Dell has officially brought back the iconic Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop, announced at CES 2025, and it's now available for order starting today. This much-anticipated return comes in two sizes: the 16" model, starting at $3,199.99, and the 18" model, starting at $3,399.99. As expected from Alienware's flagship, the Area-51 is packed with cutting-edge components, featuring the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. To avoid any delays, place your order now, as shipping is set to begin on April 30.
The Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Is Now Available
New Release### Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop
0$3,199.99 at Alienware
New Release### Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop
0$3,399.99 at Alienware
Both the 16" and 18" versions of the Area-51 gaming laptops come with a single configuration: the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a powerhouse with a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, 24 cores, and 40MB of L2 cache. According to Passmark, it's the fastest laptop processor available, outperforming the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D by 7%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU, though not yet tested by us, reportedly offers a 16% performance boost over the RTX 4080 according to VideoCardz.com's 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks. Coupled with DLSS 4.0 compatibility, it's poised to deliver exceptional performance on the QHD+ display at incredibly high framerates.
The base configurations 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 models 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 introduces a magnesium alloy chassis with enhanced cooling systems designed to handle the latest high-performance components. This includes additional fans, larger air vents for improved airflow, increased copper usage, and a new thermal interface material for better heat dissipation. Dell claims the laptop can manage a power ceiling of up to 240W TDP while maintaining low noise levels.
The design of the Area-51 emphasizes sleek contours with rounded edges and soft corners, a departure from the typical squared-off designs. The hinges are mostly hidden, enhancing the laptop's aesthetic appeal. True to Alienware's style, there are extensive RGB LED lighting customization options. 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 is 9.6 pounds.
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