Alienware M18 R2 Review - The Power House Returns!
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- The Alienware m18 r2 new for 2024 with the 14th gen intel processors and 270w of combined CPU and GPU power budget. A large desktop replacement laptop that easily could replace most desktops.
🎬Upgrade your Alienware m18r1 or r2: • Alienware M18 r1 & r2 ...
🎬Alienware m18r1 review: • Alienware M18 Review -...
🎬Alienware m18 vs Razer Blade 18: • Razer Blade 18 vs Alie...
⚡️*TIMESTAMPS*
0:00:00 - Intro
0:01:06 - Specs
0:01:47 - Ports
0:02:29 - RGB
0:03:06 - Trackpad
0:03:19 - Keyboard
0:04:24 - Speakers
0:05:08 - Screen
0:05:32 - Webcam
0:05:46 - Internals
0:06:34 - Performance
0:07:49 - Gaming
0:08:22 - AWCC
0:09:16 - Battery Performance
0:10:03 - Conclusion
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#alienware #gaming #gaminglaptop - Наука та технологія
My m18 r2 arrived last Monday. I'm completely thrilled. The thing is awesome, not just for gaming but also for working. I ordered the version with the RTX 4090 and the i9 14900hx.
How do you like the screen?
So you always read that the display only has 300nits. And that's true. But I think the display is very good. For me it's more than bright enough...@@barcafan94
Amazing I am using the M18 R1 and it still kicks every games asses lol you won’t be disappointed!!
How is the display's brightness?
Some write that the screen brightness is not enough for them. But I don't think these people ever looked at the display. I'm sitting here with the screen brightness at about 50% because 100% is just too bright for me. I have absolutely nothing to complain about this display. Fast, bright and good. There's nothing more I can say about it.@@barcafan94
Your reviews are terrific. I look forward to them. Keep up the great work.
I bought the M18 R1 a year ago and couldn't be happier with it. I am using it with a thunderbolt dock as my main workstation at home and it does fit in my Everki laptop backpack laptop slot.
Ohh yeah…it’s Alienware season! 🎉 - thanks for your in-depth reviews as always!
No problem. Sadly the m18 r2 is the only new Alienware released in the UK so I cannot get the new x16 or m16 yet :(
Great review. I would love to hear the actual audio from the fans. It can be helpful for those of us who are bothered by high frequency fan noise.
It's always nice watching your reviews, they are always very detailed. Thanks
thanks mate, glad you enjoyed them
Good Review!
Easier control of the AWCC's RGB lighting when connecting Alienware-specific mice and peripherals.
do you mean you have noticed easier control of Alienware mice and keyboards within AWCC? I am just testing the new pro mouse and the AW920 keyboard. Just about to start testing the AWCC integration so really hope it is better, the trimmed mouse I reviewed a while ago had terrible integration
I bought my M18 last October i9 4080 RTX working perfectly. Really love it.
Have you done any upgrades to the RAM and/or storage? I installed 32gb of 5600MHz Kingston Fury, then upgraded the stock 1TB NVME to 2x 2TB. My boot drive is a Samsung 990 Pro and my game and storage drive is a Samsung 970 EVO. Everything is operating fantastic!
Thanks for the great review. What's your opinion on 18" 1600p for productivity? Is it enough resolution? Is text sharp or does it start looking jagged and pixelated? I've been pleased with text sharpness at 1600p at 17" but have been wondering if 18" is a step too far.
A true desktop replacement. Detailed review Dave. Alienware really have a great package here, but it's still being let down by that dim 300 nit screen. 18" is immersive on the go, but it's so dim you'd only be able to use it in a dark room. Thanks again.
yeah, this was the reason I chose the blade 18 last year for that 500+ nit screen. I mostly use it in a really bright kitchen and anything under 400nit is just unusable
I have the M17 R5 with the 4k HDR 120Hz display, I don't know how are Alienware releasing new models and expecting people to buy/upgrade when they offer worse specs. The display and the mechanical keyboard(also not available in the m18) are what made me buy Alienware instead of anything else even though Dell have a bad rep among PC enthusiasts.
