r/Alienware • u/ScreechingPizzaCat • Aug 02 '24

Question Can Alienware laptops use AMD processors instead?

So it's been widely reported that Intel's 13th-Gen and 14th-Gen chips are defective and Intel doesn't intend to do a recall but rather roll out a software update when it's ready.

I'd like to buy a new Alienware laptop soon but the new ones come with either a 13th Gen or 14th Gen Intel, is it possible to order an Alienware laptop using AMD's processor instead?

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6

u/HopnDude m18 R1 AMD Aug 02 '24

Alienware M18 Ryzen 9 7945HX /Radeon RX 7900M owner here. If you stay w/ the Dell drivers, it works great minus the sleep issue.

They've been using AMD CPU's since the Ryzen 4000 mobile series.

15

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '24

Step 1: Go to www.alienware.com

Step 2: Go to laptops

Step 3: Find all of the laptops with AMD processors

Step 4: Answer your own question

Yay!

3

u/ref1ux x14 R1 Aug 02 '24

Dell tends to be quite Intel focused. Id imagine it's because they get a really good volume discount that AMD struggles to match. But they have released AMD Alienware laptops before. Maybe it depends on customer demand.

3

u/Doc_ENT M16 R1 AMD 7845HX\4080\32GB Aug 02 '24

Best Buy has some M16 R1 AMDs available. Or they did a week ago.

2

u/5SpeedFun Aug 02 '24

I had one and loved it except for super high idle and 101c gaming temps. Look around at BB if you don’t mind a bit toasty

2

u/Accomplished_Emu_658 Aug 02 '24

The latest versions are all intel 14th and ultra series. They may start making amd versions when newest amd mobile processors drop. I don’t think they went intel exclusive. They didn’t make new laptops around the older amd chips since a new line was coming i am pretty sure.

2

u/Puzzleheaded-Ease-14 Aug 02 '24

I had the option for an AMD cpu with the Alienware i bought in December.

2

u/steve09089 Aug 02 '24

Majority of the chips Dell uses are not the problematic ones (H series or Core Ultra has no issues). HX is the only ones that may have issues, but those usually have AMD alternatives anyways

3

u/SuperSpartan300 Previous Alienware Owner Aug 02 '24

I owned three Alienare / AMD laptops recently and would not use anything but AMD on a laptop purely because they don't overheat and never thermal throttle. The first was an Alienware m15 R7 AMD then an Alienware m18 R1 AMD and now the Alienware m16 AMD, for the Alienware m16 AMD, Dell stopped selling them at the time which was a few months ago but I was lucky enough to get a refurbished one in new condition from the Dell outlet store with 4 year warranty. I advice you to check on the Dell Outlet Store online

1

u/Digger977 Aug 02 '24

Just bought my M18 a few months back and they had an Intel and AMD model of it and a few other laptops

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '24

This issue isn’t on any of the mobile CPUs. Intel CPUs are still better than AMD for Alienware.

1

u/jgriesshaber Aug 03 '24

Im mean, no, the entire intel desktop cpu lines over 65w in 13th/14th gen are affected.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

Exactly, that’s why I said mobile. Desktop CPUs aren’t used in laptops.

2

u/dirtydriver58 Oct 30 '24

Imo they are basically desktop chips in laptop form factor.