Alienware 17 R5 vs Alienware 17 R4 – what are the differences?

Last time we briefly covered the specs sheet of the new Alienware 17 R5 high-end gaming series and it is now time to draw a parallel between this gaming beast and its predecessor – the Alienware 17 R4.

The first difference hides in the hardware options. While Alienware 17 R5 boasts up to the latest 8th gen overclockable Intel Core i9-8950HK processor, its rival offers only up to 7th gen Intel Core options. However, both models can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB GDDR5X) graphics card. In terms of memory, the Alienware 17 R5 supports Intel Optane PCIe 3.0 x2 [60/120GB].

When we take a look at the display options, both gaming laptops come with a diagonal of 17.3 inches featuring Full HD (1920 x 1080), QHD (2560 x 1440) or 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution. Alienware 17 R5 offer only an IPS option, while its predecessor can also be found with a TN panel. When it comes to portability, both gaming beasts share identical dimensions – 424 x 332 x 29.99 mm and tip the scale at 4.42 kg (9.7 lbs). The similarities continue with the 1080p Full HD web camera that the two models boast. However, Alienware 17 R5 also comes with an upgraded cooling system with Alienware Cryo-Tech V2.0 thermal technology thanks to which your laptop will stay cool even under a load of demanding games.

And finally, a quick glimpse at the connectivity options reveals an almost identical range of ports with the exception of one additional USB 3.1 Type-C port in Alienware 17 R5.

Specs sheet

Series
  • Alienware 17 R5
  • Alienware 17 R4
OS
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 10
CPU
  • Intel Core i9-8950HK
  • Intel Core i7-8750H
  • Intel Core i7-7820HK (@ 3.8GHz)
  • Intel Core i7-7820HK
  • Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  • Intel Core i7-6820HQ
  • Intel Core i7-6820HK (@ 4 GHz)
  • Intel Core i7-6820HK
  • Intel Core i7-6700HQ
RAM
  • up to 32GB
  • up to 32GB
Internal storage
  • 2x 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 + 1x 2242 PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe
  • 2.5″ slot
  • 2x 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 + 1x 2242 PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe
  • 2.5″ slot
Optane support
  • Intel Optane PCIe 3.0 x2 [60/120GB]
GPU
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB GDDR5X)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5)
  • AMD Radeon RX 570 (Laptop)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB GDDR5X)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5)
Display
  • 17.3”, Full HD (1920 x 1080), IPS
  • 17.3”, QHD (2560 x 1440), IPS
  • 17.3”, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), IPS
  • 17.3”, QHD (2560 x 1440), TN
    17.3”, Full HD (1920 x 1080), IPS
    17.3”, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), IPS
    17.3”, QHD (2560 x 1440), 120 Hz, TN
Connectivity 802.11ac,
Bluetooth 4.1
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth 4.1
Features
  • 1x USB 3.1 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort, HDMI)
  • 1x USB 3.1 Type-C
  • 1x USB 3.0 Type-A (Sleep and Charge)
  • 1x USB 3.0 Type-A
  • HDMI
  • mini Displayport
  • combo audio jack
  • Noble lock slot
  • 1x USB 3.1 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort, HDMI)
  • 1x USB 3.0 Type-A (Sleep and Charge)
  • 1x USB 3.0 Type-A
  • HDMI
  • mini Displayport
  • combo audio jack
  • Security lock slot
Battery
  • 68Wh, Lithium-Ion, 4-cell
Weight4.42 kg (9.7 lbs)4.42 kg (9.7 lbs)

All Alienware 17 R5 configurations


All Alienware 17 R4 configurations

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
6 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
DonGod
DonGod
5 years ago

What is your source ?
According to the alienware website the QHD panel is always TN.
Did I miss something ?

Nabil elshemy
Nabil elshemy
5 years ago
Reply to  DonGod

Recently they changed all the screens to IPS f

Jared Reabow
Jared Reabow
5 years ago

The 17r4 has two USB type C… this review is questionable

Jared Reabow
Jared Reabow
5 years ago
Reply to  Jared Reabow

And other issues!

John
John
5 years ago

In the comparison specs I noticed there’s no WiFi connectivity listed for the R5, yet it’s listed for the R4? Is that correct?

NoOne
NoOne
4 years ago

Thus review and specs are confusing ? As it’s the same article by the same writer on the same date from R4 vs R3 comparison as well? So I don’t think its trustworthy