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Dell Alienware m17 R2 Laptop Review: Making Core i9 Worthwhile

All about performance. The redesigned Alienware m17 R2 crams both a Core i9-9980HK CPU and GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU in the thinnest chassis yet for the venerable series. We had anticipated lukewarm performance to keep thermals in check, but the system surprised us with its faster-than-average speeds even for a high-end gaming laptop.

The Alienware m17 R2 was unveiled just six months after the launch of the Alienware m17 R1. Unlike the older Alienware 17 series, the m17 series focuses on thinner and lighter designs to better compete in the increasingly popular thin gaming laptop space.

The m17 R2 ditches the m17 R1 design in favor of a new one derived from the larger Alienware Area-51m. It is essentially the 17.3-inch version of the 15.6-inch Alienware m15 R2 and so we recommend checking out our existing review on the m15 R2 as many of our comments apply here as well.

Current SKUs range from the Core i5-9300H to the Core i9-9980HK CPU and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti to the RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU. Display resolution and RAM are fixed at 1080p and up to 16 GB, respectively. Prices start at $1350 up to almost $4000 USD like the configuration we have here today.

Direct competitors to the Alienware m17 R2 include other thin 17.3-inch gaming laptops like the Asus ROG Strix GL704, MSI GS75, Acer Predator Helios 700, Lenovo Legion Y740-17, Razer Blade Pro 17, and the Gigabyte Aorus 17.

More Dell Alienware reviews:

Alienware m17 R2 P41E (m17 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i9-9980HK 8 x 2.4 - 5 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 990 MHz, Memory: 1500 MHz, GDDR6, 442.19, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, Soldered, DDR4, 1333.3 MHz, 19-19-19-43, Dual-Channel
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, Chi Mei 173HCE, CMN175F, IPS, Dell P/N: 8TV4Y, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0), 1024 GB 
Soundcard
NVIDIA TU104 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo
Networking
Killer E3000 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000/2500MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.5 x 399.8 x 295.5 ( = 0.81 x 15.74 x 11.63 in)
Battery
76 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Primary Camera: 1 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Alienware Command Center, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.586 kg ( = 91.22 oz / 5.7 pounds), Power Supply: 940 g ( = 33.16 oz / 2.07 pounds)
Price
3900 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
84.2 %
02/2020
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.6 kg20.5 mm17.30"1920x1080
82.9 %
06/2019
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.3 kg18.9 mm17.30"1920x1080
87.7 %
06/2019
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.8 kg19.9 mm17.30"1920x1080
86.1 %
09/2019
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
2.5 kg21.4 mm17.30"3840x2160
85.6 %
02/2019
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
2.9 kg26.4 mm17.30"1920x1080

Case

Dell has dropped the older Alienware 17 design for the newer "Legend" design inspired by the latest Alienware desktops and the recent Alienware Area-51m laptop. Visually, it feels like the breath of fresh air that the series needed as the older Alienware 17 R1 to R5 design overstayed its welcome in the face of newer and sleeker competitors. The new look is more modern without dropping the unique visual appeal that Alienware devices are known for.

While it's significantly lighter and smaller than the Alienware 17 R5, the Alienware m17 R2 skeleton is more flexible as a result. Minor warping and creaking are present when attempting to twist the base and lid. It's still sturdier than the MSI GS75, but we wouldn't say it's more rigid than the Asus ROG Strix GL704 or Razer Blade Pro 17.

Overall weight and size are quite similar to last year's Alienware m17 R1 despite the top-to-bottom redesign. The new model is slightly thinner and smaller than its predecessor albeit not by significant margins. When compared to most other 17.3-inch laptops, however, the m17 R2 has is noticeably longer in width due to its extended rear ventilation grilles. This approach allows for faster-than-average performance albeit not without some drawbacks as we will note below.

Same design and materials as the 15.6-inch Alienware m15 R2
Same design and materials as the 15.6-inch Alienware m15 R2
Alienware logo is the Power button. Unfortunately, it does not double as a fingerprint reader
Alienware logo is the Power button. Unfortunately, it does not double as a fingerprint reader
Same Noble Lock cable feature as found on Dell Latitude laptops
Same Noble Lock cable feature as found on Dell Latitude laptops
Large ventilation grilles along the rear and both edges
Large ventilation grilles along the rear and both edges
Customizeable AlienFX RGB LED ring along the rear
Customizeable AlienFX RGB LED ring along the rear
Large jet engine-like rear improves cooling at the cost of size and weight
Large jet engine-like rear improves cooling at the cost of size and weight
Magnesium alloy inner skeleton with plastic over metal
Magnesium alloy inner skeleton with plastic over metal
Dell says the hexagonal grilles maximize rigidity and airflow
Dell says the hexagonal grilles maximize rigidity and airflow
402.6 mm / 15.9 inch 319.2 mm / 12.6 inch 42 mm / 1.654 inch 3.9 kg8.53 lbs410 mm / 16.1 inch 292.5 mm / 11.5 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.6 kg5.8 lbs399 mm / 15.7 inch 273 mm / 10.7 inch 26.4 mm / 1.039 inch 2.9 kg6.37 lbs399.8 mm / 15.7 inch 295.5 mm / 11.6 inch 20.5 mm / 0.807 inch 2.6 kg5.7 lbs396 mm / 15.6 inch 270 mm / 10.6 inch 21.4 mm / 0.843 inch 2.5 kg5.51 lbs396 mm / 15.6 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 2.3 kg5.03 lbs395 mm / 15.6 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 19.9 mm / 0.783 inch 2.8 kg6.06 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Port options remain identical to the last generation Alienware m17 R1. This is good because it means Dell hasn't dropped any ports gen-to-gen, but it's also bad because users aren't gaining anything new, either. Of particular note is the proprietary Alienware Graphics Amplifier port to support the Alienware Graphics Amplifier dock. Its usefulness here is debatable since the included Thunderbolt 3 port can support most eGPU docks already.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right:  2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A
Right: 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A
Rear: HDMI 2.0b, mini-DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, Alienware Graphics Amplifier, AC adapter
Rear: HDMI 2.0b, mini-DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, Alienware Graphics Amplifier, AC adapter
Left: Noble Lock, 2.5 Gbps RJ-45, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 3.5 mm combo audio
Left: Noble Lock, 2.5 Gbps RJ-45, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 3.5 mm combo audio

