Amd Radeon Rx 7900m Performance Debut: Alienware M18 R1 Laptop Review

As the primary 18-inch gaming pc from Alienware in over a decade, Dell goes all-in on its Alienware M18 R1 sequence by means of providing Intel, AMD, and Nvidia choices around the board to attraction to as many avid gamers as imaginable. Customers can mix’n’match between Intel-Nvidia, AMD-Nvidia, or AMD-AMD in relation to CPUs and GPUs which may be very unusual for a gaming pc.

Our unit in overview is the newest AMD-AMD configuration and one of the most first to be had to supply the 180 W RNDA3 Radeon RX 7900M as a substitute for the reigning cell GeForce RTX 4080. Most likely maximum particularly, the brand new AMD GPU undercuts the RTX 4090 configuration by means of $1200 USD with all different choices held equivalent for a last worth of $2300 USD as reviewed.

Choices to the Alienware m18 R1 come with different high-end 18-inch gaming laptops just like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, Razer Blade 18, or Acer Predator Helios 18. MSI does now not but be offering any fashionable 18-inch gaming laptops this present day.

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The Intel and AMD variations of the Alienware m18 R1 percentage the similar chassis design and colour choices. Thus, the one fast and simple strategy to visually distinguish between the 2 fashions is to search for the Thunderbolt emblems subsequent to the USB-C ports alongside the rear. See our overview at the Intel-Nvidia configuration to be told extra in regards to the bodily options of the Alienware m18 R1.

USB4 is disappointingly now not supported.

The AMD-AMD configuration best helps as much as 3 M.2 NVMe SSDs while the Intel-Nvidia configuration helps as much as 4 as proven by means of the comparability photographs under. Their inside options are another way an identical.

Dell has but to transition to GaN AC adapters which will be offering increased power-per-volume than conventional AC adapters. The incorporated 330 W AC adapter is subsequently very cumbersome when in comparison to the 330 W GaN AC adapters that these days send with maximum Razer Blade laptops.

The usual one-year restricted guaranty applies if bought in america.

Two FreeSync show choices are to be had as follows:

• 1920 x 1200, 480 Hz, 100% DCI-P3, IPS
• 2560 x 1600, 165 Hz, 100% DCI-P3, IPS

Our configuration makes use of the bolded panel above just like on our earlier Intel-Nvidia configuration. Then again, the panel supplier is other this time round (BOE vs. Chi Mei) to signify that Dell is sourcing 480 Hz panels from more than one distributors for its Alienware m18 sequence. There are fortunately no primary variations between them on the subject of colour protection, reaction occasions, or distinction for an excessively equivalent viewing revel in.

The 480 Hz refresh charge is the quickest to be had on laptops as of this writing for very easy movement with minimum ghosting. However, some great benefits of rapid refresh charges transform more and more marginal the upper you cross. It should subsequently be value bearing in mind the upper solution 1600p possibility as an alternative even though the refresh charge is slower as 165 Hz remains to be a silky easy revel in.

It is value noting that the local 480 Hz refresh charge may also be set to 240 Hz or 120 Hz by way of Home windows, however now not any decrease. It is too unhealthy that there’s no 60 Hz possibility as excessive refresh charges have an effect on continual intake as our Power Control segment under will display.

Surprisingly, the style comes calibrated towards the sRGB spectrum out-of-the-box even if it helps complete DCI-P3 colours. This is able to happen on our Intel-Nvidia configuration as smartly.

Reasonable DeltaE values are smartly under 2 to signify that end-user calibration will likely be now not vital for many customers.

We set Alienware Command Middle to Overdrive mode previous to working the benchmarks under. Familiarity with Command Middle is essential for controlling particular options of the pc together with RGB lighting fixtures, continual profiles, and game-specific profiles.

It is also really helpful to obtain AMD Adrenalin to get the newest GPU drivers and for toggling on/off all of the options of the GPU.

