Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Alienware 17 R3: At First Glance
The Alienware m17 R3 is a uniquely styled premium gaming laptop aimed at hardcore game players. It maintains Aienware’s signature spaceship-inspired design.
The laptop has lots of customizable lights which gives it a touch of sci-fi effect.
Furthermore, Dell designed the Alienware 17 R3 as an improvement of the Alienware 17 R2. However, despite the improvements in the Alienware 17 R3, it still looks similar to the Alienware 17 R2.
The Alienware 17 R3 is a pricey gaming laptop. As at the time this review was published, the laptop starts at a price of $1,416.
Popular on Amazon
- Specifications:Model:9NJM1; Voltage:11.4V;Capacity:99Wh;100% brand new from manufacture. Grade A cells ensure fast charges and low power consumption.
- Compatible Part Number： 9NJM1 ,9NJMI ,44T2R ,MG2YH ,0MG2YH ,01D82 ,HF250 ,0HF250 ,546FF ,0546FF
- Compatible Laptop Models： for Dell Alienware 15 R3 series, Alienware 15 R4 series, Alienware 17 R4 series, Alienware 17 R5 series
- Multiple Safety Protections: Our batteries feature multiple protections including Overcharge and Overdischarge Circuit Protection, Over-temperature , Our batteries are assembled with high-quality materials and boards to ensure fast charging.
- Support:Supported with 30 days Refund and 12 months Replacement.24h Email support.The Futurebatt brand provides friendly customer service.We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service.
Having talked about the price, let’s get into the real business of this review – which is to determine the performance of this laptop.
Alienware 17 R3: Design, Dimension & Weight
Dell designed the Alienware 17 R3 chassis with an high-quality plastic and magnesium alloy.
The laptop is available in a white-and-black color scheme which Dell refers to as “Lunar White”. It is also available in a charcoal-black color scheme known as the “Dark Side of the Moon”.
At the top-center of the laptop’s lid, you’ll find the backlit Alienware logo. At the bottom-left corner of the lid, you’ll find a large printed “17” indicating the laptop’s screen size.
The laptop’s logo isn’t the only part that illuminates. Additionally, the power button, the keyboard, and the extended rear of the laptop light up as well.
Therefore, the Alienware 17 R3 is a beautiful sight to behold when all its lights are on.
The rear has some air vents as well as some ports. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, the rear has a lightning strip around it.
Recommended Free Tools
Opening the laptop, you will find the 17- inch display surrounded by slim black bezels.
The bottom bezel has the name “Alienware” printed on it in silver lettering. Also, as usual, the webcam is located on the top bezel.
Directly below the bottom bezel is the Tobii eye-tracker which is embedded in the laptop’s hinge.
The Tobii eye tracker is an interesting feature that tracks your gaze while watching the screen. Moreover, it is very useful in gaming and other aspects.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor instance, with the help of the Tobii eye tracker, you can wake your laptop from sleep with just a look; interesting right?
Furthermore, the Tobii eye tracker is also used to dim the display when you aren’t looking. Consequently, the dimmed display helps to conserve battery life.
Additionally, the Tobii eye tracker also functions as a mouse, giving you the ability to launch apps or appear wherever you look, like a regular cursor.
Moving on to the laptop’s deck, you’ll find rows of hexagonal air vents above the keyboard. On the deck, you’ll also find a small backlit Alien head that serves as the power button.
Speaking of the keyboard, just like its predecessor, the Alienware 17 R3’s keyboard is backlit and can be customized as well.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Moreover, the keyboard is spacious and features a full Numpad. Also, the keys are decently sized.
Furthermore, the keys have a deep key-travel and a firm force of actuation. Therefore, the keyboard delivers a smooth typing experience.
Below the keyboard, you will find the touchpad. Its glass surface ensures smooth tracking and supports Windows 10 gestures.
Also popular on Amazon
- ♣Power Specs: Battery Type: Li-polymer Voltage: 11.4V Capacity: 99Wh; The battery is durable and has overcurrent protection, anti-overcharge, anti-overdischarge and temperature control functions.
- ♣COMPATIBLE WITH P/N : 9NJM1 MG2YH 0MG2YH 01D82 HF250 HF25D 546FF 0546FF 44T2R.
- ♣COMPATIBLE LAPTOP MODELS : For Dell Alienware 15 R3 series, Alienware 15 R4 series, Alienware 17 R4 series, Alienware 17 R5 series, P31E P31E001 P31E002 P69F P69F001 P69F002 Series laptop model.
