NOVEMBER 2019 • TECH ADVISOR 85GAMING SPECIALit feels phenomenal to type on – Dell remains the
company to beat when it comes to laptop keyboards.
Obviously if you’re used to a full-size mechanical it
won’t feel the same, but there’s enough travel and
clickiness here to be the next best thing.
The off-centre numberpad (well, centred to
the space bar, but not the whole body) is big and
responsive, but let’s be honest – you’ll want a
mouse for gaming. Buy a mouse. (See our round-up
of gaming mice on page 102).
It’d still be a stretch to call the m15 portable, but
I’ve carried it around in a backpack without feeling like
I was going to do my back in, which is honestly a result
when it comes to 15in gaming laptops. This can be a
desktop replacement, but it doesn’t have to be, and
you won’t resent carrying it round (too much).Performance
That portability has to mean a loss of performance,
right? Well, not really – unless you’re looking for
absolutely top-of-the-line specs.
Every model of the m15 comes with an 8th-
generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor, which
should hopefully handle most things you throw at
it – though there are no other options here, unlike
some of the other Alienware laptops which can go
down to an i5 or up to an i9.
For graphics you choose between a GTX 1060
(6GB) or a GTX 1070 Max-Q (8GB), while RAM ranges
from 8GB DDR4 all the way up to 32GB. Storage
options vary, but cap out with a pair of 1TB SSDs
(though they don’t come cheap).NOVEMBER 2019 • TECH ADVISOR 85GAMING SPECIALit feelsphenomenaltotypeon– Dellremainsthe
companytobeat when it comes to laptop keyboards.
Obviouslyif you’reusedtoa full-sizemechanicalit
won’tfeelthesame,butthere’senoughtraveland
clickinesshereto be the next best thing.
The off-centre numberpad (well, centred to
the space bar, but not the whole body) is big and
responsive,butlet’sbehonest– you’llwanta
mouseforgaming.Buya mouse.(Seeourround-up
ofgamingmice on page 102).
It’d still be a stretch to call the m15 portable, but
I’ve carried it around in a backpack without feeling like
I was going to do my back in, which is honestly a result
when it comes to 15in gaming laptops. This can be a
desktop replacement, but it doesn’t have to be, and
you won’t resent carrying it round (too much).
Performance
That portability has to mean a loss of performance,
right? Well, not really – unless you’re looking for
absolutely top-of-the-line specs.
Every model of the m15 comes with an 8th-
generationIntelCorei7-8750Hprocessor,which
shouldhopefully handle most things you throw at
it – thoughtherearenootheroptionshere,unlike
someofthe other Alienware laptops which can go
down to an i5 or up to an i9.
Forgraphicsyouchoosebetweena GTX 1060
(6GB)or a GTX 1070 Max-Q (8GB), while RAM ranges
from 8GB DDR4 all the way up to 32GB. Storage
options vary, but cap out with a pair of 1TB SSDs
(though they don’t come cheap).