Communication

All current SKUs come with either the Intel 8265 or Killer AX1650 for Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, respectively. The latter offers additional software features and is able to offer over two times the real-world transfer rates of the former provided that you have a Wi-Fi 6 router. SInce our unit is equipped with the lesser Intel 8265, we're able to record average transfer rates between 500 Mbps and 650 Mbps when connected to a Netgear RAX200 router.

Soldered M.2 1216 Wi-Fi module. The Killer AX1650 version comes with special Killer software and features
Soldered M.2 1216 Wi-Fi module. The Killer AX1650 version comes with special Killer software and features
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Aspire 5 A514-52
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1563 (1461min - 1779max) MBit/s +215%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
496 (459min - 531max) MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Acer Aspire 5 A514-52
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1282 (1203min - 1358max) MBit/s +101%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
638 (625min - 645max) MBit/s
03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630Tooltip
Alienware m17 R2 P41E; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø637 (625-645)
Alienware m17 R2 P41E; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø502 (459-531)

Webcam

ColorChecker
7 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
13.3 ∆E
12.3 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
13.6 ∆E
13.8 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
12.3 ∆E
15.3 ∆E
13.3 ∆E
10 ∆E
18.7 ∆E
4 ∆E
18 ∆E
10.4 ∆E
7.3 ∆E
21.6 ∆E
19.2 ∆E
16 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
5.4 ∆E
5.8 ∆E
ColorChecker Alienware m17 R2 P41E: 12.21 ∆E min: 4.02 - max: 21.59 ∆E

Maintenance

The bottom panel comes off easily with just a Philips screwdriver. Nonetheless, upgrade options are fewer than on the older Alienware m17 R1. Both RAM and WLAN are soldered while 2.5-inch SATA III options have been dropped in contrast to the last generation model. The only easily accessible components are the battery and two M.2 bays as a result.

Eagle-eyed users will notice that the motherboard here has a lot in common with the Alienware m15 R2 motherboard.

Alienware m17 R2. Bottom panel is secured by 8 screws
Alienware m17 R2. Bottom panel is secured by 8 screws
Alienware m17 R1 for comparison
Alienware m17 R1 for comparison

Accessories and Warranty

There are no included extras in the box other than the AC adapter and some paper manuals. The standard one-year limited warranty applies with options to extend up to four years. Dell's warranty services are more expansive than those from smaller makers like MSI, Asus, or Gigabyte.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Dell has revamped the keyboard when compared to the older Alienware m17 R1. The NumPad and Arrow keys in particular are now larger and not as cramped to use. Per-key RGB lighting comes standard whereas the m17 R1 was limited to four-zone RGB lighting only. Keys feel crisper when pressed with quieter clatter and deeper travel than on most Ultrabook keyboards. The keyboards on the Razer Blade Pro 17 and Asus Zephyrus series, for example, feel lighter with weaker feedback. This is one of our favorite gaming laptop keyboards for long typing sessions alongside the MSI SteelSeries keyboards.

Touchpad

We criticized the Alienware m17 R1 for having the exact same size clickpad as the Alienware m15 R1 even though the latter is a smaller 15.6-inch system. Fortunately, Dell has addressed this by integrating a larger (10 x 8 cm) clickpad for the Alienware m17 R2. The larger surface area makes multi-touch inputs easier than every Alienware laptop that has came before it. Scrolling is smooth with no cursor jumping and almost no sticking regardless of movement speed.

The integrated mouse keys are shallow in travel with moderate feedback when pressed. There is a loud audible click that makes the integrated keys more satisfying to use. This is one of the better clickpads we've seen with no dedicated mouse buttons. Still, the older Alienware 17 series had dedicated mouse keys for more accurate dragging and dropping.

Keyboard has changed in size and layout from the older Alienware m17 R1
Keyboard has changed in size and layout from the older Alienware m17 R1
The white surface hides fingerprints better than the usual black clickpad on most other laptops
The white surface hides fingerprints better than the usual black clickpad on most other laptops
Keys are firm in feedback with light-moderate clatter save for the louder Enter and Space keys
Keys are firm in feedback with light-moderate clatter save for the louder Enter and Space keys
NumPad keys are the same size as the QWERTY keys. The Arrow keys are still smaller
NumPad keys are the same size as the QWERTY keys. The Arrow keys are still smaller

Display

HWiNFO identifies a Chi Mei 173HCE panel with a CMN175F controller and an 8TV4Y Dell part number. The MSI GS75 9SG comes with a 144 Hz Chi Mei panel as well and so the two laptops share similar attributes including the fast response times, respectable contrast ratios, and full sRGB coverage. Interestingly, Dell has removed any 4K UHD options across the Alienware m17 R2 lineup even though they were present on the older m17 R1.

Text and images appear crisp and almost glossy-like unlike most other matte panels where graininess is not uncommon. The combination of a fast 144 Hz refresh rate with fast black-white and gray-gray response times gives a high quality impression that's reflective of a high-end machine.

