Alienware 17 (2014) Pro Reviews

Hardcore gaming laptops, like the gamers who buy them, are all about performance, and Nvidia's GeForce GTX 880M is today's top-performing mobile GPU. For those who have the cash, therefore, going for the Nvidia configuration of the 2014 Alienware 17 is an easy call.But for those who want to save a thousand dollars, the AMD Radeon R9 M290X configuration is an eye-opening alternative, with enough horsepower to play the latest games on the highest—OK, worst case, second highest—graphics settings, as well as the same stylish aluminum and soft-touch design, terrific 1080p display, and first-class keyboard as the more expensive models in the lineup. Its remarkable bang for the buck makes it an easy Editor's Choice winner.

The Alienware 17 with GeForce GTX 880M graphics excels where it counts most—playing games. The laptop handled every game we threw at it, with nary a stutter even on the highest settings. If graphics performance is your top consideration when buying a gaming laptop, this system won't disappoint.

The Alienware 17 is undeniably attractive and incredibly powerful, but only hardcore gamers will want to take this 9.5-pound beast on the road.

Save for some nagging (but ultimately fixable) problems, the Alienware 17 is one of the best gaming laptops money can buy. From its sharp metallic and soft-touch build to a host of powerful components, this is a one-stop shop for getting into PC gaming with a single click. That said, over $2,000 is a fat wad of cash to put up in hopes of avoiding the perceived hassles of PC gaming. And again, if space is a concern, there are plenty of options that offer more power for less, given this isn't a laptop you'll want in your backpack for long. Given that a 17.3-inch laptop, gaming or not, is a terribly niche product, consider every path before paying over two grand for the toll. Regardless, it's undeniable that this is the best-built mobile gaming PC around. If the fast lane to high quality PC gaming is what you seek, then the Alienware 17 will not steer you wrong.

The Alienware 17 isn't perfect – a laptop costing this much really ought to include a proper solid-state drive, and maybe 16 GB memory too. And, of course, its sheer size and weight mean that it's rarely going to leave home. However it provides top-of-the-range performance that would previously have cost you £2000 or more. It's a great choice for gamers who can afford not to compromise so much.

The Alienware 17 is a high-end gaming laptop with all the premium touches you'd expect, and performance to match.