Powerful gaming laptops with smart design

Dell’s Alienware division is updating its range of gaming laptops this month. Just a few weeks after the m15 R6, the brand is now launching the X15 and X17 gaming laptops that offer new cooling technologies, slimmer cases and more powerful hardware.

While Alienware’s earlier laptops are not known to be minor, the X series appears to be a concerted effort by the brand to change that perception. The X15 is only 16.3 mm thick including the lid and has a maximum weight of 2.36 kg. The X17 is also just over 20mm thick and weighs 3.2kg when curbed. Both numbers may still seem huge, but Alienware has done a good job of keeping the weight down given the hardware on offer.

Alienware X15

Let’s start with the Alienware X15. The smaller laptop offers buyers three display options, which are characterized by a 15.6-inch panel with 2560 x 1440 240 Hz. This option also supports Nvidia G-Sync, offers a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a DCI-P9 color gamut coverage of 99%. There is also a 1080p display option with a response time of 1 ms and a refresh rate of 360 Hz. Finally, there is a standard 1080p screen with a refresh rate of 165 Hz.

To control these pixels, users can choose between the RTX 3060, RTX 3070, or RTX 3080 GPUs from Nvidia. These can be installed next to an Intel Core i7-11800H or an i9-11900H. To complete the silicon offered, RAID 0 users can choose up to 32 GB DDR4 RAM and up to 4 TB PCIe storage.

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There are numerous options for the I / O at the rear of the machine. This includes two USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, a microSD card slot, and an HDMI 2.1 port. There is a power connector and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left and right.

Alienware is also bringing improvements to the X15’s cooling system. The brand’s new Element 31 interface uses a “gallium-silicon matrix” which advertises better heat resistance than the previous technology. However, this is only available for the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 configurations. Nevertheless, all three models are equipped with four fans and an individual, intelligent fan control.

Other advantages include a 720p webcam with Windows Hello support, two microphones, Wi-Fi 6E support and Bluetooth 5.2. Power is supplied by an 87 Whr battery and a 240 W module.

Alienware X17

If the 15.6-inch display option is still too small, the Alienware X17 is a better choice. Users can choose between three 17.3-inch panels, including the 2560 x 1440 panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. A 1080p panel with a response time of 1 ms and a refresh rate of 360 Hz is also provided, while a 165 -Hz option rounds off the list.

Internally, the X17 offers the same CPU, GPU, and memory options as its smaller sibling. However, users have the option to double the available RAM to 64GB.

The Alienware X17 also offers advanced I / O options. As with the X15, most of the connections are on the back of the X17. There is only a power connector and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the sides. The X17 offers enough space for a dedicated Ethernet port suitable for 2.5 Gbit / s. Two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a microSD card slot, a Mini DisplayPort 1.4 and an HDMI 2.1 port are also available.

While the X15 is satisfied with the 1.5 mm travel keyboard from Alienware, users can also use the X17 with CherryMX switches. These switches provide a few millimeters of travel, but the keyboard also offers Alienware custom key adjustments.

Finally, the X17 also gets an 87 Whr battery, but an optional and larger 330 W power supply is also available.

Alienware X15 and X17: Price and Availability

The Alienware X15 will start at $ 1,999, while its 17.3-inch sibling will start at $ 2,099. In terms of availability, both laptops will go on sale starting June 1, initially in limited configurations. However, more options will become available from June 15th.