All SKUs are fixed at 1080p with either 60 Hz or 144 Hz options
All SKUs are fixed at 1080p with either 60 Hz or 144 Hz options
The optional Tobii eye-tracking camera is along the bottom bezel
The optional Tobii eye-tracking camera is along the bottom bezel
No glossy or touchscreen options
No glossy or touchscreen options
Narrow side bezels aren't quite as narrow as on the Razer Blade Pro 17
Narrow side bezels aren't quite as narrow as on the Razer Blade Pro 17
Matte subpixel array
Matte subpixel array
Minor uneven backlight bleeding along the top corners
Minor uneven backlight bleeding along the top corners
350.2
cd/m²
385.6
cd/m²
355.9
cd/m²
347.7
cd/m²
384.2
cd/m²
346.9
cd/m²
347.8
cd/m²
347.3
cd/m²
345.4
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei 173HCE, CMN175F tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 385.6 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 356.8 cd/m² Minimum: 20 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Contrast: 1325:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.35 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.42
ΔE Greyscale 1.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98.5% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
72.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
70.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Chi Mei 173HCE, CMN175F, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Alienware m17 P37E
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0, IPS, 17.30, 3840x2160
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
Chi Mei N173HCE-G33 (CMN175C), IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
AU Optronics B173ZAN03.2, IPS, 17.30, 3840x2160
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
B173HAN04.0 (AUO409D), AHVA, 17.30, 1920x1080
Display
20%
-9%
-13%
21%
-12%
Display P3 Coverage
70.8
86.4
22%
62.6
-12%
60.6
-14%
86.8
23%
62.9
-11%
sRGB Coverage
98.5
99.9
1%
93.5
-5%
89
-10%
100
2%
87.1
-12%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
72.2
99.1
37%
64.7
-10%
62.1
-14%
99.5
38%
63.7
-12%
Response Times
-133%
21%
36%
-173%
-3%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
17.2 ?(8.8, 8.4)
35.6 ?(19.6, 16)
-107%
7.2 ?(3.8, 3.4)
58%
6.8 ?(3.4, 3.4)
60%
45.6 ?(24.4, 21.2)
-165%
17.6 ?(8.4, 9.2)
-2%
Response Time Black / White *
10.8 ?(6, 4.8)
28 ?(16, 12)
-159%
10 ?(5.2, 4.8)
7%
9.6 ?(5.2, 4.4)
11%
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
-181%
11.2 ?(6.8, 4.4)
-4%
PWM Frequency
26320 ?(25)
25510 ?(17)
-3%
Screen
-110%
-4%
-46%
-24%
-40%
Brightness middle
384.2
357.9
-7%
366
-5%
299.3
-22%
667.3
74%
295
-23%
Brightness
357
347
-3%
343
-4%
294
-18%
633
77%
291
-18%
Brightness Distribution
90
94
4%
91
1%
94
4%
90
0%
96
7%
Black Level *
0.29
0.33
-14%
0.29
-0%
0.29
-0%
0.46
-59%
0.24
17%
Contrast
1325
1085
-18%
1262
-5%
1032
-22%
1451
10%
1229
-7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.35
6.57
-387%
1.51
-12%
2.55
-89%
3.53
-161%
3.2
-137%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.45
9.86
-186%
3.22
7%
4.73
-37%
6.88
-99%
6.64
-92%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.42
6.74
-375%
0.71
50%
2.9
-104%
3.79
-167%
2.52
-77%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.2
4.3
-258%
1.93
-61%
3.5
-192%
0.9
25%
2.16
-80%
Gamma
2.23 99%
2.6 85%
2.38 92%
2.28 96%
2.17 101%
2.46 89%
CCT
6580 99%
6403 102%
6881 94%
7101 92%
6533 99%
6872 95%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
65.5
88.4
35%
60
-8%
57
-13%
87.1
33%
57
-13%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
98.5
100
2%
94
-5%
88.7
-10%
100
2%
87
-12%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-74% / -88%
3% / -0%
-8% / -29%
-59% / -34%
-18% / -30%

* ... smaller is better

Color space covers approximately 99 percent and 66 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively, to be similar to almost every other high refresh rate panel found on other gaming laptops. The notable exception is the 120 Hz 4K UHD panel that promises full AdobeRGB coverage as found on the Razer Blade Pro 17. Sharp IGZO and OLED panels also offer deeper colors than our Alienware unit albeit at slower response times or refresh rates.

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

Further measurements with an X-Rite colorimeter reveal a well-calibrated display out of the box. Average DeltaE grayscale and color values sit at just 1.2 and 1.12, respectively, and our attempt to calibrate the display even further would result in no significant changes.

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
17.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 8.8 ms rise
↘ 8.4 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. » 26 % 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 detected 26320 Hz ≤ 25 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 26320 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 25 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 26320 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

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 and viewing angles are not any better or worse than on the older Alienware m17 R1 since brightness and contrast have not changed significantly. 17.3-inch gaming laptops generally aren't designed to be used outdoors frequently and the m17 R2 is no different. If you happen to need a powerful 17.3-inch laptop primarily for outdoor use, then the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR and its super-bright 650-nit display should fill the niche.

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

Performance

Dell likes to offer a wider range of CPU and GPU options when compared to other OEMs to appeal to both mid-range and enthusiast gamers. Keep in mind that system RAM is soldered up to a maximum of 16 GB DDR4-2666 only whereas most other 17.3-inch gaming laptops — including Dell's own Alienware m17 R1 — top out at 32 GB or 64 GB. Dell says it is looking into offering 32 GB SKUs in the near future.

