Alienware isn’t shying away from proving that Gamers can be stylish too. No, no, they’re not going into streetwear like other gaming brands (not yet… anyways). Instead, the company has revamped its Alienware Aurora Desktop with a whole new design with familiar design cues and a sleeker form factor.
The new Alienware Aurora R16 drops all pretensions for a sleek, minimalist design focused on performance. The new R16 comes with a smaller overall size but doesn’t sacrifice the volume. In fact, it maintains the same volume as the R15. It’s also easier to store with a more uniform shape. The biggest change? Well, the signature “Stadium Ring” is now on the side. Alienware has designed the Aurora R16 to catch your eye from the side this time. The stadium ring surrounds the intake vents of the new Aurora R16.
Speaking of intake vents, the Aurora R16 is designed with optimised airflow for better cooling. The new design takes in air from the front via vents nestled in the stadium ring. The top vent can be optimised to either draw in cool air or expel heat depending on how you configure your fans. The chassis itself is built to include anywhere between 2 to 4 fans depending on your configuration.
The Aurora R16 comes with a motherboard based on the Intel Z960 chipset. Alienware has customised the board to maximise performance both in terms of thermals and convenience. It comes with liquid cooling options for the CPU in addition to the standard 240mm heat exchanger. The system is built to support DDR5 5600MT/s memory for intensive tasks. It also comes with Killer E3100G Ethernet which supports bandwidths of up to 2.5Gbps over ethernet. Wireless connectivity runs on Killer’s AX1675 Wi-Fi E which supports WiFi 6E and the system also supports Bluetooth 5.3.
The R16 still comes with a bevvy of I/O ports including three USB-A and a single USB-C on the front panel for quick and easy access under the AlienFX enabled Alien head power button.
There will be multiple configurations of the Alienware Aurora R16 available depending on your region. In Malaysia, the Aurora will be launching with a configuration featuring the Intel Core i7F processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD and 1TB HDD storage. This will be complemented by an NVIDIA RTX 4070.
Pricing & Availability
The Alienware Aurora R16 will be available soon in Malaysia. Dell Malaysia hasn’t announced an availability date just yet. However, the system is now available on the US Dell online store with prices starting from USD$1,749.99 (MYR7,999).
In Malaysia, the Aurora R16 will be priced at MYR10,599 (USD$2,318.78) with the specs mentioned previously and 2 years of Dell Premium Support.
You know Alienware as one of the first brands to cater its brand and hardware. Unlike Razer, Alienware delved into the PC gaming market by creating the most powerful PCs in its early days specifically for gaming purposes. This was back when games did not even look half as good as it is today. This was back when 3D graphics was still a blocky mess.
Back then as well, gaming peripherals were not really gaming peripherals at all. They were redressed regular mice, keyboards, and speakers for ‘gaming’ that has no real advantage or difference over regular peripherals. It is a very different story today.
Gaming peripherals are not just a more expensive version and RGB dressed regular peripherals. In 2023, they are purpose built gear to enhance both a gamer’s experience and performance in their chosen games. To think about it, while other manufacturers like ASUS ROG has been pushing their peripherals for a bit, Alienware has been silent about new gaming peripherals, until now that is.
Alienware Wireless Gaming Mouse (AW620M)
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
To start with, you want a reliable gaming mouse. Something that is ergonomic that fits perfectly in the palm of your hands. You want it to be an extension of your arms and you want it to feel like it is a part of your limb, for it to be as light as possible.
The new AW620M gaming mouse is Alienware’s latest wireless symmetrical gaming mouse. This is not made for the left-handers, unfortunately. It is made specifically to be wielded by right-handers. It is oddly shaped to ensure that your right palm gets the best grip possible with the mouse without feeling as much as a strain. The right mouse button is also slightly longer than the left mouse button to accommodate the naturally longer middle finger. The mouse also features a thumb rest below the two extra buttons on the side.
