ALIENWARE: The Best Gaming Hardware

Games are essentially what got me interested in computers in the first place and unfortunately without them I may have never taken the time to appreciate all what computers can do. After becoming especially interested in the hardware that drives the PC gaming experience, I soon fell in love with Alienware and thier highly addictable products.

Wether its Warcraft,Unreal Tournament or Fifa 2009, You have to have a good computer to engoy the outmost gaming expirence from these games and many others out there.

Desktops

Desktop computers have came a long way from those big, ugly, noise making machines wich were produced 10 years ago.Thanks to companies like Alienware,With cool designs and top notch gaming performance,Desktops became much lovely and heart pleasing machines,And names like Aurora,Hangar18 and Area 51 became an icon for every gamer seeking true and joyful gaming experience.



Be it high detailed 3D modelling,High definition video editing or just a game of C&C,Alienware is never gonna fail you in terms of performance or reliability,And thats what i love about thier prodcuts.

Alienware Desktop Models

Area 51 7500

Mention the word 'Alienware' to any hardened PC gamer and inevitably a strange change comes over their battle-hardened features: a misty longing appears in their eyes, their jaw starts a slow drop to the floor and a weird keening noise issues from the back of their throat. No, this is not some form of medical malfunction, but just a desperate realisation that such joys may be out of their reach.

Hyperbole aside, Alienware has redefined what is cool and this latest manifestation of the Area-51 7500 desktop is guaranteed to enhance its reputation as a market leader when it comes to style and raw gaming power.

From the moment you winch the revamped P2 chassis out of the box - do not attempt this alone - and plug in the power (all 1,000W of it), you can't fail to be impressed by the glowing alien heads on the sides and front and the sleek silver ventilation panels. The front panel smoothly slides sideways and rotates to reveal a 20x Dual Layer DVD Writer and a 28-in-1 memory card reader, while beneath are some repositioned USB ports, a FireWire port, microphone and headphone sockets.



Removing the side panels is a simple matter of lifting two levers (though they're fiddly to get back on) and then you can gaze at one of the tidiest interiors you're ever likely to encounter. If you were ever in doubt about who this monster was intended to please, then the packaging also contains a Logitech G9 Gaming Keyboard with matching Logitech G9 Laser Gaming Mouse.

The motherboard has been upgraded to an Nvidia nForce 680i SLI and embedded within are dual 768MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX SLI-enabled graphics cards. Driving this beast is an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0GHz CPU with 8MB Cache and 1333MHz FSB, allied to high performance 2GB DDR2 SDRAM (optionally 4GB) running at 800MHz.

High definition 7.1 audio is included as standard but you can upgrade to a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer for an additional £58. Other enthusiast essentials that could be added include a 6x Blu-Ray drive and storage to the tune of 2.0 TB Serial-ATA 3 hard drives running at 7,200 RPM with 32MB cache.

Which brings us to the Big Question - how does it perform? We loaded up with F.E.A.R., which always sorts the men from the boys, and the results were astounding: minimal loading times, cut-scenes performed smoothly without a hint of judder (a rare event), pictures were sharp, actions seemless and sound panoramic.

Playing Crysis was like being in a movie and we were shivering in the cold with Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. Let's be honest, hardcore gamers, do you need to look anywhere else? Now you just have to win the lottery to pay for all the extras....

Area 51 X-58

Alienware pitched us this $6,473 Area-51 X58 desktop as one of the first PCs it has shipped that truly takes advantage of the buying muscle afforded by its parent company, Dell. Given that the features you get for the dollar noticeably surpass the $8,000 Falcon Northwest Mach V we tested last week, we have a hard time arguing. We still find the classic Alienware case clunky. We also wish Alienware offered overclocking in this model. Still, for the sheer density of features, Alienware offers an amazing value here. If you're a gamer whose wallet can take such a large hit, you'll find everything you need in this PC.



