Alienware launches world's first gaming notebook with OLED display

Jason Evangelho | Laptops | Jun 13, 2016 2:40 PM CDT

E3 2016 - Originally previewed at CES 2016 in January, the Alienware 13 -- the world's first gaming laptop with OLED display tech -- is finally launching according to the Alienware camp out at E3.

"More consumers are embracing OLED graphics in televisions and smartphones, with self-lighting pixels that can switch off completely to achieve perfect black for significantly higher contrast," Alienware told us. The Alienware 13 has been designed via a partnership with Samsung, and rocks a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and a lightning fast 1ms response time.

It starts at $1399, and it's probably worth a look if you need an attractive gaming notebook that's also built like a tank, though we sincerely wish it rocked a GTX 970. It currently tops out at a GTX 965M with 4GB of VRAM. Bonus points though: Hook up an Alienware Graphics Amplifier and it's VR-Ready!

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Updated Alienware Alpha has Graphics Amp support, AMD GPU option

Jason Evangelho | Computer Systems | Jun 13, 2016 2:30 PM CDT

E3 2016 - The Alienware Alpha is one of the company's coolest achievements and something my wife and I use in my living room daily. It's half the size of a console but still keeps up with the majority of new PC games, and it boasts a completely unique and optional OS layer that runs on top of Windows but shoves traditional Windows annoyances out of the way. It can also double as a kick-ass little media PC. Today at E3, Alienware announced its Alpha is getting a few upgrades.

While I was personally hoping for it to rock an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070M, that card hasn't officially been announced yet -- even though we know mobile Pascal is coming soon. Instead, it's getting an upgraded NVIDIA GTX 960, now with 4GB of VRAM. AMD fans will be thrilled to hear that rocking a Radeon R9 M470X is also an option with the 2nd generation Alpha system.

Alienware tells us that by popular demand, the Alpha is also newly compatible with the Alienware Graphics Amplifier, opening it up to the world of high-end desktop-class gaming and VR. The Graphics Amp is now compatible with newer Alienware laptops, the Alpha, and all Alienware desktops.

Continue reading: Updated Alienware Alpha has Graphics Amp support, AMD GPU option (full post)

AMD announces its new Radeon RX 470, RX 460 alongside the RX 480

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Jun 13, 2016 2:30 PM CDT

E3 2016 - While we are still officially under NDA about the next-gen Polaris cards from AMD, the company revealed the line up at E3 2016 just now. AMD has made the Radeon RX 470 and RX 460 official, two new mid-range cards that will join the VR-focused RX 480 that's priced at just $199.

Starting with the Radeon RX 470 which is delivering "refined, power-efficient HD gaming" while the RX 460 is a "cool and efficient solution for the ultimate eSports gaming experience". The new Radeon RX series of video cards provide three fundamental "entitlements" for PC gamers and game developers.

Raja Koduri, the Senior VP and Chief Architect of Radeon Technologies Group said: "Gamers and consumers today are being left behind. Today only the top 16 percent of PC gamers are purchasing GPUs that deliver premium VR and Gaming experiences. Hundreds of millions of gamers have been relegated to using outdated technology. Notebook gamers are often forced to compromise. And tens of millions more can only read about incredible PC VR experiences that they can't enjoy for themselves. That all changes with the Radeon™ RX Series, placing compelling and advanced high-end gaming and VR technologies within reach of everyone."

Continue reading: AMD announces its new Radeon RX 470, RX 460 alongside the RX 480 (full post)

Intel's Broadwell-E, NVIDIA Pascal GPUs invade Alienware Area 51 PC

Jason Evangelho | Computer Systems | Jun 13, 2016 2:20 PM CDT

E3 2016 -- We can't visit Alienware's E3 booth just yet, but the PC maker is unveiling a slew of upgraded systems this year including the Area 51. Alienware's full-tower desktop, which supports up to three full length video cards in SLI, is now getting a performance from Intel's Broadwell-E CPU and NVIDIA's Pascal GPUs.

If you want to run NVIDIA's VR Funhouse (which boasts an absurd amount of physics and particles), you can load it up with three NVIDIA GTX 1080 cards, or you can boost it with the insane (albeit a touch overpriced) 10-core Intel Core-i7 6950x. The Area 51 also supports AMD Radeon graphics, and we're sure that the upcoming RX 480 will get integrated once it's released.

Alienware Area-51 configuration options include:

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Tekken series debuting on PC with Tekken 7

Sean Ridgeley | Gaming | Jun 13, 2016 2:16 PM CDT

E3 2016 - Three months ago, publisher Bandai Namco asked gamers for feedback on Tekken 7. Some of the questions in its survey strongly suggested they were considering a PC port of the game, and it looks like the feedback was strong enough because they decided to go ahead with it.

The port is an especially big deal because Tekken has never been natively available to PC gamers since its series debut in 1994, not counting the Street Fighter X Tekken game from a few years back.