The new gaming mouse packs Alienware’s sensor technology below their magnetic-force keyplates. What that means is you get Alienware precision and speeds with every click of the buttons. It is highly accurate and flexible to work with too at 26,000 DPI, 650 IPS, and 50G max acceleration capabilities. While the best way to work the mouse is with a wired connection with your PC, the 2.4GHz wireless dongle offers 1000Hz polling rate for a near lag-free experience for up to 140 hours on a single charge.
Alienware Wireless Gaming Keyboard (AW920K)
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Once you settle in on a gaming mouse, you want your keyboard to also match your set up and speed. You want a gaming keyboard that can also work wirelessly to keep that clean look on your desk. You also want your keyboard all-in-one keyboard for not just gaming. You want a single keyboard to be the control center of your entire desk set-up. This one does just that.
Alienware’s first wireless gaming keyboard is a mechanical keyboard with CHERRY MX Red switches for fast and fluid strokes and near instant presses. Working the switches are Alienware’s PBT double-shot keycaps that are beautiful and durable. Of course, underneath the switches are per-key AlienFX RGB lighting that shines through the keycaps’ letters. There is also a new Programmable Rocker Switch right beside a programmable dial as well to control media. You can program them via Alienware’s new Command Center.
You can use it with a USB paracord cable included in the box. You can also turn it wireless with a 2.4GHz dongle and work with it for 42 hours in that mode. You can also make it your Bluetooth 5.2 keyboard for up to three devices with a simple switch at the back of the keyboard. There is also a Tenkeyless (TKL) variant (AW420K) of the wireless keyboard if that is what you prefer to work with.
Once you deal with your controls, you now want something that will sharpen and hone your senses. You need absolute focus and immersion when it comes to getting your senses tuned. You want a gaming headset that pulls you into the game world. You want an Alienware AW720H wireless gaming headset.
The AW720H Wireless Gaming Headset packs a powerful 40mm driver with hi-res certification and Dolby Atmos tuning for the most immersive experience you can get in a headphone. It offers 3D virtual surround sound for that all-important environmental awareness in your games. Attached to the headphone is an AI equipped noise-cancelling boom microphone for your communication needs. The mic reduces ambient sound in your physical environment to ensure that your speeches are extra crisp and clear even during an intense battle. If your teammates cannot hear you, you might want to get them to buy this pair of headphones too.
It comes with a 2.4GHz USB Type-C dongle to be plugged into your PC or your smartphone if you want. It will last up to 30 hours in wireless mode. If you prefer a wired connection, there is still the 3.5mm AUX jack. Or, you can go for the wired variant (AW520H) of the headset. There is no gesture control nonsense here either. There is a quick-access button array on either side of the ear cups to quickly control your headphones without exiting your games.
Price and Availability
Alienware’s latest Tenkeyless Gaming Keyboard AW420K is now available on their website at MYR 719. The new wireless gaming headset AW720H and wireless gaming mouse AW620M will be available by the end of March 2023 for MYR 679 and 369 respectively. You can choose between Alienware’s signature White or black colour option for the headset. The wired variant of the headset (AW520H) and the full-sized wireless gaming keyboard AW920K will be available in Q2 2023 onward with no price revealed. For more information on Alienware’s latest gaming peripherals, you can head to their website.
Dell took the stage last year with their eye-catching Concept Nyx. The concept device took a jab at gaming on the edge. With Concept Nyx, Dell was looking at creating a new gaming and living room experience with edge connectivity. Edge connectivity or connectivity at the edge of the network is something we’ll be hearing more and more about with 5G becoming more mainstream.
Source: Dell Technologies
With Concept Nyx, Dell Technologies is looking to enable remote gaming with WiFi and 5G connectivity. They’re looking to accomplish this with a device or box that provides remote access to gaming libraries like Steam and more. This device can be placed in spaces like the living room and can support more than one instance. So, you’ll be able to play HALO while your sister plays Valorant at the same time on the same screen. It can even support multiple instances of the same game allowing you to play together.
The One Controller To Rule Them All
This year, Dell Technologies is taking Concept Nyx a little further. They’ve introduced the Concept Nyx Game Controller – the “One Controller to Rule Them All”. So, what makes this controller so different? The first thing that sets it apart is an integrated fingerprint sensor which will allow a myriad of personalization. The integrated fingerprint sensor could unlock personal settings or launch the last game that you played with a single touch.
