After debuting its desktop-class RTX 20 Series graphics cards last year, NVIDIA is finally ready to bring its latest and greatest to laptops – and Dell is among the first PC makers to bring them on board. At CES 2019 today, the company unveiled refreshes to its Alienware m15 and m17 laptops, adding a punch of RTX Series graphics, processor upgrades, and a much lighter design for the larger of the duo.
Alienware m17
The most drastic revamp is for the Alienware m17, which is 40 percent lighter than its predecessor, making it the Dell's "thinnest and lightest 17-inch laptop ever." With a chassis constructed out of magnesium alloy, the Alienware m17 comes in at around 5.8 pounds and just under one inch thick.
The real star of the show here, however, is what Dell has packed inside the m17. You'll now find 8th Gen Intel Core processors ranging up to the 4.5GHz Core i9-8950HK. Though GTX 1050 Ti graphics remain on the low end, you'll also be able to select from NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 20 Series laptop graphics, including the RTX 2060, RTX 2070 Max-Q, or RTX 2080 Max-Q. That's combined with up to 32GB of RAM and various dual storage options ranging up to two 1TB PCIe M.2 SSDs.
As for the 17.3-inch display, you'll have three options to choose from: 1080p 60Hz IPS, 4K 60Hz IPS, or 1440p 120Hz TN.
Other interesting tidbits include Killer Wireless networking, a full complement of ports covering Thunderbolt 3, Ethernet, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, a dedicated Alienware Graphics Amplifier port (if you want to add one of the best graphics cards out there), and three USB Type-A ports. Alienware's Cryo-Tech system should help keep things cool, and the laptop features six zones of customizable RGB lighting across the keyboard, power button, LCD cover alien head, and more.
The Alienware m17 is expected to launch on January 29 with prices starting at $1,650 in "Epic Silver" and "Nebula Red" color options. Note that "Nebula Red" will only be available with the 4K display option.
Alienware m15
Following on from its design overhaul last year, the Alienware m15 is also getting some NVIDIA RTX love. You'll find the same graphics options at the m17 here, going up to an RTX 2080 Max-Q. Likewise, the same processor options are tagging along here, up to an Intel Core i9-8950HK.
Rounding things out are up to 32GB of RAM, dual storage options ranging up to two 1TB PCIe M.2 SSDs, and the same selection of ports found on the m17.
Unlike the m17, you'll find four display configurations to choose from here. The 15.6-inch screen comes in two 1080p IPS flavors, running at either 60Hz or 144Hz. And while there's no QHD option, there are two 4K IPS offerings, both of which run at 60Hz, and one of which is HDR-400 certified.
The Alienware m15 is expected to launch on January 29 in "Epic Silver" and "Nebular Red" color options, with prices starting at $1,580. The "Nebula Red" color is limited to configurations with the 144Hz display.
