The Alienware x17 R2 is an absolute power-hungry monster and we wouldn't have it any other way

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti may be the priciest consumer GPU for laptops, but it isn't necessarily the fastest due to its wide TGP range of 100 W to 175 W or higher. A GeForce RTX 3070 Ti targeting 175 W, for example, would be faster than the RTX 3080 Ti targeting just 100 W. Most gaming laptops target lower TGP ranges and thus lower performance levels in order to fit into thinner chassis designs like the MSI GS77, Razer Blade 15, or Gigabyte Aero YE5.

The Alienware x17 R2 is a notable exception to the rule as it is the only major ultrathin gaming laptop to have a TGP target of 175 W. Our tests have shown that its GPU can be 30 to 40 percent faster than on the Blade 15 or Aero YE5 despite them all carrying the exact same RTX 3080 Ti graphics. GPU performance rivals the significantly thicker and heavier MSI GT76 Titan which also targets a similar TGP level as our ultrathin Alienware.

The Alienware advantage extends to the CPU as well since it is one of the very few ultrathin gaming laptops to sport the unlocked 12th gen Core i9-12900HK CPU. The system is able to sustain higher TDP levels and thus higher clock rates and performance than on other laptops equipped with the same processor.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the higher-than-average CPU and GPU performance of the Alienware has led to higher-than-average power consumption levels. A fully-loaded Alienware x17 R2 ships with a large 330 W AC adapter compared to 280 W or lower on most other gaming laptops. Running games can draw around 260 W or more compared to just ~170 W on the aforementioned MSI GS77, Blade 15, or Gigabyte Aero.

There are enthusiasts out there who loathe the fact that more and more gaming laptops are sacrificing CPU and GPU performance just for thinner designs. We appreciate that the ultrathin Alienware x17 R2 isn't following the same trend even if it means louder fans, heavier weight, and higher energy bills along the way.