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Alienware m15 R1

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The Alienware m15 R1, launched in October 2018 and refreshed with RTX graphics in January 2019, marked a turning point for the brand: the first truly thin-and-light 15-inch Alienware ever built. Wrapped in an Epic Silver or Nebula Red magnesium-alloy shell under regulatory model P79F, it shaved roughly a third of the weight off its Alienware 15 predecessors while packing 8th and 9th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA graphics ranging from the GTX 1050 Ti all the way to the RTX 2080 Max-Q. Because this model stayed on shelves through late 2019 in dozens of factory configurations — including a headline-grabbing 4K OLED option — your exact combination of parts determines its final resale price. Select your components using our tool above to view an instant cash offer, or start at our sell your gaming laptop page.

Is yours the original m15 (R1)? Confirm before you quote

Alienware sold this laptop simply as the "Alienware m15" — the "R1" label was only applied after the redesigned m15 R2 arrived in mid-2019. That makes it one of the easiest Alienware models to mix up. Flip your laptop over and check the regulatory label on the bottom panel before requesting a quote.

✓ It's an m15 R1 if…

  • The bottom label reads "Reg Model: P79F" or "Regulatory Model P79F"
  • The lid is Epic Silver or Nebula Red with a smooth, plain surface — no honeycomb vent pattern anywhere
  • The keyboard includes a narrow number pad on the right side
  • The RAM is held in two removable SO-DIMM slots (upgradable), not soldered down
  • Windows System Information (press Win + R, type msinfo32, hit Enter) shows "Alienware m15" with no R2/R3/R4 suffix

✕ It's a different model if…

  • Reg Model P87F + honeycomb rear vents + no number pad → that's the m15 R2, R3, or R4 ("Legend" redesign, 2019–2021)
  • A thick, heavy chassis (over 7 lb) with Reg Model P42E or P69F → that's the older Alienware 15 R3/R4
  • A 17.3-inch screen → that's the Alienware m17 family, quoted separately
  • AMD Ryzen processor inside → that's the m15 R5 Ryzen Edition (2021)

Not sure where the label is? Our guide to finding your Alienware model number walks you through it with pictures, including how to look up your full factory configuration using the 7-character Dell Service Tag printed on the same label.

Core hardware configurations

The m15 R1 shipped in two waves on the same P79F chassis: the late-2018 launch with GTX 10-series graphics, and the January 2019 refresh that added RTX 20-series options, the Core i9, and faster displays. Both waves are quoted on this page.

Processor (CPU)

  • Intel Core i5-8300H — 4 cores, 8 threads, up to 4.0 GHz boost (entry tier)
  • Intel Core i7-8750H — 6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.1 GHz boost (the most common configuration)
  • Intel Core i7-9750H — 6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.5 GHz boost (later 2019 builds)
  • Intel Core i9-8950HK — 6 cores, 12 threads, unlocked, up to 4.8 GHz boost (RTX-refresh flagship)

Graphics (GPU)

  • 2018 launch wave: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB), GTX 1060 (6GB), GTX 1070 Max-Q (8GB)
  • 2019 refresh wave: GTX 1660 Ti (6GB), RTX 2060 (6GB), RTX 2070 Max-Q (8GB), RTX 2080 Max-Q (8GB)
  • RTX models add hardware ray tracing and DLSS support — and command noticeably stronger resale offers
  • All configurations include the dedicated rear port for the external Alienware Graphics Amplifier

Memory (RAM)

  • Dual-channel DDR4-2666 architecture
  • Factory options: 8GB (2×4GB), 16GB (2×8GB), or 32GB (2×16GB)
  • Two accessible SO-DIMM slots — fully user-upgradable to a 32GB maximum (unlike the later m15 R2, which soldered its memory down)

Storage

  • One M.2 2230/2280 slot (SATA or PCIe NVMe SSD, up to 1TB) plus one M.2 2280 PCIe slot
  • One 2.5-inch SATA bay on select configurations — many budget builds shipped with a 1TB hybrid hard drive instead of an SSD
  • Common factory mixes: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD, dual-SSD setups, SSD + 1TB HDD, or Intel Optane cache + HDD

Display & audio

Display

15.6-inch anti-glare panels with wide viewing angles and thin bezels. The 2018 wave offered FHD (1920 × 1080) at 60Hz and 4K UHD (3840 × 2160) at 60Hz, both 300 nits. The 2019 refresh added a fast FHD 144Hz gaming panel, a 500-nit 4K HDR400 option, and — from mid-2019 — a striking 4K OLED panel with 400 nits and near-infinite contrast. High-refresh and OLED configurations raise resale value.

Audio

Stereo bottom-firing speakers (2W average output) driven by a Realtek high-definition audio controller, with a dual-array digital microphone cluster built into the camera assembly and a universal 3.5mm headset jack.

Ports & connectivity

Like the larger Alienware machines it descends from, the m15 R1 routes its display, power, and expansion connectors out the back edge to keep cables off your desk.