@@Kluneberg The bad rep is especially for desktop PCs (one should avoid Dell and other prebuild PCs, as long as you can build yourself). But as far as notebooks go you don't really have a chance sadly, since you have to buy from one OEM. AW still is ok, but never bought one for myself since the m9700 in green
@@Kluneberg what do you advise me to buy pls. Looking for the best 4080 laptop
awesome review, but do you think they will release m17 with a numpad like the m18?? i used to purchase the 17 inch laptops, but all new versions of alienware 17 keyboards are without numpads
Great review! Not much have changed compared to the R1, but its enough to get my attention + bugs from the R1 is more ruled out. But sadly the R2 dosent come with the option for Nordic keyboard. In its self not a deal breaker as you can change the keyboard layout in settings, but the signs will be different. So my 17R3 would do it one more year until W10 is not supported by MS. Then the M18R3 or X16R3 is my candidates.
oh that's annoying Dell used to offer most EU layouts, have they stopped?
@@MashITTech Sadly its seems that X17 lineup was the last model to offer that option. Both xps, precisions, G-series offers the nordic keyboard. So why dell have stopped this on AW is strange. I have tried multiple times to get answers from dell, but to no avail sadly.
Very sick laptop, plan to get one later this year. Would really like to see other exterior color schemes, like the x seriers.
Great Review + You played the finals 😀
Will the Crucial 96GB kit you reviewed a while back work in the r2?
This was the first M18 R2 review i've seen! I'm hoping my local Best Buy gets them in as I would like to get one. I've always enjoyed Alienware machines and last year's R1 at my store had the AMD configuration, i tried it and it had some serious issues so i'm hoping with the M2 being all intel, that best buy gets them in and I can pick one up.
I couldn't get hold of the Ryzen version in the UK so I unfortunately didn't even get to try that one. what issues did it have?
@@MashITTech Well i tried both the 7900m gpu model and the RTX 4070 model, the 4070 model, i ended up with 2 dead ports and some bad lag issues, the 7900m (AMD GPU) games would crash constantly, i believe it was more of a driver issue but it was enough for me to return both. Laptop is no good if you can't run any new games on it. I'm hoping my local store gets the R2 and hopefully with 32GB ram configuration.
oh that doesn't sound good! and yes lets hope they stock the r2 for you soon! the ram is very easily upgraded so if they don't offer 32gb I have a video on how to upgrade ram and SSDs
@@MashITTech So far i'm liking it. However, if you go into the power plan settings in Windows, does yours only show Balanced? Or does it show other options too? Mine only shows Balanced.......i'm not sure if this is normal? In AWCC I have the other options.....i got it on Balanced right now.
Thanks for your review!
Glad you enjoyed it
@@MashITTech I always do!
I bought an M18 R1 3 months ago thanks to your review with a ryzen 7845hx and 4080, 1080p 480hz version and I freeking love it! It's a beast
How’s the 1080 480hz working out for ya? I’m in a 2019 rog strix 1660ti i7 and 144hz 💀
@@thatoneguy1741 The feeling of fluidity is insane but not in many games you can reach 480fps and I think 1080p is more than enough for 18 inches btw
Just to note that Mechanical cherry keyboard option is only available with the US layout.
That’s a good point, I should have mentioned that. Thanks
Great review, David! Do you think this new R2 has anything to offer for someone with the AMD R1 Model 7945HX + 4090? I am thinking I hold onto my R1 and see if by R3 they get their act together with a proper display. What say you?
No, it would be no upgrade for you. Definitely wait for the 5000 series cards which should be out at the end of the year (and hope they also add more screen options)
Still rocking M15 R5. Alienware laptops got models for everyone. This is premium experience and quality.
Great review, as always! I'd be interested whether these powerhouses could be charged (slowly) or at least their runtime could be extended using an USB-C PD => Dell barrel jack connector, such as the Nexberg 100 W PD adapter. While not as great as "real" USB-C-PD which allows to connect with a single cable to an external monitor and transport display port and power, this could at least solve part of the problem of "no PD at all". Did anybody test this already with the M18 powerhouses?
I'm still happy I chose to purchase my M18 last year. The addition of a dedicated MUX switch is cool, but not a deal breaker.
yes, really very little has changed
Between this and the new x16, which would you recommend and why?
What a beast...great video as always!!!