Source: Dell Technologies
Dell is also experimenting with haptics in the controller. The controller is looking to incorporate variable resistance into their thumb sticks. The variable resistance can be set to either player preference or adapt to game specific settings. Imagine playing God of War and feeling the tug when you pull down barriers or slam enemies into the ground. The X-triggers could also incorporate the same.
In addition, the Concept Nyx Controller comes with shift buttons for additional options on front buttons and innovative scroll wheels which could be used to quickly scroll through your game weapons. There’s also an intelligent touchpad for instant access to customisable controls. It also comes with a fully customisable intelligent on-screen controls and overlays which will make sure you don’t get them buttons mixed up.
Taking Concept Nyx to the Next Level
While the big advancement this year is the Concept Nyx Controller, Dell isn’t just pushing hardware. Devs working on Concept Nyx have expanded what was shown last year with a better, more simplified dashboard. In addition to this, Concept Nyx is also being expanded to multitask more efficiently like connecting to multiple headsets; each with a unique audio stream. This also includes better splitscreen experiences. AI is also looking to make its mark on Concept Nyx with Dell experimenting with AI for things like dynamic listening to allow players to know when they’re being called.
Source: Dell Technologies
While there’s no commercially available product just yet, Concept Nyx is quickly being moulded by gaming. That said, you may see some of Nyx’s features make its way to products in Dell’s portfolio.
Alienware should not be a name that is unfamiliar to gamers. They are, technically, the biggest name in gaming PC before gaming PCs become mainstream. They are still one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Today, they are known to make some of the most desirable gaming PCs in the market currently. They are also known to make some of the most extreme gaming PCs in the modern gaming era. It is no wonder then that they released the new Alienware m17 R5, one of the most powerful AMD Advantage gaming laptops you can find in the market today.
AMD Advantage
Before we go one, let us recap what AMD Advantage means. The first requirement for a gaming laptop to be recognized as an AMD Advantage gaming laptop is obviously being equipped with AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 series CPU paired with their latest Radeon RX 6000 series GPU. There are few more things in the checklist too.
The laptop must pack AMD’s FreeSync Premium technology as standard for a tear free experience on a display with at least 144Hz refresh rate and capable of more than 300 nits in brightness and less than 3ms of response rate. Of course, with both AMD’s CPU and GPU working together, AMD’s SmartShift and Smart Access Memory must come as standard too on the gaming PC. To ensure that speed is not an issue, DDR5 memory and Gen4 M.2 SSDs come as standard on AMD Advantage laptops.
Its body must be thin and light enough that you can lug it around without breaking your back. The built-in fans within the svelte body also has to be powerful enough to keep everything at a controlled temperature even in heavy loads. In short, an AMD Advantage laptop cannot be thermal throttling from poor thermals.
Alienware m17 R5 – The Ultimate AMD Advantage Gamer
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Source: Alienware
Welcome to the Alienware m17 R5, currently the most powerful AMD Advantage gaming laptop with a 17-inch display in existence. It packs AMD’s most powerful Ryzen 6900 CPU for mobile platforms. Alongside the powerful CPU is also an AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT GPU for maximum impact.
You can also spec it up with up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM with up to 4TB in SSD storage. Yes, they are Gen4 PCIe NVMe units for 5GB/s read speeds. To top it all off, Alienware has fitted the new m17 R5 with the fastest laptop display you can get your hands-on in the market today. You can choose between a fast 480Hz refresh rate Full HD panel and a high-resolution 4K panel at 120Hz refresh rate. The display panel is also a Dolby Vision certified panel for the best-in-class HDR gaming experience on the large display.
