Customer Ratings & Reviews
- Model:
- AWYA17-7640WHT-PUS
- SKU:
- 6358915
Rating by feature
- Value
Rating 3.7 out of 5 stars
- Quality
Rating 4.0 out of 5 stars
- Ease of Use
Rating 4.2 out of 5 stars
Customers are saying
Customers are delighted by the M17 17.3" Gaming Laptop's impressive performance, stylish design, and lightweight build. Many appreciate its fast SSD and large screen size, ideal for gaming and everyday use. However, some users note that battery life could be improved, and the laptop may generate noticeable heat and fan noise during intensive use. While some found the speakers underwhelming, the overall positive feedback highlights its strengths as a powerful and portable gaming machine.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
- Pros mentioned:Speed, WeightCons mentioned:Price
After 1 month the laptop doesn’t work
||Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.After using the laptop for like almost 2 months to only play Apex Legends, when I turn it on it doesn’t star normally, it stay on the Alienware logo, i am going to take this back to the store for a refund or a replacement. I pay almost 2400$ for this trash of laptop.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Rafa762,
Thanks for your review. We're sorry to hear that your computer is not starting normally for you. You can always reach out to our Alienware team via Email for additional assistance: [email protected]. Please use your username from this review as the subject line of your Email.
If you'd like to try to start your computer you can follow these steps:
1. If the computer is displaying the Dell logo and does not move past that point, it has probably failed POST.
2. If the power indicator lights up and it is amber or orange, this is usually an indicator that it has failed POST.
3. If you see text on a black screen, the computer is currently performing the POST. If the computer stays in that condition and does not move past it, it has probably failed POST.
4. If the video screen displayed anything at all during the startup process but is now black, this probably indicates that the computer failed POST.
5. If the computer is beeping or if Caps/Num/Scroll Locks are flashing, note if there is a particular pattern in which it beeps or flashes.
6. If the computer is not beeping and caps/num/scroll locks are not flashing, unplug all connections and remove all media communication devices (e.g. external monitors); reconnect one at a time and check if the computer functions.
7. For a notebook, press and hold the Fn key and then press the power button. This starts the pre-boot testing and will launch ePSA. In case you have a Desktop at the Dell logo screen tap the F12 key to enter One Time Boot Menu and use the arrow keys to highlight Diagnostics and press enter.
You can read the full article here - http://dell.to/2uj1Sby.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
- Pros mentioned:DesignCons mentioned:Heat
Hated it
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I originally bought a preowned Razer, loved it but wanted bigger. I went with this Alienware and hated every minute of it. So many interconnected and conflicting Dell apps. I’ve never felt such a hot laptop. Fans can only be controlled by Dell software; I tried three other 3rd party apps, not compatible; it’s Dell control or no control. Tobii is cool but can’t do Windows Hello with Dell and is therefor useless. There’s plugs in the back to save desk space, cool right? Except the side ports are so low to the desk, you need to tilt the computer back to properly grip a USB to plug/unplug. When I added an extra nvme drive, I learned that the bottom case cover screws could be loosened a bit and then the side ports (LAN, USB) behave like a normal PC i.e. you don’t have to knock things off your desk trying to get the ports to release their plugs. Then, when matlab started stalling with 16 GB of RAM (which depending on your stage of code experimentation can happen with any computer), I found out the RAM is not upgradeable. That was it, nope, I took it back and decided it would be worth the 10 day delivery for a 17” Razer.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend - Pros mentioned:DesignCons mentioned:Heat
Absolute worst laptop
||Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.This is the worst laptop I've very had. It's got a nice slim design and looks good but the performance and support is horrible. The laptop constantly overheats, even doing normal web browsing, and if I decide to play a game or anything, it gets so hot it's hot that it can burn my fingertips. The adapter doesn't stay connected, even after having it replaced, and the power cord will just slip out with the slightest movement of the laptop. I've had 5 technicians come out and one them even commented on the overheating issue and said that the heat is damaging my internal components and then commented how it's was discoloring the casing because in essence, it's burning it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend Thermal Throttling Garbage
||Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I picked up this computer in store on Wednesday 9/18/19 (three days ago). I have never been more excited for a new PC as Alienware is finally going to a thin and light design. Since then, I have been trying everything in my arsenal to keep this cpu from overheating and throttling down. Downloaded all new driver and bios updates. Downloaded throttlestop. Used a cooling pad. Even with all necessary updates, a -130mV cpu core/cache undervolt, a -50mV undervolt on the intel graphics, disabling turboboost, maxing out the fans in Alienware Command Center, and setting the thing on a cooling pad, IT STILL THROTTLED BELOW THE BASE CLOCK. This beautiful piece of junk throttled down in Dell Supports own CPU stress test. It THROTTLED AT THE MAIN MENU on Borderlands 3 even with graphics settings turned all the way down to potato. (Btw the graphics card is setting at a comfy 60-70C under any load) Borderlands runs alright, just a little stuttering when you’re exploring, but the moment you get into a firefight, the cpu throttles itself down to less than 2Ghz (base clock is 2.6) and the game becomes unplayable. Frame rates drop to below 10fps and the cpu fans are working with all their might to keep the computer from literally blowing its own brains out. I purchased this computer thinking it would be a nice gaming upgrade from my current 2016 model Razer Blade. Spoiler alert: even though the Razer Chassis runs hotter and the graphics card runs warmer (GTX 1060) the cpu still stays below 95C when those jet engine turbine cooling fans are screaming. It runs games and stress tests perfectly without throttling down. I’ve never seen a core package temp on the Razer reach the throttling temperature of 100C, meanwhile I could boil water all day long on the Alienware CPU. Alienware: Fix your freaking cpu thermals, and don’t try to tell me “it’s designed to run at 100C, but it should just turbo down and not drop below the base clock”. I have an old 2013 model Alienware 17 r4 that I still love to this day. It is solid and runs amazing for its age. Don’t release a product that does not have adequate thermal management. Work with intel on thermal design. They’ll know how to cool their own CPU’s. Rant over. Returning to store when they open in an hour. Not sure what I’m going to try to get now.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Hello Chemist2022,
In your review of the Alienware m17 notebook, you mention having updated to the latest BIOS and drivers, but to be certain you are using the most up to date driver software, please verify that you have installed BIOS 1.2.0: https://dell.to/2ls1mIL and NVIDIA driver version 26.21.14.3153: https://dell.to/2loJdLJ.
If not, please download and install these updates and check to see if the issue persists.
If the issues continue after updating your driver software, please check the Alienware Command Center to determine your currently applied thermal profile. By default, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 will be set to Quiet Mode, which may cause a performance downgrade when playing some video games and/or running a benchmarking tool. Please adjust the thermal profile according to your specific needs and see if this resolves your performance issues.
Lastly, if the issues persist after performing the above steps, please consult the following Dell Knowledge Base article for additional steps to troubleshoot and resolve the overheating issue on your Alienware m17 notebook:
https://dell.to/2mVFWnM.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
- Pros mentioned:Performance
When it works, its good... not very often
||Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Non-stop BSOD! This issues has grown since day one of owning it. At first I thought it was just a windows 10 issue. After resetting the unit, several updates for literally everything, rolling back, researching tweaks and others with similar issues. Nothing has fixed the problems! Each is related to video cards, scheduler, Occasionally I can get an hour or two of stable game time. Then it Freezes and BSOD. 50/50 on if it actually restarts at that point, or just hangs on the recovery screen at 100%. Manual power off and try again. Sadly past the point of returning it otherwise it would be back at Best Buy, exchanged for anything else. When it is running, its fine and smooth. Also fairly quiet compared to the 5 year old MSI unit I had prior. Trying Dell/Alienware support Assist to see if they can offer any help, if that ever starts to work. Otherwise I've wasted $2K on a paperweight.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Mark,
Thanks for your review. We're sorry to hear about the Blue Screen Errors that you're having. If you have a chance please reach out to Alienware's Support Team for additional assistance: https://dell.to/2Inbc8F. You can also try these steps to diagnose the Blue Screens:
1. At the desktop, click the Search the web and Windows box and type "problem reports".
2. Select View all problem reports to view a list of errors that have occurred on your computer and possible solutions for them, such as updating drivers, flashing your system BIOS, or checking for updates to the software.
3. Under the Source column, look for Windows and under Summary, look for Shut down unexpectedly.
4. Right-click the line item and select Check for a solution.
We'd also suggest checking to make sure that your software and drivers are up to date on Dell's Product Page - https://dell.to/2UK14Jz.
