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CES 2015 | Dell presents updated Alienware 15 and 17 laptops

New Alienware 15 and 17 shave off some thickness and weight.
New Alienware 15 and 17 shave off some thickness and weight.
The refresh puts an emphasis on thinner, lighter cases and the external graphics amplifier connection.

With full-fledged quad-core Intel Broadwell processors still a few months away, gaming laptop manufacturers seek other ways to distinguish their products than just a newer Intel chip. For some, it's a mechanical keyboard; for others, it's a shift to IPS screens and redesign; for Dell's Alienware, it's slimmer cases, Ultra HD screens and external graphics amplifiers.

Two updated models have been introduced at the CES exhibition in Las Vegas. Both Alienware 15 and 17 now offer a possibility to connect an external graphics amplifier, just like the recently reviewed Alienware 13. Both laptops became lighter and thinner: for instance, Alienware 17 is now 3.45 cm (1.36 inch) thick and weighs 3.77 kg (8.3 lbs), which is 25% thinner and 9% lighter than its predecessor. The Alienware 15 can now be purchased with an optional Ultra HD ("4K") screen and nVIDIA's GTX 980M or AMD's R9 M295X graphics.

Both laptops are now available in the US; the Alienware 15 starts at $1200 while the Alienware 17 will set you back at least $1500. Naturally, better equipped configurations will cost more.

External graphics amplifier: alien technology or long-awaited salvation?
External graphics amplifier: alien technology or long-awaited salvation?

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Andrey Konstantinov, 2015-01- 7 (Update: 2015-01- 7)