Nvidia Optimus comes standard for automatic graphics switching. LatencyMon showed DPC latency issues during our first run, but subsequent runs returned no dropouts.

 

Processor

CPU performance is excellent despite our reserves about the performance of an unlocked Core i9 processor in a thin chassis. In fact, of the twelve Core i9-9980HK laptops we've tested thus far, our Alienware comes out to be 7 to 14 percent faster than the average according to CineBench Multi-Thread tests. The 2019 Apple MacBook Pro 15 is almost 25 percent slower in multi-threaded loads even though it uses the exact same octa-core Core i9-9980HK CPU.

Performance sustainability is excellent as well. When running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop, we can observe a performance dip of only 4 percent over time. Opting for the less expensive hexa-core Core i7-9750H SKU will net a 40 percent drop in processor performance.

See our dedicated page on the Core i9-9980HK for more technical information and benchmarks.

CineBench R15
CineBench R15
CineBench R20
CineBench R20
01002003004005006007008009001000110012001300140015001600170018001900Tooltip
Alienware m17 R2 P41E GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1640 (1625.22-1699.96)
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1496 (1486.55-1622.78)
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 20 Radeon Pro Vega 20, i9-9980HK, Apple SSD AP1024; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1308 (1257.47-1327.02)
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900KS, Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1835 (1810.86-1981.87)
Cinebench R20
CPU (Multi Core)
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
4463 Points +8%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
4136 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (2974 - 4150, n=10)
3530 Points -15%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
3505 Points -15%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 20
Intel Core i9-9980HK
3197 Points -23%
Medion Erazer X15805
Intel Core i9-8950HK
2924 Points -29%
Alienware m15 R2 P87F
Intel Core i7-9750H
2429 Points -41%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
Intel Core i7-8750H
2142 Points -48%
MSI GF63 Thin 9SC
Intel Core i5-9300H
1737 Points -58%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
1633 Points -61%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-1065G7 Iris Plus
Intel Core i7-1065G7
1411 Points -66%
CPU (Single Core)
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
509 Points +6%
Medion Erazer X15805
Intel Core i9-8950HK
498 Points +4%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 20
Intel Core i9-9980HK
481 Points +1%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
478 Points
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
474 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (431 - 505, n=10)
471 Points -1%
Alienware m15 R2 P87F
Intel Core i7-9750H
429 Points -10%
MSI GF63 Thin 9SC
Intel Core i5-9300H
418 Points -13%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
Intel Core i7-8750H
409 Points -14%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-1065G7 Iris Plus
Intel Core i7-1065G7
388 Points -19%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
352 Points -26%
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
215 Points +10%
Medion Erazer X15805
Intel Core i9-8950HK
203 Points +4%
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (181 - 215, n=13)
198.8 Points +2%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
198 Points +2%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
195 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 20
Intel Core i9-9980HK
181 Points -7%
Alienware m15 R2 P87F
Intel Core i7-9750H
179 Points -8%
MSI GF63 Thin 9SC
Intel Core i5-9300H
173 Points -11%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
Intel Core i7-8750H
167 Points -14%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-1065G7 Iris Plus
Intel Core i7-1065G7
149 Points -24%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
143 Points -27%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
1962 Points +12%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
1754 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (1327 - 1930, n=14)
1656 Points -6%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
1623 Points -7%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 20
Intel Core i9-9980HK
1327 Points -24%
Medion Erazer X15805
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1217 Points -31%
Alienware m15 R2 P87F
Intel Core i7-9750H
1046 Points -40%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
Intel Core i7-8750H
1016 Points -42%
MSI GF63 Thin 9SC
Intel Core i5-9300H
797 Points -55%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
734 Points -58%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-1065G7 Iris Plus
Intel Core i7-1065G7
676 Points -61%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
2.43 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (2.25 - 2.4, n=3)
2.31 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
22.31 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (14.8 - 18, n=3)
16.7 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
50462 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (39440 - 50439, n=4)
44697 Points
Medion Erazer X15805
Intel Core i9-8950HK
36591 Points
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
19290 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (7709 - 9734, n=4)
8346 Points
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
8143 Points
Medion Erazer X15805
Intel Core i9-8950HK
7735 Points
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
4527 Points
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK
  (110.4 - 120.2, n=2)
115.3 s *
Eurocom Sky X4C i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900KS
93.8 s *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
138.6 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1754 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
195 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks are where we expect them to be save for the poor Digital Content Creation score. Annoyingly, UL has yet to incorporate discrete graphics for this particular benchmark making it unreliable for gauging the photo and video editing capabilities of Lenovo Legion Y740-17IRH Review: Gaming bolide gets high marks for its great power delivery and low heat developmentlaptops with discrete graphics.

Strangely, waking from sleep takes abnormally long at about 7 seconds. We're able to reproduce this reliably every time we put the system to in sleep mode.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10
Score
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
5804 Points +5%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5734 Points +4%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
5632 Points +2%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
5555 Points +1%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
5502 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
 
5502 Points 0%
Essentials
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
9933 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
 
9933 Points 0%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
9501 Points -4%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
9473 Points -5%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
8780 Points -12%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
8711 Points -12%
Productivity
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
8253 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
 
8253 Points 0%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
7622 Points -8%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
7599 Points -8%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7482 Points -9%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
7331 Points -11%
Digital Content Creation
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
7330 Points +33%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
7325 Points +33%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
7227 Points +31%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7219 Points +31%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
5514 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
 
5514 Points 0%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
4861 Points +11%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
4461 Points +2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4412 Points +1%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
4384 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
 
4384 Points 0%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
3812 Points -13%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
5818 Points
Average Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
 
5818 Points 0%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
5716 Points -2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5672 Points -3%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
5663 Points -3%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4765 Points -18%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4384 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5818 points
PCMark 10 Score
5502 points
Help

Storage Devices

Two M.2 2280 PCIe x4 slots are available whereas most other 17.3-inch laptops have at least one 2.5-inch SATA III bay and one M.2 slot. Our test unit comes equipped with two 512 GB SK Hynix PC601 NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 configuration whereas our Alienware m17 R1 came with a single SK Hynix PC401.

