Alienware boosts laptops with 7th-gen Intel Core; Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming gets an upgrade

Just ahead of CES 2017 in Las Vegas, Dell has revealed its refreshed lineup of Alienware gaming laptops along with a new Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming series laptops. There are a total of five base models in the following pages, packed with Intel’s latest seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” Core processors, and Nvidia’s Geforce GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti graphics chips.

All five models listed on the following pages start with discrete GeForce GTX 1050 graphics chips, along with Intel’s integrated graphics component. PC gamers wanting an on-the-go powerhouse may want to start with the Alienware 15 and Alienware 17 laptops, as they’re the only two of the group offering GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 graphics chips. The Inspiron 7000 Gaming series appears to be more price friendly, offering a great PC gaming experience without breaking the bank.

On the Alienware front, Dell says that the refreshed models are based on a new industrial design that includes anodized aluminum, magnesium alloy, steel, and copper. They also rely on a new chassis design providing increased ventilation, enabling the laptops to have a higher power usage ceiling and push most of the heat out through the back. Dell also has a new finishing process to reduce the annoying amount of “smudginess” and fingerprinting in the keyboard area, and a new steel-reinforced Alienware TactX keyboard.

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Dell Alienware 13

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For starters, this model provides four discrete GPU options ranging from the GTX 1050 to the GTX 1060, and two seventh-generation Intel Core options. The base model includes a 1,366 x 768 resolution, 8GB of DDR4 system memory, an Intel Core i5-7300HQ, a discrete GeForce GTX 1050, and a 180GB SSD. The included ports consist of Thunderbolt 3, Mini DisplayPort 1.2 output, HDMI 2.0 output, and an Alienware Graphics Amplifier port.

One of the options customers can select is a touch-enabled screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution. There are also five memory configuration options, seven storage options, three resolution options, and two Wireless AC/Bluetooth options. What Dell doesn’t offer is Wireless AD (WiGig) connectivity as we saw with Lenovo’s new pre-E3 2017 laptop explosion in late December.

Dell Alienware 15

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Unlike the Alienware 13 model, this version provides three options for a seventh-generation Intel Core processor. The base unit consists of a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, an Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor, 8GB of DDR4 system memory, a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics chip, a 180GB SSD, and Wireless AC connectivity. The included ports are the same as the Alienware 13 despite its bigger size, but customers will notice that the power button is moved from the right side to the center, and includes five user-programmable keys.

On the GPU front, this specific model spans from the GTX 1050 Ti to the GTX 1070, but also includes a Radeon RX 470 option for dedicated AMD fans. The memory and storage options are much longer than the 13-inch model too: six memory configurations and eight storage configurations. Customers can also configure the laptop to rely on a 68-watt-hour or a 99-watt-hour battery, the latter of which is likely best used to support the GTX 1070 graphics chip.

Dell Alienware 17

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This is the PC gaming beast of the Alienware trio, packing options like Nvidia’s meaty GTX 1080 graphics chip, Tobii eye-tracking technology, and up to an Intel Core i7-7820HK processor. The base configuration includes a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, Intel’s Core i7-7700HQ processor, 8GB of DDR4 system memory, a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics chip, and a 128GB SSD. The ports remain the same, but customers choosing this model will see nine user-programmable keys instead of five.

The refreshed Alienware 17 is offered up with two processor options, four resolution options, five memory configurations, five GPU options, and eight storage configurations. The default discrete GPU flavors range between the GTX 1050 Ti and the GTX 1080, while fans of AMD can option for the Radeon RX 470 too. There are two battery options (68 and 99 watt-hours) along with three power adapter options: 180, 240, and 330 watts.

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

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Looking for a gaming laptop, but can’t afford an Alienware? Then you might want to consider the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming. We’ve praised it in the past for its winning combination of hardware and low price. Now, it’s getting an update.

It offers two processor options, two GPU options, and six storage options. Some of the higher-end specs include a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution display, an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, 16GB of DDR4 system memory, Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, and a 256GB SSD / 1TB HDD combo.

In addition to the expanded list of options, the Inspiron 7567 Gaming laptop adds a numeric keypad to the keyboard. It also has a fairly beefy 74 watt-hour battery. What’s notable about this unit is that Dell offers Ubuntu as an operating system option for those not wanting to play on Team Windows. It has a touchscreen option, too.

This represents an expansion of the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 gaming from its humble budget origins. Pricing and availability of the new model is unknown. However, given the specifications of the base model, we’d be surprised if the starting price differs much from the old version’s $800 MSRP.