Glad you enjoyed it :)
@@MashITTech
Great review! I bought the R1 last year - dell outlet - GREAT price (probably $2000 less than the equivalent Razer). and... I love it! My biggest concern was the screen; but I am pleasantly surprised. It doesn't feel like 300 nits... not sure why, but it feels brighter. This is a GREAT desktop replacement (it's BIG). One unexpected point: I am running this with the lid closed (usually) and not seeing a performance hit!!! The fans are normal (no more than when open). I've never been able to do that with any gaming laptop.! Thanks again for the awesome review and advice!
its funny you should say that about the screen, I had said the same to gary when I was running the Spyder calibration tool, it looked like 350-400 but came in at 305. I actually ran it multiple times as I couldn't believe it
It has something to do with the way our eyes perceive color. The larger the color volume covered the greater the perceived brightness to the human eye.
well I have learnt something new today! thanks that didn't even occur to me
via Alienware CC there ist slight "undervolting" possible - you can limit VID to a certain level. Also there is now a MUX Switch inside Alienware CC (also available for DELL G16 7630) which boosts performance again.
I tried it within AWCC and it had no tangible results for me so I didnt mention it. And yes, I noticed the MUX switch in AWCC, makes it easier than having to go through BIOS
High quality and helpful review as usual, thanks Mash! I finally pulled the trigger on this one and to replace my old predator. 😂 May I ask what are some important and key things you did for initial setups, when the M18 first arrived?
Thank you mate and I bet you are excited for your m18! The main thing to do when you first get the laptop is run windows update and then Alienware update, this will get all your drivers and security updates to the latest version. The next thing I would do is run a time spy in F1 performance and check it is performing as expected, if you are not sure message me. Then download some games and enjoy 😃
Hello David. Good review, thank you. I note you didn't mention the new Function F2 key feature I herd about which puts the laptop in a low power quite mode and turn off the RGB lights except the keyboard. Many thanks.
I am pretty sure that is only on the new m16r2 but I will double check. Edit - yes, the m18r2 F2-F6 keys are the macro keys
Hello David. Thank you.@@MashITTech
I have the m16 with the 4090 and it’s a beast but I’m on my second now as the first one caught fire thankfully they sent me a new one but even it gets quite hot regardless of how much external cooling I use
thank god for dell support!
Yo mash IT do you recommend limiting battery charge in BIos on Alienware laptops in order to preserve battery/ Have you been using this feature?
Yes, I always use this feature and recommend users do if you always use it on mains like most of us do with large gaming laptops
Ordering one of these this Friday 4/12/2024 as a desktop replacement, finally getting to travel again so I'll be setting it up in my hotel, or air b&b with the large screen it will be perfect. Going for the 14900HX / 4090 / 32Gb / 4Tb SSD / Cherry MX keys. I was debating between this and the X16 R2 (Also with 4090) but since I want more of a desktop I can take with me and not something I want to use out and about this looks like the better choice.
just make sure you get a large 18" laptop bag such as the Alienware horizon travel 18"
Does it have an option to use liquid metal thermal paste?
Would you ever review the Acer Predator Triton 17x? I’ve got my eye on one but there are no professional full reviews out there, only initial showings with the promise of a full review later that never comes.
I will certainly try, totally blown my budget at the moment as I buy all our laptops we get in for review (UA-cam money doesn't go very far 🤣)
Hey man, question. I Just bought the 720H wireless headset, it comes with a USB-C dongle. Can I put that into one of the thunderbolt 4 ports on the back of the laptop and have it work? or would I be better off putting it in the USB-C port on the side? Please advise.
Your Review is amazing as always, Please bring x16 r2 as well, comparison with x16 r1
I am desperate to get the new x16r2 and m16r2 but dell still aren't selling them in the UK yet :(
@@MashITTech I’m looking at the Alienware x16 r2 32gb ram laptop but they said the memory is not upgradable :( so is it better to just go with the m18 r2 bc it can be user configured in the future? Do you think the display between the two are that different? I wish I could wait until the end of the year but I need it for architecture and engineering classes for heavy rendering and software use.
Still using my x17 R2.
Best mod i did was take of the crappy compund that comes stock and replace it with liquid metal.
And offseting the max temp by 5 in the bios changes the gaming cpu wattge limit from 35w to 45w. No idea why but it just does.
Still annoyed they have disabled undervolting on it in the latest bios.
