Alienware X51- Any Opinions on this PC Gaming System

[IGOTGAME]

I have never bought a PC for gaming before but I am open to the idea now. I am bout to upgrade my laptop/tablet/pc game and I'm trying to find the right combination for my needs. So, I wanted to know if any ISHers have experience with this machine? Does it function well as a cpu? Will it has touch screen with Windows 8.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/01/alienware-new-computer.jpg

http://i.minus.com/iADGgqPAhS9qu.jpg

For $899 it seems like a good deal. Is there a way to have this simultaneous hooked up to a TV and a CPU monitor in separate rooms?

[Sarcastic]

Don't buy Alienware if you don't want to build one yourself.

I suggest www.ibuypower.com or www.cyberpowerpc.com

[IGOTGAME]

Don't buy Alienware if you don't want to build one yourself.

I suggest www.ibuypower.com or www.cyberpowerpc.com

why? it seems simple, small and looks nice. I wouldn't play it unless I could put it TV similarly to an XBOX or PS3.

[nathanjizzle]

i heard alienware sucks, and there customer service is shit. build your own computer.

[Lebowski]

I will skip the "build one yourself" advice, it is not for everyone. BUT if you know someone who can help you with the assembly, the bang for your buck is much, much better!

Buying a complete computer is fine, however, with Alienware you pay to much for the name and looks, also as mentioned above it has Dell written all over it which is a warning sign. Try to find other stores who are tech-oriented who sell complete "game PC" packages, someone here must be able to help you out with that. If you live/plan to buy in Sweden I can suggest a few places =)

Also, try to aim a little higher then the i3 processor, and perhaps a GTX 660/HD 7870 graphics card, 8gb ram if it fits your budget.

Good luck!

[stallionaire]

Never buy alienware.

always build it yourself.

building IS for everyone. it's so ****ign easy these days.

if you can assemble legos, you can build a computer

if you can't build a computer, you are a retarded person

[Qwyjibo]

Not everyone wants to try building it as there are things you can screw up with your parts.

But, most places will give you the option to assemble all your parts for a price (I've seen $50). To me, that's worth the labour because you're still saving a bunch overall by buying the parts sepatately and "building" it.

[IGOTGAME]

I really don't want to keep upgrading stuff for pc gaming. Is that required a lot?

[Godzuki]

first gaming computer i ever bought was a Alienware. paid $3500~ for it since i heard they were top of the line way back in the day before they ever combined with Dell. looking back i was a idiot. i'd never go that route again especially when the CD ROM drive failed less than a year later and i realized how they're a lot less quality than their appearances and sleek advertisements. then i bought from Ibuypower like 4~ years later and was pretty happy with it and a lot less regrets knowing i got a good value and all of the components i picked worked fine, not to mention it looked awesome(coolermaster aluminum refrigerator looking case looks so pimp).

i'm shopping for a new desktop now but not in a hurry since my laptop is decent enough for now. i'm pretty sure what i'm going to do is buy all of the components from Newegg and take them to a local computer shop to build it for me. i think i could get them to put it all together for less than $300 at worst altho i'm hoping they'll do it for like $150~, which would still be a nice savings from the prebuilt $1200~ best bang for the buck systems i've been looking at. thats IF i can't find a great deal on a refurbished desktop, refurbished is IMO the best way to go if you can get a good deal. i'm done with way overpaying for top of the line computer crap, learned my lesson.

[bigkingsfan]

List the specs, alienware comes with many config.

[embersyc]

Never buy Alienware. It's overpriced garbage marketed at people that want to get into PC gaming, but don't know anything about PCs.

If you don't want to build your own that's fine, you'll still overpay, but buy anything but Alienware and you'll overpay a lot less.

[IGOTGAME]

List the specs, alienware comes with many config.

here is the link. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alienware+-+Desktop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/6237831.p?id=1218723189774&skuId=6237831#tab=overview

[QUOTE]3rd Gen Intel

[bigkingsfan]

Not a good deal at all, the NVIDIA GT 545 graphics card is low end. You're better off getting a Dell XPS 8500 and upgrade the card to a 660 regular/ 660 TI if you don't want to build your own.

[IGOTGAME]

Not a good deal at all, the NVIDIA GT 545 graphics card is low end. You're better off getting a Dell XPS 8500 and upgrade the card to a 660 regular/ 660 TI if you don't want to build your own.

but can I turn that on its side and put it on my entertainment center?

[bigkingsfan]

but can I turn that on its side and put it on my entertainment center?

