Alienware Area51 or Dell XPS?

[jdavis]

There is a big big difference in the quality of parts in computers from Alienware and Voodoo and mass market computers from Dell and HP. Just because they are configured similarly doesn't mean anything about the quality of parts used or the amount of tweaking (and sometimes overclocking of parts) that goes into these machines. If you want a true comparison check and see information from a computer magazine or website (such as Maximum PC). There normally is a big difference in benchmark scores between different companies computers. There is a reason that Alienware computers are more expensive, and the old term you get what you pay for comes to mind. Of course if you are not in to computers enough to care about super high end performance then go for the cheaper, they will both play the games, you can get to the grocery without having a Lamborgini.

 

[jdavis]

Just skimming the Alienware site and I saw where they just won their 10th consecutive PC Gamers Editor's choice award. http://www.alienware.com/sub_pages/ten_pcgamer_awards.aspx

Maximum PC always rates them (and Voodoo) close to the top too, I haven't seen a review of the Dell XPS system yet, but there is a reason that Alienware gets all the attention it does, it's hard to find a better custom made computer. I'm sure the Dell is a good machine (Dells always are) but Alienware machines use top of the line parts and are custom built especially for speed. If I had money to spare I'd go with a Voodoo system myself but I don't so I'll just keep making my own.

 

[Destil]

I've always had a hard time grasping where Ailenwear's market was, since the're in a niche (high end, high proformance gaming rigs) where most enthusists prefer to build their own... mabye the types who get sick of having to deal with their own tech support? I know I'm fairly annoyed after my last attempt to get an RMA when a board burnt out...

 

[Ampolitor]

Well I have a Alienware and let me say it puts Dell to shame, Its a unbelievable machine! Perfect for gaming and everything, dell is too mass market today, stay away unless its just going to be used as a word processor

 

[jdavis]

I've always had a hard time grasping where Ailenwear's market was, since the're in a niche (high end, high proformance gaming rigs) where most enthusists prefer to build their own... mabye the types who get sick of having to deal with their own tech support? I know I'm fairly annoyed after my last attempt to get an RMA when a board burnt out...

I know my personal tech support is pretty poor, it's just me and my Windows for Dummies book, of course I saved around a $1000 over what it would cost to buy one by building it myself. Trust me mine is no Alienware either, it's sort of the Millennium Falcon of computers, real fast when it's working.

 

[John Crichton]

I know my personal tech support is pretty poor, it's just me and my Windows for Dummies book, of course I saved around a $1000 over what it would cost to buy one by building it myself. Trust me mine is no Alienware either, it's sort of the Millennium Falcon of computers, real fast when it's working.

LOL!! I know exactly what you are saying. At least you have a book. I just use online guides.

On Alienware: The reason why I mentioned them over Dell is because of the tweaks they do to the units and the fact that the original poster said he wants to do gobs of gaming. He has already priced them out obviously so I figured that he should go for a gaming system.

 

[jdavis]

I've got a half dozen or so books, it always seemed that I would have the wrong book for the problem so I raided the clearance table at Books A Million. I found the best thing to do is to keep a spare computer around just in case (just something to get me on the internet in emergencies).

 

[John Crichton]

I've got a half dozen or so books, it always seemed that I would have the wrong book for the problem so I raided the clearance table at Books A Million. I found the best thing to do is to keep a spare computer around just in case (just something to get me on the internet in emergencies).

Wow, that is exactly what I do. I have an old P3 450 that I use just for email and IM's. It has a 15 gig HD that I use for critical backups as well.

 

[Destil]

Collage is good in some ways. Sure, you're usualy put in a room smaller than what's allowed for prison cells in most states. But having about the 3rd most skilled computer-tech type on campus as a room mate can really make up for it. Having the central campus tech support guy across the hall helps a lot, too. If for nothing else because between the three of us I think we could rig up about 5 working computers from spare parts (and right now I'm afraid many of the parts for our best systems are in the 'spare' bin.... something was frying motherboards left and right early last semester).

I've learned mostly from my friends, though my computer experience aside from that is largly from experementing and online resouces. Being your own tech support isn't too bad when you have others to fall back on.

"Millennium Falcon of computers" fits most of the gaming rigs I've had to a T. Really need to get Asus to give me an RMA right now, in fact, in order to re-overclock my P4 (my backup board just dosn't support it), 1.6GHz is nice and all, but I miss 2.4

 

[CrusaderX]

dell is too mass market today, stay away unless its just going to be used as a word processor

That's so far from true it's not even funny. My Dell perfectly handles every game I throw at it. And it's more solid and stable than any machine I've ever used.

Alienwares are indeed great computers. But don't act like Dells are so vastly inferior, because they're not. They may not be dedicated gaming machines, but they meet the needs of most gamers very, very well.