You can read the full article here - http://dell.to/2u98Cct.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
- Cons mentioned:Heat
overheats
||Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It can be idle with no programs running and it is hot. My Dell work laptop is always cool. My Dell work lap top is a good laptop and regardless what i am doing on it. it never overheats. Idle or working no heat issues. This lap top is overheating and hot to the touch from idling. ill just leave it idle with no programs running just on the desk top. Night and day from my dell work laptop !!!!! I have tried dealing with dell costumer service and jumping through hoops. It is such a pain. just don't buy it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Strixos,
Thanks for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your computer is running hotter than you'd like it to. Here are some steps to help control the temperature on your computer:
1. Update your computer BIOS to the latest version available
• Browse to the Dell Drivers & Downloads page:
• Ensure you have selected the correct Operating System
• Under Category, choose BIOS
• Locate the latest System BIOS
• Click Download and save the file to your PC
• Open File Explorer and browse to the location where you saved the downloaded file
• Double-click the BIOS setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process
2. Open Alienware Command Center
3. Click Thermal at the Active Default Theme and set it to Performance
4. Restart the computer
5. Once the computer boots into Windows open SupportAssist
6. Go to the Troubleshooting tab and click on I want to check a specific piece of hardware
7. Click CPU under CPU Devices
8. Select CPU Stress Test and click Run Test
9. Open the Alienware Command Center and go to the Fusion tab
• The CPU peak temperature should be less than or equal to (≤) 100 ℃
• When under high stress, the computer's average temperature can be expected to be less than (≤) 100 ℃. We hope that this helps your computer operate at a more reasonable temperature.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
- Cons mentioned:Speakers
Do not buy this piece of junk
||Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Bought the computer October 22,2019. Within three weeks the speakers malfunctioned. Keyboard quit working December 3, 2019. Took it back to the Huntsville Best Buy and they shipped it out for repair. Repair took almost 30 days, they replaced the motherboard, keyboard and speakers. Got it home tonight and now it won’t charge and is dead. Get to go deal with geek squad again tomorrow. Wish I had never spent the $2500
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Dear Valued Customer,
We're sorry to hear that your computer is not working the way that it should. If you do need to reach out directly to Dell's Technical Support Team at any time you can reach them here: http://dell.to/2sH7Qlm.
Dell's products come with a One Year Limited Warranty that you can read more about here: http://dell.to/2tNsVOs.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
Pretty - that's it
||Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It's pretty, that's about it. The hardware, although impressive, does not function. I get constant freeze frames, FPS drops, have to restart my computer every few hours, can't connect to game lobbies, random error messages & disconnects from every game I try to play. GEforce Experience will randomly change your settings like 30FPS lock without notifying you. This computer is a nightmare with a big price tag. Avoid at all costs.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .zeff,
We're very sorry to hear about the trouble that you've had with your Alienware laptop so far. This is definitely not the experience that we want our customers to have. If you'd like additional support we'd recommend that you check out our Product Support Page: https://dell.to/2X3ywzY.
If you'd like to diagnose the freezing on your computer, you can try these steps:
1. Run a Computer Diagnostic. To determine if your computer is experiencing a hardware problem, run the Dell Preboot System Assessment (PSA) Diagnostics. For information on how to run Diagnostics, and to determine the issue, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: http://dell.to/2iaiujA.
2. Check Safe Mode for Symptoms. To boot into safe mode, please follow the instructions below:
a) Start the computer.
b) Tap 'F8' on the keyboard immediately and every one second until the Dell logo screen disappears. From there you will see the Windows Advanced Options Menu on the screen. (If the Windows Advanced Options Menu does not appear, restart the system and try again.)
c) Select Safe mode with Networking and press Enter.
d) Log on as the administrator or as a user with administrative access.
e) Open applications and test the computer in safe mode. If the symptoms exist in safe mode, please continue the troubleshooting steps in this article. If the symptoms do not exist in safe mode, the issue is likely related to a driver or software and you may wish to complete step 3 to see if you are able to resolve the lockups or freezing.
3. Check for Malware. Malware (Virus, Spyware, etc.) can definitely cause a Windows system to lock up or appear to hang. To check for malware on your system and to ensure that your computer is up to date on security software, visit Dell Knowledge Base Article: http://dell.to/2wWP1zI.
You can read the full article here - http://dell.to/2tW5m33.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
Do NOT buy this.
