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Alienware Area-51m (i9-9900K, RTX 2080) Laptop Review

Dell's Clevo Killer. The latest 17.3-inch Alienware is going all-in with hardware and features not found on almost any other gaming laptop. Not only does the Area-51m leapfrog over the 45 W Core H-series for full-fat 95 W Core K-series CPUs, but it also sports removable graphics and Tobii eye-tracking all in a narrow-bezel chassis. Is this $3000+ portable powerhouse really comparable to a desktop PC of similar specifications?

Unveiled at CES 2019, the Area-51m represents a pivotal moment for Dell and Alienware. The OEM has discontinued its venerable Alienware 17 series after all these years to introduce a completely new design that will likely become the baseline for future Alienware laptops. Even the name is a deliberate nod to the original Alienware Area-51 laptop we reviewed over a decade ago.

There are several key aspects about the Area-51m that make it special when compared to competing 17.3-inch gaming laptops already in the market. For one, it's one of the few laptops that integrate Tobii eye-tracking for support on certain titles. Secondly, the system utilizes a standard 95+ W desktop Core i9-9900K CPU instead of the usual 45 W mobile Core i7 or i9 series found on most gaming laptops. Lastly, its RTX 2080 GPU is a removable and upgradeable Dell Graphics Form Factor (DGFF) card in the same vein as the MXM GPU. Combine this with a new chassis that optimizes airflow and you have the most powerful Alienware laptop Dell has created yet.

This enthusiast-level gaming laptop doesn't exist in a vacuum, of course, so we'll be comparing it to other 17.3-inch flagship competitors including the Clevo Eurocom Sky X7C, Asus ROG G703GX, MSI GT75 Titan, Acer Predator 17, and the last generation Alienware 17 R5 for good measure. We'll also be comparing it to our reference desktop PC equipped with an equivalent Core i9-9900K CPU and RTX 2080 GPU. After all, Dell is claiming a performance level similar to a desktop and so we'll be putting that to the test.

More Alienware reviews:

Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080 (Area-51 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i9-9900K 8 x 3.6 - 5 GHz, Coffee Lake-R
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1575 MHz, Memory: 1750 MHz, GDDR6, 419.35
Memory
32 GB 
, DDR4-2666, 17-17-17-39, Dual-Channel, 4x SODIMM
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, LG Philips 173WFG, IPS, LGD05E2, Dell P/N: YWJJ6, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Tobii eyetracking technology, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake Z390 (Cannon Lake-H)
Storage
2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0), 1024 GB 
, Secondary: 1 TB Seagate ST1000LX015-1U7172
Soundcard
NVIDIA TU104 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Killer E3000 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000/2500MBit/s), Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 42 x 402.6 x 319.2 ( = 1.65 x 15.85 x 12.57 in)
Battery
90 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD 1280x720
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Beveled, Keyboard Light: yes, Alienware Command Center, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
3.87 kg ( = 136.51 oz / 8.53 pounds), Power Supply: 2.16 kg ( = 76.19 oz / 4.76 pounds)
Price
3500 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The chassis may look completely different, but that doesn't mean the materials have to change. Alienware laptops are notable for their magnesium alloy chassis and softer matte surfaces in contrast to the smooth brushed aluminum surfaces of comparable MSI laptops. This remains true on the Area-51m as the system feels more like a classic Alienware laptop than the thinner Alienware m17 spin-off. Its most visually striking and unique features are the large ovular rear dedicated to cooling and the honeycomb-style approach to ventilation.

The Alienware 17 series always felt tougher and more rigid than competing models and this remains true on the Area-51m. Our attempts to twist the base or warp the palm rests or keyboard center result in almost no flexing for a very stable impression. The lid is naturally more prone to side-to-side flexing, but much less so than on the competing Eurocom Sky X7C, MSI GT75, or Predator 17. Its hinge is also firmer than most large 17-inch laptops with close to no teetering albeit at a limited maximum angle of only ~140 degrees because of the large rear.

As sound as the chassis may be, it still creaks every so often when opening or closing the lid. It's thankfully minor enough to be of no immediate concern on our particular test unit.

In terms of size, the Area-51m has a smaller footprint than the Alienware 17 R5 that it replaces because of the narrower display bezels. The trade off, however, is that the new chassis is thicker at its thickest point (42 mm) and so it is still a large gaming laptop in contrast to the sleeker Alienware m17 or MSI GS75.

A noteworthy and unexpected advantage of the new Alienware laptop is its weight. At approximately 3.9 kg, the system is several hundred grams lighter than the Eurocom Sky X7C, MSI GT75, and Acer Predator 17 X. That's not to say this isn't a hefty machine, but it's lighter than it looks. Most of the weight is concentrated along the rear of the chassis.

Front edge tapers down to 27.65 mm. White surfaces hide fingerprints well
Front edge tapers down to 27.65 mm. White surfaces hide fingerprints well
Large honeycomb ventilation for improved airflow
Large honeycomb ventilation for improved airflow
Lid opened to maximum angle of only about 140 degrees
Lid opened to maximum angle of only about 140 degrees
Protruding ovular rear designed specifically for cooling. This is the thickest part of the laptop
Protruding ovular rear designed specifically for cooling. This is the thickest part of the laptop
428 mm / 16.9 inch 314 mm / 12.4 inch 58 mm / 2.28 inch 4.6 kg10.1 lbs425 mm / 16.7 inch 319 mm / 12.6 inch 51 mm / 2.01 inch 4.7 kg10.3 lbs425 mm / 16.7 inch 327 mm / 12.9 inch 36.3 mm / 1.429 inch 4.9 kg10.7 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 295 mm / 11.6 inch 41 mm / 1.614 inch 4.3 kg9.48 lbs424 mm / 16.7 inch 332 mm / 13.1 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 4.4 kg9.74 lbs424 mm / 16.7 inch 281 mm / 11.1 inch 22.5 mm / 0.886 inch 3.6 kg7.94 lbs402.6 mm / 15.9 inch 319.2 mm / 12.6 inch 42 mm / 1.654 inch 3.9 kg8.53 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Available ports are comparable to the old Alienware 17 R5 but noticeably fewer than on the Eurocom Sky X7C. The Area-51m has fewer USB ports, DisplayPort ports, and audio ports than the competing Eurocom system. There isn't even an SD card reader.

