The last time I tested an Alienware gaming laptop was in November 2019, so I jumped at the chance to take a look at the recently announced Alienware m17 R4. Besides a larger display – 17-inch versus 15-inch – this build comes with the latest GeForce 30-series GPUs, increased memory speed and plenty of storage options.
To my memory, the two laptops have the same exact design, complete with the honeycomb pattern and a light-up Alienware logo that doubles as a power button. I’m not mad at it.
Alienware m17 R4 Review
Even with the recycled design, the m17 R4’s performance boost (and lack of a 4K OLED display) make it an appealing option for dedicated gamers who want something portable.
Specs
Here are the specifications of the Alienware m17 R4 Gaming I've been testing:
- Model: Alienware m17 R4 Gaming (G5KXRVO)
- Display: 17.3-inch FHD LCD 160Hz (1920 x 1080)
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK 2.4GHz (16M cache, 5.3GHz Max Turbo)
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 16GB GDDR6
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 2933MHz
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD + 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
- Webcam: 1080p
- Ports: 1 x microSD card reader, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 2.1b, 1 x miniDisplayPort 1.4, 1 x Thunderbolt 3, 1 x Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x 3.5mm audio port
- Connectivity: WiFi 6 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- Dimensions: 15.74 x 11.59 x 0.87-inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 6.55-pounds
- Price: $3,609.99
Alienware sent me one of the high-end builds for testing, but you don’t have to empty your bank account if this design appeals to you. Pricing for the various m17 R4 builds start at just under $2,000 for an i7-10870H CPU, an RTX 3060, 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. On the high-end, well, there’s the build I have sitting on my desk.
Alienware m17 R4 – Design
I guess I shouldn’t say the external design is identical, because there is one big change. The m17 R4 comes with CherryMX ultra-low profile mechanical keys, with the option of per-key RGB or single zone lighting. Meaning, you can either control the color of the lighting on each individual key, or the keyboard as a whole.
The keys were designed in partnership with Cherry and have stainless-steel switches with a gold-plated electrical contact enclosure. Sounds fancy, right? I really enjoy typing and gaming on these keys. There’s an audible click with each press, but it’s not loud enough that your roommate or partner is going to get annoyed with the added noise.
When looking at the lid of the m17 with the laptop open, you see an RGB light that wraps around the back of the deck, along with a “17” and an RGB Alienware logo on the lid. There are a handful of ports on the rear of the deck including the charging port, a Graphics Amplifier Port (GAP), a Thunderbolt 3 port, a miniDisplayPort 1.4, and an HDMI 2.1b with support for up to 4K/120Hz.
The GAP is a port that takes up dedicated space for those who might, eventually, down the road, decide to use an eGPU enclosure to upgrade or boost performance on the m17. It’s a noble idea, but it’s also one that locks users into a proprietary setup. I’d much rather see Alienware add another Thunderbolt port or two, letting owners use the valuable space and give them the freedom to choose the eGPU enclosure of their liking down the road.
Speaking of ports, there are plenty of those to go around the m17 R4. On the left side of the bottom deck is where you’ll find a Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a headphone/microphone port.
On the opposite side is where the last two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a microSD card reader are located.
I like that the ports on the rear of the m17 R4 are primarily for connecting more permanent devices, like displays, external storage and the like, while the more easily accessible ports are designed for use with devices that are often moved around. Well, save for the Ethernet port.
The honeycomb pattern that’s found above the keyboard wraps around to the bottom of the housing, only with bigger cutouts. Presumably, all of the cutouts are to help with cooling and airflow.
The full-size keyboard and number pad take advantage of every inch of space. The trackpad is centered with the main keyboard, not the housing. It’s a little small for my liking, but for a gaming laptop it’s big enough to get the job done. Odds are you’ll have a gaming mouse plugged in most of the time anyways.
There’s no way around it, the m17 R4 is big. It’s not monstrously large like the Alienware Area-51m, but it’s not something you’ll want to consistently throw in a backpack and carry around everywhere. For the curious, it weighs 6.55 pounds and measures 15.74 x 11.59 x 0.87 inches.
Of course, the most noticeable aspect of the m17 R4 once it’s opened is the 17.3-inch display. It’s as impressive as it is big, even at 1080p. Centered above the screen is a 1080p webcam that looks clear and crisp – something other laptop makers should strive for but always seem to leave behind.
Alienware m17 R4 – Performance and Gaming
Inside the m17 R4 is an impressive lineup of hardware. There’s a 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10980HK, RTX 3080 with 16GB GDDR6 memory, 1TB of PCIe M.2 SSD storage in RAID0, with an extra 512GB of SSD storage.