- ♣Security & Reliability: Our batteries are assembled from top quality material and circuit boards to ensure fast charges and low power consumption, 100% New from Manufacturer, Overcharge and Overdischarge Circuit Protection, Over-temperature and Short-circuit Protection, up to 500 recharge cycles over the life of the battery, meet OEM standard.
- ♣Warranty & Support: Full refund in 30 days, 12 months warranty. If any issues about the product within 365 days, click the button "ASK A QUESTION" and CONTACT US, we will respond within 24 hours via emails and give you friendly after-sales service. Press [CTRL + F] to search your laptop model/part number.
Interestingly, the touchpad also has a backlight which is a highlight of the touchpad’s feature.
Moreso, the backlight glows whenever the touchpad surface is touched making it a beauty to behold. You can set the touchpad’s backlight to any color, just like you can set the keyboard’s backlight.
The 17-inch size of the Alienware offers plenty of space for ports. These ports can be found on both sides as well as the rear of the laptop.
The left side of the laptop includes one Type-A port, a headphone jack, and an ethernet jack.
On the right side the laptop features two more Type-A ports and a microSD card slot.
Additionally, the rear holds the power port, an HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort connection.
Furthermore, the rear also has a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3. In addition, there’s also a proprietary port for Alienware’s external graphics amplifier.
Moving on to the laptop’s size, the laptop has a dimension of 399.8 x 294.3 x 22.5 mm. It weighs 2970g.
In comparison, the Alienware m17 R3 is lighter than all the competing laptops we pitched it against.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Specifically, it is lighter than the Acer Predator Triton 900. The Acer has a dimension of 429 x 302 x 22 and a weight of 4082g.
Moreover, the Alienware is also lighter than the MSI GT76 Titan. The MSI has a dimension of 396 x 327 x 33.02 and a weight of 9900g.
Finally, I will rate the Alienware m17 R3 a nine for its aesthetic and high quality design.
Alienware 17 R3: Processor (CPU) Performance
There are various configurations of Alienware 17 R3’s processor. The least configuration is the 4-core Intel Core i5-10300H processor.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The Core i5 processor has a cache memory of 8 MB. The processor has a base speed of 2.50 GHz and a boost speed of 4.50 GHz.
Moreover, you can also get the laptop with a 6-core Intel Core i7-10750H processor.
The Core i7 processor has a cache memory of 12 MB, a base speed of 2.60 GHz, and a boost speed of 5.0 GHz.
The highest configuration is the 8-core Intel Core i9k-10980HK processor.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Core i9 processor has a 16 MB cache memory. Additionally, it has a base speed of 2.30 GHz and a boost speed of 5.30 GHz.
Also popular on Amazon
- Power Specs: Battery Type: Li-polymer Voltage: 11.4V Capacity: 99Wh; The battery is durable and has overcurrent protection, anti-overcharge, anti-overdischarge and temperature control functions.
- COMPATIBLE WITH P/N : 9NJM1 MG2YH 0MG2YH 01D82 HF250 HF25D 546FF 0546FF 44T2R.
- COMPATIBLE LAPTOP MODELS : Work for Dell Alienware 15 R3 series, Alienware 15 R4 series, Alienware 17 R4 series, Alienware 17 R5 series, P31E P31E001 P31E002 P69F P69F001 P69F002
- Security & Reliability: Our batteries are assembled from top quality material and circuit boards to ensure fast charges and low power consumption, 100% New from Manufacturer, Overcharge and Overdischarge Circuit Protection, Over-temperature and Short-circuit Protection, up to 500 recharge cycles over the life of the battery, meet OEM standard.
- Policy: Rest assured with 60-day return and 12 months Replacement; The return window will be closed a month after you received the the product. Contact us by follow step:Please click on seller store on right corner “ask a question” and contact seller.
Whichever processor configuration you choose, you are sure to get an efficiently powerful laptop. Dell equipped the model I tested with the Intel Core i7-10750H processor.
With the Core i7 processor, the laptop proved to be an excellent multitasking device. This was evident in the multitasking test I performed.
In the multitasking test, I opened 40 Chrome tabs with several of these tabs streaming YouTube videos. I also had an HD video running in the background as well as other CPU-extensive activities.
However, all these activities ran smoothly while the laptop did not lag or stutter. To further determine the capability of the processor, I performed a Cinebench R15 test.
