Alienware Area-51 Returns: Enhanced Style, Power, Cooling

The Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop, reintroduced at CES 2025, is now available for purchase. This eagerly awaited flagship model comes in two sizes: the 16-inch version, starting at $3,199.99, and the 18-inch version, starting at $3,399.99. Both models are powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU, ensuring top-tier performance. Orders are set to ship starting April 30, so it's wise to place your reservation soon to avoid any delays.

Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

New Release
$3,199.99 at Alienware

Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

New Release
$3,399.99 at Alienware

Currently, both the 16-inch and 18-inch Area-51 laptops are offered with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX features a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, 24 cores, and 40MB of L2 cache, making it the fastest laptop processor on the market according to Passmark, with a 7% performance lead over the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU, while not yet tested by us, is reportedly 16% more powerful than the RTX 4080 based on preliminary 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks from VideoCardz.com. Combined with DLSS 4.0 compatibility, this setup is expected to deliver exceptional gaming performance on the QHD+ display.

The base configurations for both sizes include a choice between a 16-inch or 18-inch QHD+ display with a 240Hz-300Hz refresh rate and G-Sync certification, 32GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. Upgrades to 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD are available for both models.

The Area-51: New Style, More Power, Better Cooling

For 2025, the Alienware Area-51 features a magnesium alloy chassis with enhanced cooling systems to manage the heat from its powerful components. This includes additional fans, larger cutouts for improved airflow, increased copper usage, and a new thermal interface material for better heat dissipation. Dell claims the laptop can handle a power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without increasing noise levels.

The design of the Area-51 emphasizes smooth contours with rounded edges and soft corners, moving away from the typical squared-off laptop design. The hinges are mostly internal, making them nearly invisible. As expected from Alienware, 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-inch model weighs 7.5 pounds, while the 18-inch model weighs 9.6 pounds.

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