But i'll be holding out for the 5xxx series laptops latere this year.
yep, I think that unless you really need a laptop now then waiting for the new GPUs is a good idea
I ordered mine a couple of days ago but was able to get the 480 hz screen. Looking forward to getting it in a few weeks!
was that an r1 or r2? I didn't think they were offering the 480hz screen on this years model
@@MashITTech Its the R2.
Are you in USA? I guess it must be a regional thing
@@MashITTech I am yes.
After 3 long weeks, I finally received mine last night, with the 480hz screen, i9, 4090, 4tb (2x2 raid 0), 32gb R, Cherry KB. The thin profile power supply is still a brick, it's much thinner than my older R1 varient, but just as heavy. Only powered on, logged in (updated) and validated my spec'd configuration.
Not that it really matters, but noticed it runs natively at 2.2Ghz unladen, also the 1080p screen is pretty bright! Next up is REVO Uninstaller for bloatware removal and as a logger for installing my programs, allowing complete removal of all files/hidden attributes when required. My personal goal was for a truely clean slate and optimized desktop replacement that's physically securable, portable, and that'll be viable for years to come; so far, I'm impressed!
Great review as always. I wish they made it in the lunar light colour. My old m15 r2 was stunning compared to the metallic moon. I see the command centre is still dreadful :)
I still have no idea why they didn't also make an x18 (and that would have been in lunar light!) seems insane to me
Been a while since you last did a review of the Alienware laptop 😊
Haha yes it is, for some stupid reason dell no longer stocks a lot of the models in the U.K. so I can’t cover them all like I used to
That sucks. What's even more sucks is that it looks like you've injured your finger
Yeah, I sliced right across my finger with a sharp knife. because its right on the crease of the finger the cut keeps re-opening :(
@@MashITTech ouch! I hope it's not a sign to stop gaming for a while lol. But all jokes aside, I hope it gets well 🙏
haha at least I can blame that for my poor K/D ratio 🤣
solid review
bummer about non plug in = performance hurts
I want to know battery life and fan noise how long it last while playing ultra settings ? And how loud is it ?
Its a gaming laptop so it does exactly what you'd expect, no battery life for heavy gaming. 1-2 hours at most. Fans can go from tolerable to ridiculous levels at high speeds if you let them rip.
I got my R1 a few months back with the 13900HX and 4080. I went on to bump the RAM to 64GB and put about 10TB of SSD's in it . I think I'm set for a while. Gaming performance is stellar. I'm debating on wiping the Dell/Alienware image entirely and just doing a clean install of Windows 11 without all the Dell/Alienware stuff though.
yeah, I usually do a fresh install. All the required drivers are on the Dell website so its very easy
And of course you did it first.
Hopefully the screens are brighter now.
hahaha, of course! its the only one of the new Alienware's available in the UK! want to get the new x16 or m16 in but can't :(
if I have an M18 R1 from last year already, should I get this R2 as a replacement? Or is it not worth to upgrade?
not worth it this year, you won't see any improvement. Wait for the Nvidia 5000 series at the end of the year
i still have my R1 from last year, and it runs great, but it is so chunky i find myself only using it when i need beefy power. I wish they made an x18
yeah the lack of x18 seems insane to me, its like Dell don't like making money 🤣
My favorite feature of this laptop is that the cpu can be used as a stove substitute as it will reach to 100 celcius in most games.
I was impatiently waiting for a first review of this laptop! thanks for doing it! What stopped me from buying the previous generation were the two or three performance cores which reached 100 degrees which limited the CPU performance. Does anyone know if this problem has been fixed?
When you say limited its performance, this is a hard one to quantify as dell allows the laptop to boost until it hits 100c unless you adjust the TCC therefore when loading particular cores some will soon hit 100c. Or was this an obvious issue where the cpu massively underperformed due to throttling?
@@MashITTech the performance difference due to throttling of these cores is not that significant, but in any case, having overheating is something bad and it's a dealbreaker for me. Especially since it is very complicated to repaste the CPU because of the inverted motherboard
Hey community..
Which would you recommend for me, between this m18r2 or Legion Pro 7i?
Your responses will be appreciated🙏🏿
my PalWorld crashes on this laptop sometimes, but not on some Lenovo Legion with 3080 and Alienware with AMD chip and 3070... I heard there are issues with 14th gen Intel and motherboard pushing with too much power... how do I set the BIOS to prevent crashes?