Sequential read and write rates are nearly two times faster than what we recorded on the m17 R1. Even so, a single Samsung PM981 is able to offer faster average transfer rates than our RAID 0 setup as shown by the table below. It's a bit disappointing that Dell is using SK Hynix SSDs instead of faster Samsung SSDs especially at this price range.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5.5
CDM 5.5
Copper plates to aid in SSD heat dissipation. Most other laptops do not offer any cooling at all for NVMe SSDs
Copper plates to aid in SSD heat dissipation. Most other laptops do not offer any cooling at all for NVMe SSDs
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
Alienware m17 P37E
SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
Lenovo ThinkBook 15
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
AS SSD
-23%
13%
-34%
-26%
28%
Seq Read
1938
1835
-5%
2855
47%
1812
-7%
1315
-32%
2564
32%
Seq Write
2094
1121
-46%
2687
28%
1512
-28%
927
-56%
2268
8%
4K Read
25.88
23.98
-7%
30.31
17%
32.68
26%
52.4
102%
57
120%
4K Write
100.8
100
-1%
96.3
-4%
107.7
7%
122.8
22%
141.4
40%
4K-64 Read
1217
687
-44%
1460
20%
504
-59%
326.5
-73%
1175
-3%
4K-64 Write
1137
776
-32%
1224
8%
534
-53%
727
-36%
1665
46%
Access Time Read *
0.051
0.047
8%
0.054
-6%
0.05
2%
0.11
-116%
0.032
37%
Access Time Write *
0.107
0.053
50%
0.038
64%
0.227
-112%
0.045
58%
0.025
77%
Score Read
1437
895
-38%
1776
24%
718
-50%
510
-65%
1488
4%
Score Write
1447
988
-32%
1589
10%
793
-45%
942
-35%
2033
40%
Score Total
3624
2306
-36%
4259
18%
1871
-48%
1715
-53%
4279
18%
Copy ISO MB/s
1926
773
-60%
2226
16%
946
-51%
2118
10%
Copy Program MB/s
626
493
-21%
426.4
-32%
414.3
-34%
495.6
-21%
Copy Game MB/s
1533
647
-58%
1152
-25%
1263
-18%
1174
-23%
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-18%
6%
2%
-33%
6%
Write 4K
110.6
120.2
9%
95.5
-14%
169.6
53%
99.6
-10%
176.3
59%
Read 4K
41.46
44.3
7%
42.59
3%
58
40%
48.99
18%
48.98
18%
Write Seq
2378
1278
-46%
2851
20%
1516
-36%
972
-59%
1789
-25%
Read Seq
2114
1389
-34%
2696
28%
2362
12%
1515
-28%
1671
-21%
Write 4K Q32T1
445.4
436.2
-2%
402.6
-10%
481.8
8%
280.6
-37%
433.5
-3%
Read 4K Q32T1
509
515
1%
443.9
-13%
506
-1%
327.8
-36%
526
3%
Write Seq Q32T1
2735
1157
-58%
3420
25%
1530
-44%
970
-65%
2983
9%
Read Seq Q32T1
3206
2671
-17%
3514
10%
2645
-17%
1757
-45%
3555
11%
Write 4K Q8T8
1688
Read 4K Q8T8
1036
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-21% / -21%
10% / 11%
-16% / -21%
-30% / -29%
17% / 20%

* ... smaller is better

2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3206 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2735 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 509 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 445.4 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2114 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2378 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 41.46 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 110.6 MB/s

GPU Performance

Graphics performance is where expect it to be if not slightly faster than the average GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q in our database. 3DMark benchmarks rank our Alienware about 7 percent faster than the standard mobile RTX 2070 and only about 13 percent behind the standard mobile RTX 2080. The desktop RTX 2080 Ti is still king of the crop with its 50 to 70 percent lead over our Alienware laptop.

Gaming performance is within single-digit percentages of a standard mobile RTX 2070 as predicted by 3DMark. It's possible to reach a stable 144 FPS at 1080p on undemanding competitive titles like Overwatch and even some single-player titles with reduced graphical settings. Keep in mind that you don't have to reach 144 FPS to exploit a 144 Hz monitor.

Idling on Witcher 3 for over an hour results in steady frame rates with no recurring dips over time. We did experience a short and sudden drop to 60 FPS near the beginning of the test, but this instance was not repeatable.