Based on the test result, Alienware 17 R3 scored 146 points. This result slightly surpassed the ASUS G752VY-RH71 which scored 144 points.
In contrast, Alienware 17 R3 underperformed in comparison with the MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW which scored 807 points.
Finally, I will rate the CPU performance an eight for its great multitasking ability.
Alienware 17 R3: Memory (RAM) Performance
The Alienware 17 R3 supports RAM capacities ranging from 8GB all the way up to 32GB. Moreso, the laptop has two RAM slots on its motherboard.
Unfortunately, the RAM cannot be upgraded because it is soldered to the motherboard. Therefore you should buy the laptop with the memory configuration you need now and may need later.
The unit I reviewed had 16GB RAM, with 8GB of RAM on each RAM slot.
The 16GB RAM boasts of an impressive performance. It transcoded a 4K resolution video to 1080p resolution in 7 minutes 16 seconds.
Additionally, to evaluate the RAM performance, I also performed a PCMark test.
From the test result, Alienware 17 R3 scored 5939 points. This performance fell below the ASUS G752VY-RH71 and the MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW.
The ASUS and the MSI both scored 6362 points and 6439 points respectively.
In conclusion, although the RAM performance of Alienware 17 R3 doesn’t top the chart, it is impressive. Therefore, I will rate it a seven.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Alienware 17 R3: Storage Options & Performance
The laptop has an M.2 slot for SSDs and a 2.5-inch slot for HDDs. Likewise, there is an empty M.2 slot available so you can add extra SSD storage if needed.
The unit I tested was equipped with a 512GB M.2 SSD and a 1TB 7200rpm HDD. This translates to the availability of more than enough storage space.
In terms of storage performance, the laptop duplicated 4.97GB of multimedia files in 5 seconds at a transfer rate of 1,082.8 Mbps. Its transfer speed is faster than the 866.2Mbps category average.
Also popular on Amazon
- ♣【Specifications】Battery Type: Li-ion; Voltage: 14.8V; Capacity: 92WH; Battery life: Up to 500 recharge cycles over the life of the battery.
- ♣【Compatible Part Number】6JHDV 6JHCY YKWXX 5046J 06JHDV 05046J N4010.
- ♣【Compatible Laptop Models】Dell Alienware 17 R2, Alienware 17 R3, ALW17ED-1728, ALW17ED-1828T, ALW17ED-2728, ALW17ED-3728, ALW17ED-3828, ALW17ED-4718, ALW17ED-4738, ALW17ED-4838, ALW17ER-4738, ALW17ER-4838, AW17R3-8342SLV ,AW17R3-7092SLV Series(See Description Fit Laptop Models).
- ♣【Security】CE, FCC for safety. Strict guidelines for compatibility, and standards compliance for environment safety.
- ♣【Warranty 】12 Months Warranty,30 days money return guarantee!
Furthermore, I performed a CrystalMarkDisk test to determine the storage performance of the Alienware 17 R3.
Based on the test result, Alienware recorded a sequential read speed of 1263Mbps. It also recorded a sequential write speed of 567.2Mbps.
This performance is well below that of the ASUS G752VY-RH71. The ASUS recorded a sequential read speed of 2007Mbps and a sequential write speed of 1573Mbps.
Additionally, the MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW also outperformed the Alienware. The MSI recorded a sequential read speed of 1602Mbps and a sequential write speed of 1062 Mbps.
Finally, I will rate the storage performance a six due to its underperformance when compared with competing laptops.
Alienware 17 R3: Graphics Card Performance
Like its processor and RAM, Alienware 17 R3 offers multiple graphics card configurations. These graphics options deliver a sufficiently powerful gaming experience.
The basic configuration is the Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics card. This graphics card does not have a dedicated VRAM – it has a base speed of 350 MHz.
Moreso, you can also buy the Alienware 17 R3 with an AMD RX 5500M graphics card. This GPU has a 4 GB VRAM and a base speed of 1375 MHz.
At the highest price, you can get the Alienware with the high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card. This powerful GPU offers an 8 GB VRAM and a speed of 1650 MHz.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The model I tested was armed with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card. With this powerful GPU, there’s no game the Alienware 17 R3 couldn’t play.
To determine the gaming performance of the laptop, I played Rise of the Tomb Raider in different settings.
Consequently, at ultra settings and 1080p resolution, the game played at 42.2 fps. Moreso, at high settings and 1080p resolution, the game played at 52.9fps.
