Alienware debuts 480 Hz refresh rate with new 17-inch laptops

Enlarge / Alienware x17 R2 laptop.

PC display speeds are about to go up. Alienware's updated m17 R5 and x17 R2, a pair of 17.3-inch gaming laptops, will each include the option for 480 Hz displays—about 33 percent faster than the previous top speed of 360 Hz.

As of publication time, the laptops' 480 Hz options aren't available for purchase, but a spokesperson for Alienware told Ars that they should be available online soon.

The 480 Hz displays have a resolution of 1920×1080 and a gray-to-gray response time of 3 ms. In its announcement, Alienware promised "animation smoothness for easier target tracking, ghosting reduction which minimizes distracting effects, and lower system latency, making it easier for you to spot other players earlier."