In return, the system is equipped with Dell's proprietary Graphics Amplifier port for connecting the Alienware eGPU. Its practicality on a laptop already equipped with removable RTX graphics is questionable and so we would have preferred some more basic and commonly used ports instead.

The two AC adapter ports are identical and interchangeable between the two external power bricks.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: Noble Lock, Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps), USB 3.0 Type-A w/ PowerShare, 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm headset
Left: Noble Lock, Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps), USB 3.0 Type-A w/ PowerShare, 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm headset
Rear: HDMI 2.0, mini-DisplayPort  1.4, 2.5 Gbps RJ-45, Graphics Amplifier, 2x AC adapter ports
Rear: HDMI 2.0, mini-DisplayPort 1.4, 2.5 Gbps RJ-45, Graphics Amplifier, 2x AC adapter ports
Right: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A
Right: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A

Communication

Serviceable WLAN module
Serviceable WLAN module

Dell XPS and Alienware laptops have been strong proponents of Killer wireless. Our system has been configured with Killer 1550 WLAN and Bluetooth 5 to offer all the customization options as found on the Killer 1535. Theoretical transfer rates are otherwise identical to the less expensive Intel 9560 at up to 1.73 Gbps. Note that our readings below are slower since our server is limited by a 1 Gbps line.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus ROG G703GX
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
682 MBit/s +8%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
681 MBit/s +8%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
629 MBit/s
Alienware 17 R5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
553 MBit/s -12%
iperf3 receive AX12
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
686 MBit/s +5%
Asus ROG G703GX
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
671 MBit/s +3%
Alienware 17 R5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
668 MBit/s +2%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
652 MBit/s

Maintenance

The bottom plate requires only a Philips screwdriver to remove. While taking it out is easy, putting the plate back on is a bit more difficult because of the tight latches around the edges.

Users have direct access to all four SODIMM slots (up to 64 GB DDR4), all three storage bays, WLAN module, and the internal battery. The layout and reinforced inner skeleton remind us of the Dell Latitude series. Servicing the CPU and GPU will, of course, require additional disassembly of the fans and heat pipes. The LGA 1151 and MXM 3.0 sockets of the Eurocom Sky X7C are easier to access.

There is a fair amount of unused space surrounding the 2.5-inch SATA drive. Perhaps this empty space could have been utilized for another purpose such as a subwoofer or larger battery.

Exploded view at CES 2019
Exploded view at CES 2019
Direct access to most components. Removing the entire cooling system to access the CPU or GPU is not a user-friendly task
Direct access to most components. Removing the entire cooling system to access the CPU or GPU is not a user-friendly task

Accessories and Warranty

There are no extras included in the retail box. Dell offers an entire range of Alienware accessories from mice to backpacks to the Graphics Amplifier eGPU docking station should users choose to go that route.

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with extensions of up to 5 years. Dell is promising mail-in services in the near future for buyers who wish to upgrade the GPU.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Unlike the chiclet keyboards of the Alienware m15 or m17, the Area-51m keyboard sticks to the beveled layout of the Alienware 15 and 17. Both the full-size NumPad and Macro keys are back whereas most other gaming laptops tend to omit them completely or diminish them in size for a spongier feel. Key feedback on the Area-51m feels crisper and with deeper travel than on the XPS 15 to prove that you don't necessarily need mechanical keys to offer a good typing experience. Users already familiar with the keyboards of the Alienware 15 or 17 will feel right at home.

Per-key RGB lighting and trackpad lighting are controlled via AlienFX in the Alienware Control Center software. Annoyingly, there are no default hotkeys on the keyboard for fine-tuning the brightness level of the keyboard backlight.

Large, easy-to-use per-key RGB controls
Large, easy-to-use per-key RGB controls
The trackpad and rear lights can be customized as well
The trackpad and rear lights can be customized as well
System stats at a glance. Too bad there is no "compressed" or overlay mode
System stats at a glance. Too bad there is no "compressed" or overlay mode
Audio controls, but no equalizer
Audio controls, but no equalizer
CPU and GPU fan speeds can be controlled here
CPU and GPU fan speeds can be controlled here
Overclocking available for both the CPU and GPU
Overclocking available for both the CPU and GPU

Touchpad

The trackpad is the same size as on the Alienware 17 R5 (~10 x 5.5 cm) and so it is still smaller than the trackpad on the Dell XPS 15 (10.5 x 8.5 cm). In return, it includes dedicated mouse keys for easier and more accurate clicks. The keys themselves are very quiet but with average feedback in contrast to the louder and firmer mouse keys of the MSI GT75.

Gliding on the trackpad surface is smooth and responsive at fast speeds, but it becomes a bit sticky and bouncy at slower speeds. It's a minor complaint for what is otherwise a firm trackpad that does the trick should a mouse be unavailable. 

The dedicated NumPad and column of Macro keys return
The dedicated NumPad and column of Macro keys return
moderate clatter with similar feel to the Alienware 17 keyboard
moderate clatter with similar feel to the Alienware 17 keyboard

Display

As of this writing, all SKUs come equipped with matte non-touch 1080p IPS panels only. Higher resolution options are purportedly in the works for availability later in the year. Users can choose between 60 Hz or 144 Hz panels with or without integrated Tobii Eye Tracking. We recommend going with the 144 Hz option if configuring with an RTX 2080 since this GPU is more than capable of running titles beyond 60 FPS.

Our test unit is configured with a 1080p144 panel for silky smooth animations. The LG Philips 173WFG IPS panel here is the first one to appear in our database. Black-white and gray-gray response times are fast and comparable to the 5 ms panels often found on many MSI and Asus laptops for no major ghosting issues. Brightness is also comparable to most gaming laptops at around 300 nits.