When configuring your m17 R4 build, you pick from a few different storage options: Single Storage, RAID0 and RAID0 Plus. Single storage is a lone SSD of your choosing, ranging from 256GB to 2TB. RAID0 offers 512GB all the way up to 4TB of storage, using two PCIe M.2 SSDs (Ex., 2 x 256GB PCIe SSD for 512GB of total storage).
RAID0 Plus, however, adds a third PCIe M.2 SSD to the mix. You can pick your main storage in a RAID0 configuration, going from 1TB to 4TB, and an additional 512GB of storage as a separate drive. The benefit of picking a RAID0 configuration is increased read and write speeds. It’s a welcome option for any laptop, let alone a gaming laptop where you want to squeeze every last bit of performance out of your build.
And perform this build does. When comparing benchmark scores with the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Edition and Origin EVO15-S, both of which were equipped with an RTX 3080 GPU and i7 CPU, it bested both laptops nearly across the board. With only the Blade 15 Advanced Edition matching performance in the Total War: Three Kingdoms benchmark at 82 frames per second.
Benchmark performance aside, I enjoyed my time using the m17 R4 for work and play. As I said already, the keyboard was a pleasure to type on, and the 360Hz display felt incredibly responsive. The first time I dropped into Warzone and met a foe, the normal feeling of moving my mouse to take my shot felt smooth.
Performance-wise, the laptop put out excellent numbers, though nowhere near the 360Hz display’s capability. I averaged 137 fps in Warzone with every setting maxed out and ray-tracing turned on. In Forza Horizon 4, I saw an average FPS of 166 – nothing I’m going to complain about.
The color saturation of the display is a tad on the muted side, and is open to personal preference. I happen to enjoy a more muted look, instead of overly sutured displays.
As for the speakers, they’re plenty loud enough to drown out the fans inside the m17 R4. I’d recommend a headset though, because the overall setup is loud when you have it going at full tilt.
Alienware m17 R4 – Battery life
With so much power, my battery life expectations were low. And after putting the m17 R4 through IGN’s normal testing, my expectations were confirmed. Battery life isn’t all that impressive, lasting 1 hour and 55 minutes through PCMark 10’s battery benchmark. That’s enough to watch a movie, and that’s about it.
In comparison, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Edition with a similar setup lasted 5 hours and 52 minutes, while the Origin EVO15-S lasted nearly the identical amount of time as the m17 at 1 hour and 56 minutes.
In other words, if you plan on traveling with the m17 R4, you’ll want to keep your wall adapter handy. And if it’s the optional 330W power adapter, make sure your backpack has enough space and your back is ready for the added weight.
Alienware m17 R4 – Software
Alienware doesn’t pre-install many apps or programs. My favorite part? Norton and McAfee are both absent from the review unit I received.
Instead, you’ll find several Alienware specific apps. Alienware Command Center, which is used for customizing any lighting or overclocking your system, and Alienware Update, which checks for any available updates including BIOS, drivers, and firmware
I’ve said in previous reviews of Alienware gaming laptops that I’m not a big fan of Command Center’s design, and I still feel that way. I find the default light background with grey and turquoise text difficult to read. However, most of my legibility complaints about the interface can be fixed by changing from light to dark mode.
Another application that comes installed is Alienware Mobile Connect, an app that connects your smartphone to your PC so you can check messages, receive calls and transfer files. It’s similar to Microsoft's Your Phone app, and is a convenient feature to bundle into the software.
Is the Alienware 17 R4 good for gaming?
Many vendors use Nvidia's Max-Q technology, which prioritizes power efficiency and low fan noise over high performance. Alienware's m17 R4, however, seeks to pump out every possible frame, deploying a special cooling system and eschewing Max-Q to make its top-of-the-line configuration one of the best gaming laptops.
Is Alienware m17 R4 discontinued?
M17x-R4 (Discontinued) – 2012 Revision of the M17x, updated with Windows 8, Intel Ivybridge Processors and Nvidia GeForce 600 Series or the AMD Radeon HD 7970M.
How long does Alienware 17 R4 last?
As it turns out, this behemoth could only handle 2 hours and 13 minutes in our PCMark 8 battery test while, in our movie test, the battery life was exhausted after a middling 3 hours and 19 minutes. That doesn't even account for gaming, where you can expect even more feeble results.
Is Alienware worth it 2023?
The Dell Alienware m18 (2023) is better than the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023) for gaming and other demanding productivity workloads, as it's available with faster NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and 4090 Laptop GPUs. It also has a sturdier build, a better keyboard, and a wider port selection.