After watching you for a while, this is the first time I checked your subscriber count. 23K? Really? I thought you had like 1M+. Good job, this channel. It feels so professional.
I think a comparisn for all the 14 inch gaming laptops would really help out a few of the people who need portability in their machines. After all now the x14 and Asus's ROG Zephyrus G14 and Razer blade 14 have the new hardware in so its a good time to do it. Loving the content as always, Keep it up!
thank you mate. I do hope to get the new G14 in when it hits uk and will also get the blade 14 once they drop the price a little, the UK pre-order price is insane
@@MashITTech Thanks for the update! I really wanted somebody to do that review because im looking for a good 14 inch device at the moment and that would help out a TON.
@@batmanonholiday4477 Can only speak for myself, but Legion because I'm iffy about dealing with tech companies based in China and Scar because it's a bit TOO gaming laptop, I like that the Alienware has cool LEDs while still looking like a professional computer (in fairness to Lenovo, the Legion also has that more professional look which I appreciate). Also, online reviews of the Asus make it look like their quality control is really hit and miss. The Lenovo was really tempting for me as far as what you get for the money, but I can spend a little more for something that looks like it was inspired by NASA.
Well your reviews continue to be on point. I just purchased a x15 R2, will be here 3/22. I choose 32g since its not upgradable with 3080ti, 12900, and QHD at 240hr. I do wish we could upgrade the keyboard but they always try to keep something with the x17 that the x15 can't have... Thank you sir!
Fantastic review, as always. I’m a proud owner of the X15 R2, i7, 3080 Ti, 32GB ram, QHD. And it is an absolutely amazing device. Fantastic performance. My only gripe would be the lack of RGB touchpad.
Excellent review as always, m15 r4 3070 user here, I see no reason to upgrade just yet. m15 r4 is still a beast of a laptop. Did all your m15 r4 guides btw. big help!
@@MashITTech I was able to undervolt my m15 r4 to -125mV without any errors running full speed at either 3.7Mghz and 4Mghz. Its now on low 80s on full load. ❤️
Amazing detailed review. You made my decision much easier on which one of these to get! The screen issue does not matter if your using external though, which will be the panel I use for gaming.
Only had one day on the x14 so far. Love the feel and size but I am crazy on the fans! I wish alienware would stop obsessing over thinness, I would happily have a laptop 5mm thicker for less whiney fans
@@MashITTech When is your x14 review? Mine is on the way but i cant wait! HAHA. I need a detailed review from you because i know you will provide a detailed TRUE review!
My old eyes need the real estate lol. And I just love the cherry mechanical keyboard. It's eyebrow raising to see the performance of the x15. Stull im not just personally mobile enough. Very comprehensive review! I'm grateful to you guys!
Been watching your reviews man, they are awesome! You’ve been helping me decide witch model to get, I’ve already canceled like 5 orders from Dell they just hate me lol. I chose to go with the X17 r1 after I heard about the wattage. Couldn’t justify $4K for the 12 gen. I was wondering though how you think the x15r2 performance is now vs the x17r1. 17 inch will be a new thing for me, and if the x15 is giving similar performance might be a worthy sacrifice.
Great and fair comparison as always. It seems like Dell decided to spend the R&D money on the x15r2 hehe. Maybe Dell can't find enough QHD screens for the x17?... Personally I would choose the x15 (happy owner of x15 r1) just due to the extra portability. Considering that the performance gap between x15 and x17 has shrunk quite a bit, it will make it easier for people to make a choice given their situation.
Thanks so much. Yeah I would normally go with a 17” but this year I just can’t ignore the x15, until dell improve the x17 offering I can’t really recommend it, even the r1 with cheaper price is a better buy
I would pick the X15 primarily for the cheaper price (that’s why I went with the M15 R4 over the M17). Plus you get a thinner and lighter chassis which is nice to have. Sure, the gpu performance isn’t max p but past the regular RTX 3070 range I don’t really care. If it’s at least 130w or 140w it is fine. Plus the x17 isn’t really that big of an improvement over the r1 like the x15 is. So if I wanted a 17” chassis I would go for the x17 r1.
I'm gonna try and hold out to upgrade from my Asus Zephyrus G15 with a 3070 next fall (2023) but I'm really tempted to get the 3080 Ti version of the x15 R2, it seems so perfect for me.
The fact you can get a full powered 17 inch gaming laptop and it only weighs 7lbs is just jaw dropping for anyone old enough to remember 12, 13, and 14 inch consumer laptops coming in around that weight. Hell, if you've been an Alienhead for more than a few months, one can easily recall lugging around a 10lb plastic clad space heater with deafening fans and dual GPUs. Sore shoulders and wrist injuries were a feature, not a bug ya millennial weaklings.
Not in the market for a gaming laptop (still making sweet love to my Legion 7i w/ 3080!) but I’m absolutely impressed with the wattage that they’re pushing in the X15 though! Along with that I don’t think the i9 belongs in any gaming laptop because I don’t think that any mobile chassis can cool them enough for it to make any meaningful difference. Along with this QHD is the way to go, although i want to see QHD+.
Hi David, That was great,, Thank you. Will be sticking with My M17 R4 atm As the X17 R2 lacks what I already have, apart from cpu+ gpu, If you look as a whole. Just Paid for 2yr warranty after My 1st yr with laptop and for the price + the great service I have received from Dell Prem Tech Support its a MUST. Have a Great day... Cheers.
Love your vids! On the x15 r2 does it matter which usb-c display port do you use to connect to external monitor? Are the thunderbolt 4 port and the non-TB4 pott both linked to DGPU/IGPU? Sorry new to all this.
Good points. I’m just going to wait for x17 r3. My wish list for that is - QHD, backlight secondary keys on cherry switches, and 4000 series graphics (rumored for this year)
For me x15 r3 will be perfect if there's a 16 10 display 500 nit qhd screen with 240 Hz Secondary function keys that light up Larger trackpad More ports if possible And better speakers
@@yashmistry9252 I think you will get a few of those things but a few you won't. I see them fixing secondary keys next year - they'll probably leave the screen alone and update the x17 line display. Speakers no one really cares about enough in the gaming laptop realm. It's up there with battery life - no one really cares when it comes to gaming. I think you can get maybe a few extra ports too but that's about it - upgrade to GPU as well as 4000 series releases etc Who knows - I am not God - just guessing here. Maybe you get all of it :)
I feel like this time it isn't as clear as it was for the R1 series. For the R1, the X-17 was the clear winner. Not so sure about the R2. We really need a QHD screen on the X-17. Amd your review is, as always, excellent. I wish you'd mentioned the speaker distortion on the X-17 though. That's a deal breaker for me.
The speaker distortion is a difficult one, I have the feeling it is something software related. I mentioned it in the first impression and x17 full review. As the speakers are the same as the r1 yet sound worse I feel it has to be the new dolby software they are now using
Great comparison. I really feel like on a lot of respects, cpu aside, the r2 x17 is a downgrade from the r1. The 4k screen is less bright, the whites look more yellow, the speakers are significantly worse and they got rid of that awesome rgb trackpad. The latter doesn't bother me really, but the screen quality and awful speakers definitely do.
Yeah for me the speakers are a big issue! I keep hoping it is just a software issue as they have moved to the dolby for sound but 2 months in and no solution :(
Coming late to the game, just wanted to say thanks for the amazingly detailed and clear reviews. I came to your channel in search for help when picking my next laptop and I find everything you say very helpful. I'm not completely novice to IT stuff, but it's true that this time around it will be my very first actual gaming laptop, so I thought there might me other things to take into consideration than usual (heat, fan noise, portability, etc.). Thanks again :) I think I will go for the x15 R2 as it fits my need better.
You should use a tripod or some type of microphone stand, at a repeatable distance and with a downward facing angle for all your reviews - when trying to demo comparative sound performance. Hand held clip-on mics used for anything important end up being a real detriment. More importantly, you should use sound clips that are repeatable. In the case of this video, you pulled some Soundcloud royalty free but you played a second segment for the 100% comparison right when the dynamics of the content changed (attenuated) dramatically. Just trying to provide constructive feedback and give you a opportunity to elevate your vids further beyond the din... without much effort but with important methods.