The one noticeable drawback of the display is its lower contrast ratio. At only about 500:1, this is around half that of the Chi Mei and AU Optronics 1080p panels as found on the MSI GT75 and Asus ROG G703GX, respectively. This means that blacks and grays don't look as deep as they could have been on the Alienware machine.

Other than the fault above, this is still a quality panel in every other aspect. Both uneven backlight bleeding and graininess are kept to a minimum.

Glossy plastic bezels remind us of the Alienware m15/m17. The LED lights along the edges of the last generation models are now gone
Glossy plastic bezels remind us of the Alienware m15/m17. The LED lights along the edges of the last generation models are now gone
narrow bezels aren't quite as narrow as on the Asus GL704 series
narrow bezels aren't quite as narrow as on the Asus GL704 series
Subpixel array (127 PPI)
Subpixel array (127 PPI)
Slight backlight bleeding along the top right corner
Slight backlight bleeding along the top right corner
281
cd/m²
275.9
cd/m²
288.6
cd/m²
298
cd/m²
335.2
cd/m²
294.6
cd/m²
289.6
cd/m²
324.8
cd/m²
285.3
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips 173WFG tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 335.2 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 297 cd/m² Minimum: 17.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 82 %
Center on Battery: 355.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 508:1 (Black: 0.66 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.02 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.17
ΔE Greyscale 3.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
96.9% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
96.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.16
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
LG Philips 173WFG, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
CMN N173HHE-G32 (CMN1747), TN, 17.30, 1920x1080
Asus ROG G703GX
AU Optronics B173HAN03.2 (AUO329D), IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
AU Optronics B173HAN03.1, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Sharp LQ173D1JW33 (SHP145A), IGZO, 17.30, 3840x2160
Alienware 17 R5
JYWWF_B173QTN (AUO1496), TN, 17.30, 2560x1440
Display
23%
-3%
-4%
29%
-7%
Display P3 Coverage
66.3
90.9
37%
64.1
-3%
64.7
-2%
88.9
34%
63.4
-4%
sRGB Coverage
96.9
100
3%
93.3
-4%
89.1
-8%
100
3%
86.1
-11%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.5
86.2
30%
65.6
-1%
65.2
-2%
99.7
50%
62.9
-5%
Response Times
44%
28%
-18%
-309%
-7%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
13.2 ?(8, 5.2)
8 ?(4.4, 3.6)
39%
7.2 ?(3.8, 3.4)
45%
18 ?(10, 8)
-36%
60.8 ?(28.8, 32)
-361%
20.8 ?(11.6, 9.2)
-58%
Response Time Black / White *
10.8 ?(6, 4.8)
5.6 ?(3.8, 1.8)
48%
9.6 ?(4.4, 5.2)
11%
10.8 ?(5.6, 5.2)
-0%
38.4 ?(22, 16.4)
-256%
6 ?(4, 2)
44%
PWM Frequency
26000 ?(19)
204.9 ?(20)
Screen
19%
-9%
-18%
-8%
-27%
Brightness middle
335.2
240
-28%
296
-12%
276.1
-18%
230
-31%
398
19%
Brightness
297
248
-16%
279
-6%
260
-12%
207
-30%
367
24%
Brightness Distribution
82
83
1%
85
4%
85
4%
83
1%
86
5%
Black Level *
0.66
0.22
67%
0.25
62%
0.36
45%
0.2
70%
0.51
23%
Contrast
508
1091
115%
1184
133%
767
51%
1150
126%
780
54%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.02
2.14
-6%
4.77
-136%
3.51
-74%
5.62
-178%
5.45
-170%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.23
5.04
30%
9.08
-26%
6.84
5%
10.24
-42%
10.36
-43%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.17
1.54
-32%
1.46
-25%
3.56
-204%
2.56
-119%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.2
1.62
49%
5.83
-82%
2.7
16%
4.54
-42%
5.4
-69%
Gamma
2.16 102%
2.28 96%
2.47 89%
2.28 96%
2.36 93%
2.4 92%
CCT
6746 96%
6846 95%
8076 80%
6947 94%
6625 98%
7453 87%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
61.3
77
26%
60
-2%
57.8
-6%
88
44%
56
-9%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96.9
100
3%
93
-4%
88.8
-8%
100
3%
86
-11%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
29% / 23%
5% / -3%
-13% / -16%
-96% / -41%
-14% / -21%

* ... smaller is better

Color space covers approximately 97 percent and 61 percent of sRGB and AdobeRGB, respectively. Systems with even wide color spaces are available such as the Razer Blade Pro or MSI GT75, but such panels typically carry drawbacks including slower response times or more limited TN viewing angles. We find the panel here on the Alienware to offer an excellent balance for gaming purposes.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further measurements with an X-Rite colorimeter reveal an accurate display out of the box, though it could have been better in terms of grayscale and at reproducing the color teal. Our attempt to calibrate the display improves it just slightly with grayscale and color dE2000 values falling from 3.2 to 2.2 and 2.02 to 1.17, respectively.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
10.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 4.8 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 23 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
13.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 8 ms rise
↘ 5.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 21 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is not any better or worse than most other 17.3-inch gaming laptops. In other words, you're not exactly looking at the right category here if outdoor use is priority. Even so, the matte panel and wide IPS viewing angles help to reduce glare. Obtuse viewing angles don't appear to significantly impact contrast or colors for this particular panel.

Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

The removable (and proprietary) DGFF Nvidia graphics card
The removable (and proprietary) DGFF Nvidia graphics card

While our specific unit is a higher-end configuration with the Core i9-9900K and RTX 2080, lower-end options ship with the Core i7-8700 and RTX 2060 instead. The ability to swap out both the CPU and GPU is a unique advantage in the gaming laptop space where soldered processors are commonplace. The Area-51m has more in common with Clevo barebone laptops (Schenker, Eurocom, etc.) rather than laptops from MSI or Asus as a result.