Until Capcom took a chance on Street Fighter 4 in 2009, the PC fighting scene was effectively non-existent. Since then, many popular fighting series have made their way to the platform, including Mortal Kombat, BlazBlue, Guilty Gear, King of Fighters, Naruto, WWE, Dead or Alive, and Dragon Ball. Tekken will join those ranks when Tekken 7 launches early next year.

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New Alienware Aurora PC gets a smaller footprint, NVIDIA Pascal GPUs

Jason Evangelho | Computer Systems | Jun 13, 2016 2:10 PM CDT

It's day 0 at E3 2016, and Alienware has unleashed a slew of announcements, including the fact that Aurora, their mid-sized enthusiast PC offering, is getting a Pascal upgrade and a smaller footprint.

The Alienware Aurora is a dual-graphics capable PC with optional liquid CPU cooling, and has the distinction of being Alienware's first tool-less chassis, allowing easy access to your GPU and other peripherals.

Probably the most notable update to Aurora is the availability of NVIDIA's Pascal-based GTX 1080 and GTX 1070, available in single card or SLI configurations. AMD Radeon options are also available, and I have to imagine that once the RX 480 launches, it will be included in their configurations shortly thereafter.

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Gears of War 4 coming to Windows 10 with cross-platform co-op

Sean Ridgeley | Gaming | Jun 13, 2016 1:50 PM CDT

E3 2016 - Microsoft confirmed during its Xbox conference today that Gears of War 4 will be coming to PC and will require Windows 10.

A PC release is not unexpected given how many titles Microsoft has been bringing to the platform since launching its latest operating system, but given Halo 5 was confirmed as an Xbox exclusive, there was a bit of a question mark with the next Gears.

The game will feature cross-platform play for the co-op modes; achievements and progression will be shared as well.

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Xbox Scorpio confirmed, rocks 6TFLOPs, 4K gaming, VR, coming in 2017

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 13, 2016 1:09 PM CDT

E3 2016 - Microsoft has officially revealed Project Scorpio, the "monster" next-gen Xbox console with 4K gaming support, 6TFLOPs of performance, and full backward compatibility with all existing Xbox One consoles, peripherals and accessories.

Xbox Scorpio confirmed, rocks 6TFLOPs, 4K gaming, VR, coming in 2017

Microsoft has confirmed all the Xbox Scorpio leaks as 100% correct: the new upgraded Xbox Scorpio is coming in holiday 2017 with full 4K gaming and VR support (likely with Oculus Rift). Microsoft promises that the Scorpio will deliver "the most powerful graphics processor that's ever been put into a games console, with confirmed specs like 6TFLOPs of performance, an 8-core CPU and sports 320GB/s memory bandwidth. Devs affirm the Scorpio will deliver "the highest res at the best frame rates without no compromises."

"So we gave the SoC 6TFLOPs of computing capability to be able to handle 4K resolutions. Gamers are going to get the most powerful graphics processor that's ever been put into a games console to date," said an Xbox engineer. "You get 4K gaming--true 4K resolution. The box we're creating is incredible. It's gonna have 8CPU cores, 320GB/s memory bandwith, 6TFLOPs of GPU power--it's a monster. We can render at 60Hz we can render fully and uncompressed pixels--the highest quality pixels that anybody has seen."

Continue reading: Xbox Scorpio confirmed, rocks 6TFLOPs, 4K gaming, VR, coming in 2017 (full post)

Titanfall 2's DLC maps and modes will be free

Sean Ridgeley | Gaming | Jun 13, 2016 1:09 PM CDT

E3 2016 - A common issue with multiplayer shooters these days is a playerbase divided by paid DLC maps. That won't be the case for Titanfall 2, however, offering further incentive to pick up Respawn's game.

"One of our lessons [from Titanfall] is we're not gonna sell maps anymore," says lead programmer Jon Shiring. "All the modes and maps coming to Titanfall 2 after release will all be free."

As previously reported, leaks indicate Titanfall 2's maps will be more expansive than before, and the player count will be higher as a result.

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Alienware and AMD teamed up for a VR Backpack

E3 2016 -- Only a few months into the new generation of virtual reality and tether-free VR backpacks seem to be the new hotness. We've seen one from ZOTAC and one from MSI, but now some heavy hitters are getting in on the portable VR action: AMD and Alienware.

I'm writing this before E3 begins since Alienware sent me a note under embargo, and all I know is that they've developed a "super rare concept design" with AMD and are showcasing it at their booth (#747 for my fellow E3 attendees) in the South Hall of the LA Convention Center beginning Tuesday. Rest assured I will get up close and personal and attempt to steal it gather any information I can.

Alienware is also showing off a VR backpack powered by the new version of their Alpha PC. More details as soon as we know it. Keep an eye on our Facebook feed for any breaking E3 info.

Continue reading: Alienware and AMD teamed up for a VR Backpack (full post)