Alienware m17 R5 and x17 R2 with 480 Hz display and AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT

The two new Alienware m17 R5 and x17 R2 gaming notebooks enable unprecedented performance. For the first time, they are optionally equipped with a 480 Hz fast display. The m17 R5 also houses the latest high-end AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT graphics card with 12GB GDDR6.

Alienware m17 R5 as the ultimate AMD notebook

Following the Alienware m15 R7 in April, the manufacturer positions the Alienware m17 R5 gaming notebook at the top of performance in the AMD segment, offering the highest possible performance. The 17-inch AMD Advantage notebook combines the latest AMD Radeon RX 6000 graphics cards and AMD Ryzen 6000 processors with software from the AMD Smart Technologies portfolio.

Thus, the current top model AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT 12GB GDDR6 with RDNA 2 architecture is used as the graphics card, which offers a boost clock of 2,463 MHz. For optimal cooling, the laptop relies on Cryo-Tech cooling technology including a built-in Vapor Chamber.

This should allow the notebook to not only offer the highest possible performance in the most demanding games, but also stay comfortably cool.

m17 R5 and x17 R2 with 480 Hz display

Another novelty is provided by the built-in display, which can also be found in the new Alienware x17 R2 alongside the m17 R5. It resolves in Full HD, i.e. with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, but offers an incredible refresh rate of 480 Hz.

Not even current gaming monitors get that fast. Except for the Asus ROG Swift 500Hz, which delivers even slightly more. An impressive value, then, especially in a laptop. The response time is also an excellent 3 milliseconds. Together, this ensures smoother animations, a reduction in annoying ghosting effects, and lower latency.

The notebook displays also support the synchronization technologies AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC as well as Advanced Optimus. The latter ensures that the system uses a weaker integrated graphics unit or the gaming GPU depending on the application. This saves battery life without affecting the gaming performance.

ComfortView Plus is also part of the package. This integrated solution for reducing blue light is permanently active without distorting the true-to-life color accuracy. Dolby Vision, on the other hand, offers optimal color profiles and contrasts that go far beyond the possibilities of HDR (High Dynamic Range).

Alternatively, however, Alienware also offers the m17 R5 and x17 R2 with a UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) and the same response time of just 3 ms on request, which “only” get 120 hertz fast for it.

Prices and availability

The Alienware m17 R5 with AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT 12GB GDDR6 will be available in Germany from the end of July. The m17 R5 and x17 R2 notebooks with 480 Hz screen, on the other hand, are available immediately in Germany.

Price-wise, the m17 R5 with 480 Hz display starts at an MSRP from 2,718.98 euros, while the model with Radeon RX 6859 XT 12 GB GDDR6 starts from 3,549 euros. However, only 165 Hz or 360 Hz are possible here.  The Alienware x17 R2 with 480 Hz is available from 2,448.98 Euros.

Of course, you can further refine the notebooks in terms of features and, for example, add up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM and up to a 4 TB SSD, depending on the model. An upgrade to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TI is also possible in the case of the m17.