There is no Optimus graphics switching since G-Sync is included.

All benchmarks and measurements below were performed with the system set to High Performance mode unless otherwise stated. We want to show off the system at its fastest even if that means having the fans at maximum RPM.

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

CPU performance is nearly two times faster than the Core i7-8750H in the Alienware 17 R5 and about 45 percent faster than the Core i9-8950HK in the MSI GT75. This fast of a CPU comes in handy when aiming for frame rates above 60 FPS. What we really want to know is how the CPU compares against a traditional desktop with the same Core i9-9900K.

According to CineBench R15 Multi-Thread, the Area-51m is just 2 percent slower than the Core i9-9900K in our desktop PC. This delta begins to widen, however, when running CineBench R15 in a loop because the Alienware laptop struggles to maintain maximum Turbo Boost clock rates for long periods as shown by our comparison graph below. Its initial score of 1941 points drops to about 1862 points towards the end of the loop test. When accounting for this performance throttling, our reference desktop PC performs about 7 to 8 percent faster than our Alienware.

Our Eurocom Sky X7C with the same Core i9-9900K CPU is able to score very similarly in the same CineBench loop test.

01052103154205256307358409451050115512601365147015751680178518901995Tooltip
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080 GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1875 (1847.15-1952.27)
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1887 (1855.46-1948.65)
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018 GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i9-9900K; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1996 (1969.67-2021.02)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018
Intel Core i9-9900K
218 Points +5%
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (203 - 218, n=9)
211 Points +2%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Intel Core i9-9900K
207 Points
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
205 Points -1%
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
190 Points -8%
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
173 Points -16%
Alienware 17 R5
Intel Core i7-8750H
170 Points -18%
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
169 Points -18%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points -23%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
158 Points -24%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
144 Points -30%
CPU Multi 64Bit
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
4376 Points +121%
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018
Intel Core i9-9900K
2021 Points +2%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Intel Core i9-9900K
1979 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (1623 - 2040, n=9)
1939 Points -2%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
1408 Points -29%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1378 Points -30%
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
1362 Points -31%
Alienware 17 R5
Intel Core i7-8750H
993 Points -50%
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
798 Points -60%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
771 Points -61%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
737 Points -63%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (2.33 - 2.44, n=5)
2.39 Points
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
2.33 Points
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
2.23 Points
Alienware 17 R5
Intel Core i7-8750H
1.93 Points
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
1.9 Points
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1.9 Points
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.81 Points
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
1.63 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
21.6 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (17.4 - 21.8, n=5)
20.7 Points
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
15.76 Points
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
15.05 Points
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
15.02 Points
Alienware 17 R5
Intel Core i7-8750H
11.25 Points
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
8.77 Points
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
8.39 Points
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.16 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (36683 - 49142, n=4)
45846 Points
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
39382 Points
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
37522 Points
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
29330 Points
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
24718 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (7786 - 8042, n=4)
7924 Points
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
7423 Points
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
6445 Points
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
5241 Points
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
4286 Points
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Eurocom Sky X9C
Intel Core i7-8700K
116.6 s *
Average Intel Core i9-9900K
  (85.6 - 98.7, n=3)
91.9 s *
AMD Threadripper 2970WX, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
38.49 s *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
207 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1979 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
162.9 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark 10 ranks our Alienware consistently behind the Eurocom Sky X7C equipped with the same CPU and GPU by just 1 to 3 percentage points. This is likely due to our Eurocom unit having 4x the RAM than our Alienware and with faster Samsung SSDs. Even so, these scores are still some of the highest in our database.

We didn't experience any particular software or hardware issues on our test unit save for one annoyance. The screen would automatically dim if it doesn't detect user activity for more than 5 seconds. This can't be changed or disabled through any Windows or Alienware settings that we know of to make it even more frustrating.

(April 5, 2019 update: We've since discovered that the automatic dimming is a feature of the Tobii eye-tracker. It can only be toggled through the Tobii settings.)

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10
Score
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
7171 Points +2%
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
7035 Points 0%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
7006 Points
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
6558 Points -6%
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5680 Points -19%
Alienware 17 R5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
5443 Points -22%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
3991 Points -43%
Essentials
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
10275 Points +1%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
10150 Points
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
10034 Points -1%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
9776 Points -4%
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
9041 Points -11%
Alienware 17 R5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
8462 Points -17%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
8255 Points -19%
Productivity
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
9693 Points +15%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
8968 Points +7%
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
8702 Points +3%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
8416 Points
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7497 Points -11%
Alienware 17 R5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
7410 Points -12%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
5259 Points -38%
Digital Content Creation
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
11191 Points +2%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
10929 Points
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
9717 Points -11%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
8732 Points -20%
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7337 Points -33%
Alienware 17 R5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
6980 Points -36%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
3975 Points -64%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
5720 Points +2%
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
5610 Points 0%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
5607 Points
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
5523 Points -1%
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4622 Points -18%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
4531 Points -19%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
6352 Points +3%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
6140 Points
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
5975 Points -3%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
5801 Points -6%
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5697 Points -7%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
2486 Points -60%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
5607 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
6140 points
PCMark 10 Score
7006 points
Help

Storage Devices

There are a total of three internal storage bays (2x M.2 2280, 1x 2.5-inch SATA III) with Optane support compared to four on the MSI GT75 or Eurocom Sky X7C. Our specific configuration is equipped with two SK Hynix PC400 M.2 NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 alongside a secondary 1 TB Seagate FireCuda ST1000LX015 HDD. Dell offers storage options ranging from 256 GB up to 2 TB, but they unfortunately do not specify the exact model names for these drives. We're hopeful that these drives turn out be Samsung SSDs since they tend to perform faster than those from Toshiba and others.

Transfer rates are excellent from the RAID 0 SK Hynix SSDs with sequential read and write rates at about 2082 MB/s and 2335 MB/s, respectively, according to AS SSD. Results are generally in between that of the Samsung SSD PM981 RAID 0 and Samsung SSD 970 Pro RAID 0.

