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Alienware M17 R4 : At First Glance
The Alienware M17 R4 is a 17-inch gaming laptop manufactured by Dell. It is the successor to the Alienware M17 R3 that was released in 2020.
You won’t even need anyone to tell you that both laptops are of the same brand because the M17 R4 comes with the exact chassis as its predecessor – the M17 R3. However, the Alienware M17 R4 comes with a slightly improved hardware configuration since it is an upgraded version.
However, the M17 R4 is more expensive compared to that of its predecessor – the M17 R3. Do you want to know if the Alienware M17 R4 has enough improvements to make its expensive price tag worth it?
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Alienware M17 R4: Design, Dimension & Weight
Alienware M17 R4 comes with a simple look that can make anyone doubt if truly it is a gaming laptop. Despite its simple look, it is so attractive that you will be tempted to show it off to your friends.
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- Specifications: Input Voltage: AC 100-240V,50/60Hz, Output : DC 19.5V, 12.3A, Power Wattage: 240 Watt (Compatible with 19.5V 9.23A 180W; 19.5V 7.6A 150W; 19.5V 6.7A 130W; 19.5V 4.62A 90W), Outlet: 3-prong, Connecter size: 5.0mm x 7.4mm
- Compatible with Dell-Alienware M15 M17 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 M17X M18X Area-51m R2 G5 G7 Fit for Precision M6800 M6500 M6600 M6700 M6400 J211H
- Safety:Each of our chargers has undergone professional technical inspections before shipment to ensure excellent performance and safety. Our charger has a built-in heat dissipation system to prevent the charger from overheating at full power output. The built-in IC chip technology provides overload/short-circuit /overheat protection, so there’s no worries about damaging functional devices
- Warranty Service:Rest assured with 60 days Refund and 12 months Warranty;24 x 7 email support.Note: Amazon return windows will close after one month, don’t worry about it, you can click on seller store on right corner “ask a question” and contact seller directly for 12 month warranty
I could not stop stealing glances at this charming laptop when I first viewed it. The Alienware’s light Lunar White color made it love at first sight for me.
Notably, this Alienware M17 R4 comes with two color options you can choose from. It comes with a dark side of the moon and a Lunar White color scheme.
As stated above, our review unit comes with the Lunar White color.
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Still on the design feature, Dell made the chassis of Alienware M17 R4 with Magnesium alloy. It is neatly finished with what Dell calls “High Endurance Clear Coast”.
This finish prevents the Alienware’s attractive surface from wear and tear during usage.
On a closer look, you will easily notice a large ”17” block stamped on the left bottom corner of its lid. At the top of the laptop’s lid, there’s a neatly printed Alienware logo.
When you attempt to open this laptop’s lid, you will discover that it is held firmly to the lower chassis with a long hinge that only gives a gap at both ends of the lid. The lid is so firm that you won’t be able to open the laptop without using two hands.
On the keyboard deck, you’ll find the Alien head power button. Dell designed this Alien head power button to smartly change its colors when you switch the laptop ON.
Focusing on the keyboard itself, Dell constructed the Alienware’s keyboard with a honeycomb-like pattern. This pattern allows the intake of air for the cooling effect of the laptop.
The honeycomb-like shape pattern is well designed. It gives me the impression that Dell intentionally decided to show off a bit in the design of the laptop’s keyboard.
Dell didn’t stop there. There’s another design feature on the base of the laptop which sets it apart from most gaming laptops.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe base of this laptop extends beyond the lid’s hinges. This design gives the laptop a weird shape.
However, Dell found a way to turn the weird design into something beautiful. They made this possible with a large LED light that illuminates the top of the protruding base.
For the typing experience, the Alienware’s keyboard is very nice and comfortable to type with. However, the key travels are not deep enough compared to an office laptop.
The Alienware’s trackpad is one of the best I have seen on a gaming laptop. Its 3.2 x 4.1 inches touchpad is very responsive to clicks, drags, and other gestures.