This might sound stupid. But I prefer the x17 r1 I have with the 3080 and the RGB trackpad. Obv most people will prefer the performance. But I often work in dark environments (in college) and the RGB trackpad is actually very nice.
This will be my first time getting an alienware, only have experience witht the XPS and the 4k display. Once you experience that no way I would get that a full HD screen. Have they offered a QHD screen on the 17" inch alienware in the past?
@@blue13x do you find the 4k on a laptop screen makes everything too small? I'm mostly work and occasional gaming. I just saw they dropped the 4k x17r2 and thinking of getting one to try out next to the x15r2 I just got
I feel, to keep the thermals in check and to run any Triple AAA title. 1080p should be the way to go. For example, I've played gta v on my x17 r2 natively, AND with a meager 3440 x1440 monitor with 120hz. Natively your here very little fan noise but connected to the monitor the fans stay on. I can't imagine pushing 4k on this monitor natively with ANY title as the heat would be unbearable.... Great review btw.
Thanks and great presentation and learning for dell as they don't have such clean and detailed comparison. Can you remember with these model's, do these fan have 0db features like complete stop in idle or light load condition please? It will be good to see this point if you would like to cover in future laptop reviews for people like us. Regards
Shopping closeouts and decided to go with the X15 over the (480hz) X17.. wanted the bigger screen but suspect I'll like the QHD better. Actually ended up spending $400 USD more for the X15 for this reason, although more like $200 more when ram/SSD size are adjusted. Was already leaning X15 but the 17 on clearance sold out making my decision easy. lol. Now thinking I should have just ordered both and spent a week with each before deciding. Great video, thanks! As helpful as a video could possibly be, although no replacement for having them in your hand. One question... you said the QHD screen was 400nit but the Dell webpage you captured in the video said 250nit.. was the webpage incorrect? ETA nevermind, I saw you answered this elsewhere... typo on Dell's part. That's a relief! Thanks again!!
Dells webpages are always wrong 😂 for such a large company I am always surprised by the amount of errors! If you got the 240hz qhd panel it will be a beautiful bright 400nit panels, it was one of the best selling points of the model 👍
x17 R2 UHD is the right choice this year unless you need the smaller form factor of the x15 for travel. If you can't wait for the UHD, the x15 QHD is the best choice. Hope that helps.
@@MashITTech probably because it's not desktop grade components. Running at 4k is just diminishing returns it's only a 15-17" display. The performance impact wouldn't be worth the tiny bit of extra fidelity you get, and downscaling the resolution in games just looks worse because of the resolution difference. Even in content creation work flows it doesn't make much of a difference. Also DLSS and FSR just looks like shit, Typically the quality preset and the balanced preset doesn't offer much of an fps gain and most of the time it hurts your frame rate more then just using the in game anti-aliasing. The only case that DLSS and FSR make a note able difference in performance is on the performance and ultra performance modes and at that point you might as well just got a lower resolution display. If you understood tech you would have been able to answer your own question.
Amazing video and i appreicate it the detail. But the short clip ofnperformance you showed in this video the x17 was getting 144fps and the x15 was getting like 45-70, thats a massive gap however the x15 was cpu at like 60degrees while the cpu on the x17 was 100. Was the x15 playing in qhd? Also im thinking of getting the x15 for on the go as i travel a bit for work and pairing it with the new wqhd alienware qd oled monitor while at home. Ive considered a full desktoo set up but since ill be traveling more i dont need both a desktop snd laptop in this price range espcially if im gaming in qhd. I will most likely get a 3080 ti paired with the i7 as the i9 just gets waaaay to hot for not much more performance in gaming. I dont mind the x17 but since no qhd or 4k i wont be getting the x17. I dont need 4k on a latop on such small screens and its a damn shame on dell/alienwsre for not offering a qhd panel on the x17 as thats what id get. I say time and time laptops need qhd not 4k for gaming. Hell they didnt even make the qd oled in 4k and thats 34 inches ultra wide.
Thanks for the review. I am thinking of getting the X17 for gaming, uni, and probably used for work. Does it worth it? I need it to replace my desktop and at the same time travel with it. I don't really care about the weight. Can it be connected to multiple monitors?
IT is a great machine, the only downside as with all 12th gen so far is the average battery life. It will easily replace a desktop and yes you can connect multiple monitors as it has mini display port, HDMI 2.1 and thunderbolt all of which can add an external screen
My advice would be i7/3070ti/32gb as the best bang for buck for your uses. The best thing is the ram is socketed so can be upgraded to 64gb later when DDR5 gets cheaper if you need to run a lot or heavy VMs
Thank you very much for this comparison (and all your other reviews of coarse)! All things considered seems like X15 would be the one for me. The only thing that concerns me is that since I'd most likely want to go for i9 option, would the heat system on X15 be able to handle it and still run quiet on the balanced mod? Another thing is the choice of the gpu that I wanted to know your opinion from. Let's for now consider infinite funds and put the cost out of the picture, on the account of the gaming performance gained and the heat and noise generated, is it worth it to go for 3080ti or will 3060 or 3070i handle things better? Considering also that I probably won't be changing my laptop anytime soon and want to be able to play AAA titles of up to 2-3 years later reasonably well. In the end thank you again for all of your detailed reviews, I really like Dell products and you are one of the few review channels that do them justice. Keep up the good work!
I have an X15r2 with 3080ti just arrived in the studio and I will be testing it over the weekend and start to make a review next week and will be able to better answer your question then. But in the meantime, if money is genuinely a non issue get the 3080ti, they all have similar TGP so temps won't vary that much but the 3080ti with more shaders will last you longer. If you are at all concerned with money then I would get the 3070ti as that is only slightly slower than the 3080ti but at a much cheaper cost. I wouldn't get the 3060 unless I was a really really light gamer
@@MashITTech Thank you for your answer! Is the laptop that you've got powered by i9? Because I'm still concerned whether X15 can handle the greater power of i9 in terms of heat and noise. I look forward to your new reviews!
Thanks for this great review! I’d like to know your thoughts on legion 7i (2021) vs Alienware X15 R2. They both are around the same price where I live and I’d appreciate if you help me decide which one to get ?
OK, both amazing machines. The legion has better performance and higher TGP. It also has a 16:10 screen which is great for work. The X15r2 has much better build quality, a better keyboard, a more colour accurate and responsive screen and windows hello. The PSU is also much smaller on the X15.
screen size: 50% of the time I use a laptop on my chest laying on the couch or in bed (in the evening) or outside in a lounge chair. In these scenarios the screen is almost double as close to my face which is why I prefer a 14 inch screen here. But when working on a desk in the kitchen, living room or in the garden then I prefer 17 to 18 inch which is why I need two laptops. Also when using on my chest it should be very light and thin. as a tech writer and content creator I need the best possible keyboard and screen. So I go for a ThinkPad X1 Carbon with 3K OLED 90 Hz display (maybe also trying the HP Elite Dragonfly since 13,5" 3:2 describes just the perfect portable screen for me) and the Alienware X17 (I won't buy the M18 bc I don't like the M series as much). The newer X16 is just too expensive right now and I wand that 4K 120 Hz screen which is perfectly paired with both great keyboard options.
I've just ordered a x15 r2 with i7-12700H, 3070Ti, 32GB LDDR5, 1TB SSD and QHD panel with $2180 pounds. Is this considered a good deal? Cant wait to test the machine!
Thank you for the video, always very informative ! . May I know if you or anyone else has experience with thermal issues with their X17 r2 even at idling ? Thank you for your time
Thanks for the great overview. How would you compare the x15R2 with 3070TI to something from Asus like the G15 or M16 2022 from a build and performance perspective? I feel like the x15 R2 has the edge.
