6/10/08 – Dell's expansion into the performance computing sector started with their XPS line of systems. Not content with that, they decided to purchase Alienware as a way to expand their market for customized performance computers. The Area-51 has long been Alienware's prestige system. The ALX models provide the highest level of components that Dell and Alienware have to offer. Let's take a look at what Alienware has to offer ...
Processor:
Unlike previous versions of the Area-51 ALX, the current iteration offers a few more options regarding the processor choices. You can choose between either the Core 2 Extreme QX9650 or the QX9770. Both of these offer very high levels of performance along with clock unlocked for potential overclocking. The system is available with a 20% factory overclock with the QX9770 processor, but it is quite expensive. Users can save the money and overclock it themselves, but they won't get any warranty coverge.
Memory:
The latest revision of the Area-51 ALX have upgraded the memory from the older DDR2 standards to the newer DDR3. This provides extra levels of performance, but it also increases the overall price of the system. Users can select between 2 or 4GB of Corsair Dominator memory that is overclocked to a 1600MHz memory speed. It would be nice to see higher amounts of RAM available, but the cost of DDR3 is just too much.
Hard Drives:
For storage, Alienware has a limited selection for the primary storage all running in a RAID0 or RAID1 configuration. They include two 10,000rpm 160GB drives, two Western Digital's new 10,000rpm 300GB drives, two 500GB 7200rpm drives, two 1TB 7200rpm drives or two 64GB Solid State Drives. The Solid state drives really drive up the price and do not dramatically increase the overall performance of the system. Additional storage drives can be added onto the system for extra space.
CD/DVD Drives:
Most companies now pretty much just include one or two DVD burners standard with performance desktop systems. The real options now come from the new generation DVD format drives. Alienware offers two different Bluray drives as options for the Area-51 ALX. A simple Bluray reader with DVD burning capabilities can be added for playback or a 4x Blurray burner can be installed for playback or recording of the new Bluray media.
Graphics and Displays:
Alienware's offering of graphics cards has changed dramatically with the Area-51. Previously the system was almost exclusive NVIDIA graphics cards. Now users can elect to either use NVIDIA or ATI cards and in single or dual card configurations. Available graphics cards include a single Radeon HD 3870 X2, dual GeForce 9800GTX, dual HD 3870 X2s or dual GeForce 9800 GX2's. These configurations either create a dual Radeon CrossFire or GeForce SLI setup or a quad Radeon CrossFire or GeForce SLI configuration.
Audio:
The default configuration for the Area-51 ALX is to use an HDA 7.1 compatible on-board audio solution and that is just not acceptable for such an expensive system. Users have the option of upgrading to the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer audio card. Anyone planning to use this system for gaming would be foolish not to upgrade to one of these cards for the EAX HD audio support. A selection of Logitech G51 or Z-5300e speaker setups are available as an option.
Software:
Users are pretty much stuck with the Vista operating system now for the Area-51 ALX. Vista Home Premium with its multimedia features is now the standard operating system, but users can upgrade to the Ultimate Edition. A wide variety of games, security, productivity and digital media software packages are available as an extra cost.
Overall Impressions:
The Alienware Area-51 ALX is certainly no slouch when it comes to performance. Its quad core processor and quad SLI or CrossFire setup definitely allow it to kick out some pretty amazing high resolution graphics at fast frame rates. But what really differentiates the ALX model from the Area-51 7500 with a maxed out configuration? According to Alienware, the ALX also comes with a mousepad, polo shirt, keychain, aluminum briefcase and a personal support ID. Seems like a pretty hefty premium for some items that might be given away at a trade show.
Getting back to the Area-51 ALX, the case is really one of the key features for users. Alienware allows a wide range of color combinations to be selected for the case and the lights. This lets users make a system unique to what they envisions although certain color combos will obviously be more popular than others. The case is also designed to be accessed externally and internally without the need of tools. Whether you are opening the side panel or swapping in a new hard or optical drive, there is no need to pull out the toolbox.
Alienware has done a good job on improving the flexibility of component selections on the Area-51 ALX. For example, older versions were limited to just NVIDIA graphics cards. Now users can elect to use ATI graphics cards. Similarly, they is a little more variety of storage. Users are still limited though regarding the processors and memory. You also are unable to get the 64-bit versions of Vista.
I think the Area-51 ALX really boils down to the ego of the buyer. The system is definitely among the most expensive currently on the market. The performance is very strong, but is the price difference between it and say the Area-51 7500 really worth it? That is the question that people looking at the Area-51 ALX will have to ask themselves.
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