Also worth noting is that the Alienware M17 R4 keyboard is self-cleaning capable. This helps to guide against dust and stain.
Aside from the looks of the laptop, let’s quickly check out the dimension and weight of the Alienware M17 R4.
The Alienware M17 R4 has a dimension of 399.8 x 294.2 x 16.9 mm and a total weight that could range between 2500 g – 2970 g. Based on this weight, carrying this laptop around may not be too convenient.
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- 🔋Output:19.5V 12.3A 240W (Compatible with 19.5V 9.23A 180W) Input:100-240V 50-60Hz
- ✅【Compatible with Dell Alienware Laptop charger】 Dell Alienware 17 R1 R2 R3 R5, 15 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5, 13 R1 R2 R3 R4 ; Alienware M11 M11X, M13 M13X, M14 M14X, M15 M15X, M17 M17X, M18X X51
- ✅【Compatible with Dell Precision Laptop charger】Dell Precision 7510 7520 7530 7710 7720 7730 M4300 M4600 M4700 M4800 M6400 M6500 M6600 M6700 M6800
- ✅【Compatible with Dell G3 G5 G7 Laptop charger】Dell G3 Series 15 17 3579 3779 3500 G5 15 5587 5590 5500 G7 15 17 7588 7500 7590 power supply
- ✅【Compatible with Part Number】 FWCRC, C3MFM, U896K, 6RTJT, Y044M, Y047M, J211H, J938H, GA240PE1-00, PA-9E, 330-3514, 330-4342, 330-4128, 450-18931, LA240PM180, 7XCR6, 07XCR6, DA240PM180, 0RYJJ9, RYJJ9, 8N2T2, 450-AGCX
However, when you compare this laptop’s weight to that of the MSI GT75 Titan that has a weight of 4581 g, the Alienware M14 R4 weighs less. It is also lighter than the Aorus X9 that weighs 3674g.
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Our review unit is equipped with a 17.3-inch FHD panel display resolution.
For ports, the Alienware features 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and 1 HDMI 2.1 port. In addition to that, you also get 1 x RJ45 (Ethernet) port for internet connection and 1 Thunderbolt port.
In conclusion, the Alienware M17 R4 has a lot of interesting and beautiful features. Therefore, I will give it a rating of nine out of ten in this design review section.
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Alienware M17 R4: Processor (CPU) Performance
The Alienware M17 R4 offers two 8-core processor configuration options you can choose from. It can come with an Intel Core i7-10870H processor that has a base frequency of 2.20 GHz and a maximum frequency of 5.0 GHz.
Asides from that configuration, the Alienware M17 R4 can also come with an Intel Core i9k-10980HK processor that has a base frequency of 2.80GHz. This processor has a maximum frequency of 5.30GHz.
Even though these configurations are incredibly powerful on paper, we can’t totally depend on that. Hence, I decided to check up on the laptop’s performance score on the Cinebench R20 benchmark test.
A Cinebench benchmark is a test used to determine a processor’s performance.
On the Cinebench R20, Alienware M17 R4 scored 506 points which were above the category average benchmark score of 498 points. The Alienware also outperformed the Razer blade Pro 17 that scored 490 points.
However, Alienware had a less score compared to the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR that scored 507 points.
With its awesome performance in this processor performance review section, I will rate Alienware M17 R4 a nine in this review.
Alienware M17 R4: Memory (RAM) Performance
The Alienware M17 R4 comes with a maximum RAM size of 32 GB. This memory is evenly distributed into two slots with each slot capable of housing 16 GB each.
Furthermore, the memory type in this laptop is 2933 MHz DDR4. This laptop’s RAM is enough to handle everyday multi-tasking operations that may be thrown at it.
Speaking of multi-tasking, the Alienware M17 R4 can handle multiple applications even with multiple browser tabs opened. For instance, with a lot of running operations, you can still stream some YouTube videos, surf the internet, and play games.