Man, I clicked this video real quick! It's a shame the 18" screen isn't all that great from what I hear, at least compared to competitors. That's the main draw of the M18 and the basis of a pretty significant price hike over the M16. I hope you do review of the M16 R2, that actually had some changes and seems like a much better value over the M18.
yeah, sorry I couldn't;dnt bring better news! And I desperately want to review both the m16r2 and x16r2 but sadly dell has chosen not to make them available on the UK store :( as soon as they decide to sell them here I will get them in for review
you might be more impressed than you would expect! I have the R1 and the screen is great (I was surprised) - you can see my comment above... :-)
Gosh, call that heavy! My AW 17" R4 is over 8kg (that's without the power supply). When I put it inside a travel case it completely takes out my cabin allowance. Long overdue upgrade ...
haha just think of it as your daily work out 🤣
@@MashITTech I did damage my wrist on a few occasions, trying to handle this monster with one hand.
May I know is it a worthy upgrade from Asus TUF A-17?
This machine has two deal breakers off the bat: (1) The monitor and (2) the location of the memory card reader! I've owned 3 alienwares over the years but looks like Razer is getting my money this year.
Haha my exact gripes but throw in AWCC. I have owned Alienware’s for 10+ years but as of last year my gaming laptop has been a blade 18 despite its high price
@@MashITTech Yea it is disappointing that a company down the road from my house can't develop or hire someone more qualified to make a good utility for the machines. In the USA it seems that mediocrity is acceptable. If I worked at Dell I'd feel embarressed to tell anyone.
I was eagerly waiting for this review…. I wanted to see if the 14th gen Intel chips made any big difference in efficiency.
And sadly they haven't but Dell seem to have improved the m18's cooling solution slightly so I am seeing slightly better performance than r1
@@MashITTech I think the most shameful thing that Alienware is doing is to deny USB C PD to the M series laptops. I mean, everything else from the design to the port selection to the performance is bonkers.
Would it kill Alienware if someone tried topping off their laptop in their workplace or in travel with a 100 w USB C brick?
yes this drives me insane and I do exactly that with my blade 18 and a 100w usbc in my travel bag. Its not like dell even make an x18 with this option available
@@MashITTech Here's a request: If possible, try to snag the Alienware M16 R2, that Dell hyped so much at the expo. Dell had hyped that it was a complete redefining of the way that they looked at Alienware laptops, and they also said it would be the first time that USB-C PD would make an appearance on the M series lineup of laptops.
It's just a request. I know you have your schedules and plans, but probably you should take a look at that.
I’m sticking with my alienware area 51m r2. It’s 4k display with 500 nits of brightness.
Woah this is a lot louder than my x16. My x16 fans rarely turn on in quiet mode for me actually. And if they do it’s minimal. I only play RTS games tho.
Is it possible to get a review on MSI Titan 18 HX
the titans are an insane price in the UK! I don't get supplied any review units so unfortunately I cannot afford to order one atm :(
Can you compass HP Zbook Fury vs this laptop
I'm wondering if I'll see any improvement in speed and graphics performance over my Dell G7 laptop with an Intel i7 and RTX 2070MaxQ graphics 🤔
haha unless you buy the lowest spec model you sure will :)
@@MashITTech the Alienware M18 R2 (2024 model with RTX 4090) asking with Gigabyte's similar Aorus 17 were both on my shortlist up until I read specs on their displays and compared them to the Asus Strix Scar 18 with it's reported 1,100 nits and HDR.
Asus remains at the top of my list for now.
hi! i love your video, can i ask a question, i brought the M18 too, but my configuration says DDR5 5200 MTs instead of 5600MHz, is there any difference?
