Should i get alienware x51

The GPU card and the box pop out together by loosening a couple of screws. Doing so, will reveal the mechanical drive hiding underneath. Components hiding under the liquid cooling radiator are the RAM, the processor, and the SSD, all of which are inconveniently located under the cooling solution.

Unfortunately, it does not support Hyper-Threading. But it makes up for it with an unlocked multiplier, by clicking one-button the device will be overclocking up to 4.

By looking at the previous picture we will find that the performance of the Alienware processor falls just behind the iBuyPower Revolt 2 quad-core iK processor in single-core performance, but drops further behind in the multi-core tests. Alienware X51 R3 is packed with two hard drives for storage. The first is a GB M. And thanks to that combination you will get the excellent performance and amazing speed you desire which will be clearly seen everywhere from load times in games to system boot time.

By looking at the previous picture, we can clearly see that the X51 R3 computer has a relatively average speed in reading and writing data. But unfortunately, the M. In short, the performance meets the requirements for all games. There is only one way to test the performance of the graphics card which is with 3DMark.

When compared to the other office computers used for Gaming such as iBuyPower and AVADirect which have a high-class and strong specifications, the X51 R3 computer falls behind those devices in terms of the performance of the graphics card.

While it loses to those systems, it takes a decent lead over gaming laptops and lower-end systems intended for p gaming. And the following test targets the efficiency of the graphic processor in running computer games and from this point the situation starts to improve a little.

But still, the performance of the X51 struggles with Crysis 3 as the system was only able to run the game in medium quality mode. To the left of the graphics card, you'll find a mysterious plastic tab. Pull it, and you'll see where Alienware has posted those unsightly service and partner branding tags. Open the Windows Start menu and you'll find the Alienware folder, which holds various programs for tweaking and monitoring system settings and adjusting the external lighting.

For connectivity, the Alienware X51 lined up with my expectations. Highlights include a pair of USB 3. I won't be surprised if a year from now the X51 has a new motherboard with a Thunderbolt port on it. The Alienware's power consumption is a touch out of proportion to its capabilities. In a perfect world, it would require less power than the faster Hewlett-Packard system.

Perhaps that's due to the Alienware's external power brick. In terms of noise generation, the Alienware X51 is average. I didn't notice the fans ramping up past what I expected during game testing. Alienware, owned by Dell, backs the X51 with a straightforward one-year parts and labor warranty. You get discretionary home repair service, phone support access, and remote diagnosis capability through DellConnect.

You also get to face the perils of Dell's call center support. Conclusion Gaming desktop traditionalists, this PC is not for you. You'll hate the limited upgrade path. I have no hesitation recommending the Alienware X51 to everyone else, in particular those who've ever felt put off by the process of buying or building a gaming computer. Find out more about how we test desktop systems. Rich Brown. Pricing Not Available. Despite the big 3D card, the X51's slim-tower chassis still has a limited upgrade path.

Alienware has successfully brought its brand to an affordable, suitably stylized package, and I can recommend the X51 to anyone in the market for a mainstream gaming PC.

The Alienware X51's design has room for a full-height graphics card. Founded in , Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy. Today, we have 9 million users a month around the world, and assess more than 1, products a year. Home Reviews Alienware X In this article… 1.

Verdict 2. Pros and Cons 3. Key Specifications 4. What is the Alienware X51? Alienware X51 6. Alienware X51 7. Alienware X51 8. Should I buy the Alienware X51?

Verdict Trusted Score Share:. Cons Compact design increases heat and noise Relatively expensive. The other thing it borrows from the Xbox, unfortunately, is a truly gigantic external power supply, with around twelve feet of extra-thick cord to ensure you can place the system just about anywhere you like.

Between the weight of the X51 and the bulk of the cord, it may not be as portable as it looks, but it's still a pretty decent alternative to a gaming laptop if you're headed to a LAN party. Like the iconic chestburster, it's just lurking beneath the surface, and quite literally sticking its head out.

Yes, that's an alien head emblem on the front of the case, and a pair of what appear to be translucent talons on either side; each individually lights up in colors of your choice. You can even set them to trigger when you get email or launch certain programs, for notifications and mood lighting.

They're neither piercingly bright nor awkwardly showy, but if you'd rather not have them at all, you can also choose "black" to turn all the lights off. Problem solved. The sharp angles at the top and bottom of the glossy front panel also channel earlier Alienware desktops, and the company's alien font is displayed prominently on the right side panel.

It reads "Alienware," in case you were curious. In truth, at The front panel has a pair of USB 2. That's in addition to You won't find a media remote. Dell has historically bundled loads of infrared remotes with its computers, but in what's perhaps the most likely in years to be attached to a TV, you'll need to jury-rig your own to control it from across the room, and since it also doesn't have video inputs or a TV tuner option nor space to add your own it's not really suited to be a media center PC anyhow.

Update: You may see some pictures of a dual-band Intel Wi-Fi card in the gallery below, but the final system will come with a Dell-branded By the way, that dedicated HDMI jack and some special software make setup a breeze: the Alienware X51 is one of the first computers to use the desktop version of Nvidia's Optimus graphics switching technology.

You can use them to attach additional monitors, though. It's also HDMI 1. Where the X51 really shines, though, is underneath the hood. Through what must have been some exceptionally clever engineering, Alienware's designed a case that fits full-size desktop components together like a 3D jigsaw puzzle, without a hint of wasted space inside If you're a component junkie, you really have to see it for yourself, and I'll do my best to show you in the pictures and video above, but know that you could honestly tear down the whole system and put it back together in half an hour if you wanted to, and in almost any order that you choose.