Dang it Dell, you did it AGAIN!!... Alienware X17 Review

So close. Alienware was so close to making the perfect gaming laptop with the X17 but right at the end they fumbled.

Buy Alienware X17

Buy Lenovo Legion 7

Buy ASUS Zephyrus M16

Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group.

AFFILIATES & REFERRALS
---------------------------------------------------

FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE
---------------------------------------------------

FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS
---------------------------------------------------

MUSIC CREDIT
---------------------------------------------------
Title: Laszlo - Supernova

CHAPTERS
---------------------------------------------------
0:00 Intro
0:43 What's New
2:15 Benchmarks
2:42 The Problem
4:25 Fit & Finish
5:15 Trackpad
5:28 Screen
6:15 Speakers
6:32 Inputs
6:56 Teardown
9:17 Conclusion
10:45 Outro

[LinusTechTips]

IMPORTANT NOTE: A BIOS update was uploaded yesterday that enables the MUX switch on the X17. It is kinda janky since you need to enable the MUX in the BIOS and turn it off to have Optimus (Lenovo and Asus have much simpler solutions to this), but it does give you the extra performance on the 4K and 1080P screen options.

[JarrodsTech]

They did the same thing in the m15 R5 too - adding the MUX switch with a BIOS update. Clearly the underlying hardware was there all along and they were just using it for the panels that had G-Sync support, so it's good that they just gave the option to all of them, but weird they didn't just do it from the start because now all the reviews end up consistent leading to customer confusion.

[JessicaFEREM]

I really like it when desktop replacement laptops have rear-mounted IO, it makes the desk less cluttered and there's more room for your external mouse, which you are probably going to use if you plan on gaming.

[rossmanngroup]

No trackpoint!

3:25 - another benefit, the mux is also what takes the hit instead of the GPU when Apple puts the 52v power line next to the 1.7v image data line. Much prefer to replace a 9x9 ball chip than a 900+ one :) I'm surprised most laptops don't use this when Apple has been since.. 2008 at least actually. That is cheap and lazy. I almost appreciate Apple design here.

[connormoroney]

This video might as well be titled "Dell FINALLY figures out how to cool a laptop after 15 years of burning bricks"

[needfuldoer]

Dell: "We're going to throw all the cooling at this sucker!"
Apple: "Just don't touch the hot part."

[jacobeaton]

Whoever filmed this deserves an award…those close up B-roll shots of the internals were top notch professional grade stuff 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[durps]

I still despise alienware for their prebuilt pcs but honestly they're really stepping it up with their laptops. Gotta give credit where credit is due, good job dell.

[aeris]

The mux was unlocked in a recent BIOS update.

The delivery experience with this sucks though, if you buy a custom config. I had two delays come up. Some people I've asked have had 3 and upwards to 4 months because of the shortage.

[UnimportantAcc]

"without sounding like an audio immersion mod for flight simulator"
lmao

[ProHyperMaster]

7:10 I love that you can easily upgrade storage and ram, in general, in the previous version, the RAM was soldered

[marib]

I just ordered the Alien x17 today. 6 Months from you making this video. But the regular price in now $3, 250, But I caught a sale that saves me $1, 050. I got this with 32GB Memory and the Display that give me the "AKA, Fancy MUX Switch". My laptop, which shall not be named, is in the shop and I'm hopeful that I can retrieve my files and I need my replacement pretty quickly. I was just about to put in my card info for the Legion 7i, based on review and price.... plus it has the number pad I want, tho not the 17.3 screen I'm used to, but it said it would take me *4+ Months* to be shipped!!!! LIKE WHAT!!!!. So the Alienware won this battle for my pocket with a less than 2 week ETA. I had a really hard time deciding between the two. But here's to getting my new laptop in less than 2 weeks. It's by far a huge cry of an upgrade from my 7-8 year old laptop. I couldn't go wrong either way.

[tbrooke]

Omg whoever shot the b role close up of the main board and cooling solution has my eternal respect. Simply Beautiful 😍

[MistaZipps]

The speakers can sound AMAZING when you tweak the audio settings in the alienware app.

[secyll]

I feel the same way about an AMD CPU option. Team Red's power efficiency is just off the charts. I wouldn't go without AMD in a Laptop anymore

[vishalksahoo]

1:59 audio immersion mod for MSFS...nice

[a_lonely_potato]

9:00 ok, that was a REALLY nice shot.

[Sawta]

I like that dolly shot around 9:00! Good work camera team!

[arminrichard]

That was a really nice shot from the cooling solution. Reaaaally liked that one

[dieselfreak]

I'm digging the music for the teardown portion of the video