I guess you ordered the 64gb option? the 5600mhz is faster but you won't really notice it in day to day use
yes, 64gb, ok, thank you so much! i mainly use it for some triple A games and adobe softwares@@MashITTech
no problem. and I run 64gb at 5200mhz too as I use DaVinci Resolve which eats ram 🤣
big thanks!@@MashITTech
Damn the screen in the competition is so much better
so true
hey please can you tell the app that you're using for the rgb i have an m15 r3 and the awcc doesn't look like yours is it model specific
that's the new command centre, sadly they haven't made it backwards compatible
@@MashITTech unfortunately, thank you.
will u do a MSI Titan 18hx review ?
the titans are an insane price in the UK! I don't get supplied any review units so unfortunately I cannot afford to order one atm :(
Hi, could you tell me is the display a mini LED please?
no! alienware are using 300nit IPS panels
Not sure why 4K screens fell out of favor, I have a "17 R5" that I use for watching 4K movies unfortunately dell doesn't support windows 11 which means some driver issues (mainly with the touchpad not being configurable)
Less battery life, diminishing returns on small screens, only made to compete with apples retina displays and yet they still won. Turns out more pixels does not always equal better.
@@cpthuggyface2011Well it depends on the use case, watching 4K movies on a less than 4K display feels wrong.
We got mux switch FINALLY! 😂😂❤️
For real, the command center still needs improvements .
So so true
Great review. I am in the market and really struggling to choose at the moment as there are a few great options for a work/gaming hybrid. I am stuck between 5:
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 8 16 - i9-13905H (5.4 GHz), 64 GB DDR5 (6400 MHz), RTX 4070 8 GB, 3200 x 2000 (165Hz), 1TB SDD
Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED - i9-13980HX (5.6 GHz), 32 GB DDR5 (5200 MHz), RTX 4070, 3200 x 2000 (120Hz), 1 TB SSD
Alienware m18 R2 Gaming Laptop 18 - i9 14900HX, 5.8 GHz, 64 GB DDR5 (5200 MHz), RTX 4070 8 GB, 2560 x 1600 (165Hz), 1 TB SSD
MSI Creator Z16 HX Studio 16 - i9-13980HX (5.6 GHz), 64 GB, DDR5 (5600 MHz), RTX 4070 8 GB, 2560 x 1600 (165Hz), 1 TB SSD
MSI Vector 16 HX - i9-14900HX (5.8 GHz), 32 GB DDR5 (5600 MHz), RTX 4070 8 GB, 2560 x 1600 (240Hz), 1 TB SSD
those are some very different laptops and I would imagine pricing is huge as well (depending on your region) what will you use the laptop for and is portability a concern
@@MashITTech Thanks for getting back to me!
They are all 2000 - 2500 £ in my area so that's not really a concern. Portability would be a plus as I travel internationally for work
I do some light video rendering and some heavier design work. I also work with large databases and often have a crazy amount of programs and tabs running at once (with 3 displays).
I also wouldn't mind something I can game with but would not be too frequent a gamer
Currently I have
Intel Core i7-9850H
Dell Precision 3541
32 GB Ram
1920 x 1080
Intel UHD Graphics 630
I get massively bottlenecked by the lack of GPU and my screen is awful for design. Laptop also runs really hot and has caused issues.
Thanks
have you looked at the legion 9i? amazing screen and incredible performance. The m18 also has incredible performance but is massive if you travel. All the other laptops you listed are more slim multimedia laptops, yes they will work fine but will have much lower power budgets and will run hot (not sure on the MSI vector, I have come across that one)
I'm still not sure between this laptop or the Asus rog strix scar 18 2024 which is 400$ cad more for a much better screen
Great review as always.. I agree i can not understand why they can not get beter screen options ( msi is up to 1000 nits on «mini led ) also the absence of gen 5 slot for ssd is a shame.. i love Alienware but very disappointed what dell has come up with in 1 year…
Yep, not quite sure what is going on with Dell ATM, it feels like they can't be bothered with the Alienware line. You could even offer better screens as an upcharge and it would still be popular but only offering a 300nit screen is just asking your customers to go elsewhere
I am looking for a new gaming laptop 18 inch and i9 14900, I want to play Escape From Tarkov on it.
Need really a good + 140Hz screen, higher frame rate.. What graphics card you recommend for Tarkov. The difference between 4080 and 4090 is over 1000 Euros, a lot of money. Money is not the issue but, when I got no notable advantage (I mean A LOT) I won't throw my money into the bin.
Great review. Thank you! Could anyone please answer some burning questions?
1. Please confirm if the sides of the laptop suffer from heat releasing on your hand when you game with a mouse.
2. How is the laptop's software?
3. Is it worth it to go for a 4080 over a 4090 16GB version since there's only a different of a few gigs in VRAM for laptop versions?