See our dedicated page on the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
Time Spy
Time Spy
Port Royal
Port Royal
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
MSI RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop), R9 3900X
165374 Points +32%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
132852 Points +6%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
124815 Points
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H
116593 Points -7%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
115714 Points -7%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (38256 - 129506, n=17)
111063 Points -11%
Dell G5 15 5590-P8RVW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-9750H
105063 Points -16%
Maingear Vector 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
97136 Points -22%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
88432 Points -29%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H
72806 Points -42%
MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
61392 Points -51%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop), R9 3900X
33935 Points +52%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H
25432 Points +14%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
22391 Points
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
20997 Points -6%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (18048 - 23032, n=19)
20658 Points -8%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
20307 Points -9%
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H
18055 Points -19%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
17792 Points -21%
Dell G5 15 5590-P8RVW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-9750H
16606 Points -26%
Maingear Vector 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
14718 Points -34%
MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
9537 Points -57%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
MSI RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop), R9 3900X
14492 Points +71%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H
9797 Points +16%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
8479 Points
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
8028 Points -5%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (6464 - 8844, n=19)
7903 Points -7%
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H
6910 Points -19%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
6606 Points -22%
Dell G5 15 5590-P8RVW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-9750H
6521 Points -23%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
5689 Points -33%
Maingear Vector 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
5534 Points -35%
MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
2805 Points -67%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
MSI RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop), R9 3900X
43576 Points +49%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H
34897 Points +19%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
29220 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (23386 - 30910, n=20)
27852 Points -5%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
27109 Points -7%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
25845 Points -12%
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H
23734 Points -19%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
23414 Points -20%
Dell G5 15 5590-P8RVW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-9750H
21427 Points -27%
Maingear Vector 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
19670 Points -33%
MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
12193 Points -58%
1280x720 Performance Combined
MSI RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop), R9 3900X
18534 Points +24%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
16364 Points +10%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
14894 Points
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H
12450 Points -16%
Maingear Vector 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
12192 Points -18%
Dell G5 15 5590-P8RVW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-9750H
12014 Points -19%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (9212 - 14894, n=20)
11726 Points -21%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
11288 Points -24%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10020 Points -33%
MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
9459 Points -36%
MSI GE63 Raider 8SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-8750H
9038 Points -39%
3DMark 11 Performance
23774 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
50705 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
19583 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
8604 points
Help
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
1280x720 Lowest Preset
Corsair One i160
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop)
167 fps +18%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
146 fps +3%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
143 fps +1%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
142 fps
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile
133 fps -6%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (114 - 142, n=5)
130.4 fps -8%
HP Omen 15-dc0015ng
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
130 fps -8%
HP Omen X 2S 15-dg0075cl
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
128 fps -10%
Acer Predator Triton 700
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
117 (85min) fps -18%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
115 fps -19%
Dell G3 3590
Intel Core i5-9300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
102 fps -28%
HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec0017ng
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q
82 fps -42%
1920x1080 Highest Preset AA:T
Corsair One i160
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop)
142 fps +43%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
109 fps +10%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
99 fps
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
95 fps -4%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (71 - 105, n=8)
86.6 fps -13%
HP Omen X 2S 15-dg0075cl
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
83 fps -16%
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile
83 fps -16%
Acer Predator Triton 700
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
78 (64min) fps -21%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
67 fps -32%
HP Omen 15-dc0015ng
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
61 fps -38%
HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec0017ng
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q
49 fps -51%
Asus TUF FX705GM
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
47 fps -53%
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Corsair One i160
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop)
131 (110min - 147max) fps +68%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
95.3 fps +22%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (65.7 - 92.7, n=22)
79.2 fps +2%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
78.4 fps +1%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
78 fps
HP Omen X 2S 15-dg0075cl
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
69 fps -12%
Walmart EVOO Gaming 17
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile
68.9 fps -12%
HP Omen 15-dc0015ng
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
55.3 fps -29%
HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec0017ng
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q
52.2 fps -33%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
51.6 fps -34%
Asus TUF FX705GM
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
36.5 fps -53%
Dell G3 3590
Intel Core i5-9300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
36.2 fps -54%
051015202530354045505560657075Tooltip
Alienware m17 R2 P41E GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0): Ø75 (60-80)
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 396.1 337.3 321 179
The Witcher 3 (2015) 326.6 239.3 149.6 78
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 142 110 105 99

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise has not improved from the Alienware m17 R1 even though the m17 R2 sports a completely new chassis. If gaming, the fans jump very quickly to about 50 dB(A) when on Balanced mode or 53 dB(A) when the fan is set to Full Speed. Results are not very different from what we've observed on the MSI GS75, Razer Blade Pro 17, and Asus ROG GL704GW when under similar gaming conditions.

It's important to become familiar with Alienware Command Center as fan noise is intimately tied to Dell's pre-installed software instead of the standard Windows power profiles. Setting fan speed to Quiet when not gaming will make browsing and video streaming much more pleasant. Otherwise, the fans will pulse more frequently than any of the aforementioned gaming laptops when set to their default or Balanced settings.

We're able to notice slight electronic noise or coil whine when placing an ear near the keyboard keys. It's thankfully minor enough to not be distracting during everyday use.

Twin ~50 mm fans. Motherboard is upside down when compared to the motherboard on the m17 R1
Twin ~50 mm fans. Motherboard is upside down when compared to the motherboard on the m17 R1
When set to Quiet mode, fans will typically hover around 31.5 dB(A) or lower
When set to Quiet mode, fans will typically hover around 31.5 dB(A) or lower
Soldered RAM modules
Soldered RAM modules
The large extended rear is a big reason why the system can house both Core i9 and RTX 2080 Max-Q GPUs
The large extended rear is a big reason why the system can house both Core i9 and RTX 2080 Max-Q GPUs
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
Noise
2%
-3%
4%
-2%
-4%
off / environment *
29.1
28.2
3%
30
-3%
28.2
3%
29.3
-1%
29
-0%
Idle Minimum *
29.4
28.2
4%
31
-5%
28.2
4%
33
-12%
29
1%
Idle Average *
29.4
28.2
4%
32
-9%
28.2
4%
33
-12%
32
-9%
Idle Maximum *
31.5
31
2%
38
-21%
30.8
2%
33
-5%
40
-27%
Load Average *
49.7
50.8
-2%
47
5%
42
15%
42.5
14%
46
7%
Witcher 3 ultra *
49.5
50.8
-3%
48
3%
51
-3%
42
15%
51
-3%
Load Maximum *
53.3
50.8
5%
49
8%
53
1%
59.6
-12%
52
2%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
29.4 / 29.4 / 31.5 dB(A)
Load
49.7 / 53.3 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: 29.1 dB(A)

