There is an abundance of gaming laptops in the market, some are built with a thin and lightweight frame while some are the complete opposite. Dell is all set to further re-establish gaming experience for the users with the latest launch of the Alienware m15 R4 device.
From the compact design to the potent hardware fluid frame, this new device is everything that a user needs for smoother user experience. The device is packed with the combination of Core i9-10980HK processor and GeForce RTX 3080 graphics for a performance that you will eventually fall in love with.
Dell, with its Alienware range and the latest launch, manages to enable desktop-like gaming experience in a mobile workstation with ease. Not only does the device feature that latest gaming innovations, it is also packed with the BIOS-based feature called the TCC (thermal control circuit) which enables users to override the maximum temperature of the Intel processor.
Walking ahead from its predecessor, the Alienware m15 R4 has a very similar design like the 2020-launched m15 R3. The devices are extremely identical with a similar chassis and color scheme. The latest one weighs just under 5 pounds, asking it one of the lightweight gaming devices you can get your hands on.
The overall design is extremely modern and sleek with tasteful lighting and the overall matte surface that makes it one of a kind device. It is highly durable, scratch-resistance and functional. It is integrated with the Command Center suite enables seamless customization of the LEDs of individual key groups as needed.
Even with the compact and thin chassis and frame, the Alienware m15 R4 is integrated with all the needed I/O ports including an Ethernet jack, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port and a potent audio output. There is an additional microSD card, for easier data transfer.
The posterior of the device is integrated with the HDMI 1.2b and mini-DisplayPort 1.4 connectivity along with the Thunderbolt 3 port that enables you to dock the gaming battle station for superior gaming experience.
The hood of this gaming device is where all the magic happens. It is powered by the latest Intel Core i9-10980HK processor with 5.3 GHz maximum Turbo Boost frequency. As for the graphics, the gaming device exceeds all expectations, thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics.
As for the storage options, it is integrated with two individual 1TB PCIe-attached SSD along with an additional 512GB SSD. Aside from the standard design, the gaming device packs in all the stunning visuals in the 15” display with the 2160p OLED screen with up to 300Hz refresh rate.
However, packing in such heavy-duty work in this 15” frame seems impossible and too good to be true. It is the thermal management system of the device that makes it a superior purchase. It is integrated with the Cryo-thermal solutions that enables uniform heat dissipation and faster unmatched performance. It is the copper composite pipes that make the same possible.
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Looking at the surface, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish the Alienware m15 R4 from its predecessor, m15 R3 but the performance does make the prior option a superior purchase. With all the benchmark performance options, it suggests that the m15 R4 is hands down the best gaming devices that you can likely pick out for yourself.
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Where does the Alienware m15 R4 stand in the market?
In such a competitive market where there’s so many gaming laptops already available, putting the Alienware m15 R4 in the mix makes it questionable in the first. How does it fare against the other gaming devices? Is it worth the money you splurge on it? These are some of the most common questions that people have.
To further test out its efficacy, we put to test the gaming efficiency of the device by playing some of the heavy-duty games, including:
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Borderlands 3
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Metro Exodus
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Watch Dogs Legion
For the m15 R4 that is integrated with the latest RTX 3080 GPU, it does seem a little in the backlag, especially if the reports from NVIDIA are to be compared to that of the 215W GeForce RTX 2080 and a 250W GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. But, NVIDIA has been very persistent about the overall architecture of the RTX 3080 and now is the time to put that to test.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
The first game that we decided to check out was the heavy-duty and graphics-oriented Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The RTX 3080 in the m14 R4 provides with enough framerates with crisp native resolution for a realistic visual experience.
Overall, it provides with a very efficient and uninterrupted performance in a cutting-edge device.
Borderlands 3
Coming to the performance of the device while playing Borderlands 3, the overall performance of the device was around 18% faster than some of the standard and high-end processors like the Core i9-10900K and GeForce RTX 2080.
Cyberpunk 2077
While playing this heavy graphics game, the one thing users did experience were fluid frame rates. It holds up to the overall settings of the games without disrupting the quality and the overall performance too.
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is a very performance-demanding game that requires high-end configuration for smoother gaming experience. So, putting the Alienware m15 R4 to test is definitely a point to consider.
The 115W power limit of the RTX 3080 in the device fares pretty well compared to the other available graphics card in the market. It enables users to experience a smoother gaming experience with a mobile-friendly power.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Playing this game, the RTX 3080 in the device averages at 125 FPS, which is a pretty good count compared to all the other available devices in the market. The mobile GPU architecture is what helps provide with a more efficient gameplay and user experience.
Watch Dogs: Legion
The GPU fared at 100 FPS for this game, which is not the worst but comparably less than some of the competing models in the market.
Featuring the TCC Activation Offset
Aside from all the standard features that we have talked about, the one thing about this device that makes it a superior option in comparison is the unique TCC activation offset feature that is accessible through the BIOS function.
In standard settings, the TCC activation offset is set to 0 by default, enabling 100 degrees maximum temperature. It can be adjusted to 15-degrees to further respond to 85-degrees control circuit ceiling.
Intervening with the thermal control circuit at the lower temperature limits helps improve the overall CPU powers in the m15 R4. Having a cooler and well-managed CPU helps handle heavy workloads without affecting the overall clock rates of the device.
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The device also features a new thermal functionality that was integrated to override the in-built control circuit from the Intel processors. While this doesn’t fairly affect the overall gaming performance, it does affect certain tasks like coding or rendering.
Although Dell has introduced a few subtle changes and developments to the Alienware m15 R4, the features have introduced a range of impacts to the overall gaming performance along with more enthusiast-oriented controls in the device.
Source: AlienwareArena