@@MashITTech are you going to try and get your hands on an m16 gu603zx? Interested to see how it compares. Been cycling through all your videos last few days and definitely would love your perspective
Dealbreaker for me when it's 2x8GB. I feel like 2x16GB is adequately future proofed for my use. Otherwise agree, soldered ram is why I'm on this page and not enjoying a 2022 Asus M16 instead. If I ever need 64GB, I think it's time for my next computer... but if you need it, you need it!
Hey mate, great vid! Just got the same question as someone else from the comments: ''On the x15 r2 does it matter which usb-c display port do you use to connect to external monitor? Are the thunderbolt 4 port and the non-TB4 pott both linked to DGPU/IGPU? Sorry new to all this.''
Just purchased the x17 last night and went with the i7 processor for use in my architecture firm. Debated the i9 but the minimal performance boost just didn’t seem worth the money. I did go with the 4k panel, which is available in the US now. And since it’s a business machine (☹️) I skipped on the CherryMX upgrade too; not something I need for Revit. Two big reasons for the 17 for me are the ability to upgrade the ram and the extra screen space is critical when I don’t have extra monitors connected. You never realize how amazing 3 screens are until you’re trying to do the same tasks on one! Haha!
Great video! This is one I've really been looking forward to. Is it at all likely that the x15R2 kept up this year because Dell gave it faster RAM? If we put faster RAM in the X17R2 would we see it pull ahead more again I wonder.
I did wonder that myself but the ram made very little difference, it would have been really highlighted in the CPU benchmarks. That said its still early days with DDR5, hopefully we will get some better quality ram with tighter timings that may improve things more
@@MashITTech Can you benchmark the actual RAM on both to compare? LPDDR5 5200 may not be faster than DDR5-4800. LP RAM has higher clocks but smaller bus width.
Thanks again! Beautiful work. You finish to convince me for the 15 inch 😉. I think the Qhd make the difference. I'm waiting for it at the end of March. Switching between my old ROG and Alienware 🤘. Thx again
can you do a x15 r2 3080ti vs x16 4080 gpu performance quick comparison? i currently have a x15 r2 3080ti but now i wonder if i should have get a x16 with 4080 or 4090
Hello again mate! I didn't get to say that I did get the 15, thanks to your videos and expertise! Mate, I am hoping you could point me towards the right direction since I can't find an answer anywhere. I have the high res SDR version, and the reds are a wee bit bright. How may I tweak that please? I have been looking everywhere and then I realized, you are the authority. Cheers!
Haha thanks mate, yes the qhd panel is very vibrant out of the box. I personally like it but I don’t do any photo work on it. Let me see if I can get it calibrated
Thanks for making this video! I just got my X15R2 today and I literally can't believe how compact it is for such a powerful device. The performance is mind blowing and screen is divine. I am actually still not sure though if I would have liked the 17in more. I just saw that the 4k option is available now on the Dell US website and thinking of ordering it to compare them side by side and return the one I don't love. I'm wondering if you would have felt differently if you had the 4k x17R2? I'm also trying to figure out if 4k is just too high of a resolution for a 17 inch screen, will the text look too small? I mostly use the laptop for work with occasional gaming. And when gaming, will the 3080ti and i9 12th gen be enough to push the max settings to a 4k screen? My understanding also is that running a 4k screen in 1440p mode would just look bad? Thank you again for all your awesome videos!
gaming at 1440p on a 4k screen still looks great. I am assuming you have 1440p x15? if so as an example run a game at 1080p on that screen and it still looks pretty impressive. If you stare at it you can see a difference but when the game is flowing you will be hard pressed to notice! Now that the 4k is out I still think the QHD is a better choice for most people so it comes down to do you want the larger 17" screen or a more portable laptop that is cheaper? I actually ordered a 4k x17 with 3070ti to see how it performs so hopefully that will be able to help you when it arrives
@@MashITTech thanks, yes I have the QHD x15. Why do you like the QHD over 4k? With 4k, text clarity seems superior to a 1440p from my experience with monitors. Is something different for gaming laptops? For me, I mostly just game with a projector or monitor anyway and dont care about the screen for gaming. I'll use the screen sometimes for work though, is there something the QHD has the advantage of there? With 4k, I can just scale the size of text and windows, no? thanks again man, I'm going to order the 4k screen today as the QHD may never come!
The reason I like it as on a 15" screen text is incredibly crisp (just like 4k on the 17") yet the graphics card can easily cope with 1440p. If you are not playing on the internal screen then this is a moot point anyway and either will look fantastic for work :)
Want to get the X15 R2 but I am worried about Fan Noise and heat issues. I want to do intense usage of it..not gaming but 3D Modeling and Productivity (open a lot of Chrome tabs etc.). The configuration I wanna take is i9 12900H + rtx 3070ti + 32 Gb Ram + 8 TB SSD.
Great job as always. I would pick the 15” because of the screen. Like you said last year i would of went with the 17”. I am getting older and i think the 2k screen would be easer on the eyes.
Hey David. I was curious does the x17 r1 & r2 have the same exact chassis ? I wanted to purchase a clear skin to protect the top but wanted to make sure it fits. They show it’s for the r1 (purchased the r2) TIA!
Brilliant review mate. I do have a concern. I am looking into getting a 15, but admittedly it would be used 80/20 work/play. So mostly for work. I connect my current laptop to a much larger screen , and considering the lack of space on my desk, I would need to keep the laptop closed almost all the time ( except if I must go mobile ). In your review, I sensed that it would be detrimental to its performance, and the laptop overall. I really do want one of these, would I be wasting my money and/or damage the laptop, considering having the laptop closed most of the time? Cheers!
It will be fine closed for light use and work but I wouldn’t want to keep it closed for gaming! When I tested it on the x17 with dota 2 (not even a heavy game) the temps rise really quickly and performance throttled back. I am sure the laptop would be ok as it throttled but performance is seriously limited
As of today (22. March) 4K Panel on x17 r2 is available in my Country! (Denmark) Specs: 17,3" 4K (3840 x 2160) 165 Hz 4 ms with ComfortView Plus, NVIDIA G-SYNC and Advanced Optimus
Hey mash it, another great video do you think the extra screen real estate is worth it on the 4k x17 r2. I just got my x15 r2 in with i7 qhd and 3070ti if i got the same config on the x17 with 4k do you think its worth it for the x17. Is the foot print that much larger when using for gaming while on the go. The qhd does get 240hz and i wont have to scale and be limited to 120. Do you think the 17 is rather large to put in a back pack. It will be used at a desk in my hotel when traveling not for like a plane or coffee shop. And i use the tab s8 ultra for media consumption cause that super amoled display destroys laptop screens.
I have always been a 17" gaming laptop buyer so size is never an issue for me but if you are used to a 15" it may be a deal breaker as it is a fair bit bigger. I prefer 17" as I like the larger screen when gaming on the laptop panel but having spent a fair bit of time with the x15 I am actually getting used to 15" for gaming on.
My friend, portability is not necessary for me. Which do you recommend me to choose for x15 R1 3070 GPU + 32g RAM + 2k and x17 R1 3060 GPU + 16g RAM + 165hz at the same price
Whoa, question at 14:19 you stated the performance is close between the two, yet Halo Infinite is running at 143 fps on the x17 while running at only 55 fps on the x15?
There is really only 2 gaming laptops i am looking at the x17 r2 and x15 r2. I went to display wars and saw the x17 r2 screen is only .83 inches taller and 1.7" wider. I believe there are some bad units floating around for the x17 r2. I went to dell and see i can get a 17 delivered by may 2nd where as the x15 states june 8th. June 8th would seem like im getting a fresh build. May 2nd seems like i might get a hot box returned several times. The x15 r2 is 343 dollars cheaper than the x17 4k and i get the qhd screen with it. From what i gather the speakers sound way better on the x15 so im pretty well set now on purchasing the x15 r2. My build for $2695 us dollars. i7 Qhd display with 240 refresh 32 gigs of Ram 1tb ssd Rtx 3070 ti I do have the hp omen 45l for home use. This one is going to be used for the grave yard shift at my work which is what i work all the time.