Meanwhile, the Seagate HDD returns an average transfer rate of 102 MB/s according to HD Tune to be faster than most other 5400 RPM HDDs where <90 MB/s is common. Both 7 mm and 9.5 mm HDDs should be supported.

See our table of SSDs and HDDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5 (Primary SSD)
CDM 5 (Primary SSD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
CDM 5 (Secondary HDD)
CDM 5 (Secondary HDD)
Two M.2 2280 PCIe x4 slots each with their own head spreader
Two M.2 2280 PCIe x4 slots each with their own head spreader
2.5-inch SATA III bay underneath the left palm rest
2.5-inch SATA III bay underneath the left palm rest
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
Asus ROG G703GX
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
Razer Blade Pro 2017
2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
AS SSD
11%
4%
20%
-11%
Seq Read
2082
3058
47%
1632
-22%
2323
12%
2599
25%
Seq Write
2335
2196
-6%
1767
-24%
2887
24%
588
-75%
4K Read
24.14
38.37
59%
50.4
109%
30.51
26%
37.57
56%
4K Write
91.8
97.7
6%
101.9
11%
131.8
44%
104.4
14%
4K-64 Read
1561
1347
-14%
1196
-23%
1507
-3%
1116
-29%
4K-64 Write
1350
1236
-8%
1631
21%
1483
10%
513
-62%
Access Time Read *
0.121
0.056
54%
0.061
50%
0.032
74%
0.051
58%
Access Time Write *
0.039
0.038
3%
0.037
5%
0.028
28%
0.036
8%
Score Read
1793
1691
-6%
1410
-21%
1770
-1%
1414
-21%
Score Write
1675
1553
-7%
1910
14%
1904
14%
676
-60%
Score Total
4390
4066
-7%
4057
-8%
4602
5%
2715
-38%
Copy ISO MB/s
2175
2048
-6%
3044
40%
Copy Program MB/s
582
428.5
-26%
574
-1%
Copy Game MB/s
1479
1173
-21%
1489
1%

* ... smaller is better

2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3184 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2675 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 695 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 622 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2212 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2454 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 45.47 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 111.1 MB/s

GPU Performance

Dell boasts that its removable DGFF GeForce RTX 2080 GPU can run as fast as a desktop RTX 2080 since they both run under similar TDP envelopes. In truth, it definitely comes close. Our "proper" reference desktop PC with RTX 2080 graphics is able to outscore our Alienware-51m by up to 6 percent in 3DMark benchmarks. Users should be able to close that gap by overclocking the Alienware GPU at the cost of higher temperatures (>80 C).

When compared to other laptops with the same RTX 2080 GPU, the Alienware seems to come out on top. For example, both the RTX 2080 GPUs in the Eurocom Sky X7C and Asus ROG G703GX are consistently about 4 to 6 percent slower than the Alienware. The graphics performance advantage on the Dell is there, albeit marginal.

Systems with the RTX 2080 Max-Q like the Alienware m15 or m17 are slower by about 20 to 25 percent.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
Port Royal
Port Royal
Time Spy
Time Spy
3DMark DLSS 2K
3DMark DLSS 2K
3DMark DLSS 4K
3DMark DLSS 4K
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Eurocom Sky X9C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI (Laptop), i7-8700K
40582 Points +50%
1200 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE Asus Prime B350-PLUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), R3 1200
27546 Points +2%
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
27228 Points +1%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
27080 Points
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
25440 Points -6%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
  (22504 - 27319, n=16)
25211 Points -7%
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
23117 Points -15%
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i9-9900K
22887 Points -15%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H
21515 Points -21%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK
21422 Points -21%
MSI GE75 8SF
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
20236 Points -25%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
18879 Points -30%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
17792 Points -34%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Radeon RX 580 (Laptop), R7 1700
11010 Points -59%
Dell G3 17 3779
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
6228 Points -77%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
11099 Points +4%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
10720 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
  (9411 - 10992, n=15)
10046 Points -6%
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
9780 Points -9%
1200 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE Asus Prime B350-PLUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), R3 1200
9455 Points -12%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H
8512 Points -21%
MSI GE75 8SF
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
7789 Points -27%
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i9-9900K
7592 Points -29%
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
7221 Points -33%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
6380 Points -40%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
5689 Points -47%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Radeon RX 580 (Laptop), R7 1700
3440 Points -68%
2560x1440 Port Royal Graphics
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
5852 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
  (5377 - 6005, n=14)
5674 Points -3%
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
5463 Points -7%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H
4655 Points -20%
MSI GE75 8SF
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
4231 Points -28%
3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Graphics
Eurocom Sky X9C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI (Laptop), i7-8700K
9770 Points +63%
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
6379 Points +6%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
5993 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
  (5511 - 6077, n=8)
5812 Points -3%
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
5783 Points -4%
Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, i9-9900K
5440 Points -9%
MSI GE75 8SF
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
4669 Points -22%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Eurocom Sky X9C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI (Laptop), i7-8700K
46773 Points +22%
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
39651 Points +3%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
38485 Points
1200 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE Asus Prime B350-PLUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), R3 1200
35403 Points -8%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
  (31826 - 38809, n=17)
35286 Points -8%
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
35224 Points -8%
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i9-9900K
31656 Points -18%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H
29453 Points -23%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK
28918 Points -25%
MSI GE75 8SF
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
26097 Points -32%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
24868 Points -35%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
23414 Points -39%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Radeon RX 580 (Laptop), R7 1700
15264 Points -60%
Dell G3 17 3779
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7761 Points -80%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
17501 Points +1%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
17290 Points
Notebookcheck Desktop PC 2018
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop), i9-9900K
17223 Points 0%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
  (9038 - 18934, n=17)
14407 Points -17%
Eurocom Sky X9C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI (Laptop), i7-8700K
14119 Points -18%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK
14080 Points -19%
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
13883 Points -20%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H
11825 Points -32%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
11288 Points -35%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10129 Points -41%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Radeon RX 580 (Laptop), R7 1700
8946 Points -48%
MSI GE75 8SF
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
8811 Points -49%
Dell G3 17 3779
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7509 Points -57%
1200 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE Asus Prime B350-PLUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), R3 1200
6281 Points -64%
3DMark 11 Performance
29759 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
59224 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
23195 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
10704 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Real-world gaming performance is still essentially identical to a desktop RTX 2080 despite what the synthetic benchmarks above indicate. Running Metro Exodus on maximum settings, for example, is a few frames faster than on our reference desktop. Performance is about 30 to 35 percent faster than a regular GTX 1080 or 40 to 45 percent faster than a regular desktop RTX 2060.