Thanks in advance!
OK, here goes...1. there is a little heat but I didn't find it bothersome even on long gaming sessions. I have had think pads that are much worse pumping heat out the sides. 2. IF you watch my reviews on Alienware you will know my thoughts on AWCC by now, its average at best. You also get a few other pieces of Dell software installed such as driver updates etc, all drivers are also on Dells site so you can easily do a clean install if you want a minimal system. 3. I personally think the 4080 is the go to card for performance to value. The 4090 has 4gb extra ram and about 10% faster but to me its not worth an extra £500
@@MashITTech THANK YOU so much for taking the time to not only answer my question but also to address each of my concerns. You're the best!
Always happy to help 😀
So does this laptop play windows disk cds?
Damn… If only if an Area-51m variant of the m18 was available.
Been watching what reviews and benchmarks I can on the new laptops running the 14900HX & RTX 4090. Looking to replace my Alienware Area 51m R1 this year. (9700k & RTX 2080)
Certainly leaning towards MSi, I like the looks of the Titan 18. Solid performance outta the gate from what I've seen, probably get even better with BIOS, Firmware, and software updates in the future. The 4 k miniled panel would be nice, sad that its missing gsync though.
I feel like Asus needs to step up they're game a bit. Not bad, just nothing really great or head turning for me this year. MSi really stepped up and overhauled most of their lineup. I won't be going back to Alienware. Poor overclock/voltage utilities, and Dells software has left a sour taste in my mouth. Never works properly, or updates always seem to fail. Plus the Area 51m was marketed as being "upgradeable" lol.. Only lasted two generations and they axed it.😅
This laptop is good for 3d work or not pls tell me
Nice review will you sell the laptop 😅
My only concern in buying this laptop are the cpu temps.
I really feel like a costant 90-100° on prolonged gaming sessions will destroy the laptop internals in no time.
I tought they would improve the cooling in this r2 version, but is just the same as the previous one...
It’s because dell always allow the cpu to boost until temps hit 100c and these 13th and 14th gen can use over 200w on full boost. If the temps bother you can can change the behaviour in bios by adjusting the tcc. You will hardly see any performance drop but better temps
I suppose with no new gpus in 2024
laptop makers are really struggling to make generational improvements this year
I'm very happy I chose to go with the RTX4080 option. To me, it's the sweet spot for this laptop (I have laat year's R1). Using the mini DisplayPort out to take full makes such a difference.
yes, I also agree 4080 is the sweet spot. and funnily enough I just posted my all Alienware setup video and I also use the mini display port to my AW3423DW OLED 😀
@@MashITTech I just finished watching! Nice setup! Did you see mine? I sent you some pics through X.
off to take a look :)
Haha wow you sent that ages ago, shows you how much I use X these days!!! That is one slick looking setup :)
@@MashITTech LOL! It's a bit cluttered, but I'm using it for more than just gaming. Thanks for the compliment! Yours is MUCH cleaner! That monitor is SICK!
What about VIDEO EDITING? i am not a gamer but i do a lot of video editing and multitasking. I have desktop Aurora R11, 32 ram RTX3080 but i want something portable . Would you recommend this laptop for my needs? Pls. Thank you
This thing is great for video editing! the CPU is a beast and so is the 4080/4090. I use it for davinci resolve and its been fantastic with our Multicam 4k50 footage
so i see they lowered the price of the m18 from last year should i just go with that or get the r2?
Get which ever is cheaper as they are so similar
Great review, i got m18r1 last December using 13980hx and 4090. I could undervolt using flash disk trick, but not sure should undervolt because temp almost the same peak at 100 even slight turbo boost is maintain. Even dell emgineering interview itself said the machine is design to always peak tj max. And i dont notice any slowdown even keeping 100c. What do ypu think ? Is it Alienware is design that way and make diffrent than others like ROG or legion ?
What i notice is cpu always feeding 110 w aftee hour gaming is around 89-98 watt. Certainly diffrent than legion 7i i used before. That always fix at 50-60 watt.
Is this making difference ?
