Starting at $1199 MSRP, the Dell Alienware 15 ANW15-1421SLV is the most accessible version of the brand’s 15-inch gaming laptop series. Launched earlier this year, it’s still highly regarded by many reviewers and satisfied users, mainly because of the specs and more important, the build quality.
October 2019 Update:
This laptop has been discontinued.
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This laptop has a 4th generation dual core Intel Core i5-4210H processor. Although it was introduced in late 2014, the CPU handles everything beautifully with minimal power consumption. Memory-wise, the Alienware features 8 GB of DDR3L RAM, enough for playing even the demanding of games. One drawback would be the lack of an SSD drive: it comes equipped with a 1 TB hard drive, but considering this is a machine built for gaming I find it a bit disappointing since a Solid State Drive would dramatically increase performance. The GPU that comes with it is a very respectable 2 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M, allowing you to play most games at medium to high settings without overheating the laptop too much.
Specs aside, the build quality is something most users rave about. Instead of continuing the metal casing tradition, the guys at Alienware decided to build the casing out of carbon fiber and higher quality plastic materials. It doesn’t feel cheap and it feels lighter than its predecessor thanks to the carbon casing. It’s not a featherweight, but it’s lighter. Also, the underbelly benefits from separate heat sinks that dissipate the heat from the CPU and GPU more efficiently and many users agree with Alienware on this aspect: overheating hasn’t been reported so far. Furthermore, the laptop benefits from an impressive Full High Definition display with great viewing angles and Killer 2×2 802.11 ac Wi-Fi.
The major drawback of the Alienware is the battery. Many users reported it as being a bit disappointing, although for a gaming laptop that’s used at full throttle poor battery life is a given, regardless of model or battery type. This issue, combined with the 7 pounds weight make it hard to easily carry around.
Technical Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4210H 2 cores, 2.9 GHz, 3MB cache |
| RAM | 8GB DDR3-1600 RAM |
| Storage | 1TB HDD |
| Display | 15.6″ FHD IPS anti-glare |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX965M |
| Interface | 4 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1 x Microphone-in 1 x Headphone-out |
| Connectivity | Killer 1525 802.11ac 2×2 WLAN Bluetooth 4.0 |
| OS | Windows 8.1 |
| Battery | 8-Cell Li-Ion, 92 Whr |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs |
Conclusion
Pros:
- Good specs
- Great build quality
- Interesting materials
- Efficient heat dissipation
- Full HD display
- Backlit Keyboard
- Killer 2×2 802.11 ac WLAN
Cons:
- No SSD
- Still bulky and obviously not that portable
- Poor battery life
Although rather expensive, your dollars will be spent on build quality with the Alienware 15 ANW15-1421SLV. You buy it to last, and with those specs I reckon you could easily juice out another 2 years of decent gaming experience with no problems.