Latest Alienware Closes Laptop Performance Gap to Deliver High-End VR

They said it couldn't be done, and they were right… until now.

By Jane Larkin

Partner Content by Dell

Rejoice, virtual reality is finally here! Just one small asterisk: It takes a ton of graphics horsepower to paint a convincing virtual landscape at 90 frames per second, which is beyond the capabilities of the average PC, let alone most laptops. Sad but true, a lot of folks will need to upgrade before the wonders of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are theirs to behold.

Which is why the newly refreshed Alienware 13 is so shocking. Alienware calls its just-released laptop "the world's first 13.3-inch VR notebook," suggesting they've crammed the monstrous performance needed to power high-end virtual reality into a modest 5.8-pound laptop.

That's exactly what they did.

While the Alienware 13's typically solid construction and engineering are earning high marks in various reviews, the key breakthrough that enables high-end VR for the portable crowd comes by way of Nvidia, which dropped jaws earlier this year by revealing that high-end laptops could now incorporate the same 10-series graphics chips powering its flagship desktop cards.

So yeah, the Alienware 13 sports its own cutting-edge, no-corners-cut, Nvidia GTX 1060. NBD.

Scratch that, it's a huge deal. The Alienware 13's onboard 1060 handily achieves the coveted "VR Ready" rating in the SteamVR Performance Test, a benchmark used to separate the VR haves from the have-nots. The Alienware 13 has no trouble powering a Rift or Vive, which is great for folks who'd rather not choose between the practicality of a laptop and the gaming/VR power of a desktop. Like that cute kid from the commercial says, why not both?

Of course, it plays boring old regular-reality games like Titanfall 2 pretty well too:

The other big factor in the Alienware 13's surprising performance is its Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, which replaces the anemic dual-core, low-wattage CPUs of laptops past with quad cores and max turbo speeds of 3.5GHz.

From a performance standpoint this is a very nicely balanced system.

From a performance standpoint this is a very nicely balanced system.

Memory, meanwhile, starts at 8GB and goes up to 32GB, while storage begins with a 180GB M.2 SATA SSD (small, for sure) and can go all the way up to dual 1TB PCI-Express drives. Both memory and storage are easily upgradeable by popping off the machine's bottom plate.

Speaking of upgrades, if you go for just one, you'll want to spring for the optional 2560x1440 OLED display, which has a fast 1ms refresh and blazes like a miniature sun. If 1440p feels too futuristic, you can still play games at 1080p to maximize performance, while enjoying the most saturated colors human eyes can perceive without the aid of controlled substances.

Substances or no, connectivity is excellent. Beyond the 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi and Ethernet you've got audio, headphone, and mic jacks, 3 full-speed USB 3 ports (one with PowerShare), HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort out, 1 USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3, and Alienware's proprietary Graphics Amplifier Port. That last lets you connect a discrete graphics card via an external Graphics Amplifier chassis, should the built-in GTX 1060 feel a bit slow come 2018. Options!

All told, the new Alienware 13 looks like a very exciting laptop for performance-focused gamers who aren't keen on bulky towers. Finally, the phrase "gaming laptop" is no longer an oxymoron. With Black Friday just around the corner, maybe it's time for a splurge? You deserve it.

Just one thing: Killer VR laptop or no, you absolutely will look like a total doofus if you try to walk into your local coffee shop, sit down, and jack into the Rift. Society's not yet ready. Maybe in a few years? Baby steps.

The tests came back positive: Jane Larkin's contracted a serious case of laptop envy.

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