Rear Edge
  • 1× Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) (supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 at 10Gbps, DisplayPort 1.2 via adapter, and 40Gbps Thunderbolt devices)
  • 1× HDMI 2.0b
  • 1× Mini DisplayPort 1.4
  • 1× Alienware Graphics Amplifier port (proprietary external-GPU connector)
  • 1× Power adapter input (7.4mm DC-in)
Left & Right Sides
  • 2× USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A (right side)
  • 1× USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A with PowerShare (left side)
  • 1× RJ-45 Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet (1Gbps — not the 2.5G port found on some later Alienware models)
  • 1× 3.5mm headset combo jack
  • 1× Noble security-lock slot
  • No SD card reader on any configuration

Killer 1550 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Qualcomm QCA61x4A option Bluetooth 5.0 / 4.2 No Wi-Fi 6

Battery, build & more

Battery & charging

Two battery tiers were assigned by configuration: a 4-cell 60 Whr pack paired with a 130W adapter on entry builds, or a 6-cell 90 Whr pack with a 180W adapter on higher-performance models. There is no USB-C charging — the m15 R1 charges only through its 7.4mm barrel connector.

Camera & mic

Full HD (1080p at 30fps) fixed-focus webcam above the display — a step up from the 720p cameras typical of the era — flanked by dual digital microphones.

Keyboard & lighting

4-zone RGB backlit keyboard (101-key US layout) with a condensed numeric keypad, 1.4mm-class key travel, and AlienFX lighting zones — including the glowing rear Alienhead power button — all managed through the Alienware Command Center software. No per-key RGB on this generation.

Cooling & Hybrid Power

Dual-fan Alienware Cryo-Tech cooling exhausting through the rear shelf. Under heavy gaming loads, the Hybrid Power feature draws supplemental power from the battery alongside the adapter to hold performance steady.

Weight

From ≈ 2.16 kg (4.76 lb) — roughly 20% lighter than the Alienware 15 it replaced. Exact weight varies with the 60Whr vs. 90Whr battery and storage configuration.

Dimensions

362.5 × 275 × 17.9–19.99 mm (14.27" × 10.85" × 0.70"–0.78") — the slimmest 15-inch Alienware built up to that point.

Frequently asked questions

01 How do I identify my exact Alienware m15 R1 configuration for a quote?
Start with the label on the bottom panel: it should read "Reg Model: P79F" alongside your 7-character Dell Service Tag. To read your internal parts without opening anything, press Win + R, type msinfo32, and hit Enter — the System Summary lists your processor and installed memory. For the graphics card, right-click the Start button, open Device Manager, and expand Display adapters: the NVIDIA entry shown there (for example, "GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q Design") is exactly what you should select in the quote tool. Our Alienware model number guide covers every step with screenshots.
02 How do I know it's not an m15 R2 — they look similar in photos?
Three quick tests separate them. First, the regulatory label: the R1 is P79F, while the R2 (and the R3/R4 that followed) is P87F. Second, the design language: the R1 has a smooth lid in Epic Silver or Nebula Red, while the R2's "Legend" redesign added distinctive honeycomb-patterned vents above the keyboard and around the rear exhaust, in Lunar Light white or Dark Side of the Moon gray. Third, the keyboard: the R1 keeps a slim number pad on the right; the R2 dropped it entirely. Getting this right matters for your payout — the two generations use different parts and are priced separately.
03 Can I sell an m15 R1 with a swollen battery, thermal issues, or a cracked screen?
Yes. We buy this model in every functional state, and the issues common to the m15 R1 — aging batteries that no longer hold a charge, loud or failing fans, thermal throttling under load, worn keyboard zones, and cracked or dead-pixel displays — are all accounted for in our condition grading. Just answer the condition questions honestly when building your quote, and the offer will reflect your unit as it actually is. Even a non-booting m15 R1 holds salvage value, since the GPU, RAM modules, and display panel are frequently still good. Be upfront about known problems: our technicians test every arriving device, and undisclosed faults can lead to a revised offer.
04 How does trading in my Alienware m15 online actually work?
Many people don't realize that a several-year-old gaming laptop can still be converted into cash from home — no listings, no meetups, no marketplace fees. The process takes minutes: select your m15 R1's configuration and condition above to lock in a quote, ship it to us with the free, insured UPS label we provide, and get paid within two business days of our team completing its inspection — via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, or a mailed check. Alienware machines hold their value unusually well, so even the 2018 GTX configurations are worth quoting. See the full walkthrough on our how it works page, and check our Alienware trade-in guide for tips on maximizing your offer.
05 Should I wipe my drives or remove the SSD before shipping?
Back up your game saves and personal files to an external drive or cloud storage, sign out of your Microsoft, Dell, and Steam/Epic accounts, and — if you're comfortable — run a factory reset (Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → "Remove everything"). Please leave the M.2 SSDs and any 2.5-inch drive installed: a complete laptop earns a stronger offer, and our technicians perform certified multi-pass data sanitization on every incoming drive regardless. The full procedure is documented on our data erasure protocols page.