Running Witcher 3 shows no recurring dips in frame rates to suggest no interrupting background activity during gameplay.

See our dedicated page on the RTX 2080 for more benchmarks and our review on the Turing series for more technical details.

Metro Exodus - 1920x1080 Ultra Quality AF:16x
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
76.1 fps
MSI RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop)
74.2 (38min - 122max) fps -2%
MSI GeForce GTX 1080
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (Desktop)
57.8 (32min) fps -24%
SCHENKER XMG Neo 17
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
54.1 fps -29%
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Desktop)
52.7 (29min - 82max) fps -31%
i7-7740X Asus X299 Prime
Intel Core i7-7740X, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (Desktop)
52.3 (28.83min - 88.2max) fps -31%
Acer Predator Triton 700
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
49.2 (26min) fps -35%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
47.8 fps -37%
SCHENKER XMG Neo 15 Turing
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
46.6 fps -39%
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
MSI RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop)
109 (94min - 120max) fps +8%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
101.1 fps
SCHENKER XMG Neo 17
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
73 fps -28%
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Desktop)
72.7 (61min - 82max) fps -28%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
65.7 fps -35%
SCHENKER XMG Neo 15 Turing
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
63.8 fps -37%
0102030405060708090100Tooltip
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080 GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0): Ø96.3 (88-103)
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 447.6 380.6 348 213.4
The Witcher 3 (2015) 382.5 273.3 194.4 101.1
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 317 224.3 188.8 158.8
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 171 140 134 123
Metro Exodus (2019) 165 120.1 91.5 76.1

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise profile on High Performance mode. There is no default middle-ground in fan noise if you want maximum gaming performance
Fan noise profile on High Performance mode. There is no default middle-ground in fan noise if you want maximum gaming performance

The cooling solution consists of dual ~60 mm fans with 7 heat pipes to be significantly larger and more capable than the cooling solution of the Alienware 17 R5. The lower-end RTX 2060/2070 configurations may carry fewer heat pipes. Even with this in mind, the Area-51m takes a unique approach to fan noise. When set to High Performance mode, the fans will operate at their maximum RPMs for a constant fan noise of 51 dB(A) no matter the onscreen load. The system may be simply idling on desktop and the fans would still be running at full speed. The bright side to this is that fan noise will not pulse when gaming unlike on most other gaming laptops with more sensitive fans.

Perhaps not by coincidence, we're also able to measure 51 dB(A) when gaming on the Alienware 17 R5. Dell managed to significantly up performance without impacting fan noise gen-to-gen. 

Fan behavior becomes more typical when set to Balanced. We're able to record a fan noise of 31.8 dB(A) and 38.2 dB(A) when browsing the web and running Witcher 3, respectively. This is measurably quieter than most gaming laptops where the low-to-mid 40 dB(A) range is common when playing games.

Some of you may be thinking: why not play games on Balanced mode instead of Performance mode when fan noise is so much louder on the latter? Balanced mode impacts GPU performance rather significantly while CPU performance remains unaffected. A Fire Strike run on Balanced mode returns Physics and Graphics scores of 24490 and 13326, respectively, compared to 24425 and 27080 points when on High Performance mode.

For situations where complete silence is desirable, Dell's preset Quiet mode does the trick. True to its name, the fans will actually idle and remain silent when browsing or video streaming and will only pulse up to 34.4 dB(A) if needed. Performance is throttled even further, of course, but this is fine for undemanding tasks.

We can notice no coil whine on our specific test unit.

Large diameter twin ~60 mm fans with 0.2 mm blades. Copper heat pipes are 6 mm to 8 mm wide
Large diameter twin ~60 mm fans with 0.2 mm blades. Copper heat pipes are 6 mm to 8 mm wide
We wonder if cooling would have been even better had Dell went with vapor chamber instead
We wonder if cooling would have been even better had Dell went with vapor chamber instead
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
Asus ROG G703GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0)
HP Omen X 17-ap002ng
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
Noise
-4%
-1%
7%
7%
1%
off / environment *
28.1
30
-7%
30
-7%
28.9
-3%
30
-7%
30
-7%
Idle Minimum *
28.1
32
-14%
30
-7%
29.7
-6%
31.6
-12%
30
-7%
Idle Average *
28.6
34
-19%
35
-22%
29.7
-4%
31.6
-10%
31
-8%
Idle Maximum *
51
37
27%
41
20%
30
41%
31.7
38%
33
35%
Load Average *
51
43
16%
44
14%
36.5
28%
38.4
25%
43
16%
Witcher 3 ultra *
51
57
-12%
51
-0%
49
4%
47.2
7%
55
-8%
Load Maximum *
51
62
-22%
52
-2%
57
-12%
48.1
6%
58
-14%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
28.1 / 28.6 / 51 dB(A)
Load
51 / 51 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.1 dB(A)

Temperature

Be sure not to block any of the four sets of ventilation grilles along the edges and rear
Be sure not to block any of the four sets of ventilation grilles along the edges and rear

The Alienware-51m incorporates far more ventilation grilles and breathing room when compared to the Alienware 17 that it replaces. In addition to the four sets of grilles along the rear, there are large honeycomb openings on the bottom for improved airflow. Dell says this approach is better while being just as rigid as the typical dotted mesh or parallel cuts seen on most other laptops.