Of course, with AMD Advantage certification you get all of AMD’s most premium features for the ultimate gaming experience. You get AMD’s SmartShift Max to ensure that the Alienware m17 R5 extracts the maximum battery life by cleverly switching between the Radeon GPU and integrated APU for different requirements. AMD’s SmartAccess Graphics allows the PC to cleverly optimise frame rates, reduce latency, and optimise battery life by enabling either the discrete GPU or APU to render and present your games while AMD FreeSync works. AMD’s Smart Access Memory, which should be a familiar thing by now, allows your Ryzen processors to harness the full potential of the Radeon GPUs. Of course, AMD’s FreeSync Premium keeps your games tear free and smooth on your display. To keep everything fresh and cool, Alienware fitted the 17-incher with Cryo-tech cooling technology with an enlarged vapor chamber for the GPU.
Price and Availability
There are currently no confirmations on when the device will arrive in Malaysia yet. Obviously, there are no word on pricing as well currently. For more information on the new Alienware m17 R5, you can head over to their website.
Alienware is staying true to its heritage and name. The brand is looking to expand the realm of gaming with their new Concept Nyx. The brand is looking to leverage the momentum that we’re seeing in edge computing to enhance gaming experiences.
With the rise of cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW, XBOX Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia, it comes as no surprise that Alienware is looking further into the future with Concept Nyx. It’s looking to empower gamers to game seamlessly on any device. The brand is looking to create an uninterrupted, low latency experience that allows gamers to move from device to device.
Alienware’s Concept Nyx seem to be a standalone device that is designed to do the processing and computing needed to stream and play games over the internet. This means that when you stream your games over the internet, Concept Nyx would take on the workload that services like Stadia and GeForce NOW use servers for. This reduces the bandwidth needed to stream the game significantly as it would be done over your local WiFi connection. This would also mean that you’d have single-digit response times and latency when playing the game; doing away with things like predictive algorithms which can detract from gameplay. It could also remove lag during gameplay altogether.
Concept Nyx isn’t just stopping at that. Alienware’s Experience Innovation Group (EIG) is also working on creating a central game library. This library will aggregate your games regardless of where you got them from. The central library would be able to draw and access games you purchase on Steam, EPIC, GoG, Uplay etc. They are trying to make accessing and playing your games as seamless as streaming your favourite shows and music. The seamless experience also includes being able to take off exactly where you left off when moving from device to device.
While Alienware’s Concept Nyx is intriguing and definitely a potential game-changer, it’s still in conception. Alienware has had many a concept device like its Nintendo Switch like Concept UFO that we haven’t seen available commercially. However, the experiences it unlocks definitely keep us on our toes to see what Alienware is going to bring next.
Alienware has been creating gaming-focused systems for 25 years! I’m pretty sure there are a good number of our readers who remember the company’s early offerings. It’s safe to say that they’ve come a long way from their early days. The biggest updates this year was the introduction of their new Legend 2.0 design language and the introduction of the Alienware X series. The new design and new offering seem to be only the beginning of the company’s 25th-year celebrations.
That said, Alienware is also introducing a new, refreshed look to its Aurora desktop lineup. The new take on the Aurora desktops introduces design cues from their new Legend 2.0 design language. Their mid-tower desktop redesign focuses on increasing airflow, keeping noise levels low and accessibility. However, the size of the Alienware Aurora remains relatively unchanged.
The biggest change anyone will notice is the increase in vents that will allow for better airflow in the Aurora. Alienware is calling this its first “open-air” design. The new Aurora desktops have larger chassis volumes. The new Aurora is up to 50% larger than even the Aurora R10 and R12. They will ship with a minimum of two 120mm fans – one intake and rear exhaust. On higher configurations, there is an option to double up on these 120mm fans. The new design has allowed Alienware to minimise acoustic noise by 9% compared to the R12.
The design changes aren’t just to ensure more airflow. The overall design has been refined. The Aurora’s design is now more fluid with curves accenting it. The front panel of the desktop also continues the design language but also keeps to Alienware’s signature aesthetic. There will be an option for a transparent side panel as well. Users will be able to use this to show off their setup with the eight RGB Zones. Users can even customise the colours through AlienFX. The updated chassis is also the most accessible yet. You won’t need any tools to access the guts of your setup. The right side door is fitted with cable management features that allow the cables to be mechanically and thermally isolated. There is also an optional magnetic back to help with hiding those cables.