CPU functionality is the vintage AMD vs. Intel affair the place our Ryzen 9 7945HX provides 5 to ten % quicker uncooked multi-thread functionality than the competing Core i9-13980HX whilst being 5 to ten % slower in single-thread functionality. It is necessarily on par with the hot Ryzen 9 7945HX3D to be one of the most quickest cell processors to be had. Downgrading to the Ryzen 9 7845HX or Ryzen 7 7745HX is anticipated to scale back processor functionality by means of about 20 to twenty-five % and 40 to 50 %, respectively.

Efficiency sustainability is very good as exemplified by means of the secure rankings when working CineBench R15 xT in a loop.

PCMark effects are one of the absolute best of any gaming pc to position our Alienware m18 on equivalent footing with one of the quickest Intel-Nvidia choices. Sadly, the consumer revel in is lower than stellar in apply because of all of the insects we seen. A couple of notable ones come with:

• Major show would occasionally flip off for no reason why and a reboot can be required
• Failure in addition if an exterior track is attached
• Failure to run 3DMark Velocity Method and Blender School room HIP/AMD benchmarks
• Strangely excessive continual intake when on Standby mode

Those problems would happen greater than as soon as even with the newest Home windows updates and AMD drivers put in on the time of writing (31.0.22023.1014). 

Reminiscence functionality may be noticeably slower than many Intel-based gaming laptops. This does not seem to be a fluke both as our Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 with the similar Ryzen 9 CPU as our Alienware would additionally go back in a similar fashion low numbers.

LatencyMon finds slight DPC problems when opening more than one browser tabs of our homepage which isn’t strange. 4K video playback at 60 FPS might be higher, alternatively, as we are in a position to report 4 dropped frames inside of a 60-second window in comparison to 0 at the Blade 18.

The 1 TB Kioxia XG8 KXG80ZNV1T02 is a higher-end PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSD very similar to the Samsung PM9A1 sequence. Our power would showcase no throttling problems keeping up excessive switch charges of ~6300 MB/s for prolonged sessions.

AMD is advertising and marketing the Radeon RX 7900M as an immediate competitor to the cell GeForce RTX 4080 and we expect that may be a very reasonable comparability. 3DMark effects are on par with the RTX 4080 within the Alienware m16 R1 if now not simply moderately quicker within the DX11-based Fireplace Strike check. The uncooked functionality leap over remaining yr’s Radeon RX 6850M XT is important at round 40 to 60 %. AMD had no actual resolution to the cell RTX 4070, 4080, or 4090 previous to the release of the Radeon RX 7900M.

RT acceleration has all the time been a susceptible level of the Radeon sequence, however this has stepped forward considerably for the Radeon RX 7900M. Our Port Royal rating is ready 10 % at the back of a cell GeForce RTX 4080 to constitute a 2x to two.5x build up over remaining yr’s Radeon RX 6800M. Enabling RT was once in the past by no means really helpful on a Radeon-powered pc because of the immense functionality loss, however the Radeon RX 7900M is the turning level AMD fanatics were looking ahead to.

Working on Efficiency mode or Balanced mode as an alternative of Overdrive mode decreases functionality by means of only a few share issues as proven by means of our Fireplace Strike effects desk under. The minor variations are noteworthy because the fan noise variations between those modes are vital as detailed in our Machine Noise segment under.

The 3DMark effects translate smartly into exact gaming functionality. Body charges when checking out Cyberpunk 2077 or F1 22 can be inside of single-digit share issues of the cell RTX 4080 in maximum situations. If enabling RT, alternatively, the functionality drop will nonetheless be steeper when in comparison to the competing Nvidia GPU. For instance, our Alienware would run 15 and 35 % slower than the cell RTX 4080 when enabling RT in F1 22 and Cyberpunk 2077, respectively, even if the 2 GPUs are another way very shut when RT is disabled.

