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Alienware’s Area-51m comes from the future to save us from boring laptop design

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Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Alienware Area-51m review
Joel Chokkattu/Digital Trends
alienware area 51m review 1 feat
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Alienware is introducing an all-new Area-51m laptop at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. With options for desktop-grade processors, it’s being called the most powerful gaming laptop ever. Owners can even swap out and upgrade both the graphics card and processor.

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The new Area-51m is based on a futuristic “Legend” design language and is constructed out of magnesium alloy. The bottom housing on the laptop can be removed, giving access to the machine’s guts.  It comes with configurations for Intel’s ninth-generation desktop Core i7-9900HK 8 core CPU, as well as the Core i9-9900K, making it the first notebook with that option. The laptop also packs support for up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 graphics, the fully unlocked version of the desktop graphics card.

Other notable features include a new three-sided narrow-bezel display with optional fifth-generation Tobii Eye Tracking technology built in. As is expected from such a powerful a gaming laptop, Alienware is packing overclocking tools and the ability to accelerate the performance of its graphics and processors independently. There is support for 2.5Gbit Ethernet wired-networking, and up to 64GB of RAM.

Key Specs

  • Processor Options: Core i7-8700 CPU, Intel Core i7-9700K, Intel Core i9-9900HK
  • RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB
  • Single Store Configurations: 1TB (+8GB SSHD) Hybrid Drive256GB PCIe M.2 SSD 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD1TB PCIe M.2 SSD
  • Graphics: GeForce RTX 2060 with 6GB GDDR6, GeForce RTX 2070 with 8GB GDDR6, GeForce RTX 2080 with 8GB GDDR6
  • Display: 17.3″ FHD 60Hz Anti-Glare IPS Display, 17.3″ FHD 60Hz Anti-Glare IPS with G-Sync, 17.3″ FHD 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS with Tobii eye-tracking technology, 17.3″ FHD 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS with G-Sync and Tobii eye tracking
  • Ports: Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port, 2 DC Power Input Ports, Thunderbolt 3 with DisplayPort, RJ-45 Realtek 2.5Gbps Ethernet Port, 1 USB 3.1, 2 USB 3.1 with PowerShare, HDMI 2.0, Mini-display 1.4, Audio Out, Global headset
  • Battery: Lithium-Ion 90-watt-hour battery

The Alienware Area-51m also boasts customizable lighting across various zones, including the power button, the alien head on the LCD cover, and the “infinite loop” on the rear of the device. The controls can be found in an updated Alienware Command Center, which now allows for the management of system settings, game profiles, Alien FX, and integrated special features in 150 game titles. Cooling is also improved, and the Area-51m is packing Alienware’s Advanced Cryo-Tech 2.0 technology, which helps move more ambient air than any of the previous Alienware notebooks.

The Alienware Area-51m will be available on January 21, 2019. It will come in two colors, Lunar White and Dark Side of the Moon. Pricing will start at $2,549 and less expensive configuration will come at a later point.

Dell G5 and G7 gaming laptop

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In addition to the ultra-powerful Alienware Area-51-m, Dell is also introducing an updated G5 and G7 gaming laptop for more budget-minded gamers. The two new laptops have been redesigned and though they both look the same on the surface, the G5 supports up to a Core i7-8750HQ processor, and the G7 will max out with a Core i9 processor. the G7 15 is also a bit thinner and has a 3-piece metal construction, 3-sided narrow borders, and an option for Killer Wi-Fi.

Key Specs

  • Display: FHD IPS 220 nits of brightness, FHD IPS with 60 Hz refresh and 300 nits of brightness, FHD IPS with 300 nits of brightness, UHD OLED with 400 nits of brightness, 60Hz refresh
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300HQ, Core i7-8750HQ
  • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1050Ti, RTX 2060, RTX 2070, RTX 2080
  • Memory: Up to 32GB DDR4 RAM
  • Single Storage Configurations: 1TB (+8GB SSHD), up to a 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD
  • Ports: HDMI 2.0, 3 USB-A 3.1, 2-in-1 SD MicroMedia Card Slot.

With prices starting at $1,000, the G5 packs a 15.6 inch display panel in a narrow bezel than previous versions. It also has options for up to a 144Hz display, an OLED panel, and G-Sync support technology. For even more graphics punch, Dell is serving up Nvidia’s GeForce RTX-2000 series graphics cards with up to 6GB GDDR5 memory.

The specs on the G7 gaming laptop are similar to the G5. It packs a 3-piece metal design and keeps a relatively thin and light profile at under 0.76 inches. Dell is marketing it for people who want gaming technology and features they won’t outgrow, in a well-designed affordable laptop.

There is a 15-inch variation which will be available on January 21 starting at $1,000. A 17-inch variant is also available, going for $1,380.

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Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
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