Temperature

Surface temperatures when idling on desktop are warmer than most competing laptops but otherwise in line with other Alienware m15 or m17 models. Hot spots near the rear of the system can become as warm as 38 C simply from doing nothing since the fans are idling at this state. It's a fair price to pay for having a quiet video streaming, browsing, or word processing experience on a high-performance gaming laptop. Setting the fan manually to Full Speed mode while leaving system performance to Balanced or Power Saver will result in cooler surface temperatures at the cost of increased fan noise.

When gaming or running demanding loads on Full Speed and High Performance modes, the center of the keyboard can become as warm as 47 C to 55 C compared to 44 C on the Razer Blade Pro 17 with the same GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU. Fortunately, the surrounding palm rests, WASD keys, NumPad keys, and clickpad remain cooler to the touch no matter the processing load. It's important to not block any of the large ventilation grilles along the bottom, sides, or rear of the system.

Four sets of exhaust grilles
Four sets of exhaust grilles
AC adapter after running Witcher 3 for an hour
AC adapter after running Witcher 3 for an hour
Max. Load
 43.6 °C
110 F
54.2 °C
130 F
39 °C
102 F
 
 37 °C
99 F
51.6 °C
125 F
32.2 °C
90 F
 
 29.8 °C
86 F
29.6 °C
85 F
31.4 °C
89 F
 
Maximum: 54.2 °C = 130 F
Average: 38.7 °C = 102 F
43.2 °C
110 F
51.6 °C
125 F
47 °C
117 F
33.2 °C
92 F
61.4 °C
143 F
35.2 °C
95 F
30.4 °C
87 F
39.6 °C
103 F
31.8 °C
89 F
Maximum: 61.4 °C = 143 F
Average: 41.5 °C = 107 F
Power Supply (max.)  49 °C = 120 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.7 °C / 102 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 54.2 °C / 130 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 61.4 °C / 143 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.9 °C / 89 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 33.8 °C / 93 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 31.4 °C / 88.5 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-2.5 °C / -4.5 F).
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)
Prime95+FurMark stress (top)
Prime95+FurMark stress (top)
Prime95+FurMark stress (bottom)
Prime95+FurMark stress (bottom)

Stress Test

We stress the system with synthetic loads on the Full Speed fan setting and High Performance profile to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When running Prime95 to stress the CPU, core clock rates and temperature can be observed stabilizing at 4.1 to 4.2 GHz and a core temperature of 99 C — faster and far warmer than on most other laptops. The same CPU on the Eurocom Nightsky RX15, for example, stabilizes at only 3.3 to 3.4 GHz and at a core temperature of 68 C when under similar conditions. It's clear that the impressive CPU performance of the Alienware comes at a high cost in this regard.

Running Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously will cause the CPU to occasionally dip in clock rates and temperature as shown by the screenshot below as a means to tolerate the extreme processing loads. Running Witcher 3 to represent real-world gaming loads results in more agreeable CPU and GPU temperatures of 74 C and 57 C, respectively, compared to 80 C and 73 C on the MSI GS75 equipped with the same RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU.

Performance will be reduced if running on battery power. A Fire Strike run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 16783 and 6836 points, respectively, compared to 21634 and 22391 points when on mains.

System idle (Quiet mode, Balanced power profile)
System idle (Quiet mode, Balanced power profile)
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Alienware Command Center system vitals when idling
Alienware Command Center system vitals when idling
Alienware Command Center system vitals when on maximum load
Alienware Command Center system vitals when on maximum load
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
System Idle -- -- 50 43
Prime95 Stress 4.1 - 4.2 -- 99 51
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 2.3 - 2.8 960 - 1290 81 - 99 69
Witcher 3 Stress 4.2 - 4.4 1455 ~74 57

Speakers

Audio quality is similar to the smaller Alienware m15 R2 as exemplified by their similar pink noise levels. Though satisfactory for a gaming laptop, it's too bad that there is no subwoofer for deeper bass. Higher volume settings will not introduce any rattling or static.

Speakers positioned near the front corners
Speakers positioned near the front corners
Pink noise at maximum volume
Pink noise at maximum volume

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The Alienware m17 R2 is much more sensitive to power settings when compared to most other laptops. Depending on the mode (Power Saver, Balanced, or High Performance), we're able to record average consumption rates ranging from 24 W to 70 W simply by idling on the desktop. In contrast, other laptops like the MSI GS75 or Razer Blade Pro 17 each with the same RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU would top out at only 26 W when under similar settings. If battery life is important to you, then you should definitely make sure you have the correct power mode selected.

Running Witcher 3 consumes 186 W to be nearly identical to both the Razer Blade Pro 17 with the RTX 2080 Max-Q and Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW with the standard RTX 2070. We're able to record a maximum consumption of 235 W from the medium-large (~20 x 10 x 2.6 cm) 240 W AC adapter when running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously. Thus, recharge rate will slow significantly if both the CPU and GPU are are 100 percent utilization.