AMD has presented FSR 3 along the release of the Radeon RX 7900M as an immediate resolution to DLSS 3. Just like Nvidia’s answer, the upscaling era options each body era and latency aid to offset the massive functionality hit when RT is enabled. Sadly, FSR 3 is these days in its infancy and rarely any video games give a boost to the characteristic while the collection of video games supporting DLSS 3 have had a lot more time to develop. No longer even Cyberpunk 2077 helps FSR 3 as of this writing. Extra video games will likely be up to date with FSR 3 give a boost to shifting into 2024 and past. Within the interim, homeowners must get by means of with the older however extra broadly supported FSR 2.

It is value noting that we didn’t come across any game-breaking insects regardless of all of the problems we famous within the Machine Efficiency segment above. Further video games will likely be examined and added to the record under over the years.

Efficiency would from time to time drop to the low 70 FPS vary from a excessive of ~180 FPS when idling on Witcher 3 as proven by means of the graph under. Throughout gameplay, the functionality dips would manifest as stutters even if there are not any gameplay actions. This is able to happen at a definite frequency to signify an interrupting background factor that are meant to be addressed. 

The functionality computer virus would now not happen when repeating this check at the Intel-Nvidia configuration of the similar Alienware style.

There are not any primary fan noise variations between our Intel and AMD configurations. This is not essentially a excellent factor, alternatively, because the fanatics in our AMD unit would pulse fairly continuously and reputedly for no reason why when surfing the internet or streaming video. The device would run silently at 23 dB(A) after which sharply pulse as much as 33.5 dB(A) even if at the Quiet or Battery continual profiles.

Curiously, there are not any fan noise variations between the Balanced and Efficiency continual profiles as we are in a position to report a most of 48 dB(A) when gaming on both profile. Gaming on Overdrive mode, alternatively, would bump fan noise as much as a screeching 54 dB(A). Customers would possibly then need to believe gaming on Efficiency mode for noticeably quieter fanatics even though it way sacrificing 5 to ten % functionality.

Do not be expecting the Alienware to run a lot quieter than different 18-inch gaming laptops regardless of it having two occasions the collection of fanatics within. The device nonetheless runs louder than 50 dB(A) when gaming which almost calls for a excellent pair of headphones.

Floor temperatures are very similar to what we recorded at the Intel-Nvidia configuration they usually stay cooler than one may be expecting because of the massive display screen measurement, massive air flow grilles, massive rear design, and excessive collection of inside fanatics. The palm rests and keyboard by no means transform uncomfortably heat to touch when gaming in contrast to the hotter surfaces of smaller gaming laptops just like the Razer Blade 16.

CPU temperature and bundle continual draw when working Prime95 tension would settle at ~97 C and ~145 W, respectively, which is if truth be told similar to what we seen at the Intel configuration with the Core i9-13980HK. Turbo Spice up is nevertheless increased and extra competitive with the Intel CPU all through the beginning of the check as our Energy Intake segment demonstrates.

AMD advertises a TGP of 180 W which we will be able to reach when working Witcher 3 on Overdrive mode. Shedding all the way down to Balanced mode or Efficiency mode, alternatively, lowers the TGP ceiling to 165 W as proven by means of the screenshots under. GPU clock charges are moderately decrease consequently which correlate with our Fireplace Strike rankings discussed above which means that the very loud Overdrive mode is obligatory for max functionality.

Repeating the Witcher 3 check with our Intel-Nvidia RTX 4090 configuration would lead to a relatively decrease GPU board continual draw of 161 W to turn awesome performance-per-watt over our Radeon RX 7900M.

Observe that CPU and GPU temperatures are moderately cooler when gaming on Overdrive mode as opposed to Balanced or Efficiency mode for the reason that fanatics run noticeably louder.

Energy intake is a back-and-forth between the AMD-AMD and Intel-Nvidia configurations of the Alienware m18 R1. On one hand, the Ryzen 7 7945HX is extra effective than the Core i9-13980HX; it is in a position to entire the CineBench R15 xT benchmark at round the similar time because the Core i9 whilst hard 50 to 60 W much less continual from mains. However, the Radeon RX 7900M is much less effective than the GeForce RTX 4080 or 4090; working FurMark, for instance, would draw about 50 W extra on our AMD configuration. Total performance-per-watt can subsequently sway against one configuration over the opposite relying on how CPU- or GPU-intensive your packages is also.