Furthermore, at medium settings and 1080p resolution, the game played at 85fps. Finally, at low settings and 1080p resolution, the game played at 137fps.
Additionally, I also performed a 3DMark graphics test. Based on the test result, Alienware 17 R3 scored 9227 points.
Comparatively, this result lags behind the ASUS G752VY-RH71 as well as the MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW.
Specifically, the ASUS and MSI scored 10489 points and 9537 points respectively.
In conclusion, the overall graphics performance of Alienware 17 R3 is incredible. Most importantly, the laptop doesn’t run very hot during intensive gaming.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteHence, I will rate the laptop a nine for its exceptional gaming performance.
Also popular on Amazon
- Product Specifications: Voltage: 11.4V;Capacity: 99Wh 9;Cells: 6-cell / Rechargeable Lithium-ion; More than 1000 cycles.Packages includes: 1 x 9NJM1 Laptop Battery Replacement; 2 x Screwdrivers; 1 x Instruction
- Compatible P/N: 99WH Battery for 9NJM1 MG2YH 0MG2YH 01D82 HF250 HF25D 546FF 0546FF 44T2R.Press [CTRL + F] to search your laptop model/part number,shape to avoid wrong purchase
- 9NJM1 Laptop Battery Compatible For Dell Alienware 15 R3 series, Alienware 15 R4 series, Alienware 17 R4 series, Alienware 17 R5 series, P31E P31E001 P31E002 P69F P69F001 P69F002 Series laptop model
- Safe and reliable：All batteries are equipped with high quality material. Meets CE, FCC, RoHS certificated. Built-in short circuit protection, over voltage protection, discharge protection, over current protection, which is very important for battery’s use cycle and safety
- After-sale: Our's laptop batteries and chargers are built to last.They are high quality, durable, and reliable.60 days money refund,12 months replacement.If you have any questions about the product, we will solve it for you within 24 hours
Alienware 17 R3: Battery life & Performance
The Alienware 17 R3 is configured with three battery options. You can get the laptop with a 3-cell 56 WHr lithium-ion battery.
You can also get the laptop with a 6-cell 86 WHr lithium-ion battery. Lastly, you can get the laptop with an 8-cell 92 WHr lithium-ion battery.
The model I tested shipped with the 56 WHr battery. To test the performance of the battery, I performed a battery rundown test.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The battery rundown test involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of screen brightness. Based on the test result, the Alienware lasted 2 hours 30 minutes.
Comparatively, the Alienware lasted longer than the Acer Predator Triton 900 which lasted for 1 hour 48 minutes. In contrast, Alienware’s battery performance lags behind that of the MSI GT76 Titan which lasted 3 hours 45 minutes.
Although the battery life of Alienware 17 R3 is not impressive, it performs better than its competitors. Therefore, I will rate it a six in this respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dell released the Alienware 17 R3 in 2016.
The Alienware 17 R3 is capable of performing any activity thrown at it. It is an excellent laptop for video editing, gaming, and everyday computing tasks. Therefore, the Alienware 17 R3 is worth it.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Alienware 17 R3 is an excellent gaming laptop. It boasts a 17.3-inch display. Specifically, the unit I tested was equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card. With this powerful GPU, all the games I tested on the Alienware 17 R3 played smoothly.
The Alienware 17 R3 is equipped with a 720p webcam which is located on the top bezel.
No, the Alienware 17 R3 is not a touchscreen laptop.
Conclusion
If you need a powerful 17.3-inch gaming laptop, the Alienware m17 R3 is one of the top picks for you. The laptop excels in several important areas.
Recommended Free Tools
The Alienware 17 R3 is made of high-quality material, it has a superb keyboard, and it is sufficiently powerful. Furthermore, the laptop is capable of handling any gaming task as well as basic computing tasks.
However, the trackpad is not extraordinary; although the issue can be easily solved by using an external mouse.
Moreover, the battery life is poor. However, this is not surprising as most 17.3-inch laptops in this category didn’t perform as well as Alienware 17 R3.
Lastly, Alienware 17 R3 does not come cheap, but it offers exceptional aesthetics and great computing power. Therefore, I think Alienware 17 R3 is worth buying.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →I hope you found this Alienware 17 R3 review helpful? If you did, kindly click Yes to “Was this page Helpful?” below.
You could also share your thoughts with the “Leave a Comment” form found at the end of this page.
Finally, for more laptop reviews, visit our Laptop Reviews page. You may also find our Laptop Specs page very helpful.