For a secondary system I feel the 15 is a better option for the much increased portability. That QHD screen is amazing as well and gives the best mix of image quality and performance. I think you are making the right choice
Im curious why they can’t bring the x15 r1 tgp up to the x15 r2 level… there doesn’t seem to be any large change in terms of design other than just the graphics cards alone. Is that what allows the higher tgp? A bit of a bummer after getting the r1 to see the higher tgp on the x15 r2
Tnx for making this video ! im Saving up for the x15r2 with rtx3060 i only care for csgo and gta... qhd (for productivity) gaming mostly on fhd depending on screen in use , 12700 16gb , i plan to use the machine with the screen turned off an on a cooler , for even better thermals , i had the 11700k desktop once and i found it to be really fast crushing every task on stock , so the 12700h with the lower power usage would also be perfect for me , also really strange that the x17 comes with lower ram speed , but im happy with the 15 size and the 5200mhz ram , cant wait to finally own i t , halfway there :P dohhh 🤣
@@MashITTech nevermind i take that back i had both configs up at the same time. Its only on the 17. My bad. But i like the standard keyboard cause the cherry mix sounds like tin
Hey David, I'm wondering if you can settle a question I have as I can't really find a clear answer on the forums. Is the i9 sort of mandatory because the i7 can't be undervolted? With how hot these laptops run while gaming, is the i7 even worth it? It seems like you can set the offset in bios to change the throttle temp (I haven't confirmed that's possible in 12th gen i7). If so, is that good enough to have it throttle at 95c or 90 instead of 100?
Im still waiting on my x15 r1. Despite the R2s having way better performance I feel my custom configuration is good for me and within my budget lol. How far can the actual screen open? Also, I think the fan noise might be lower because of driver updates that could affect both R1 and R2 machines?
Im sticking with my original order from yesterday for x17 r2. I just configured x15 r2 on dell with same options as x17 r2 except 1080p 360 on 17 with cherry keyboard and 1440p on 15 without cherry keyboard and its the exact same price of $2949.99. I guess it is because dell currently has 200 dollars off the x17r2. I am 55 years old and my old eyes see age of empire type games better in 1080p over1440p and def over 4k on a 17 inch sreen. I had lasik surgery 14 years ago and now got 20/10 vision far away but it destroyed my close up vision even with 3.0 cheeters on. Now i do have an hp omen 45l for a desktop and 4k looks wonderful connected to my lg c9 77" tv and 1440p looks great on my lg 32 inch monitor but 4k on a 17 inch screen or 1440p on a 15 inch screen would give me trouble seeing things on age of empire type games.
@@MashITTech yes ive got the redone 2 and 3 and AOE 4 along with the ultimate general the civil war. I just spent 318 dollars on digital combat simulator (dcs) flight sims, but ill be playing those on my omen 45l desktop as it would be too difficult carrying around those 15.4 pound tpr rudder pedals around with me lol.
I was really looking forward to this! Solid comparison! Love the 4K video quality as well!
Thank you mate. And yes, a couple of people asked so we have upgraded to 4k 😃 Just need more hard drives now 😂
@@MashITTech i was one of them :) thankyou mash it
Thanks
My x15 r2 comes tomorrow cant wait.
Let me know how you get on with it! Hope you enjoy it :)
After watching you for a while, this is the first time I checked your subscriber count.
23K? Really? I thought you had like 1M+.
Good job, this channel. It feels so professional.
Haha thanks mate, wish I had a million subs but I will keep plugging away 😂
@@MashITTech Maybe it's just your accent. HAHA
Haha and I thought it was my ugly face 😂
@@MashITTech What do I know..? HAHA
Great review. Still waiting my x17 r2 to be delivered. Order status page showing it in production and hopefully tomorrow it will be shipped 🤞
I think a comparisn for all the 14 inch gaming laptops would really help out a few of the people who need portability in their machines. After all now the x14 and Asus's ROG Zephyrus G14 and Razer blade 14 have the new hardware in so its a good time to do it. Loving the content as always, Keep it up!
thank you mate. I do hope to get the new G14 in when it hits uk and will also get the blade 14 once they drop the price a little, the UK pre-order price is insane
@@MashITTech Thanks for the update! I really wanted somebody to do that review because im looking for a good 14 inch device at the moment and that would help out a TON.
QHD was the biggest factor for me too that's why I decided to go for the X15 R2. No regrets!
why did you chose this and not legion 7 or asus rog scar 15/17?
@@batmanonholiday4477 Can only speak for myself, but Legion because I'm iffy about dealing with tech companies based in China and Scar because it's a bit TOO gaming laptop, I like that the Alienware has cool LEDs while still looking like a professional computer (in fairness to Lenovo, the Legion also has that more professional look which I appreciate). Also, online reviews of the Asus make it look like their quality control is really hit and miss. The Lenovo was really tempting for me as far as what you get for the money, but I can spend a little more for something that looks like it was inspired by NASA.
oh wow you posted this in 4K!!! Awesome upgrade to video quality. And great video bud
Yep, finally made the move to 4K. Just upgraded all our NAS storage and Gary’s laptop to cope with it 😂
@Mash IT 🤣🤣 poor gary needed an update!
My X17 arrived last week. Wouldn't trade the screen for anything smaller. Mechanical keyboard performing much better than I expected. So far so good.
Glad to hear you are enjoying it! I have the new 4k x17r2 arriving today, can't wait
With the 4k X17, would you still take the X15 QHD over it??
Why did you chose X17 over rog strix scar 17 or msi raider ge77? torn between these three at the moment
Well your reviews continue to be on point. I just purchased a x15 R2, will be here 3/22.
I choose 32g since its not upgradable with 3080ti, 12900, and QHD at 240hr. I do wish we could upgrade the keyboard but they always try to keep something with the x17 that the x15 can't have...
Thank you sir!
hope you enjoy it :)
Fantastic review, as always.
I’m a proud owner of the X15 R2, i7, 3080 Ti, 32GB ram, QHD.
And it is an absolutely amazing device. Fantastic performance. My only gripe would be the lack of RGB touchpad.
Glad you are enjoying your too 👍
Is your GPU running at 140 Watts? Mine runs at 120.
How's the battery life?
How about sound quality?
@@RichCompMan thats much better than the weak 110w that x15r1 3080 was running at. Id alienware command center overclock that 3080 ti
was waiting for this.. great advice. i had a feeling the 15 r2 may be a better option this time
Great reviews! I love tearing it down and looking at the insides of the laptops. Good job.
Excellent review as always, m15 r4 3070 user here, I see no reason to upgrade just yet. m15 r4 is still a beast of a laptop. Did all your m15 r4 guides btw. big help!
So glad they helped you, the m15r4 is still an amazing machine and I must admit I prefer the speakers and keyboard on the r4 👍
@@MashITTech I was able to undervolt my m15 r4 to -125mV without any errors running full speed at either 3.7Mghz and 4Mghz. Its now on low 80s on full load. ❤️
Another great comparison / review. Thanks David!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 👍
I like your style of reviews. Keep it up, very helpful !
Thank you mate 😀👍
I am impressed with the quality and details of your videos! They are great! Thanks for the video.
Thank you so much :)
Great comparison 👏 like your analysis! Keep the videos coming friends.
new subscriber - great quality videos on this channel!
Thank you, that is kind of you to say. Welcome aboard :)
Amazing detailed review. You made my decision much easier on which one of these to get! The screen issue does not matter if your using external though, which will be the panel I use for gaming.
That is very true and since I made the review Dell have added the 4k to the X17r2 to make things more difficult 🤣
@@MashITTech Lol I noticed. I am ordering my next month, sad to say but looking at the wallet, mine spec'd is going to just top over 4k.
Where are you located Chris? If UK I can give you a discount code.
