Before choosing the best Alienware gaming laptop, there are a few things to consider.
So, you narrowed down your search for Alienware computers. Now, what’s the best Alienware gaming laptop you can afford? Will it be able to handle AAA titles without any problems? Will this laptop last for a few years? If you are thinking about buying a new Alienware gaming laptop, prepare to do some research. This article will help you make an educated choice.
Why Should You Buy An Alienware Gaming Laptop?
You might be wondering why you should invest in one of the best Alienware gaming laptops in the first place. After all, you can find any other best budget laptops for gaming or work for an affordable price. These laptops can also support the requirements to have a decent gaming experience. So, why buy a more expensive one?
The problem is their durability. Most budget gaming laptops will not last more than a year or two. This will force you to constantly replace your gaming laptop with a new one. You can save this extra expense by buying one with a higher quality in the first place.
What To Look For In A Gaming Laptop?
If you want to buy a good-quality laptop that lasts between 3 and 4 years, you will have to make a big investment. Before you buy one, make sure that your laptop follows these specifications:
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): This is the part that processes all the graphics of your laptop. The power of this card will depend on what level of resolution you want to play. At the moment, most gaming laptops work with a 1080p screen and with refresh rates that vary between 60Hz and 300Hz.It is recommended that your GPU is not smaller than a GTX 1660 Ti to play at 1080p.
- CPU: A six-core, twelve-thread CPU is the minimum you should look for to ensure the life of your laptop. Luckily, it is not necessary to have the most expensive one. Both, the Core i7 10750H or a Ryzen 4600H are great processors to choose from.
- Cooling System: Does it really matter? Believe it or not, cooling is very important, especially for gaming computers. Best gaming laptops use high-performance components that work at high speeds. The fact that they must work within smaller spaces (unlike PCs) makes them generate a lot of heat. If your laptop’s cooling system is not good enough to cool down and maintain its optimal temperature, your equipment might have some serious problems. In the long term, some of the components of your gaming laptop could even burn out. How do you know what cooling system your chosen laptop uses? Knowing this with a low-budget laptop without having used it first is impossible. However, most high-end laptop manufacturers like Alienware specify which cooling system they use.
- RAM: You should be looking for a gaming laptop with at least 16GB of RAM. You might wonder, “Why do I need that much if most games only require 8 GB?” Although true, most games perform better with at least 12 GB. Some of them even require that much to start with. With the arrival of the Xbox Series X and PS5, we haven’t seen an increase in the RAM requirements for most games. Still, experience shows these requirements increase when new consoles are released. So, it’s just a matter of time.
Can you expand the RAM of a gaming laptop? Typically, you should be able to. Most gaming laptops come with soldered (on-board) RAM and SO-DIMM slots (one or two) for RAM upgrades. However, certain Alienware models (like the m15 R3) only have the integrated option. The same goes for CPU and GPU: The majority of modern gaming laptops have those chips embedded onto the motherboard.
What’s the Best Alienware Gaming Laptop to Buy?
To help you make the decision, here’s a list of the best Alienware gaming laptops on the market:
Alienware M15 R3 Gaming Laptop
The Alienware m15 R3 model is Dell Alienware’s most portable gaming laptop. It has a 15.6-inch display and costs between $1,549.99 and $2,199.99, depending on the specifications and the components you need.
Pros:
- It’s made of high-end materials like magnesium alloy, copper, and steel, which gives the laptop an excellent look. It also comes with the iconic AlienFX lighting to provide a premium gaming experience.
- Features an i7-10750H 10th generation Intel Core processor. This complies with the 12 threads and 6-core processor you need to play the most demanding games.
- Exceptional 15.6-inch display quality allows for smooth, high-speed motion graphics in every game.
Cons:
- The model’s keyboard does not have a dedicated numeric keypad, which can be uncomfortable for some users.
- It has a short battery life.
- The RAM and GPU are soldered to the laptop’s board, making replacement/upgrades impossible.
Alienware M17 R3 Gaming Laptop
It has a 17.3-inch display and costs between $1,549.99 and $2,149.99. This model is almost identical to the m15 R3 one. The only difference is the larger screen and a full-size numeric keyboard layout.
Alienware Area 51M R2 Gaming Laptop
The Alienware Area 51m R2 has a 17.3-inch display, and its price ranges from $ 2,069.99 to $ 3,799.99. It is a more expensive model with plenty of advantages. The Alienware Area 51m R2 has more robust and advanced hardware, making its cooling system work much better than in other models. Also, its build allows users to update RAM, GPU, and other components without any problem. The most expensive version comes with the Intel Core i9-10900K processor (20 threads and 10 cores). This processor can satisfy even the most avid pro-level gamer.
Final Thoughts
Alienware offers some of the best gaming laptops on the market with high-tech internal components and eye-catching designs. Every gamer can find something they like to buy. Now, choosing the model that suits your needs and budget is up to you. Need some extra money or due for an upgrade? You can trade in your Alienware to get some cash back at GadgetSalvation.com. Also, please check out our tips for Alienware trade-in for more details on how the selling process works.