Online streaming battery drain test.
The finest laptop computers in every classification.
LikeExcellent performance in a slim packageMod style that looks great … for a video gaming laptopDedicated volume buttons.
PCMark 10 Pro.
Keep in mind:.
In minutes, longer bars suggest much better efficiency.
Its going to run hot if you want your video gaming laptop computer to be thin. Thats simply the physics of loading a powerful CPU and GPU into a 15.7mm-thick body. And considering that weve handled to make video gaming laptops fairly small, powerful and semistylish adequate to shame even the newest video game consoles, heat is actually the last frontier that nobody has actually split. On the elegant and little front, I can safely say the Alienware x15 R2 is among the more attractive video gaming laptop computers Ive ever evaluated, and shows just how far weve come from the giant cement blocks of yesteryear. My partner, who has actually operated in games and video games media for much of the previous 20 years, stated it was one of the only video gaming laptops that wasnt aesthetically offensive to her, so trust me, thats full marks..
Note:.
Longer bars show much better efficiency.
Cinebench R23 (multicore).
Like nearly all Alienware and Dell computers, the x15 R2 (the second major revision of the present 15-inch x15 line) offers a broad range of configuration choices, beginning at $1,999 and increasing from there. This review sample was $2,559, and highlighted by a 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and 2,560 x1,440 screen with a decent 240Hz revitalize rate. It likewise includes 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. You can drop the GPU to an Nvidia 3060 (although in a $2,000 laptop, why you would do that is beyond me), or improve it to a 3080 Ti. Similarly, the display screen can drop to FHD (1,920 x1,080) at 165Hz or dive to a fast 360Hz panel, although still locked in at FHD resolution. All things thought about, this is probably near the perfect configuration. Design and featuresThe matte-white external chassis sticks out as retro-futurism– I considered the tidy lines of 2001: A Space Odyssey– and the inset hinge both looked great and made the laptop feel very stable when propped up on a table. Theres a big “15” stenciled on the back, since possibly you d forget how huge your laptop screen was? Along with the renowned backlit alien head logo design, which I when found to be a tacky example of dorm-room-chic, however honestly, at this point its got some sentimental appeal. My outright favorite function had nothing to do with the cover style or even performance– its purely UX. Along the best side of the keyboard location is a row of media control secrets, including devoted buttons for reducing the volume and raising and muting both the speakers and mic. The media secrets along the right side are a huge plus.
Dan Ackerman/CNET.
I can not highlight enough just how crucial this type of convenience is to my pleasure of a video gaming laptop. Pressing FN+F 2 (or sometimes F5, etc) to reduce the volume in a game looks like an outrageous method to deal with noise. A couple of other laptop computers likewise have committed audio secrets or in some cases volume wheels, however its still unusual. You do not get a different number pad, which can show up in some 15-inch laptop computers. Its no great loss for my workflow, but its something to bear in mind. The actual keyboard is fine for a shallow video gaming laptop keyboard, with 1.5 mm travel and good island-style spacing in between the secrets. The touchpad is frill-free and small. Players will be utilizing a mouse or game controller more typically, but when you desire to utilize this as a non-gaming laptop, which is most likely many of the time, the touchpad is a letdown. Performance and battery life Performance was right in the middle of the pack when compared to comparable high-end laptop computers with Nvidia 3070 and 3080-class GPUs. The performance increase from something like the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE, which we evaluated with an Intel Core i9 CPU and the Nvidia 3080 Ti GPU, shows what an additional $500 to $600 will get you, and you can set up the x15 R2 similarly. Based on the performance we saw, I still state the Core i7/3070 Ti combination is the general best bang for the buck.Battery life was good for a video gaming laptop computer, running for 5:12 in our video-streaming test, which undoubtedly isnt especially difficult. Other 15-inch premium gaming laptop computers scored in the exact same 4- to 5-hour ballpark. Ironically, Dells newest slim 13-inch laptop computer, the XPS 13 Plus, had much shorter battery life. More gaming laptops ought to be this slim..
Dan Ackerman/CNET.
My greatest total problem with the system was how hot it got. Running video games for a while, then taking out the old temperature weapon, the area just above the keyboard hit 130 degrees F. With the huge rear vents (with its associated rear ports) and fans, you could probably keep your coffee cup beside the system to keep it warm. Its not a specific-to-Dell issue, but by squeezing a video gaming laptop down to this thin a profile, its inevitably going to be a more noticeable problem. My other gripe is the rather impenetrable Alienware Command Center software for managing system functions, including the numerous lighting zones, fan speed and other system details. Its clunky, opaque and makes organizing custom lighting a lot more tough than it needs to be. It feels like the Dell UX group never ever got near this one. Im not the only person that feels this method. Despite these problems, and a general sense that video gaming laptop innovation has actually struck a little a plateau in the previous couple of years, the slim Alienware x15 R2 has earned a location on my short list of premium video gaming laptop computers to highly think about if youre considering making a multiyear investment..
Do not LikeCan get very hotCustom software is clunkySmall touchpad.
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Keep in mind:.
Longer bars indicate much better performance.
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Keep in mind:.
Longer bars show better efficiency.
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Geekbench 5 (multicore).
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
3DMark Wild Life Extreme.
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro.
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7-12800H; 16GB DDR5 4,800 MH; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070Ti; 1TB SSD.
Note:.
Longer bars show much better performance.
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.9 GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 32GB DDR5 4,800 MHz; 16GB Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD.
If you desire your gaming laptop to be thin, its going to run hot. On the small and stylish front, I can safely state the Alienware x15 R2 is one of the more attractive gaming laptop computers Ive ever checked, and reveals simply how far weve come from the giant cement blocks of the past. I can not emphasize enough simply how crucial this kind of convenience is to my satisfaction of a video gaming laptop. The actual keyboard is fine for a shallow gaming laptop computer keyboard, with 1.5 mm travel and good island-style spacing between the keys. Based on the performance we saw, I still say the Core i7/3070 Ti combo is the general finest bang for the buck.Battery life was decent for a video gaming laptop, running for 5:12 in our video-streaming test, which admittedly isnt especially challenging.
Origin PC Evo17-S.
Razer Blade 15 (2022 ).
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7-12700H; 16GB DDR5 6,400 MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti; 512GB SSD.
Keep in mind:.
Longer bars suggest better performance.
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.9 GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 16GB DDR5 4,800 MHz; 16GB Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD.
System Configurations.
Keep in mind:.
Longer bars show better performance.
Guardians of the Galaxy (High @ 1920 x 1080).
Razer Blade 15 (2022) (Core i7/3070 Ti).
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022 ).
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58.
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 (Core i5/3060).
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7-12700H; 32GB DDR5 6,400 MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti; 512GB SSD.
Alienware x15 R2.
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-12500H; 16GB DDR4 3,200 MHz; 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060; 512GB SSD.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest @ 1920 x 1080).