Alienware Area-51 Returns: Enhanced Style, Power, and Cooling

Dell announced the much-anticipated return of the iconic Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop at CES 2025, and as of today, it's finally available for order. Available in two sizes, the 16" model starts at $3,199.99, while the 18" model is priced at $3,399.99. True to Alienware's flagship status, the Area-51 is powered by cutting-edge components, including the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. To avoid any delays, make sure to place your order now, as shipments are scheduled to begin on April 30.

The Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Is Now Available

Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

Currently, both the 16" and 18" Area-51 gaming laptops come in a single configuration featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX boasts a maximum turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, 24 cores, and 40MB of total L2 cache. According to Passmark, this processor is the fastest on the market for laptops, outperforming the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D by 7%. Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU, which preliminary 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks from VideoCardz.com suggest is 16% more powerful than the RTX 4080, this setup promises to deliver top-tier gaming performance. With DLSS 4.0 compatibility, you can expect to run any game at incredibly high framerates on the QHD+ display.

The base configurations of both models include a choice between a 16" or 18" QHD+ display with refresh rates ranging from 240Hz to 300Hz and G-Sync certification, 32GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. Both sizes offer upgrade options to 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD.

The Area-51: New Style, More Power, Better Cooling

For 2025, the Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop introduces a magnesium alloy chassis with enhanced cooling capabilities to manage the heat from its high-performance components. This includes additional fans, larger cutouts for improved airflow, increased use of copper, and a new thermal interface material for better heat dissipation. Dell claims the laptop can handle a power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without increasing noise levels.

The design of the Area-51 features smooth contours with rounded edges and soft corners, moving away from the typical squared-off look of other laptops. The hinges are mostly internal, making them nearly invisible. As expected from an Alienware product, there are extensive options for RGB LED customization. Connectivity options include three USB Type-A 3.2 15Gbps ports (one with PowerShare), two Thunderbolt / USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a card reader. The 16" model weighs 7.5 pounds, while the 18" model weighs 9.6 pounds.

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