Pricing & Availability
The new Alienware Aurora desktops will be available in Lunar Light or Dark Side of the Moon. Alienware has not announced any details on pricing, configurations or availability just yet.
Alienware’s lineup of laptops has always been streamlined. When it comes to their offerings, it’s always been the Alienware M series or the Area 51m for desktop replacements. That’s changing with the introduction of a new generation of flagship laptops – the Alienware X series. Alienware is upping the ante and infusing its new lineup of laptops with that je ne sais quoi or X factor of being both powerful and portable.
The new Alienware x17 and x15 are the thinnest laptops to come from Alienware ever coming in at just 20.9 mm and 15.9. They bring the performance and optimisations that Alienware is known for in a sleek, new silhouette. The X series houses some of Alienware’s biggest engineering achievements to date with the new laptop series housing a series of innovations including five of which are patent pending.
Cutting Edge Technology Built for Gamers
Naturally, many of these innovations focus on cooling and thermals. One of them is a new thermal interface material called Element 31 which is touted to have a 25% improvement in thermal resistance. The Alienware X series also brings better heat dissipation with Alienware’s Quad fan design which maximises airflow. It also employs a new Smart Fan control technology which regulates each fan independently according to temperatures detected by the AI-enabled sensors.
Aside from that the Alienware x17 and x15 are customisable with options for the latest, cutting edge specifications that all gamers crave. They are equipped with the latest Intel Core H series mobile processors and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 series laptop GPUs. The laptops support up to 110W and 165W graphics power on the Alienware x15 and Alienware x17 respectively. Paired with the specifications are screen options supporting up to a 4K UHD HDR400 display with ComfortView Plus and low blue light technology. They also have options for up to 360Hz refresh rate.
Of course, it’s only natural that the new gaming laptops come with support for the latest Killer WiFi technology for wireless, on-the-go gaming. The X series also has Thermal Control Circuit offset (TCC offset) technology which allows the laptop to maintain a constant CPU temperature range for both work and play. This is complemented by the controls in Alienware’s Command Center application where you can define your own settings and even overclock. They also come with the recently announced CHERRY MX keyboard.
Pricing & Availability
The Alienware X series goes on sale starting June 1, 2021, in limited configurations with full configurations making their debut on June 15, 2021, in the U.S. The Alienware x15 will be priced starting at USD$1,999.99 (MYR8,256.86) while the x17 starts at USD$2,099.99 (MYR8,699.70).
In Malaysia, the laptops will be available sometime in June 2021. No official pricing has been announced just yet.
Together with the Alienware X series, Alienware also announced the new Dell G15 (TGL) which comes with updated specifications with prices starting at USD$949.99 (MYR3,921.85) and the updated Alienware m15 R6 which starts at USD$1299.99 (MYR5,367.02). These laptops will retail in Malaysia with prices starting at MYR4,199 and MYR8,199 respectively.
It’s been over a decade since Alienware has released an AMD powered gaming laptop. Over a decade since the original Alienware Aurora mALX. In that time, gaming has taken a quantum leap with new experiences being more immersive than ever. That changes today with both Dell and Alienware announcing new AMD powered laptops.
The new laptops marry AMD’s revolutionary, performance and efficiency centered Zen 3 microarchitecture with NVIDIA’s graphics prowess to bring their best gaming experience yet. The Dell G15 Ryzen Edition and the redesigned Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition bring together some of Dell and Alienware’s best design with top of the line performance for gaming.
Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition
Alienware super charges their m15 line up with their signature technological features such as voltage gated cooling with the performance combo of AMD’s Ryzen 5000-H processors and NVIDIA’s RTX30 series graphics. All this power is packed into a slim 15-inch body with options to fit any gamers’ needs. On the display front, users get to choose from options including a QHD with 240Hz refresh rate and an FHD display wiht 360Hz refresh rate.