Surface temperatures are never uncomfortably warm on the trackpad or palm rests. The main QWERTY keys can reach 41 C when gaming not unlike what we found on the Alienware 17 R5. While we would have liked cooler temperatures, this is still impressive considering that the Area-51m has a much more powerful CPU under the hood.

The warmest areas of the system are on the protruding rear as shown by our temperature maps below. Surfaces here can reach well over 50 C, but this is thankfully away from where users will be touching. The Eurocom Sky X7C has the Alienware beat yet again with cooler surface temperatures when under heavy loads.

It's worth mentioning that surfaces are warmer in Quiet mode when compared to Balanced mode. Since the fans are idling on this mode, the palm rests and keyboard keys will be a few degrees warmer at about 30 C to 32 C.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (bottom)

Stress Test

We stress the laptop with synthetic loads to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When running Prime95, we can observe the CPU operating at 4.7 GHz for the first 30 seconds or so before hitting a core temperature of 100 C. Thereafter, clock rates alternate between 4.4 GHz and 4.7 GHz in order to prevent the processor from becoming any warmer. Needless to say, there isn't much of an overclocking headroom through the Alienware Command Center utility. The same Core i9-9900K CPU in the competing Eurocom Sky X7C is able to run cooler at 84 C and at similar clock rates as our Alienware. We're a bit disappointed that the Alienware is unable to sustain 4.7 GHz or higher when at 100 percent CPU utilization.

It's worth mentioning that the GPU barely increases in temperature while stressing the CPU since the cooling solutions between the processors are independent. This is in contrast to many ultra-thin gaming laptops where the CPU and GPU often share the same heat pipes and fans.

Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously results in CPU and GPU temperatures of 95 C and 86 C, respectively. Core temperatures when running actual games are thankfully lower at the 74 C to 80 C range for each processor. Results are slightly cooler than on the Asus ROG G703GX by a few degrees, but still warmer than on the Eurocom Sky X7C when under similar gaming loads. There is no throttling in either case.

Running on battery power will severely limit performance even when set to the High Performance profile. A Fire Strike run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 15252 and 14172 points, respectively, compared to 24425 and 27080 points when on mains.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
System Idle -- -- 33 30
Prime95 Stress 4.4 - 4.7 -- 99 - 100 39
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 4.2 1560 95 86
Witcher 3 Stress 4.7 1860 74 80
Max. Load
 41.2 °C
106 F
47 °C
117 F
45.4 °C
114 F
 
 37 °C
99 F
43.4 °C
110 F
34.6 °C
94 F
 
 31.6 °C
89 F
28.6 °C
83 F
29 °C
84 F
 
Maximum: 47 °C = 117 F
Average: 33 °C = 91 F
56.4 °C
134 F
58.8 °C
138 F
48.8 °C
120 F
38.2 °C
101 F
40 °C
104 F
36 °C
97 F
29 °C
84 F
28.8 °C
84 F
30.8 °C
87 F
Maximum: 58.8 °C = 138 F
Average: 40.8 °C = 105 F
Power Supply (max.)  55 °C = 131 F | Room Temperature 22.8 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33 °C / 91 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 58.8 °C / 138 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.8 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 35.3 °C / 96 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32 °C / 89.6 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-3.1 °C / -5.6 F).

Speakers

Sound quality from the stereo speakers are very good even though the system lacks a dedicated subwoofer. Our pink noise measurements reveal a generally balanced audio experience with a roll-off at about 250 Hz. Higher volume settings will not introduce any static, though the palm rests will vibrate from the reverberations.

Forward-facing stereo speakers
Forward-facing stereo speakers
Pink noise at maximum volume
Pink noise at maximum volume
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.8422537.338.13137.635.74036.436.85033.736.16336.4448032.935.1100324212532.754.216030.966.220030.46925030.373.931530.675.740028.471.250028.370.863027.682.380027.880.1100027.574.7125027.376.916002775200026.876250026.474315026.270.6400026.475.8500026.369.3630026.267.8800026.276.2100002672.41250025.9711600025.871.2SPL39.187.6N3.579.7median 27.3median 73.9Delta13.735.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAlienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Idling on desktop draws anywhere between 23 W and 39 W depending on the brightness setting and power profile to be comparable to the older Alienware 17 R5. In fact, power consumption is comparable to most other less-powerful 17.3-inch gaming laptops when running low to medium workloads.

Differences begin to emerge when running more demanding workloads like games. When running Witcher 3, for example, we are able to record a constant power consumption of 340 W compared to only 284 W on the Asus ROG G703GX with the less demanding 45 W Core i7-8750H. It's a 20 percent increase in consumption for a mere 5 percent increase in graphics performance on this particular title. Running a desktop Core i9-9900K at full speed definitely has its consequences in this regard.

When on maximum load with Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously, we're able to measure a combined consumption of 485.1 W from the two AC adapters. Note that the laptop is able to run on just one adapter only albeit at reduced performance. One adapter is larger (~20 x 10 x 4.3 cm vs. ~15.5 x 7.5 x 3 cm) and heavier (1441 g vs. 732 g) than the other so you can carry only the small adapter for trips when the full power of the system may not be needed. Some Clevo-based systems like the Eurocom Sky X7C run on a single extra-large AC adapter to avoid the hassle of needing two AC adapters. Of course, there are pros and cons to both the Dell and Clevo solutions.

Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Note the slow and steady rise at the start before falling
Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Note the slow and steady rise at the start before falling
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Load is highest during the first few seconds before performance throttling kicks in
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Load is highest during the first few seconds before performance throttling kicks in
Constant consumption when running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06
Constant consumption when running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06
Constant consumption when running Witcher 3
Constant consumption when running Witcher 3
Large 330 W AC adapter (bottom) vs. smaller 180 W AC adapter (top)
Large 330 W AC adapter (bottom) vs. smaller 180 W AC adapter (top)
The large adapter is very similar to the one that ships with some MSI systems including the Trident 3
The large adapter is very similar to the one that ships with some MSI systems including the Trident 3
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.25 / 1.98 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 23.3 / 33.5 / 38.4 Watt
Load midlight 114.1 / 485.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0), IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
i9-8950HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0), TN, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus ROG G703GX
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 2x Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB (RAID 0), IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Razer Blade Pro 2017
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0), IGZO, 3840x2160, 17.30
Alienware 17 R5
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG, TN, 2560x1440, 17.30
Power Consumption
-4%
25%
-12%
6%
14%
Idle Minimum *
23.3
31
-33%
5
79%
41.3
-77%
31
-33%
28
-20%
Idle Average *
33.5
35
-4%
24
28%
41.8
-25%
36
-7%
32
4%
Idle Maximum *
38.4
45
-17%
42
-9%
46.1
-20%
44
-15%
37
4%
Load Average *
114.1
130
-14%
112
2%
116.6
-2%
107
6%
112
2%
Witcher 3 ultra *
339.5
268
21%
284
16%
245.9
28%
212
38%
192
43%
Load Maximum *
485.1
374
23%
320
34%
352.6
27%
258
47%
231
52%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery capacity is smaller than on the outgoing Alienware 17 R5 (90 Wh vs. 99 Wh). Couple this with a much more demanding desktop CPU and it's unsurprising that battery life is shorter. When subjected to WLAN load, we are able to record a runtime of just over 2 hours compared to almost twice that on the Alienware 17 R5 or Asus ROG G703GX. Results are similar to what we observed on the Eurocom Sky X7C equipped with the same CPU and GPU.

Even with everything set to minimum including brightness, Power Saver, and Quiet mode, we are only able to record a runtime of just over 2.5 hours.

Charging from empty to full capacity takes a little over 2 hours. The charging time does not seem to change dramatically if using one or both adapters and when the system is idling or running undemanding loads.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
2h 35min
WiFi Websurfing
2h 07min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 06min
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 90 Wh
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
i9-8950HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 75 Wh
Asus ROG G703GX
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 96 Wh
Eurocom Sky X7C i9-9900K
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 82 Wh
Razer Blade Pro 2017
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 99 Wh
Alienware 17 R5
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 99 Wh
Battery Runtime
20%
66%
-6%
47%
47%
Reader / Idle
155
225
45%
301
94%
253
63%
268
73%
WiFi v1.3
127
238
87%
120
-6%
197
55%
218
72%
Load
66
63
-5%
78
18%
81
23%
64
-3%

Pros

+ 4x SODIMM slots and 3x storage bays immediately accessible
+ near desktop-level CPU and GPU performance
+ comparatively lighter than the competition
+ absolutely silent when set to Quiet mode
+ both full-size NumPad and Macro keys
+ 144 Hz panel with minimal ghosting
+ ultra-fast 2.5 Gbps RJ-45
+ Graphics Amplifier port
+ per-key RGB lighting

Cons

- short battery life; smaller battery than Alienware 17 R5
- CPU at ~100 C when under 100 percent utilization
- requires two AC adapters for full performance
- no fingerprint reader or SD card reader
- fewer storage bays than the MSI GT75
- loud fan noise when gaming
- limited maximum lid angle
- average contrast ratio
- small trackpad
- no subwoofer

Verdict

In review: Alienware Area-51m. Test model provided by Dell
In review: Alienware Area-51m. Test model provided by Dell

From a gen to gen perspective, the Area-51m is a respectable successor to the Alienware 17 R5. It keeps what we love about the older model (beveled keyboard, sturdy design, easy servicing) while updating several aspects we feel needed the most attention (stronger cooling, narrower bezels, faster performance). Battery life is poor, but if that's a real priority then we suggest taking a look at the Alienware m17 instead.

Performance, unsurprisingly, is the real highlight of the laptop. The fact that the machine is only mere percentage points behind our in-house desktop PC reference is impressive in its own right. Fan noise when gaming remains almost identical to the Alienware 17 R5 which is good considering the massive boost in performance, but it's also a letdown for those who were hoping for a quieter machine.

What makes the Area-51m so special also seems to be responsible for its core disadvantages. The upgradeable and supposedly future-proof DGFF graphics card, for example, is an admittedly cool concept. Until an actual RTX 2080 successor comes along, however, it feels almost experimental at this point in time. Secondly, the jump to a 95+ W Core i9-9900K certainly boosts CPU performance over the traditional 45 w Coffee Lake-H solution, but it hurts us to see 99+ C core temperatures when under full utilization. 

While such high core temps are not inherently unsafe, we don't think there is an excuse for it. The Eurocom Sky X7C houses the same Core i9 CPU and yet it tops out at 84 c when subjected to the same stress test without needing to throttle clock rates. If Clevo can do it, then there's no reason why Dell shouldn't be able to, either. 

The next disadvantage is something we weren't expecting. Contrast ratio is not as deep as on last year's Alienware 17 R5 or the MSI GT75. This may be one of the fastest gaming laptops available, but it doesn't quite have the best display on all fronts.

The drawbacks, while apparent, don't detract from the fact that the Area-51m is still a large leap forward from the aging Alienware 17 series. Should Dell continue with the desktop CPU and DGFF route, then we're hopeful for both quieter fan noise and cooler temperatures on future revisions.

Overkill in the best way possible. There is definitely room for improvement in regard to core temperatures and fan noise when compared to the Eurocom Sky X7C. But as a successor to the Alienware 17, it hits all the right notes to be a strong desktop replacement.

Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080 - 09/20/2019 v7
Allen Ngo

Chassis
86 / 98 → 88%
Keyboard
89%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
62 / 80 → 78%
Weight
51 / 10-66 → 73%
Battery
40 / 95 → 42%
Display
86%
Games Performance
100%
Application Performance
95%
Temperature
85 / 95 → 89%
Noise
58 / 90 → 64%
Audio
84%
Camera
38 / 85 → 44%
Average
74%
86%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Alienware Area-51m (i9-9900K, RTX 2080) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2019-03-22 (Update: 2019-04- 5)