Working the CPU and GPU concurrently each and every at one hundred pc usage would nonetheless draw as much as 333 W from the massive 330 W AC adapter just like what we seen at the Intel-Nvidia configuration. Then again, the Intel Core i9 CPU has a tendency to attract extra continual extra liberally than our Ryzen 9 and so total continual intake has a tendency to be increased than our all-AMD configuration when gaming. This may also be seen when working Witcher 3 as proven by means of our desk under.

Intake when idling on desktop isn’t optimized which would possibly give a contribution to the very quick battery lifestyles. We are occasionally in a position to measure a intake stage as excessive as 101 W even if at the Balanced continual profile and not using a energetic packages working. Intake on standby mode would even be very excessive at 25 W when it will have to be nearer to simply 1 or 2 watts.

We suggest lowering the refresh charge from 480 Hz to 120 Hz if continual intake is a priority as this straightforward alternate can save as much as 11 W as proven by means of the graph under. It is too unhealthy that this actual panel does now not be offering variable refresh charge choices.

Runtimes are very deficient even for a big gaming pc. Even in the most efficient case situation with actually the whole lot became off or set to minimal (AlienFX off, minimal show brightness, 120 Hz refresh charge, no working packages, wi-fi off, Battery Saver mode), we are best in a position to report just below 4.5 hours of runtime prior to computerized shutdown. This is able to drop down to simply 95 mins when surfing the internet in comparison to the Acer Predator Helios 18 or Razer Blade 18 which will each and every remaining for a couple of hours longer.

Charging from empty to complete capability with the incorporated AC adapter takes about 2 to two.5 hours. The style does now not give a boost to charging by way of USB-C in contrast to on maximum different fashionable gaming laptops and so you might be necessarily tethered to the ginormous 330 W AC adapter when touring.

As of this writing, the Core i9-13900HX/RTX 4080 configuration of the Alienware m18 R1 with 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD and 1200p show prices $2950 USD. In the meantime, the Ryzen 9 7945HX/RX 7900M configuration with the very same RAM, SSD, and show retails for $2300 USD. The all-AMD possibility provides quicker CPU functionality and just about the similar GPU functionality for just about $700 much less. Remember that, performance-per-dollar is obviously the most powerful promoting level of the brand new AMD SKU and one of the most largest causes for skipping Intel and Nvidia. The associated fee distinction is so nice that one may even fail to remember all of the problems now we have skilled on our early check unit simply to avoid wasting loads of greenbacks.

Gaming laptops with the GeForce RTX 4080 have loved bloated costs throughout the year. The very cost-efficient AMD Radeon RX 7900M is the correct contender to after all convey the ones costs go into reverse to Earth. 

Even so, the insects aren’t insignificant. The show switching off, boot problems, video playback body skips, stutters when gaming, and surprisingly excessive continual intake when idling will have to completely be addressed. In consequence, there is not any mad sprint to head out and purchase the all-AMD Alienware m18 R1 whilst we look ahead to fixes and FSR 3 give a boost to to slowly rollout over the years.

There are nonetheless causes to select Intel-Nvidia over AMD-AMD as soon as all of the insects are squashed. As spectacular because the Radeon 7900M is also, the cell RTX 4080 remains to be quicker on moderate particularly for those who love to sport with RT enabled. Those that need the most efficient and quickest regardless of the fee will have to subsequently persist with the GeForce sequence. For the remainder of us mortals with tighter budgets, the Radeon 7900M is taking a look like a forged choice to the expensive RTX 4080 that many were looking ahead to. Here is hoping the GPU will make an look on many extra gaming laptops within the close to long term and now not only a make a selection few.

Dell is now immediately delivery the Alienware m18 R1 in all configuration ranges. On the other hand, Best possible Purchase is providing the Ryzen 9/7900M configuration for $2800 USD.