@@MashITTech US actually.
ah shame, the codes I have only work in the UK :(
Fantastic reviews as always! Can’t wait to see the x14 review. Trying to decide on that or the x15 r2
Only had one day on the x14 so far. Love the feel and size but I am crazy on the fans! I wish alienware would stop obsessing over thinness, I would happily have a laptop 5mm thicker for less whiney fans
@@MashITTech When is your x14 review? Mine is on the way but i cant wait! HAHA. I need a detailed review from you because i know you will provide a detailed TRUE review!
Thank you, you have convinced me to get the 17inch.
My old eyes need the real estate lol. And I just love the cherry mechanical keyboard. It's eyebrow raising to see the performance of the x15. Stull im not just personally mobile enough. Very comprehensive review! I'm grateful to you guys!
Haha glad you enjoyed it :)
Been watching your reviews man, they are awesome! You’ve been helping me decide witch model to get, I’ve already canceled like 5 orders from Dell they just hate me lol. I chose to go with the X17 r1 after I heard about the wattage. Couldn’t justify $4K for the 12 gen. I was wondering though how you think the x15r2 performance is now vs the x17r1. 17 inch will be a new thing for me, and if the x15 is giving similar performance might be a worthy sacrifice.
I purchased the x15 r2 with 3080ti can’t wait to get it
Let me know how you get on with it 👍
Great and fair comparison as always. It seems like Dell decided to spend the R&D money on the x15r2 hehe. Maybe Dell can't find enough QHD screens for the x17?...
Personally I would choose the x15 (happy owner of x15 r1) just due to the extra portability. Considering that the performance gap between x15 and x17 has shrunk quite a bit, it will make it easier for people to make a choice given their situation.
Thanks so much. Yeah I would normally go with a 17” but this year I just can’t ignore the x15, until dell improve the x17 offering I can’t really recommend it, even the r1 with cheaper price is a better buy
Thank you!Great review! Very interesting!
Awesome review, thank you 🙌🏻
great video!! thankyou for your time
I would pick the X15 primarily for the cheaper price (that’s why I went with the M15 R4 over the M17). Plus you get a thinner and lighter chassis which is nice to have. Sure, the gpu performance isn’t max p but past the regular RTX 3070 range I don’t really care. If it’s at least 130w or 140w it is fine. Plus the x17 isn’t really that big of an improvement over the r1 like the x15 is. So if I wanted a 17” chassis I would go for the x17 r1.
What makes x15 r2 better than r1 as opposed to x17 r1 vs r2?
@@ultimategohan1551 X17 it’s only a cpu difference but with the X15 the gpu wattage is increased as well.
I'm gonna try and hold out to upgrade from my Asus Zephyrus G15 with a 3070 next fall (2023) but I'm really tempted to get the 3080 Ti version of the x15 R2, it seems so perfect for me.
It is a lovely machine
The fact you can get a full powered 17 inch gaming laptop and it only weighs 7lbs is just jaw dropping for anyone old enough to remember 12, 13, and 14 inch consumer laptops coming in around that weight. Hell, if you've been an Alienhead for more than a few months, one can easily recall lugging around a 10lb plastic clad space heater with deafening fans and dual GPUs.
Sore shoulders and wrist injuries were a feature, not a bug ya millennial weaklings.
haha I still remember the m18x days, now that was a beast of a laptop! loved my red model
Best comment ever🤣
Yep m18x r2 was a tank
Not in the market for a gaming laptop (still making sweet love to my Legion 7i w/ 3080!) but I’m absolutely impressed with the wattage that they’re pushing in the X15 though! Along with that I don’t think the i9 belongs in any gaming laptop because I don’t think that any mobile chassis can cool them enough for it to make any meaningful difference. Along with this QHD is the way to go, although i want to see QHD+.
Yep, said it many times, the i9’s are pointless yet they charge hundreds extra for them!
@@MashITTech and people *still* buy them…for what? I’m not sure. Probably clout of having the top spec. 🤷🏻♂️
Hi David, That was great,, Thank you. Will be sticking with My M17 R4 atm As the X17 R2 lacks what I already have, apart from cpu+ gpu, If you look as a whole. Just Paid for 2yr warranty after My 1st yr with laptop and for the price + the great service I have received from Dell Prem Tech Support its a MUST. Have a Great day... Cheers.
Love your vids!
On the x15 r2 does it matter which usb-c display port do you use to connect to external monitor? Are the thunderbolt 4 port and the non-TB4 pott both linked to DGPU/IGPU? Sorry new to all this.
Good points.
I’m just going to wait for x17 r3. My wish list for that is - QHD, backlight secondary keys on cherry switches, and 4000 series graphics (rumored for this year)
For me x15 r3 will be perfect if there's a 16 10 display 500 nit qhd screen with 240 Hz
Secondary function keys that light up
Larger trackpad
More ports if possible
And better speakers
@@yashmistry9252 I think you will get a few of those things but a few you won't. I see them fixing secondary keys next year - they'll probably leave the screen alone and update the x17 line display. Speakers no one really cares about enough in the gaming laptop realm. It's up there with battery life - no one really cares when it comes to gaming. I think you can get maybe a few extra ports too but that's about it - upgrade to GPU as well as 4000 series releases etc
Who knows - I am not God - just guessing here. Maybe you get all of it :)
Yeah the keyboard bugs me, the m15r4 and m17r4 keyboard were perfection! better layout and secondary functions lit! Please Dell bring it back!!!
I feel like this time it isn't as clear as it was for the R1 series. For the R1, the X-17 was the clear winner. Not so sure about the R2. We really need a QHD screen on the X-17. Amd your review is, as always, excellent. I wish you'd mentioned the speaker distortion on the X-17 though. That's a deal breaker for me.
The speaker distortion is a difficult one, I have the feeling it is something software related. I mentioned it in the first impression and x17 full review. As the speakers are the same as the r1 yet sound worse I feel it has to be the new dolby software they are now using
@@MashITTech oh, I guess I missed it in that video. Thanks for clearing it up for me!
Great comparison. I really feel like on a lot of respects, cpu aside, the r2 x17 is a downgrade from the r1. The 4k screen is less bright, the whites look more yellow, the speakers are significantly worse and they got rid of that awesome rgb trackpad. The latter doesn't bother me really, but the screen quality and awful speakers definitely do.
Yeah for me the speakers are a big issue! I keep hoping it is just a software issue as they have moved to the dolby for sound but 2 months in and no solution :(
Coming late to the game, just wanted to say thanks for the amazingly detailed and clear reviews. I came to your channel in search for help when picking my next laptop and I find everything you say very helpful. I'm not completely novice to IT stuff, but it's true that this time around it will be my very first actual gaming laptop, so I thought there might me other things to take into consideration than usual (heat, fan noise, portability, etc.). Thanks again :) I think I will go for the x15 R2 as it fits my need better.
hope you enjoy it, I love the X15 r2, it is a big upgrade over the r1
You should use a tripod or some type of microphone stand, at a repeatable distance and with a downward facing angle for all your reviews - when trying to demo comparative sound performance. Hand held clip-on mics used for anything important end up being a real detriment. More importantly, you should use sound clips that are repeatable. In the case of this video, you pulled some Soundcloud royalty free but you played a second segment for the 100% comparison right when the dynamics of the content changed (attenuated) dramatically.
Just trying to provide constructive feedback and give you a opportunity to elevate your vids further beyond the din... without much effort but with important methods.
This might sound stupid. But I prefer the x17 r1 I have with the 3080 and the RGB trackpad. Obv most people will prefer the performance. But I often work in dark environments (in college) and the RGB trackpad is actually very nice.
Talked to a Dell rep here in Europe and he said that a QHD scrreen is coming to the X17 R2 in april.
oh wow! that would be amazing. I so hope they are right as Dell reps don't have the best track record :)
This will be my first time getting an alienware, only have experience witht the XPS and the 4k display. Once you experience that no way I would get that a full HD screen. Have they offered a QHD screen on the 17" inch alienware in the past?