I checked Alienware M17 R4’s performance score on the PC Mark 10 benchmark to determine its actual memory performance capability. PCMark 10 is a performance tool that was developed to test for the performance of laptop memory.
The Alienware M17 R4 scored 6684 points which is below the 6784 category average score. In comparison, the Alienware M17 R4 scored higher points than its predecessor, the Alienware M17 R3 which had a benchmark score of 6594 points.
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Rank #3
- HSXIRQA Charger Compatible with Alienware M15 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7, Alienware M17 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5, Alienware X51 R3 R2 R1 Alienware x16 R2 R1 Alienware x15 R2 R1 Alienware x17 R2 R1 Alienware M18x R3 R2 R1 Alienware M17x R4 R3 R2 R1 Alienware M15x M14X R2 R1 Alienware M11x R3 R2 R1 Alienware 17 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Alienware 15 R4 R3 R2 R1 Alienware 14 R1 Alienware 13 R1 R2 R3 R4 Alienware Area-51m R1 R2 Alienware Alpha R1 R2 Model: P56G P39G P42F P87F P69F P43F P31E P06T P18G P01E P11E P12E P111F P120F P48E D05S P109F P41E P45E P38E D07U Gaming Laptop
- Specification: Input Voltage: 100-240V, 50-60Hz (Worldwide use), Output Voltage: 240W 19.5V/12.3A, (also Works for 180W 150W 130W Wattage Devices).Power Jack Connector Type:Round Tip 7.4mm*5.0mm. (It is not fit for laptops devices requiring more than 240W)
- Stable Compatibility; Experience faster, more reliable charging with this Portable charger. Lightweight and compact size makes it easy to pack for business trips, vacations, or outdoor or home or daily use at the office.Durable Construction and Made with heat-resistant materials for extended durability.The built-in chip automatically adjusts power based on your devices temperature and battery status. Less heat, safer charging, and a battery that lasts longer
- Safe & Efficient Charging: Built-in safeguards protect against overcurrent, short-circuit, and overheating, ensuring reliable power delivery every time. Designed with high temperature resistant, flame retardant and fire-resistant materials, all our products provide ultimate protection for your devices. Choosing this charger is a smart choice for the safety of yourself and your family
- What's in the Box: 1 X Power Adapter, 1 X Power cord
Alienware M17 R4: Storage Options & Performance
The Alienware M17 R4 comes with dual storage drive configuration options. It can either be equipped with a 512 GB or 2 TB M.2 PCIe Gen3 that comes along with a 4 NVMe SSD storage option.
Our review unit came with the 2 TB configuration.
With the 2 TB storage drive, you have a lot of local storage to save personal files and install applications. In addition to the storage size, you won’t also have to worry about the speed of this laptop thanks to the SSD storage type.
If you’re wondering why SSD storage types are much faster than the conventional HDDs. Also, unlike HDDs, SSD drives are not prone to crashing.
To read more about SSDs, visit our guide about this storage technology – Solid State Drive (SSD) Explained.
With the storage specs and features out of the way, you may be keen to learn about the actual performance of the SSD storage on Alienware M17 R4.
To determine how well the SSD on this Dell gaming laptop performs, I used CrystalDiskMark benchmark test.
A Crystaldiskmark benchmark is a tool that evaluates the read and write speed of a storage drive of a computer. Notably, the read and write speed indicates how fast or slow files can be sent and received on the drive.
Based on this test, the Alienware M17 R4 has a write speed of 2852.69 MBps and a read speed of 2556.2 MBps. In comparison, the MSI GE17 Rader laptop has both its write and read speeds as 2396 MBps and 2245 MBps respectively.
The Alienware M17 R4 outperforms MSI GE17 Rader.
Similarly, Alienware M17 R4 performs far better than its predecessor, the Alienware M17 R3. The Alienware M17 R3 has its write and read speeds to be 2221 MBps and 2202 MBps respectuvely.
Considering how well the Alienware M17 R4 performs in this storage section, I give it a nine in this review.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Alienware M17 R4: Graphics Card performance
The Alienware M17 R4 has four powerful graphics configuration options. First of all, it offers an integrated Intel UHD Graphics card.