Smooth visuals and power packed performance is just the tip of the iceberg. The new Alienware m15 is also the first to come with Alienware’s new Legend 2.0 design language which features a sleeker silhouette and a new design feature called Dark Core. This darkens the interior shade of the laptop helping you focus on the game; while the new Silky-smooth High-Endurance paint formula will keep things clean and sleek. It is also the first 15-inch Alienware laptop to come with user upgradable 3200MHz DDR4 RAM. Of course, it will also feature the option for the new mechanical keyboard co-developed with Cherry MX with per key RGB lighting.
Dell G15 Ryzen Edition
Dell’s foray into AMD powered gaming laptops comes in the form of the Dell G15 Ryzen Edition. The new gaming laptop comes with Alienware inspired thermals which maximise airflow and improve cooling. Of course, the laptop comes with Dell Gaming’s signature “Game Shift” button which kicks the laptop into high gear. Similar to the Alienware m15, the Dell G15 Ryzen Edition comes with performance centric combination of AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors, NVIDIA’s RTX 30 Series graphics and user upgradable 3200MHz RAM. On the display front it will be coming with low blue light emitting displays with options for 120Hz or 165Hz refresh rates. Additional options for 360Hz displays will be coming later this spring according to Dell.
Pricing & Availability
Dell and Alienware haven’t announced the pricing for the laptops just yet. However, the Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition will be available in early May 2021. The Dell G15 Ryzen edition is expected to be available at the same time.
When it comes to keyboards, many gamers and enthusiasts agree – mechanical is the holy grail. However, when it comes to laptops, space is an issue; even more so nowadays where the expectation for laptops makes them thinner than ever before. Alienware is looking to change that. In a partnership that kicked off 3 years ago, Alienware and Cherry MX have been hard at work developing mechanical switches that not only deliver the satisfying click but don’t compromise on the aesthetics of a laptop. Project X – as they referred to it internally – was aimed at bringing the full mechanical keyboard experience to a laptop.
Alienware and Cherry MX are introducing a new switch they are calling the MX ultra-low profile. The new key switch, i.e. the mechanism under your keys, is a 3.5mm switch that provides 1.8mm of key travel. The new mechanism, which they say is inspired by the gull-wing doors of the DeLorean sports car, allows gamers to have a more tactile experience when they game or type. In fact, the experience is also auditory – as Alienware has pointed out in its tweet leading up to the announcement.
The new Cherry MX ultra-low profile mechanism is self-cleaning. Alienware claims it has been tested for 15 million keystrokes per key. It is also guaranteed to be safe from freezing up with 100% anti-ghosting and N-key rollover (NKRO) which ensures you get more accurate performance.
The new mechanical keys will be making their debut on Alienware’s thinnest gaming laptops yet – the Alienware m15 R4 and m17 R4. These laptops will now come with an additional option for the Cherry MX Ultra-low profile mechanical keys when you are purchasing your laptops. They do cost a pretty penny – an additional USD$150 (MYR616.31).
The new switches will also play nice with Alienware’s AlienFX software. This means that you can setup your gaming macros and backlight to your own, per game profiles for even more personalisation.
You know the year has been a tough one when it forces a titan like Dell to consider leaning up its operations. The company well known for its laptop and desktop offerings to consumers and businesses is entering a transition phase to withdraw itself from retail in Malaysia and Singapore – two of the most tech forward markets in the Southeast Asian region.
The company will halt supply of its products to partner retailers in Malaysia and Singapore. This will come into effect immediately. The information surfaced via a tip to Malaysian online portal, LowYat.Net.
When contacted for a comment on the situation, Dell Technologies representatives clarified:
Dell Technologies has announced plans to transition out of the retail market in Singapore and Malaysia. Customers will still have access to the full complement of our products and services through Dell direct.
Dell will honour contractual commitments with our partners and customers, and our team is on hand to work with our partners to coordinate a seamless transition. We anticipate the transition to be completed by the end of January 2021.
Dell’s service and customer support is not affected by the transition.
That said, Dell products will continue to be offered by retail partners until current stock sells out. Come 2021, consumers interested in purchasing Dell and Alienware desktops and laptops will have to go to Dell’s official online store at dell.com.
