By Administrator Introduction
The Alienware brand. It evokes images of sleek, spaceship-inspired designs, and uncompromising performance. For years, Alienware has been synonymous with high-end gaming laptops, and the Alienware seventeen R four, released several years ago, was a prime example of that legacy. But in a world where technology advances at breakneck speed, the question remains: is the Alienware seventeen R four still relevant? Can this aging titan still hold its own against modern gaming demands? This review aims to delve into the depths of the Alienware seventeen R four, exploring its strengths, weaknesses, and ultimately, whether it deserves a place on your radar, or if you’re better off looking elsewhere.
The Alienware seventeen R four was built for one purpose: gaming. It boasted powerful processors, dedicated graphics cards, and a display designed to immerse you in your favorite virtual worlds. This machine targeted gamers who demanded the best possible experience, and were willing to pay a premium for it. This article aims to provide a detailed assessment of the Alienware seventeen R four, offering a balanced perspective on its capabilities in the current landscape. While dated, the Alienware seventeen R four still offers solid gaming performance for certain titles, especially if you can find it at a significantly reduced price. However, its lackluster battery life and considerable size are significant drawbacks that potential buyers must consider.
Design and Build Quality
Alienware has always been about making a statement, and the seventeen R four is no exception. Its design is undeniably aggressive, featuring sharp angles, prominent vents, and the iconic Alienware logo emblazoned on the lid. The lighting elements, which can be customized via Alienware’s Command Center software, add another layer of visual flair. Whether you find this design appealing or dated is a matter of personal preference, but there’s no denying that the Alienware seventeen R four commands attention. It is a gaming laptop that looks like a gaming laptop.
The build quality of the Alienware seventeen R four is generally impressive. The chassis is primarily constructed from a combination of aluminum and high-quality plastics. This gives the laptop a sturdy and robust feel, capable of withstanding the rigors of daily use. There’s minimal flex in the keyboard deck, and the hinge feels solid. However, this robust build comes at a cost: weight and dimensions. The Alienware seventeen R four is undeniably large and heavy, making it far from the most portable gaming laptop on the market. It is a desktop replacement first and foremost. Don’t expect to comfortably carry it around all day.
Regarding ports and connectivity, the Alienware seventeen R four offers a generous selection. You’ll find several USB ports, including USB Type-A and USB Type-C, an HDMI port for connecting to external displays, an Ethernet port for wired internet access, and a headphone jack. The port placement is generally well thought out, with most ports located on the sides and rear of the laptop. This helps to keep cables out of the way and provides a clean and organized setup. Wireless connectivity is handled by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, ensuring you can stay connected wherever you go.
Display Quality
The Alienware seventeen R four was offered with several display options, ranging from Full HD to Ultra High Definition resolutions, and different refresh rates. The display being reviewed here is a Full HD panel with a refresh rate. Image quality is generally good, with accurate colors, decent brightness, and wide viewing angles. The display is well-suited for gaming, providing a smooth and responsive experience. However, it’s worth noting that more modern gaming laptops often feature displays with higher refresh rates, such as one hundred and forty-four Hertz or even three hundred and sixty Hertz, which can provide a further advantage in competitive games.
Specifically, the color accuracy is good for the sRGB color gamut, making it suitable for content creation tasks, such as photo editing. Brightness levels are adequate for most indoor environments, but it may struggle in direct sunlight. Viewing angles are wide, ensuring that the image remains clear and accurate even when viewed from off-center. The response time is reasonably fast, minimizing ghosting and blurring during fast-paced action sequences.
Overall, the display on the Alienware seventeen R four is still a capable performer, but it is starting to show its age. While it provides a good gaming experience, it lacks some of the features and technologies found in more modern displays.
Performance Analysis
To provide a comprehensive performance analysis, let’s dive into the specifications of the specific unit being reviewed. This particular Alienware seventeen R four is equipped with an processor, a graphics card with dedicated video memory, sixteen gigabytes of RAM, and a solid state drive for storage. These specifications were considered high-end at the time of release, but how do they hold up today?
In terms of gaming performance, the Alienware seventeen R four can still handle many modern games at medium to high settings. Games like will run smoothly at frame rates. Demanding games like will require lower settings to maintain a playable frame rate. It’s important to note that these figures can vary depending on the specific game, settings, and resolution.
Beyond gaming, the Alienware seventeen R four is also capable of handling productivity tasks. It can easily handle tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video playback. However, more demanding tasks, such as video editing and three-dimensional rendering, may be noticeably slower compared to modern laptops with more powerful processors and graphics cards.
Cooling is a crucial aspect of any gaming laptop, and the Alienware seventeen R four is no exception. It features a complex cooling system consisting of multiple fans and heat pipes designed to dissipate heat effectively. Under heavy load, the laptop can get quite warm, but thermal throttling is generally minimal. Fan noise can be noticeable during intense gaming sessions, but it’s not excessively loud.
Keyboard and Trackpad Experience
The keyboard on the Alienware seventeen R four is generally comfortable to type on. It features decent key travel and tactile feedback, making it suitable for both gaming and typing. The layout is standard, with no unusual key placements. The keyboard also features customizable RGB lighting, allowing you to personalize the look and feel of your laptop. Anti-ghosting and N-key rollover are also supported, ensuring that every key press is registered accurately, even during intense gaming sessions.
The trackpad is adequately sized and features a smooth surface. Tracking accuracy is good, and it supports a variety of gestures. However, the trackpad is not as precise or responsive as some of the trackpads found on more modern laptops. Gamers will likely prefer to use an external mouse for gaming.
Audio Quality Analysis
The Alienware seventeen R four features speakers, providing decent sound quality. The speakers are reasonably loud and clear, making them suitable for watching videos and listening to music. However, bass response is somewhat lacking. For a more immersive audio experience, headphones are recommended. The headphone jack provides good audio quality, and supports high-resolution audio.
Battery Performance Review
Battery life is one of the major weaknesses of the Alienware seventeen R four. The battery capacity is relatively small, and the power-hungry components consume a lot of energy. In typical use, you can expect to get around several hours of battery life. Gaming will drain the battery even faster. The Alienware seventeen R four is not a laptop you can rely on for all-day battery life. Always keep the charger close by.
Upgradability Options
The Alienware seventeen R four offers some limited upgradability options. The RAM is upgradeable, with slots available for adding more memory. The solid state drive can also be replaced with a larger or faster drive. However, the processor and graphics card are not upgradeable, as they are soldered to the motherboard.
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros:
Still capable gaming performance for less demanding titles. Robust build quality and distinctive design. Good selection of ports. Comfortable keyboard.
Cons:
Poor battery life. Large size and heavy weight. Dated components. Potential for thermal throttling. Finding replacement parts may be difficult.
Concluding Thoughts
The Alienware seventeen R four is a gaming laptop that was a powerhouse in its time. While it still offers some value today, its age is starting to show. Its gaming performance is still adequate for certain titles, and its build quality remains impressive. However, its poor battery life, large size, and dated components make it a less appealing option compared to more modern gaming laptops.
Is the Alienware seventeen R four worth buying today? It depends on your needs and priorities. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gaming laptop and don’t mind its limitations, it could be a viable option. However, if you prioritize portability, battery life, and cutting-edge performance, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Ultimately, the decision is yours. The Alienware seventeen R four is a gaming beast, but it’s a beast from a bygone era.
Please feel free to leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. We encourage you to share your experiences with the Alienware seventeen R four, and let us know if you agree with our assessment.