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This graphics card has a base frequency of 350 MHz and a boost frequency of 1250 GHz.
The Alienware can also come with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 that has a 6 GB GDDR6 dedicated VRAM. This graphics card has a base frequency of 900 MHz and a maximum frequency of 1425 MHz.
Thirdly, the Alienware R17 R4 can also feature an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card. This graphics card usually comes with an 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM.
Furthermore, the RTX 3070 has a base and maximum frequency of 1500 MHz and 1725 MHz respectively.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsOur review unit came equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 which has a 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM. The graphics card has its base frequency to be 1110 MHz and its boost frequency to be 1545 MHz.
To determine the laptop graphics performance, I checked its performance record on the 3D Mark benchmark test. The 3DMark benchmark test is a test that determines how well a laptop performs during a graphics test.
The Alienware performed excellently on the 3DMark test. Its 192,950 points indicated its excellent performance.
Rank #4
- 【Compatible Model】For Dell Alienware M17 R3 M17 R4 M17 R5 M17 R6 P45E 0H5TYJ 0CNV63 FM7J
- 【You Can Get】1*CPU Cooling Fans
- 【Warranty】365 days
One gaming laptop that came in behind the Alienware on the 3DMark test was the MSI GE76 Rader with 190146 points. Also trailing behind were the Schenker XMG Neo 17 with 169244 points and also Alienware M17 R3 with 160125 points.
Moving to the practical gaming test, our review unit performs excellently well even on the latest and graphics-hungry games. For example, the Cyberpunk 2077 game plays at 113fps at low settings and 80.6fps at ultra high settings.
Furthermore, Alienware M17 R4 plays far cry 5 2018 at 154fps and 121fps on low and high settings. The Alienware plays the witcher3 at 335fps and 115fps at both low and ultra settings respectively.
With Alienware flexing its muscles with all these high graphics cards in this section, I will give it a nine in this review.
Alienware M17 R4: Battery Life & Performance
The Alienware M17 R4 comes with a 6-cell 86 WHr lithium-ion battery. Dell claims that this laptop can last for up to 4 hours.
In my research, I discovered that the laptop consumed power at a very high rate of 48watt when it wasn’t carrying out any operation. Meanwhile, the Schenker XMG Neo 17 consumes just 16 watts when it is not running any operational task.
The run time for the Alienware M17 R4 battery was 2hours and 21 minutes under the continuous web surfing test. During this test, the laptop had its brightness at 70%.
When the workload increased beyond ordinary web surfing, the laptop could only last for 1 hour 40 minutes
Comparatively, Alienware’s runtime isn’t impressive. For example, the Razer Blade Pro 17 achieves higher runtimes of battery life even with its smaller 70.5 Wh battery.
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Considering the performance of Alienware M17 R4 in this battery life review section, I will give it a rating of seven.
Frequently Ask Questions
The Alienware M17 R4 lasts for 6 hours when it is not performing any computing operation. Under minor computing operations, the Alienware will last you for just 2 hours 21 minutes.
As of the time of this writing this review (October 2021), you can get the Alienware on Amazon for $2,199.99. It is important that this price changes with time.
Yes. Alienware is owned by Dell.
Alienware M17 R4 was released in 2021.
The Alienware M17 R4 weighs between 2500 g – 2970 g.
Conclusion
The Alienware M17 R4 gaming laptop comes with a beautiful and attractive design that any gamer will easily fall in love with. Its good ports selection and excellent ventilation system are some of the laptop’s good features.
Moreover, the Alienware M17 offers an excellent gaming performance that will satisfy any gamer. Asides from gaming, the laptop can also swiftly carry out your regular computing operations.
I will recommend it the Alienware M17 to any gamer who is in search of a stylish gaming laptop.
I hope you found this Alienware M17 R4 review helpful. If you found the review helpful, kindly click Yes to “Was this page Helpful?” below.
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