@@blue13x do you find the 4k on a laptop screen makes everything too small? I'm mostly work and occasional gaming. I just saw they dropped the 4k x17r2 and thinking of getting one to try out next to the x15r2 I just got
@@drewdough6457 i dont. Because I mostly do everything else and a bit of gaming the 4k is a must-have. I had a 4k 15" XPS, cant go back to full hd
I feel, to keep the thermals in check and to run any Triple AAA title. 1080p should be the way to go. For example, I've played gta v on my x17 r2 natively, AND with a meager 3440 x1440 monitor with 120hz. Natively your here very little fan noise but connected to the monitor the fans stay on. I can't imagine pushing 4k on this monitor natively with ANY title as the heat would be unbearable.... Great review btw.
If I may suggest. You can use your phone and download a noise meter while testing the speakers
good idea, I do use that for fans so should have also done the speakers! thanks
The listing says 250 nits for the x15R2 QHD panel, but you said 400. Was it 400 for the first wave of orders? Thanks.
400nits for a l l
Thanks and great presentation and learning for dell as they don't have such clean and detailed comparison. Can you remember with these model's, do these fan have 0db features like complete stop in idle or light load condition please? It will be good to see this point if you would like to cover in future laptop reviews for people like us. Regards
Thank you mate. And yes, if you have the laptops in Optimus mode and light load the fans stay off if cool enough 👍
Shopping closeouts and decided to go with the X15 over the (480hz) X17.. wanted the bigger screen but suspect I'll like the QHD better. Actually ended up spending $400 USD more for the X15 for this reason, although more like $200 more when ram/SSD size are adjusted. Was already leaning X15 but the 17 on clearance sold out making my decision easy. lol. Now thinking I should have just ordered both and spent a week with each before deciding. Great video, thanks! As helpful as a video could possibly be, although no replacement for having them in your hand.
One question... you said the QHD screen was 400nit but the Dell webpage you captured in the video said 250nit.. was the webpage incorrect? ETA nevermind, I saw you answered this elsewhere... typo on Dell's part. That's a relief! Thanks again!!
Dells webpages are always wrong 😂 for such a large company I am always surprised by the amount of errors! If you got the 240hz qhd panel it will be a beautiful bright 400nit panels, it was one of the best selling points of the model 👍
x17 R2 UHD is the right choice this year unless you need the smaller form factor of the x15 for travel. If you can't wait for the UHD, the x15 QHD is the best choice. Hope that helps.
That's how I see it too, no idea why we still don't have the UHD option yet!
@@MashITTech probably because it's not desktop grade components. Running at 4k is just diminishing returns it's only a 15-17" display. The performance impact wouldn't be worth the tiny bit of extra fidelity you get, and downscaling the resolution in games just looks worse because of the resolution difference. Even in content creation work flows it doesn't make much of a difference. Also DLSS and FSR just looks like shit, Typically the quality preset and the balanced preset doesn't offer much of an fps gain and most of the time it hurts your frame rate more then just using the in game anti-aliasing. The only case that DLSS and FSR make a note able difference in performance is on the performance and ultra performance modes and at that point you might as well just got a lower resolution display. If you understood tech you would have been able to answer your own question.
that's a huge difference in battery! does the screen make really that big difference?
Amazing video and i appreicate it the detail. But the short clip ofnperformance you showed in this video the x17 was getting 144fps and the x15 was getting like 45-70, thats a massive gap however the x15 was cpu at like 60degrees while the cpu on the x17 was 100. Was the x15 playing in qhd? Also im thinking of getting the x15 for on the go as i travel a bit for work and pairing it with the new wqhd alienware qd oled monitor while at home. Ive considered a full desktoo set up but since ill be traveling more i dont need both a desktop snd laptop in this price range espcially if im gaming in qhd. I will most likely get a 3080 ti paired with the i7 as the i9 just gets waaaay to hot for not much more performance in gaming. I dont mind the x17 but since no qhd or 4k i wont be getting the x17. I dont need 4k on a latop on such small screens and its a damn shame on dell/alienwsre for not offering a qhd panel on the x17 as thats what id get. I say time and time laptops need qhd not 4k for gaming. Hell they didnt even make the qd oled in 4k and thats 34 inches ultra wide.
Sorry, Gary the numpty used a gameplay clip from our 3060 version and didn’t name it clearly! Performance between the two 3080ti models was very close
Thanks for the review. I am thinking of getting the X17 for gaming, uni, and probably used for work.
Does it worth it? I need it to replace my desktop and at the same time travel with it. I don't really care about the weight.
Can it be connected to multiple monitors?
IT is a great machine, the only downside as with all 12th gen so far is the average battery life. It will easily replace a desktop and yes you can connect multiple monitors as it has mini display port, HDMI 2.1 and thunderbolt all of which can add an external screen
@@MashITTech Thanks a lot, Mash IT. Any advice on which one will be the best to buy. I used a lot of Virtual machines as well.
Thanks a lot in advance
My advice would be i7/3070ti/32gb as the best bang for buck for your uses. The best thing is the ram is socketed so can be upgraded to 64gb later when DDR5 gets cheaper if you need to run a lot or heavy VMs
@@MashITTech Thanks a lot; even though I have already ordered the 12 GEN i9 3080 Ti with 32gb, I will always keep it connected to the power
Thank you very much for this comparison (and all your other reviews of coarse)! All things considered seems like X15 would be the one for me. The only thing that concerns me is that since I'd most likely want to go for i9 option, would the heat system on X15 be able to handle it and still run quiet on the balanced mod?
Another thing is the choice of the gpu that I wanted to know your opinion from. Let's for now consider infinite funds and put the cost out of the picture, on the account of the gaming performance gained and the heat and noise generated, is it worth it to go for 3080ti or will 3060 or 3070i handle things better? Considering also that I probably won't be changing my laptop anytime soon and want to be able to play AAA titles of up to 2-3 years later reasonably well.
In the end thank you again for all of your detailed reviews, I really like Dell products and you are one of the few review channels that do them justice. Keep up the good work!
I have an X15r2 with 3080ti just arrived in the studio and I will be testing it over the weekend and start to make a review next week and will be able to better answer your question then. But in the meantime, if money is genuinely a non issue get the 3080ti, they all have similar TGP so temps won't vary that much but the 3080ti with more shaders will last you longer. If you are at all concerned with money then I would get the 3070ti as that is only slightly slower than the 3080ti but at a much cheaper cost. I wouldn't get the 3060 unless I was a really really light gamer
@@MashITTech Thank you for your answer! Is the laptop that you've got powered by i9? Because I'm still concerned whether X15 can handle the greater power of i9 in terms of heat and noise. I look forward to your new reviews!
Thanks for this great review! I’d like to know your thoughts on legion 7i (2021) vs Alienware X15 R2. They both are around the same price where I live and I’d appreciate if you help me decide which one to get ?
OK, both amazing machines. The legion has better performance and higher TGP. It also has a 16:10 screen which is great for work. The X15r2 has much better build quality, a better keyboard, a more colour accurate and responsive screen and windows hello. The PSU is also much smaller on the X15.
R3 is the one to wait for fellas, ladies! Only a few more months
That didn't age well..
screen size: 50% of the time I use a laptop on my chest laying on the couch or in bed (in the evening) or outside in a lounge chair. In these scenarios the screen is almost double as close to my face which is why I prefer a 14 inch screen here. But when working on a desk in the kitchen, living room or in the garden then I prefer 17 to 18 inch which is why I need two laptops. Also when using on my chest it should be very light and thin. as a tech writer and content creator I need the best possible keyboard and screen. So I go for a ThinkPad X1 Carbon with 3K OLED 90 Hz display (maybe also trying the HP Elite Dragonfly since 13,5" 3:2 describes just the perfect portable screen for me) and the Alienware X17 (I won't buy the M18 bc I don't like the M series as much). The newer X16 is just too expensive right now and I wand that 4K 120 Hz screen which is perfectly paired with both great keyboard options.
I've just ordered a x15 r2 with i7-12700H, 3070Ti, 32GB LDDR5, 1TB SSD and QHD panel with $2180 pounds. Is this considered a good deal? Cant wait to test the machine!
