Alienware's Alienware 13 and Alienware Graphics Amplifier is set to hit stores Tuesday, Oct. 28 and promises gamers the best and most high-end gaming experience, PC reported.
Dell Inc.'s Alienware is releasing a new portable laptop, the Alienware 13, and the Alienware Graphics Amplifier Tuesday.
The Alienware 13 is already considered a potent gaming laptop in its own right, according to PC, but the addition of the Graphics Amplifier offers more desktop-class performance with higher frame rates and the option to run programs in one or more external monitors. Users can swap out graphics cards and upgrades as needed and when combined with external monitors, mechanical keyboards and a gaming mouse, the Graphics Amplifier offers a full, uncompromised desktop experience when connected to the Alienware 13.
The Alienware Graphics Amplifier has full-fledged desktop graphics card that allows it to be connected to laptops via an Alienware cable, according to Venture Beat.
It allows the laptop to tap the power of the desktop graphics card to run games on the laptop screen or on an external display.
Unlike most external graphics processing units or GPU that could cause a system crash if disconnected, the Graphics Amplifiers setup simply reboots the system and switches over to the onboard graphics hardware, leading to no loss of data.
"This lets you future-proof your laptop," said Ray Watkins, configuration management senior analyst at Alienware. "This is a first for the industry. You get desktop graphics performance and output to several displays. It's one badass little box."
"It's like having a direct connection to the motherboard of laptops," Eddy Gayones, global product marketer at Alienware, said.
The amplifier "tricks" the laptop into thinking it's a high-spec desktop, The Verge claimed.
It gives laptops the impression that it's equipped with graphics cards and can perform at a higher capacity which allows users to take advantage of the laptop's portability without limiting its performance capability severely.
However, the Graphics Amplifier supports only the Alienware 13 as of yet, though the company hinted at it being forward compatible in future models. Users will have to avail both Alienware units.
The Alienware 13 and Alienware Graphics Amplifier are available for purchase Tuesday, Oct. 28, but the amplifier will not be available for shipping until mid-November.