All i can say is i am really happy with m18r1.
dell design them to run at 100c and have done for years. the cpus are fine at that temp but if you are not comfortable with that you can change the TCC in BIOS
@@MashITTech You can change it in AWCC aswell in userprofile option. You can even undervolt but only a few 20 mV xD
Which one is better Alienware r2 m18 or legion 9i I am waiting for your response. mash it
Both are amazing, but the Legion 9i is more of a premium build and much more compact and lighter than the M18.
I’ve been an Alienware customer for years… I love their products and currently rocking an x16 with a 4060… still getting really good fps on top tier games. But their number one focus next year is going to have to be an upgrade on those displays… I don’t think you can justify having max 300 nits brightness and no oled option in 2025. I would say it’s not even acceptable now at least not for a brand as iconic as Alienware… like I said there products are excellent in general but these little things such outdated display options and awcc issues can really start to hurt there legacy if not corrected
Hello i need your advise. I got an alienware m18 r1 and i was happy with it until it keeps getting corrupted because whenever it goes on sleep mode it wakes up saying "your pc did not start correctly". Is that a red flag with this laptop. Should i return it while i still can?
It sounds like a dodgy windows install but could be a faulty ssd. Back up any work and reset windows, fully update it and try and recreate the problem. If it persists contact dell or return it
the keyboard remains extraordinary
A docking station for the M18-R2 would be cool ad extremely useful as a desktop replacement, but ATM in Dell's online shop there is no kinda optional..
Can u use it in ur lap on a cushion?
Highly recommend not to do so, puttin it on your lap or cushion will block the airflow of the laptop and is detrimental to it.
There is no entrance for the internet wire for a fast internet connection? Only a WiFi?
there is also RJ45 (ethernet) on the left side.
funny enought though, not on the x16? @@MashITTech
No wonder we never saw an Alienware M18 in CES. It's just been refreshed unlike it's smaller sibling the M16. Still wonder why they didn't just do an X series upgrade too. Sounds like Alienware can't figure out whether they flagship laptops is either the X or M series.
As for this laptop nothing much haa changed. It's just a refresh so probably just get slightly better laptop than last year. Still decent but not amazing.
yep, this year is going to be quite disappointing with the same gfx cards and refreshed 14th gen and Ryzen 8000 cpus! only the core ultra are going to be interesting but I don't like the soldered on ram with those :(
so nice
I wonder if the cherrymx keyboard would be annoying or satisfying in the long run
have you tried. mechanical keyboard with cherry mx blue switches? if that annoys you then so will this :)
@@MashITTech nope, never. But I got a razer mechanical keyboard and I enjoy it a lot. Probably I will like the cherrymx on the alienware as well :)
When is the x16 R2 going to be released?
its out in USA but sadly not in UK so I cannot get one in for review yet :(
How much performance would i lose vs a desktop with the same parts?
like 50%
The issue is now the motherboard durability is a problem it looks too exposed to me for damage(not last very long) and is too gentle - damage and gentleness.
Because of this the durability of motherboard in alienware laptops is dissapointing same as razer ones. There are many brands did not make it.
Surely the left side is the wrong side for those 2 usb ports, who's plugging their mouse in on the left?
I used to think that but I realised if using a wired mouse I still prefer plugging in on left and putting cable behind laptop as if I plugged in on the right the cable and usb plug got in the way.
how did you hurt your finger? should be more careful?) i like this laptop) i used to have m17 r4 with rtx 3080. in the current generation i got msi with rtx 4090. in the future i want to get alienware with rtx 5090. i like these laptops because they have 4 nvme slots. i dream to try raid0 with 4 nvme ports. i hope they keep 4 nvme ports in the future
haha yes I should! I cut myself wit a really sharp knife, was quite a bleeder 🤣 And that's a good idea, when I get time I may setup a 4 drive RAID 0 SSD just to see how fast it is!
@@MashITTech will be interesting to watch.)
Its nice how powerful the laptop is, but whats the point if you can barely move it? Say if you are flying on holidays, or something, and you cant even find a laptop bag. I am happy I found a laptop bag for my M17 R4.
Also, what is the performance increase in 4090 over 4080? The price increase is massive.... £600?
4090 is no way worth more than £100 more than 4080 let alone 600 🤣 and yeah its nit very noble but if you just move it from desk to desk its fine which is 95% what I do
Does anyone use an RTX 4090 laptop to run VR apps?
I'm looking at portable gaming and a virtual mobile office.