Nope, the xps 8500 is a regular desktop, not a slim design like the Alienware X51. If you must have the slim design then you're stuck with the X51, you can still upgrade the graphics card yourself but it's going to run you extra $200-300 depending on what you choose.

[Bucket_Nakedz]

i heard alienware sucks, and there customer service is shit. build your own computer.
uhh... ive always had great customer service with dell.

building is a fun and great new experience to learn. i already built my first computer and im about to build one for my uncle. don't be discouraged, you'll always get more for your buck when u buy your own components. right now is a great time with black friday around the corner. freakin ssd and high end graphics cards prices are droppin like hot cakes!

[magic chiongson]

there are a lot more boutique builders out there who offer way better after sales support than alienware at around the same price


this is prolly the most powerful prebuilt ITX PC out there..and you can customize it

http://www.falcon-nw.com/desktops/tiki

doesnt look as flashy as the alienware but its a few times more powerful and runs way cooler with that water cooling. it's also smaller than the alienware albeit heavier

http://www.falcon-nw.com/sites/default/files/tiki-wine-dimensions_3.png

http://www.falcon-nw.com/sites/default/files/tiki-fully-loaded-300h.png

http://www.falcon-nw.com/sites/default/files/tiki-dvd-closeu-300w.jpg

[nathanjizzle]

what ever u do stay away from alienware, just go on youtube and look up alienware.

[magic chiongson]

another alternative ITX PC

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6104/origin-chronos-review-the-ultimate-lan-box

http://images.anandtech.com/doci/6104/Small%20%281%20of%207%29.jpg

[che guevara]

Never buy alienware.

always build it yourself.

building IS for everyone. it's so ****ign easy these days.

if you can assemble legos, you can build a computer

if you can't build a computer, you are a retarded person
Seriously, it's just putting parts together, you don't need much computer knowledge at all. I built my first computer before I was even a teenager.

[IGOTGAME]

Seriously, it's just putting parts together, you don't need much computer knowledge at all. I built my first computer before I was even a teenager.

Personally I was only considering it because I think I could get the form factor of a console on my entertainment system. I can't play video games at a computer desk. I need to chill out on a couch with people and play.

Don't think a tower will work for that.

[bigkingsfan]

The main advantage of building your own computer would be overclocking and running sli/crossfire, if you don't care about those two, prebuild is fine. You're not stuck with what the manufacture sends you.

[Godzuki]

Seriously, it's just putting parts together, you don't need much computer knowledge at all. I built my first computer before I was even a teenager.

don't you have to use a solder gun on the motherboard or something like that? i remember reading about something real technical that scared me off from trying.

[magic chiongson]

don't you have to use a solder gun on the motherboard or something like that? i remember reading about something real technical that scared me off from trying.

lol no, you just need to plug stuff in. only thing you'll need is a screw driver

[Bucket_Nakedz]

there are a lot more boutique builders out there who offer way better after sales support than alienware at around the same price


this is prolly the most powerful prebuilt ITX PC out there..and you can customize it

http://www.falcon-nw.com/desktops/tiki

doesnt look as flashy as the alienware but its a few times more powerful and runs way cooler with that water cooling. it's also smaller than the alienware albeit heavier

http://www.falcon-nw.com/sites/default/files/tiki-wine-dimensions_3.png

http://www.falcon-nw.com/sites/default/files/tiki-fully-loaded-300h.png

http://www.falcon-nw.com/sites/default/files/tiki-dvd-closeu-300w.jpg
listen to this man. he knows his shiet :pimp:

[bigkingsfan]

That tiki is even more horrible value than the Dell. Nearly $1700 for something with a GTX 650, that graphics card goes for $100, very low end. Watercooling is worthless when the CPU is running stock.

[magic chiongson]

That tiki is even more horrible value than the Dell. Nearly $1700 for something with a GTX 650, that graphics card goes for $100, very low end. Watercooling is worthless when the CPU is running stock.

the review unit they had at tom's hardware had a gtx 680 cramped in that thing :confusedshrug: prolly have to add more. with the z77, you could overclock it by 1ghz by pressing less than 5 buttons after start up.

anyway if he wants to try a novice build he could just buy a shuttle barebone

http://www.amazon.com/Shuttle-LGA1155-Gaming-Barebone-SZ77R5/dp/B007UZO3F6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350977125&sr=8-1&keywords=shuttle+z77

get an i5 3570k, gtx 670, 8gb ram & hard drive & your good to go for around $1k. easily half the price of boutique-built PCs

[embersyc]

lol no, you just need to plug stuff in. only thing you'll need is a screw driver

Hell these days you barely even need the screw driver, many cases have gone to screwless designs.

