The Bottom Line
- Fastest SLI Graphics Available
- High Quality Components
- Stylish Design
- Extremely Expensive
- Lacks Software Bundle
- No Speakers or Monitor
Description
- Intel Xeon 3.4GH Processor
- 1GB PC3200 DDR Memory
- Two Western Digital Raptor 74GB SATA Drives in 148GB RAID0 Array
- Plextor PX-712A 12x DVD+/-R Burner and NEC 16x Optical Drives
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Audio Card
- Two NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultras in SLI Array
- 1Gbps Ethernet Port
- Eight USB 2.0 Ports and Three FireWire Ports
- Windows XP Professional
Guide Review - Alienware ALX Area-51 SLI
12/20/04 - Even before NVIDIA had released its SLI chipset, Alienware had made an announcement they had developed their own SLI technology to increased performance. Alienware released this technology in its ALX Area-51 SLI product line making it the only Intel based platform to currently support an SLI technology.
The ALX Area-51 SLI is powered by an Intel Xeon 3.4GHz processor. This is a CPU that is normally found in workstation or server environments rather than a desktop. It provides strong performance especially matched with its PC3200 DDR memory.
Storage performance is strong. Twin Western Digital Raptor 74GB SerialATA hard drives are used in a RAID0 array to give it blistering disk speed. While the Plextor PX-712A 12x DVD burner is a good addition with high reliability, there are better performing burners available.
Graphics of course is the big item for the ALX Area-51 SLI. SLI is a new technology that allows two video cards to work in tandem to increase the overall performance of the graphics cards. With two GeForce 6800 Ultra's driving the graphics, the ALX Area-51 has a lot of graphics power and as mentioned before, is the only Intel platform to currently support SLI.
All of this leads the Alienware ALX Area-51 SLI to have a lot of performance, but its price puts it well beyond what most people can afford. This price also doesn't include a monitor or speakers and this system becomes even more of a dream for those who want this level of performance.
