Alienware x17 R2 AWX17R2-7341WHT-PUS Review And Specification

When you take the Alienware X17 R2 out of its box, you'll see that it's a quality high-end gaming machine. It's the company's newest offering in this category. Its exterior features the same sleek, 0.84-inch-thick alien design as the Alienware X15 R2 beast that we examined a month ago.

Even with the optional mechanical Cherry MX keyboard, which feels as good to type on as some of the greatest gaming keyboards we've experienced, the design is still stunning. In my opinion, the main drawback of this design is that all of the ports are still located at the rear. Hey, that's not even close to being a deal breaker.

Nevertheless, the x17 R2's true power lies inside. Alienware has revised its configuration options for the newest models, including the flagship mobile RTX 3080 Ti from Nvidia and Intel's new top-of-the-line 12th Gen Core i9-12900HK, although that setup would only leave you with around $1 left over from $5,000. If you choose to outfit your rig completely, that is the amount you will have to pay.

Unless you purchase it during a promotion, the least expensive model in this lineup costs about $2,500 and includes a 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU with 6GB of vRAM, and 16GB of system RAM. Near the center is where our review unit (AWX17R2-7341WHT-PUS) is located. It features a 14-core Core i7-12700H processor, a membrane keyboard, 32GB of system RAM and 8GB of vRAM, a 360Hz Full HD screen, and a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU. I feel like this is the model I would buy out of all the possible options because it seems like a beast of a computer for the price.

The apparent rival is the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17, which offers an Alder Lake Core i9 processor, Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 2TB of storage, and a 2,560 x 1,440, 170ppi display for about the same price. Compared to the closest equivalent Alienware x17 R2, that will save you about $500, and Asus also provides a mechanical keyboard. That's not to say the Scar 17 is particularly slim or superior to the x17 R2, but it is lighter and has a respectable battery life for the class.

Alienware x17 R2 AWX17R2-7341WHT-PUS Specification

• Processor : Intel Core i7-12700H 14 x 1.7 - 4.7 GHz, Alder Lake-H

• Graphics adapter : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU - 16 GB VRAM, GDDR6

• Memory : 32 GB , DDR5-4800

• Display : 17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, glossy: no, 300 Hz

• Storage : 1TB SSD

• Connections : 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: microSD

• Networking : Killer E3100G 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000/2500MBit/s), 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.2

• Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 20.9 x 399.23 x 299.57 ( = 0.82 x 15.72 x 11.79 in)

• Battery : 87 Wh Lithium-Ion, 6-cell

• Operating System : Microsoft Windows 11 Home

• Camera : Webcam: HD 720p IR

• Additional features : Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 12 Months Warranty

• Weight : 3.09 kg ( = 109 oz / 6.81 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)

• Price : 3800 Euro

Design and Build Quality

As previously said, the design of the new Alienware x17 R2 is identical to that of the R1, which is a good thing because the R1 was stunning. The x17 R2 is remarkably slim for a high-end performance laptop at just 0.82 inches thick, and its magnesium and aluminum chassis feels upscale and well-made.

I think the X17 is great and modern without being overly expensive, even though the design is still a matter of personal preference. The black and white Lunar Light color scheme is my favorite. Nevertheless, the R2 isn't the lightest or smallest device available. It weighs 6.82 pounds, making it heavier than the Razer Blade 17 and the Asus ROG Scar Strix. It is also quite huge, having the largest footprint among the group at 11.79 x 15.72 inches.

While Alienware places all of its ports at the back of its gaming laptops, Asus and Lenovo have been known to place some ports around the back as well. This seems like going too far, and while I dislike ports that are placed in the back, having at least one—perhaps an additional Type-A port on the side—might make it simpler to insert a thumb drive. The DC-in power socket and the 3.5mm audio connector are the only ports that Alienware placed on the side; they both belong in the back.

Even yet, Alienware packs a ton of ports—all of which are recessed to the back—into the x17 R2. A ring of LED lights surrounds the back panel, containing one Thunderbolt 4, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 USB-A ports, an RJ-45 2.5 Gbit/sec LAN connector, a microSD card reader, and HDMI 2.1 and mini-DisplayPort 1.4 video feeds. Power delivery is supported by Thunderbolt and USB-C ports alike.

A Killer 2.5GbE controller and a Killer Wi-Fi 6E modem—which also supports Bluetooth 5.2—are used for wireless communications.

Keyboard, Touchpad, and Webcam

Either a low-profile mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches or a thin membrane keyboard are included with the Alienware x17 R2. The membrane keyboard isn't something I see many people choosing unless they want a quieter typing experience, in which case upgrading to a mechanical keyboard is only about $100. Whichever choice you select, the membrane keyboard isn't too bad; it has a fair amount of key travel (1.5mm) and a sharp, precise movement.

As anticipated, all keyboard configurations have per-key RGB lighting that can be adjusted using the Alienware Command Center. Additional lighting options include a ring light that encircles the ports and vents in the back panel, as well as the hue of the alien noggins on the lid and keyboard deck.

A single-piece, 112 x 67 mm glass trackpad, slightly shifted to the left to align with the spacebar, is located beneath the keyboard. It is very small for a 17.3-inch laptop. It functions flawlessly, and the click-action is respectable and fulfilling. When you open the lid, you immediately note that the Alienware keyboard is quite small in comparison to the deck. This is because Alienware purposefully made this space available for vents and speaker grilles, the latter of which was a smart move in light of the Strix 17's overheating problems.

Display and Audio

In the past, Alienware has produced gaming panels and panels for watching TV shows or movies on a big screen. This also applies to the x17 R2, which has a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 display with a refresh rate of 360 Hz. A 2,560 x 1,440 panel might be a better entry-level option given the cost.

Nevertheless, the Alienware x17 display performs admirably in every other regard. It is both more colorful and brighter than the display on the Asus ROG Strix, with a colorimeter recording 117% sRGB volume and 99.7% sRGB coverage at 376 cd/m2. Furthermore, the 1,198:1 contrast ratio surpasses that of the Asus device. The ultra-tear-free gameplay made possible by the x17 R2's 360Hz refresh rate, 1ms reaction time, and G-Sync frame synchronization is, however, its real gaming strength.

The dual speakers give a ton of loudness and bass and are Dolby Atmos certified elsewhere. They are nearly identical to the Strix 17 in that they measure 76 dB and peak at 84 dB from a music source at a distance of 1 meter. Its excellent stereo separation provides directional awareness when playing games. When playing certain types of music, that excellent sound output can become a touch brittle, but it's nothing to be concerned about.

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