[ILLsmak]

lol no, you just need to plug stuff in. only thing you'll need is a screw driver

It is cheaper, but it's also good to have someone to bitch at. I think there is a low end for building your own and a high end for building your own, but if you are going for something midrange... about 1000 then you might as well buy it from a company.

Plus you can nub out fry your cpu and you gotta get good parts.

I don't think Alienware is terrible, but I do think they are pretty wack now that dell took over. They don't make a bad system it's just overpriced.

-Smak

[magic chiongson]

Hell these days you barely even need the screw driver, many cases have gone to screwless designs.

that too..most cases over $100 are

[bigkingsfan]

get an i5 3570k, gtx 670, 8gb ram & hard drive & your good to go for around $1k. easily half the price of boutique-built PCs

Not really. The op problem is he's paying full price and not waiting for the X51 go on sale. Give me a month and I can find that identical spec from the Dell outlet for under $600. Upgrade the the graphics on my own and I'm good to go. You no longer save money with custom build like 10 years ago.

I custom my first two rig in 2002 and 2006, since then the price has actually shifted toward prebuild. Got my my Dell 435MT i-7 for $500 in 2009 and the i-7 xps 8500 in 2012 for the same price, upgraded the GPU afterwards.

There's definitely still a market for custom build for people trying to get every possible inch of performance, sli/oc but saving money and budget builds? Those days are long over. Factor in the time it takes to put together and diagnosing when something goes wrong, it's pretty much a no brainer.

[blablabla]

Personally I was only considering it because I think I could get the form factor of a console on my entertainment system. I can't play video games at a computer desk. I need to chill out on a couch with people and play.

Don't think a tower will work for that.
how about an actual console

[IGOTGAME]

how about an actual console

have them all. bored with them for the time being. However, I do use them for Netflix, Hulu and Cruncyroll(only reason I use my PS3).

But, If I can find this for 600 bucks I would definitely buy. That would be crazy. PC gaming does seem time intensive the more I read about it though.

[blablabla]

what kind of games do you want to play on your pc

[IGOTGAME]

what kind of games do you want to play on your pc

Skyrim - with mods
Battlefield 3
Left 4 Dead
Mass Effect 2 and 3(never got to these)

I was also wondering if their were good mods for sports games like NBA2k13 and Fifa

[magic chiongson]

Not really. The op problem is he's paying full price and not waiting for the X51 go on sale. Give me a month and I can find that identical spec from the Dell outlet for under $600. Upgrade the the graphics on my own and I'm good to go. You no longer save money with custom build like 10 years ago.


based on the 240w power supply..the stock settings is pretty much maxed out


Skyrim - with mods
Battlefield 3
Left 4 Dead
Mass Effect 2 and 3(never got to these)

I was also wondering if their were good mods for sports games like NBA2k13 and Fifa

you will need more than what the x51's graphics can provide if you want to play bf3 with max settings, and given that it has a very limited power supply, you wont be able to upgrade it. unless you play on a 720p display or less

[bigkingsfan]

based on the 240w power supply..the stock settings is pretty much maxed out


You can get the version with a higher psu. It will have no problem running cards like the 660ti.

Not the greatest deal by any means, but op can pick up the config with the regular 660. $999 today, much better than that bestbuy deal.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dpcwxv3&model_id=alienware-x51&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
Get 10% off if you spend 1099$ or more. So upgrade the HD to 2TB for 50$, check the boxes to get free keyboard and mouse.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/U/4/352300/original/BF3%20HIGH.png
BF3 on max settings, he just need to turn down some settings if he wants to play at 60 FPS.

[magic chiongson]

You can get the version with a higher psu. It will have no problem running cards like the 660ti.

Not the greatest deal by any means, but op can pick up the config with the regular 660. $999 today, much better than that bestbuy deal.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dpcwxv3&model_id=alienware-x51&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
Get 10% off if you spend 1099$ or more. So upgrade the HD to 2TB for 50$, check the boxes to get free keyboard and mouse.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/U/4/352300/original/BF3%20HIGH.png
BF3 on max settings, he just need to turn down some settings if he wants to play at 60 FPS.

if you can upgrade it to at least 300w then 660/660ti would be fine, you would be limited in graphics options with the maximum length of the card anyways. that $999 deal with the 660 makes more sense, the gt640/555 just won't cut it

i'm gonna have to upgrade my graphics card soon..i'm still on a gtx 470 :(