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I bought 2 if these from my local Best Buy. The associates were awesome that helped me but this computer was a nightmare. The first one had memory failure out of the box. I took it back and got another one. I brought it home and no memory failure, however, the track pad was shot and upon installing anything I recieved tons of random errors. I returned it for a full refund. Save yourself the trouble and buy a different brand.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendPotential but horrible finish
||Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I was excited about this computer but the execution by Dell was horrible. There's something wrong with the firmware/hardware of this machine that makes a constant static / screeching noise. This is reported by lots of customers (see: https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware/m17-R2-static-noise-issue/td-p/7386572 https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/66xmj3/alienware_17_r4_loud_static/) But after working with support for 2 months, their response was, "it's working as expected". This is disappointing for a laptop that seems to want to compete with a Macbook Pro, but doesn't have nearly the quality.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Benj,
Thanks for your feedback. We're sorry that you're experiencing extra noise from your laptop. Please check back with your Product Update Page regularly to see if there are any driver or BIOS updates that may help you: https://dell.to/2qp5dbT.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
Computer was malfunctioning right out of the box.
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Do not buy! I bought this computer, and it unfortunately immediately started showing the dreaded blue screen. I thought it had to be a fluke so I returned it and for another brand new one. The second was just as bad as the first. It blue screened countless times from start up with all different stop codes. I could not believe that 2 of the exact same $2,000 pcs were malfunctioning like this. Returned the other immediately and bought a Lenovo Legion. Very happy with that computer thus far.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Nate,
We're sorry to hear about the issues that you had with your Alienware laptop. In the future we'd recommend diagnosing the Blue Screen Errors to see if the issue is something that can be easily fixed.
Dell's Technical Support Team is always willing to help resolve issues that you face as well. In the future we hope that you will consider Dell again.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
Laptop Screen goes black does not work
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I purchased this laptop for my daughter for Christmas when she charged this and got ready to play the screen worked for about 30 minutes and went black we had to support the back for the screen to work. We will be returning this to the store location we have purchased this from. I am ver disappointed with this problem due to the price of the device.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend- Cons mentioned:Battery life
Overheats
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Dont not purchase unless you want headaches.. freezes and over heat every time battery only last for 2.5 hrs
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Solar,
Thanks for your feedback on your computer. If you'd like to troubleshoot the freezes on your computer, you can follow these steps:
1. Run a Computer Diagnostic. To determine if your computer is experiencing a hardware problem, run the Dell Preboot System Assessment (PSA) Diagnostics. For information on how to run Diagnostics, and to determine the issue, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: http://dell.to/2iaiujA.
2. Check Safe Mode for Symptoms. To boot into safe mode, please follow the instructions below:
a) Start the computer.
b) Tap 'F8' on the keyboard immediately and every one second until the Dell logo screen disappears. From there you will see the Windows Advanced Options Menu on the screen. (If the Windows Advanced Options Menu does not appear, restart the system and try again.)
c) Select Safe mode with Networking and press Enter.
d) Log on as the administrator or as a user with administrative access.
e) Open applications and test the computer in safe mode. If the symptoms exist in safe mode, please continue the troubleshooting steps in this article. If the symptoms do not exist in safe mode, the issue is likely related to a driver or software and you may wish to complete step 3 to see if you are able to resolve the lockups or freezing.
3. Check for Malware. Malware (Virus, Spyware, etc.) can definitely cause a Windows system to lock up or appear to hang. To check for malware on your system and to ensure that your computer is up to date on security software, visit Dell Knowledge Base Article: http://dell.to/2wWP1zI.
You can read the full article here - http://dell.to/2tW5m33.
If you'd like to see if you can extend the life of your computer's battery, you can try these tips:
Change the Power Plan:
1. On the notification area of the taskbar, right-click the Battery icon.
2. On the options list, click Power Options.
3. Select a power plan on the battery meter, such as Power Saver or Balanced. Windows 10 has a built in 'Battery Saver' mode that can be activated to extend your system's battery life. The Battery Saver mode will monitor and limit background activity and other features such as push notifications. You do have the option to enable or disable this mode within settings or within advanced Battery Saver settings, you can customize the mode to best suit your needs.
a) Click on the Action Center icon in the taskbar and select the tile for Battery Saver.
b) If running Cortana then type Battery Saver into the search box and select from the results.
