Skip to main content

Alienware Debuts New Gamer Notebook, Desktops

alienware-lptp2Dell’s boutique high-performance Alienware division has been a little quiet lately, but that silence has now ended with the introduction of five new high-end gaming rigs at the Tokyo Game Show&mash;led by a new 15-inch notebook computer sporting a mobile Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTZ 260M graphics with 1 GB of video RAM.

“Alienware systems are, and always have been, our benchmark for PC gaming performance,” said Dell’s VP pf consumer sales and marketing Michael Tatelman, in a statement. “Through the Alienware brand, Dell is committed to offering gamers the richest possible PC gaming experience with the latest technology and coolest designs.”

First up, the new Alienware M15x notebook, which Dell is modestly characterizing as the “most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe.” The M15x sports a mobile version of the Intel’s Core i7 processor running at 1.6 to 2 GHz, along with optional Nvidia GTX 260 M graphics (with 1 GB of video RAM) and support for up to 8 GB of system memory. The system sports a 15.6-inch display with either a 1,600 by 900-pixel or 1,920 by 1,080-pixel native resolution, a slot loading DVD burner (Blu-ray is an option), 250 to 500 GB of hard drive storage (a 256 GB SSD is an option), VGA and DisplayPort video output, three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, and an 8-in-1 card reader. As with all Alienware offerings, the system can be customized and cranked up considerably, but prices start at $1,499. However, like all other gaming notebooks, the system is questionably portable by today’s standards: the system is almost two inches thick and weighs almost nine pounds.

Next up, Alienware has announced the Aurora and Aurora ALX MicroATX desktops, featuring Core i7 processors (including an option to overclock them to 3.6 GHz); the systems can support dual ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards (with 1 GB video RAM each) and up to 12 GB of main memory, along with up to 2 TB of onboard storage and gigabit Ethernet. As usual, a number of customization options are available—users can opt for Nvidia or ATI graphics. Prices start at $1,299 and go up quickly from there.

Finally, folks looking to a full PC tower will want to hold out for the Area-51 and Area-51 ALX systems, designed for hardcore gamers and severe computing enthusiasts: the systems feature Core i7 processors that can be factory overclocked all the way to 3.86 GHz, a wide variety of graphics options (including dual multi-GPU cards from Nvidia or ATI). The systems will have can support multiple optical drives, have enough room for up to six internal SATA II drives in cable-free bays, and support up to 12 GB of 1333MHz or 1600MHz DDR3 RAM. Prices will start at $1,999.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed
Overwatch 2 running on the LG OLED 27 gaming monitor.

There are a ton of options if you on the hunt for the best gaming monitors, but for us, Alienware's 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake in 2024. It's not the display for everyone, though, and after reviewing dozens of the top gaming monitors, we've settled on a list of displays with great gaming performance for any budget or purpose.

We're focused specifically on gaming monitors here, which come with higher refresh rates and adaptive sync features like G-Sync and FreeSync. If you're looking for an all-around display, make sure to browse our list of the best monitors.

Read more
4 gaming monitors you should buy instead of the Alienware 34 QD-OLED
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.

The Alienware 34 QD-OLED is one of the best gaming monitors you can buy. There's no doubt about that. It has exceptional image quality, an attractive price, and a suite of features that are actually useful. Even with such high praise, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED isn't for everyone, and there are some other great options available.

Maybe you're looking to spend a little more or a little less, or maybe the ultrawide form factor isn't for you. Regardless, we've rounded up four monitors that Digital Trends has reviewed and found to be great alternatives to the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8

Read more
Hurry! This Alienware gaming PC with an RTX 4090 is $800 off
Alienware Aurora R15 placed at an angle on a table.

Gamers who are on the hunt for a powerful gaming PC should consider going for the Alienware Aurora R15, especially with Dell's $800 discount for this model featuring the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. From its original price of $3,900, it's down to $3,100 -- it still isn't cheap, but it's a reasonable price for a gaming desktop that will be able to handle even the most demanding settings. You need to hurry with your purchase if you're interested though, because we're not sure if the savings will still be available if you delay the transaction to tomorrow.

Why you should buy the Alienware Aurora R15 gaming PC
While its successor, the Alienware Aurora R16, is already out, the Alienware Aurora R15 remains one of the best gaming PCs that you can buy today. This particular build of the gaming desktop, which combines the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor and 32GB of RAM, is capable of running the best PC games without any issues. It's also well-equipped to handle the upcoming PC games of the next few years, so you don't need to think about upgrading any components within the near future.

Read more