Without settling for complying with the industry’s best refresh rates on an already high-end 360 Hz laptop, Alienware breaks with 480 Hz screens (3 ms, 300 nights, 100 percent sRGB color gamut) on the go. ‘M17 R5 and X17 R2. While each model can be configured with screens up to 4K, this new 480 Hz model is a 1080p screen that comes closer to perfection in terms of offering smoother animations. And, perhaps more importantly for Dell’s target audience for these machines, it will help further eliminate the stuttering game. The 480 Hz option is just another display setting for the already released Alienware X17 R2 and M17 R5 (which costs $ 300 to upgrade to the 165 Hz base panel).
This news coincides with the launch of the AMD Advantage version of the M17 R5 that Alienware debuted at CES 2022 but which finally hits the market. This means it can be configured with AMD’s fastest Ryzen 7 and 9 processors and its fastest Radeon RX 6 Series portable GPUs. In addition, AMD is putting a lot of hype behind the benefits these components are supposed to offer, including the ability to shift power and memory to other components as needed to give them a boost. If you prefer an Intel / Nvidia system, the M17 R5 can be configured to your liking and the 480 Hz panel supports AMD FreeSync or G-Sync adaptive sync technology.
The 480 Hz option will also be available with the X17 R2. Image: Alienware
It’s possible that the 480 Hz refresh rate is a bit higher on paper than it actually is, at least for most people. Competitive players who want a screen that leaves fewer frames on the table will see the biggest benefit. But keep in mind that to really take advantage of its 480 Hz refresh rate, you’ll need to make sure the M17 R5 or X17 R2 you buy has a GPU good enough to increase frame rates. And, to that end, there aren’t many games that can probably make the most of this ridiculous speed. Realistically, the list may include old games and competitive shooters, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but probably not the latest games.
Still, I will never get angry with companies for raising the bar. After seeing this 500 Hz gaming monitor cover prototype in early 2022, I didn’t think laptop manufacturers would rush to bring such a fast laptop to market. But here we are. And I wouldn’t expect Alienware laptops to be the only models these screens are built into this year.