display, and customizable RGB lighting. The laptop is designed for serious gamers who demand the best performance, and it delivers on this promise. However, users who do not require such high-end hardware may find that the laptop's price is not justified for their needs.

When considering the price of the Dell Alienware 17 R5, it is important to compare it to other gaming laptops in the same price range. While there are many other high-end gaming laptops on the market, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 stands out for its build quality, performance, and design features.

Alternatives

While the Dell Alienware 17 R5 is an excellent gaming laptop, it is not the only option available on the market. There are many other gaming laptops that offer comparable hardware and performance to the Dell Alienware 17 R5, and users should consider these alternatives when making a purchase decision.

Some of the most popular alternatives to the Dell Alienware 17 R5 include the ASUS ROG Strix Scar III, the MSI GS65 Stealth Thin, and the Razer Blade Pro 17. Each

Pros and Cons

When considering the Dell Alienware 17 R5, it's important to weigh its strengths and weaknesses. Some of the laptop's key strengths include its powerful hardware, high-quality display, and customizable RGB lighting. Additionally, the laptop's build quality is excellent, and it features a range of ports and connectivity options.

However, the Dell Alienware 17 R5 also has some weaknesses that users should be aware of. The laptop is heavy and bulky, which makes it less portable than some other gaming laptops on the market. Additionally, the laptop's battery life is relatively short, and it can struggle to maintain high frame rates in some games.

Customer Reviews

When evaluating the Dell Alienware 17 R5, it's important to consider the experiences of other customers who have used the laptop. Customer reviews can provide valuable insights into the laptop's performance, reliability, and overall user experience.

Many customers have praised the Dell Alienware 17 R5 for its powerful hardware and high-quality display. Additionally, users have appreciated the laptop's customizable RGB lighting and excellent build quality. However, some customers have expressed concerns about the laptop's weight and portability, as well as its relatively short battery life.

Overall, customer reviews suggest that the Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a high-performance gaming laptop that delivers on its promises. However, users should be aware of its limitations and consider their specific needs before making a purchase.