Within the Battery Saver settings page, you will be able to turn on and off the feature and customize the feature to best meet your needs.
c) Turn Battery Saver On or Off.
d) Additional settings available via the Battery use and Battery saver settings links.
e) Battery use shows further info on apps and their power usage.
f) Battery Saver Settings screen allows you to customize further Battery Saver feature.
You can read the full article here - http://dell.to/2vfXWf4.
Lastly, if your computer continues to overheat, please try these suggestions:
Tips for Proper Usage:
1. Dell does not recommend placing portable systems directly on your lap. Due to reductions in the thickness of modern portable systems, heat transfer can be an issue.
2. Using a portable system (Laptop) on a hard, flat, non-cloth surface will increase airflow and reduce heat from underneath and inside the system.
Using the portable system on a blanket, pillow, or other types of cloth will cover up the fan cause the computer to overheat and can cause permanent damage.
3. It is recommended to use the portable system in a Room temperature of 0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F) with a Humidity level no greater than 90%.
4. Use compressed air to clean the vents on a regular basis.
5. Using a cooling pad can decrease heat and increase performance.
6. If you want to know the temperature limitations for your system, go to the Dell Support Website, look up your system model then open the user guide under the manuals link.
You can read the full article here - http://dell.to/2uJ8AdG.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
Function
||Posted . Owned for 9 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I purchased this computer for my son who is in the military as they like to game a lot. He has had more issues with his computer in terms of it freezing up and crashing on him. We went through three units because we return the first 2 due to the same issues. The 3rd unit is giving him the same issues. He even sent it back to Dell, they supposedly fixed it, but he is still having issues. For a $2300 computer, you would expect better quality. This unit is really junk and I’m super disappointed at the quality of it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendFried motherboard 7 months after buying :(
||Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The motherboard fried less than 7 months later. Only had a 90-day warranty. Sent an email to Dell about the issue while under coverage but denied because it was sent to the wrong department and once they responded it was outside of warranty. Very expensive paper weight now.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend“NOTHING SPECIAL!” Not worth It!
||Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Aesthetically speaking, it looks good! But looks are definitely deceiving. Because this Alienware M17 looks very futuristic.. with all the different color lights flashing, It’s almost resembles a UFO craft. But the rest of it’s functionality and speed, it is downright shameful to charge someone a couple of thousand dollars for this laptop.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Mrdallas,
Thanks for your review and we're sorry to hear that your new Alienware Gaming Laptop is not meeting your needs. If you have any technical questions about your computer you can check our Product Support Page here: https://dell.to/2UK14Jz.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
Worst experience ever
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.This was my 3rd Alienware from BestBuy. Had to return it for charging problems. The first two had graphics hardware failures. Advertised as Geek Squad Certified Excellent. I don't think of your Geek Squad. I don't think they know what they are doing. Bought direct from Dell and not having any problems.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendKeyboard just went full stupid.
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.4 Weeks or so after the purchase the keyboard just. stopped.working. Absolute garbage. Can’t believe I wasted $2,000 on this trash product. And I didn’t get the 1-3 year warranty options because I didn’t think I would have issues with a high end laptop. And it’s passed the 30 day return policy. Livid
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Thatammoguy,
Thanks for your review. We're sorry to hear that your keyboard is not working the way that it should. Dell offers a One Year Limited Warranty that you can read the terms for here: http://dell.to/2tNsVOs.
We hope that you'll be able to have your computer working again for you soon.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
The FPS is keeping low after half year
||Posted . Owned for 7 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I just brought it about half year, and I do not know what happened, the FPS started keeping low! When I play Heroes of the Storm，the FPS is only 8-10. I tried to resume to default setting, but it did not work . Reinstalling the system did not work either.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .Wenlyn111,
Thanks for your review. We're sorry to hear that the FPS on your computer are continuing to go down. We're glad to see that you re-installed systems to try to get the settings back to what you were used to seeing. If you'd like to reach out to Alienware's Support Team directly, you can contact them here: https://dell.to/2Inbc8F.
Best,
Bryan
1-800-624-9896
not worth the money
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.absolutely terrible computer, I got it and it was bluescreenibg on the first day, took it back and got it replaced and the replacement one was doing the same thing, turns out the ram that it was issued with was faulty from the get go.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend