"Thunderbolt Type-C port: A multi-use port ready to be used as a USB 3.1 port, offering 10Gbps of data transfer, a Thunderbolt connection capable of 40Gbps, or even a Display Port enabling various monitors supporting the DP protocol."
I'd be surprised if they can block eGPU support on this one.
And there's also a QHD Display option, not mentioned in this article. (2560x1440)
Love to see the battery life on these laptops for everyday use.
One thing I miss about the old laptops are great keyboards. :( These days every laptop is using chiclet keyboards which are horrible typing experience. Not that i game much but if these laptops (lower models) have a reasonable price point, i might consider one.
Can't help but wonder whether the screen forward design is less about cooling or room for components, and more about continuing to put stupidly tiny screens with too much width, not enough height, and huge fat bezels into premium 'VR-ready' laptops...
Yeah yeah, but my point was that if they had not made it "screen forward", the bezel on the bottom of the screen would have been even more preposterously fat.
It's just a generic peeve of mine that no laptop manufacturer seems to understand the basic utility of delivering the maximum possible screen real estate. The new DELL XPS 13 and 15 models have gotten at least that particular message (though decided to throw a nose-hair-scrutinizing web cam into the mix, just making sure to avoid pleased customers...), but most other models/makes still fail hard and spectacularly.
hey, if you play tomb raider on this you will be better aware of the health issues your character has ;-). plus I'm sure someone will release power puff girls for this laptop.
Optimus (and Enduro) do not work. They are not perfectly stable in all games. Any notebook MUST allow you to disable it. The older ones do, but I've heard that supposedly the newer ones don't, which if true would kill it for me (and should for anyone who cares about games or using the GPU).
Other thing is of course whether it can use Nvidia's normal drivers for both the internal GPU, AND for a GPU in the external enclosure. When they launched, it couldn't, but it sounds like POSSIBLY it can now, using Nvidia's notebook drivers? (i.e., you install the notebook drivers, and it installs drivers for both the internal GPU, AND the external GPU, even though obviously the external one is actually a desktop card...though obviously these things are all the same thing anymore...)
I am hoping for a review of the 17" model - I think it's been a few iterations since the last review. I am particularly interest in the keyboard - it's supposedly improved - and also the display. I think there are enough changes that would warrant a review.
I just got my Alienware 17 R4 with the 4k screen. I'm exchanging it because it has backlight bleed all along the bottom edge and right edge of the screen. Also, be warned that the 4k screen does not have gsync. I asked a Dell sale's rep before I made the purchase if the 4k screen had gsync. I was assured that it did. Alas, the computer has optimus and is not gsync compatible. I am contemplating a refund.
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malukhel - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Too bad they won't be available in my country.yannigr2 - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Also with a full Radeon RX 470 desktop GPUhttp://radeon.com/en-us/alienware-unveils-new-gene...
Nozuka - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
I hope you can change the color from pink to other colors....Nozuka - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
It says on the website (17''):"Thunderbolt Type-C port: A multi-use port ready to be used as a USB 3.1 port, offering 10Gbps of data transfer, a Thunderbolt connection capable of 40Gbps, or even a Display Port enabling various monitors supporting the DP protocol."
I'd be surprised if they can block eGPU support on this one.
And there's also a QHD Display option, not mentioned in this article. (2560x1440)
Flunk - Thursday, September 8, 2016 - link
Alienware sells their own eGPU box, so I can't see why they'd block eGPUs.ZenX - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Heard of AlienFX?Wolfpup - Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - link
Yeah, Alienware started this whole color thing-you can change it to bajillions of different colors. I set my Alienwares to an innocuous blue.Cliff34 - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Love to see the battery life on these laptops for everyday use.One thing I miss about the old laptops are great keyboards. :( These days every laptop is using chiclet keyboards which are horrible typing experience. Not that i game much but if these laptops (lower models) have a reasonable price point, i might consider one.
boeush - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Can't help but wonder whether the screen forward design is less about cooling or room for components, and more about continuing to put stupidly tiny screens with too much width, not enough height, and huge fat bezels into premium 'VR-ready' laptops...patel21 - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Yes a 16:10 Screen could use the Biiiig bezel space betterZenX - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
the screen forward design is to accomodate the larger heat sinksboeush - Monday, September 5, 2016 - link
Yeah yeah, but my point was that if they had not made it "screen forward", the bezel on the bottom of the screen would have been even more preposterously fat.It's just a generic peeve of mine that no laptop manufacturer seems to understand the basic utility of delivering the maximum possible screen real estate. The new DELL XPS 13 and 15 models have gotten at least that particular message (though decided to throw a nose-hair-scrutinizing web cam into the mix, just making sure to avoid pleased customers...), but most other models/makes still fail hard and spectacularly.
shatteredx - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
No 120hz display for the 17" model? I refuse to purchase any laptops that have a sub 100hz display.love the 120hz lcd on my alienware m17xr4 (from 4 years ago).
ZenX - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
There's a G Sync 1440p 120hz 40ms screen optionZenX - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
4ms * typo thereToTTenTranz - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Biggest news about these laptops is that they're the first confirmed model coming with a full RX470.T1beriu - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
So I guess you were served by nvidia PR or, even worse, that Dell hides AMD's options from their PR releases?!Both laptops come with full RX 470 desktop cards too.
http://en.community.dell.com/dell-blogs/direct2del...
RaichuPls - Saturday, September 3, 2016 - link
Why would anybody be excited about the RX 470 in a laptop? It has the same TDP as the GTX 1060, but performs significantly worse.Brett Howse - Monday, September 5, 2016 - link
Just to clarify this, my briefing was with Dell and they made no mention of the AMD option. I added this to the news piece.milkod2001 - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Those a lovely Barbie edition laptops. My daughter loves them.digiguy - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Not much innovation from Dell in gaming lately (compared to the other big names like Asus, MSI and lately Acer)DanNeely - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
Is this the breast cancer awareness model? Or is TMobile sponsoring them?Notmyusualid - Saturday, September 3, 2016 - link
You can do anything you like with colour schemes on an Alienware laptop.They even respond during gaming.
drajitshnew - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
hey, if you play tomb raider on this you will be better aware of the health issues your character has ;-). plus I'm sure someone will release power puff girls for this laptop.Wolfpup - Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - link
The most important consideration remains drivers.Optimus (and Enduro) do not work. They are not perfectly stable in all games. Any notebook MUST allow you to disable it. The older ones do, but I've heard that supposedly the newer ones don't, which if true would kill it for me (and should for anyone who cares about games or using the GPU).
Other thing is of course whether it can use Nvidia's normal drivers for both the internal GPU, AND for a GPU in the external enclosure. When they launched, it couldn't, but it sounds like POSSIBLY it can now, using Nvidia's notebook drivers? (i.e., you install the notebook drivers, and it installs drivers for both the internal GPU, AND the external GPU, even though obviously the external one is actually a desktop card...though obviously these things are all the same thing anymore...)
aravenwood - Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - link
I am hoping for a review of the 17" model - I think it's been a few iterations since the last review. I am particularly interest in the keyboard - it's supposedly improved - and also the display. I think there are enough changes that would warrant a review.youngphoenix - Thursday, October 13, 2016 - link
I just got my Alienware 17 R4 with the 4k screen. I'm exchanging it because it has backlight bleed all along the bottom edge and right edge of the screen. Also, be warned that the 4k screen does not have gsync. I asked a Dell sale's rep before I made the purchase if the 4k screen had gsync. I was assured that it did. Alas, the computer has optimus and is not gsync compatible. I am contemplating a refund.