Thank you for the video, always very informative ! . May I know if you or anyone else has experience with thermal issues with their X17 r2 even at idling ? Thank you for your time
The screen resolution will always win out for me then size. M15 is the winner this year!
Thanks for the great overview. How would you compare the x15R2 with 3070TI to something from Asus like the G15 or M16 2022 from a build and performance perspective? I feel like the x15 R2 has the edge.
Build definitely goes to the X15r2 and I am pretty sure the m16 and G15 have lower TGP (But I haven't tested this years models yet)
@@MashITTech are you going to try and get your hands on an m16 gu603zx? Interested to see how it compares. Been cycling through all your videos last few days and definitely would love your perspective
Can’t upgrade the RAM on the 15”? That’s a dealbreaker for me.
Dealbreaker for me when it's 2x8GB. I feel like 2x16GB is adequately future proofed for my use. Otherwise agree, soldered ram is why I'm on this page and not enjoying a 2022 Asus M16 instead. If I ever need 64GB, I think it's time for my next computer... but if you need it, you need it!
Hey mate, great vid! Just got the same question as someone else from the comments: ''On the x15 r2 does it matter which usb-c display port do you use to connect to external monitor? Are the thunderbolt 4 port and the non-TB4 pott both linked to DGPU/IGPU? Sorry new to all this.''
I will double check when I am back in the office but I think they are both connected to nvidia. Will try and get you a definite answer tonight
@@MashITTech Thank you mate, that would be great!
@@MashITTech Hi mate, Did you find out anything, sorry I know you probs working on alot.
QHd screen is coming to X17 soon here in China (actually it’s available to preorder now)
Oh that’s amazing! At last. I notice they just added it to the m17r5 in the U.K. so hope we get it on the x17 soon too
I know this has nothing to do with performance but I think the laptops would look cleaner with the series letter on the lid instead of the size.
Just purchased the x17 last night and went with the i7 processor for use in my architecture firm. Debated the i9 but the minimal performance boost just didn’t seem worth the money. I did go with the 4k panel, which is available in the US now. And since it’s a business machine (☹️) I skipped on the CherryMX upgrade too; not something I need for Revit.
Two big reasons for the 17 for me are the ability to upgrade the ram and the extra screen space is critical when I don’t have extra monitors connected. You never realize how amazing 3 screens are until you’re trying to do the same tasks on one! Haha!
Great video! This is one I've really been looking forward to. Is it at all likely that the x15R2 kept up this year because Dell gave it faster RAM? If we put faster RAM in the X17R2 would we see it pull ahead more again I wonder.
I did wonder that myself but the ram made very little difference, it would have been really highlighted in the CPU benchmarks. That said its still early days with DDR5, hopefully we will get some better quality ram with tighter timings that may improve things more
@@MashITTech Can you benchmark the actual RAM on both to compare? LPDDR5 5200 may not be faster than DDR5-4800. LP RAM has higher clocks but smaller bus width.
@@robwiljas sure. Any benchmarks in particular ?
@@MashITTech AIDA64 Memory benchmark is popular.
@@robwiljas thanks. I will probably post my results on Reddit for you as I can’t post pics here
I've heard that the temperatures go crazy when little is being done.
Thanks again! Beautiful work. You finish to convince me for the 15 inch 😉.
I think the Qhd make the difference.
I'm waiting for it at the end of March. Switching between my old ROG and Alienware 🤘.
Thx again
Glad to be able to help you :)
can you do a x15 r2 3080ti vs x16 4080 gpu performance quick comparison? i currently have a x15 r2 3080ti but now i wonder if i should have get a x16 with 4080 or 4090
Hi, thanks for the very high quality comparison.
I’ve decided to get the x15 R2 with 3060, do you know if it will lit the trackpad?
Thanks 😊
Hi there, Dell have completely removed the lit trackpad from all models on the r2 sorry :(
Hello again mate!
I didn't get to say that I did get the 15, thanks to your videos and expertise!
Mate, I am hoping you could point me towards the right direction since I can't find an answer anywhere. I have the high res SDR version, and the reds are a wee bit bright. How may I tweak that please? I have been looking everywhere and then I realized, you are the authority. Cheers!
Haha thanks mate, yes the qhd panel is very vibrant out of the box. I personally like it but I don’t do any photo work on it. Let me see if I can get it calibrated
Now that the X17 offers a UHD screen I went with that
Yeah I just got mine, making a small video on it at the moment :)
Thanks for making this video! I just got my X15R2 today and I literally can't believe how compact it is for such a powerful device. The performance is mind blowing and screen is divine. I am actually still not sure though if I would have liked the 17in more. I just saw that the 4k option is available now on the Dell US website and thinking of ordering it to compare them side by side and return the one I don't love. I'm wondering if you would have felt differently if you had the 4k x17R2? I'm also trying to figure out if 4k is just too high of a resolution for a 17 inch screen, will the text look too small? I mostly use the laptop for work with occasional gaming. And when gaming, will the 3080ti and i9 12th gen be enough to push the max settings to a 4k screen? My understanding also is that running a 4k screen in 1440p mode would just look bad? Thank you again for all your awesome videos!
gaming at 1440p on a 4k screen still looks great. I am assuming you have 1440p x15? if so as an example run a game at 1080p on that screen and it still looks pretty impressive. If you stare at it you can see a difference but when the game is flowing you will be hard pressed to notice! Now that the 4k is out I still think the QHD is a better choice for most people so it comes down to do you want the larger 17" screen or a more portable laptop that is cheaper? I actually ordered a 4k x17 with 3070ti to see how it performs so hopefully that will be able to help you when it arrives
@@MashITTech thanks, yes I have the QHD x15. Why do you like the QHD over 4k? With 4k, text clarity seems superior to a 1440p from my experience with monitors. Is something different for gaming laptops? For me, I mostly just game with a projector or monitor anyway and dont care about the screen for gaming. I'll use the screen sometimes for work though, is there something the QHD has the advantage of there? With 4k, I can just scale the size of text and windows, no? thanks again man, I'm going to order the 4k screen today as the QHD may never come!
The reason I like it as on a 15" screen text is incredibly crisp (just like 4k on the 17") yet the graphics card can easily cope with 1440p. If you are not playing on the internal screen then this is a moot point anyway and either will look fantastic for work :)
@@MashITTech Hey David, great comparison. Will you be doing a video review for that 4K 3070ti? Cheers
@@cskard8289 yes I sure will! Ordered one as soon as dell released it. Got the i7 3070ti and 4K as it’s the only options I haven’t tested
Want to get the X15 R2 but I am worried about Fan Noise and heat issues. I want to do intense usage of it..not gaming but 3D Modeling and Productivity (open a lot of Chrome tabs etc.). The configuration I wanna take is i9 12900H + rtx 3070ti + 32 Gb Ram + 8 TB SSD.
Great job as always. I would pick the 15” because of the screen. Like you said last year i would of went with the 17”. I am getting older and i think the 2k screen would be easer on the eyes.
Thank you mate :)
Hey David. I was curious does the x17 r1 & r2 have the same exact chassis ? I wanted to purchase a clear skin to protect the top but wanted to make sure it fits. They show it’s for the r1 (purchased the r2) TIA!
Yes it is exactly the same chassis so no problems there 👍 a
Hello Mash I was wondering if the QHD screen is 250 nits because on the option selection it says only 250
That is an error on dells website! The screen is rated at 400nits but this one was actually 430nits
Brilliant review mate. I do have a concern. I am looking into getting a 15, but admittedly it would be used 80/20 work/play. So mostly for work. I connect my current laptop to a much larger screen , and considering the lack of space on my desk, I would need to keep the laptop closed almost all the time ( except if I must go mobile ). In your review, I sensed that it would be detrimental to its performance, and the laptop overall. I really do want one of these, would I be wasting my money and/or damage the laptop, considering having the laptop closed most of the time? Cheers!
It will be fine closed for light use and work but I wouldn’t want to keep it closed for gaming! When I tested it on the x17 with dota 2 (not even a heavy game) the temps rise really quickly and performance throttled back. I am sure the laptop would be ok as it throttled but performance is seriously limited
@@MashITTech Cheers mate. We really appreciate you!! 👍
As of today (22. March) 4K Panel on x17 r2 is available in my Country! (Denmark)
Specs: 17,3" 4K (3840 x 2160) 165 Hz 4 ms with ComfortView Plus, NVIDIA G-SYNC and Advanced Optimus
Hey mash it, another great video do you think the extra screen real estate is worth it on the 4k x17 r2. I just got my x15 r2 in with i7 qhd and 3070ti if i got the same config on the x17 with 4k do you think its worth it for the x17. Is the foot print that much larger when using for gaming while on the go. The qhd does get 240hz and i wont have to scale and be limited to 120. Do you think the 17 is rather large to put in a back pack. It will be used at a desk in my hotel when traveling not for like a plane or coffee shop. And i use the tab s8 ultra for media consumption cause that super amoled display destroys laptop screens.
I have always been a 17" gaming laptop buyer so size is never an issue for me but if you are used to a 15" it may be a deal breaker as it is a fair bit bigger. I prefer 17" as I like the larger screen when gaming on the laptop panel but having spent a fair bit of time with the x15 I am actually getting used to 15" for gaming on.
@@MashITTech awesome and thank you. Can you compare the 4k panel to the qhd panel. I just dont wanna feel like im missing out.
I don't have the QHD here at the moment. I sent mine back because I am getting the 3080ti version. when that arrives I will try and compare for you
@@MashITTech thanks good sir i really appreciate it.
My friend, portability is not necessary for me. Which do you recommend me to choose for x15 R1 3070 GPU + 32g RAM + 2k and x17 R1 3060 GPU + 16g RAM + 165hz at the same price
With those specs in mind I would take the x15 for the much much better screen and gpu 👍
@@MashITTech Thank you for your recommendation ,my friend
Whoa, question at 14:19 you stated the performance is close between the two, yet Halo Infinite is running at 143 fps on the x17 while running at only 55 fps on the x15?
Sorry, Gary used the 3060 version gameplay the numpty!
There is really only 2 gaming laptops i am looking at the x17 r2 and x15 r2. I went to display wars and saw the x17 r2 screen is only .83 inches taller and 1.7" wider. I believe there are some bad units floating around for the x17 r2. I went to dell and see i can get a 17 delivered by may 2nd where as the x15 states june 8th. June 8th would seem like im getting a fresh build. May 2nd seems like i might get a hot box returned several times.
The x15 r2 is 343 dollars cheaper than the x17 4k and i get the qhd screen with it. From what i gather the speakers sound way better on the x15 so im pretty well set now on purchasing the x15 r2.
My build for $2695 us dollars.
i7
Qhd display with 240 refresh
32 gigs of Ram
1tb ssd
Rtx 3070 ti
I do have the hp omen 45l for home use. This one is going to be used for the grave yard shift at my work which is what i work all the time.
For a secondary system I feel the 15 is a better option for the much increased portability. That QHD screen is amazing as well and gives the best mix of image quality and performance. I think you are making the right choice
Im curious why they can’t bring the x15 r1 tgp up to the x15 r2 level… there doesn’t seem to be any large change in terms of design other than just the graphics cards alone. Is that what allows the higher tgp? A bit of a bummer after getting the r1 to see the higher tgp on the x15 r2
So people are willing to buy x15 r2 instead of last year's r1. Alienware has gone full apple style now which is a shame
Waiting for the x14❤️
Not long mate, spending the weekend testing it 👍
yes I recommend 17" display for gaming on a laptop.
Alienware x17 R2 or Razer Blade 17? both with i7 12 gen, 1TB SSD and RTX 3070 TI
Which stand do you recommend me to buy, a stand that won't block the ventilation and will be more rigid and support the weight of my x17 R2 3080Ti?
Tnx for making this video ! im Saving up for the x15r2 with rtx3060 i only care for csgo and gta... qhd (for productivity) gaming mostly on fhd depending on screen in use , 12700 16gb , i plan to use the machine with the screen turned off an on a cooler , for even better thermals , i had the 11700k desktop once and i found it to be really fast crushing every task on stock , so the 12700h with the lower power usage would also be perfect for me , also really strange that the x17 comes with lower ram speed , but im happy with the 15 size and the 5200mhz ram , cant wait to finally own i t , halfway there :P dohhh
🤣
Boggles my mind why Alienware didn't offer a QHD option for the X17
Good review, but the cherry mix keyboard is available in the US on the x15 r2.
oh wow! I didn't realise that, we don't get an option run the UK, I figured it was an X17 config only. Thanks for the heads up
@@MashITTech nevermind i take that back i had both configs up at the same time. Its only on the 17. My bad. But i like the standard keyboard cause the cherry mix sounds like tin
@@kaiichinose9590 Its easily done, the pages can get so confusing with the amount of options available 👍
Hey David, I'm wondering if you can settle a question I have as I can't really find a clear answer on the forums. Is the i9 sort of mandatory because the i7 can't be undervolted? With how hot these laptops run while gaming, is the i7 even worth it? It seems like you can set the offset in bios to change the throttle temp (I haven't confirmed that's possible in 12th gen i7). If so, is that good enough to have it throttle at 95c or 90 instead of 100?
Hey what screen would you recommend with the i7 and the 3070ti in the x15 for gaming ?
The qhd every time for any config! It’s by far the best screen
heyy, i dont know if you mentioned it in the video but if i would get the 3070 ti on the x15 r2 would the tgp be 140 watts as well? or be lower?
I am pretty sure it was 140w like the 3080ti
I have some questions that which laptop should I buy legion 7 , alien ware x17 r2, Asus s17 , Asus scar 17 , MSI GE 76 raider , Asus duo 16 ?
Im still waiting on my x15 r1. Despite the R2s having way better performance I feel my custom configuration is good for me and within my budget lol.
How far can the actual screen open? Also, I think the fan noise might be lower because of driver updates that could affect both R1 and R2 machines?
I would say about 120 degrees. And yes I suppose it could, I didn’t keep the x15r1 as I much preferred the x17
Got me my maxed out x17 r2 i love it use it for gaming and 3d rending sandbox playing the game and making assets for it 🔥💪
Hi, what do you think about the m15 r7, it seems that now have the same element 31 and more tdp power too
Still waiting for my r7 to arrive! Should be here in about a week then I can answer 😀👍
@@MashITTech thanks man, good content :)
Im sticking with my original order from yesterday for x17 r2. I just configured x15 r2 on dell with same options as x17 r2 except 1080p 360 on 17 with cherry keyboard and 1440p on 15 without cherry keyboard and its the exact same price of $2949.99. I guess it is because dell currently has 200 dollars off the x17r2.
I am 55 years old and my old eyes see age of empire type games better in 1080p over1440p and def over 4k on a 17 inch sreen. I had lasik surgery 14 years ago and now got 20/10 vision far away but it destroyed my close up vision even with 3.0 cheeters on.
Now i do have an hp omen 45l for a desktop and 4k looks wonderful connected to my lg c9 77" tv and 1440p looks great on my lg 32 inch monitor but 4k on a 17 inch screen or 1440p on a 15 inch screen would give me trouble seeing things on age of empire type games.
the 360hz screen is still amazing especially for gaming. You playing AOE 4?
@@MashITTech yes ive got the redone 2 and 3 and AOE 4 along with the ultimate general the civil war. I just spent 318 dollars on digital combat simulator (dcs) flight sims, but ill be playing those on my omen 45l desktop as it would be too difficult carrying around those 15.4 pound tpr rudder pedals around with me lol.
@@MashITTech just bought my very first game that will put a tiny amount of stress on the x17 r2 red dead redemption 2 ultimate on sale at steam.
I am waiting for the GS77 Stealth Review with the 12th gen i9 and 3070ti see how it does in comparison.
I need help, Macbook pro m1 vs x17 r2? the main use is software programming, in my country they have the same price, which one is the best?