Relatively constant consumption when running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06
Relatively constant consumption when running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06
Idling on Witcher 3 consumes about 186 W
Idling on Witcher 3 consumes about 186 W
Prime95 initiated at 10s mark. Consumption spikes and stabilizes at around 175 W
Prime95 initiated at 10s mark. Consumption spikes and stabilizes at around 175 W
Prime95 and FurMark initiated at 10s mark. Consumption spikes and stabilizes at around 235 W. Note that small dip at around the 2:30 mark that coincides with our Stress Test observations
Prime95 and FurMark initiated at 10s mark. Consumption spikes and stabilizes at around 235 W. Note that small dip at around the 2:30 mark that coincides with our Stress Test observations
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.18 / 0.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 24.7 / 35.9 / 69.6 Watt
Load midlight 141.8 / 235.4 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 m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0), IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG), IPS, 3840x2160, 17.30
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0), IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8, IPS, 3840x2160, 17.30
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8, AHVA, 1920x1080, 17.30
Power Consumption
17%
35%
30%
25%
25%
Idle Minimum *
24.7
21.2
14%
13
47%
16.2
34%
13.9
44%
19
23%
Idle Average *
35.9
29.6
18%
17
53%
20.4
43%
24.3
32%
22
39%
Idle Maximum *
69.6
34
51%
25
64%
26.1
62%
35.5
49%
29
58%
Load Average *
141.8
130.9
8%
96
32%
96.5
32%
127.6
10%
102
28%
Witcher 3 ultra *
185.8
177.5
4%
156
16%
182.9
2%
158
15%
190
-2%
Load Maximum *
235.4
219.7
7%
239
-2%
214.3
9%
237.5
-1%
231
2%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

AC adapter is larger than a DVD case
AC adapter is larger than a DVD case

Battery capacity has dropped from 90 Wh on the older Alienware m17 R1 to 76 Wh on the Alienware m17 R2. Nonetheless, runtimes remain roughly the same gen-to-gen due to improved power efficiencies from the newer design. Users can expect just under 5 hours of real-world WLAN use to be just slightly above average for a 17.3-inch gaming laptop.

Recharging from empty to full capacity takes about 2.5 hours with the included AC adapter compared to 1.5 hours on most Ultrabooks. Recharging the system via USB Type-C will not work unlike on the Asus Zephyrus M GU502GU.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 06min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 50min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 31min
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 76 Wh
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 90 Wh
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 80.25 Wh
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 70 Wh
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 94.24 Wh
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 66 Wh
Battery Runtime
29%
57%
48%
111%
28%
Reader / Idle
426
543
27%
461
8%
295
-31%
711
67%
372
-13%
WiFi v1.3
290
296
2%
357
23%
280
-3%
431
49%
235
-19%
Load
31
49
58%
74
139%
86
177%
98
216%
67
116%
Witcher 3 ultra
52

Pros

+ excellent Turbo Boost sustainability relative to the small size
+ satisfying key feedback; full-size NumPad keys
+ quiet fan noise when on Power Saver mode
+ 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port and Thunderbolt 3
+ 2x M.2 2280 slots with copper plates
+ well-calibrated display out of the box
+ per-key RGB lighting

Cons

- high power consumption during low processing loads
- very warm CPU temperatures when fully stressed
- non-upgradeable RAM and WLAN
- limited to 16 GB RAM for now
- battery life could be better
- no 2.5-inch SATA III option
- loud when gaming
- no 4K UHD option
- large AC adapter
- large footprint

Verdict

In review: Alienware m17 R2 P41E. Test unit provided by Dell US
In review: Alienware m17 R2 P41E. Test unit provided by Dell US

Users always expect second generation models to be better than first generation models in every way. In the case of the Alienware m17 R2, however, it's more of a sideways step over the Alienware m17 R1. This latest iteration both adds and removes features that might irk some enthusiasts. Owners will have to trade removable RAM, removable Wi-Fi, 2.5-inch SATA III options, 4K UHD display options, and a larger battery as found on the original m17 R1 for an improved keyboard, larger clickpad, per-key RGB lighting, and a newer chassis design. If your workloads are very heavy on RAM usage and storage, then you may want to consider the larger Alienware Area-51m instead.

On the performance front, we're impressed by the Turbo Boost sustainability of the CPU. Core i9 laptops — especially the thinner ones — usually disappoint since most designs do not fully utilize the potential of the processor, but this Alienware is a notable exception. The main drawbacks are the larger footprint, much warmer core temperatures, and loud fan noise that all haven't really improved over the m17 R1. These are the unfortunate consequences for cramming a Core i9 CPU in a chassis this thin. Still, we suspect that the lesser-equipped SKUs with the Core i5 or Core i7 will run cooler than what we've recorded here.

Does the Alienware m17 R2 offer enough to be a strong recommendation? Unless if you value the better keyboard and Core i9 and Tobii eye-tracking options, you can get similar gaming performance from smaller and more portable Core i7 alternatives like the Asus ROG Strix Scar GL704GW or Razer Blade Pro 17.

The Alienware m17 R2 is all about maximizing performance out of the thinnest chassis in the series thus far. Owners will have to deal with the inevitably louder fans, warmer core temperatures, and larger footprint even for a 17.3-inch gaming laptop if they want to fully exploit what the system has to offer.

Alienware m17 R2 P41E - 07/31/2020 v7
Allen Ngo

Chassis
81 / 98 → 83%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
60 / 80 → 76%
Weight
59 / 10-66 → 88%
Battery
63 / 95 → 66%
Display
83%
Games Performance
96%
Application Performance
93%
Temperature
81 / 95 → 85%
Noise
69 / 90 → 76%
Audio
79%
Camera
37 / 85 → 43%
Average
75%
84%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Alienware m17 R2 Laptop Review: Making Core i9 Worthwhile
Allen Ngo, 2020-02-26 (Update: 2020-03- 2)