We won't spend too much time on Alienware's classic case design. It's one of the best known gaming chassis, and as such it's something of an icon. The stylized outer shell also lends more weight to the system and complicates removing and replacing the side panel.



To get a sense of just how much Alienware has crammed inside this desktop, consider the side-by-side features chart above that pits the Area-51 X58 against the Falcon Northwest Mach V. Each has Intel's latest high-end processor, 12GB of DDR3 system memory, and a pair of dual-chip ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 cards. We expect those features in any $5,000-plus PC. But the Alienware also has twice the storage capacity in standard hard drives, 2TB between two hard drives, compared with the single 1TB drive in the Mach V.

Aurora

Area51 M15X

The Area-51 m15x is the newest high-performance gaming notebook from Alienware. It packs components typically found only in the largest of desktop replacements into a slim 15.4-inch form factor and still manages to be a practical machine on the road. Let's take a closer look.



The Alienware Area-51 m15x is a 15.4-inch high performance notebook targeted specifically at gamers. It is in the desktop replacement category and weighs seven pounds. Our review unit is configured as follows:

* 15.4" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p)
* Alienware AlienFX System Lighting
* 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
* Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 2.8GHz (6MB Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 2048MB
* Intel Turbo Memory (1GB)
* Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
* 200GB 7200RPM (16MB Cache)
* 320GB 5400RPM (8MB Cache) Smart Bay
* 2x Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Burner (BD-R, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
* Internal Intel Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
* Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound
* AlienFX Illuminated Keyboard

As of writing, the m15x starts at $1,799; a $1,499 configuration is in the works. Our test unit as configured is around $4,500. The most expensive options on it are the Extreme processor ($900), 8800M-GTX ($500), Blu-ray burner ($400), 1200p display ($300), and 320GB Smart Bay ($300). Expect to spend close to $3,000 for a balanced configuration.



Build & Design

I have never seen another notebook like the m15x, it is truly something else. The m15x is an entirely new design for Alienware; it is both striking and ultra-modern. The m15x is covered in gobs of glossy plastic - the entire unit is shiny and reflective. The majority of the surface is metallic silver, while only the area surrounding the lid bucks the trend with deep glossy black trim. Most of the bottom is made of an all-black metal alloy. The physical shape of the notebook is rather plain and has no radical curves. All of the corners on the m15x are rounded off. The machine has a soft feel to it and definitely should not be treated roughly; during my time with the system, the glossy plastic remained scratch-free. This notebook should definitely be kept away from all rough and abrasive surfaces, and should only be cleaned with a microfiber cloth.

The m15x has a solid feel to it but it is not the most solid notebook I have tested. There is some flex in the palmrests and around the keyboard area but fortunately it is minimal. The base of the unit is rigid and has a strong internal frame. One part of the notebook that could be more solid is the display. The hinges should be stiffer because the display wobbles too much for my liking. Also, pushing on the back of the display yields ripples in the picture.

By far the most stand-out visual feature of the m15x is the AlienFX System Lighting. The following are different lighting zones:

* Alien Head (on the back of the display)
* Power Button
* Light Pipe (around the edge of the display)
* Alienware Name (below the display)
* Quick Touch Controls
* Touchpad
* Keyboard

Read The Complete Review Here
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4328

Area51 M17X



The m17x is Alienware's highest-end gaming notebook. Notable features of this all-black monster include an Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, dual Nvidia GeForce 9800M-GT graphics cards, and a 500GB RAID 0 array. It is one of the most powerful machines we have tested here at NotebookReview.com.



Our review unit has the following specifications:

* 17-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) glossy display
* Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 (2.8GHz/ 4MB L2/ 800MHz FSB) processor
* Dual Nvidia GeForce 9800M-GT 512MB graphics cards in SLI
* 4GB DDR2-667 RAM
* 500GB RAID 0 (2x 250GB 7200RPM Samsung) hard drive
* Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
* AlienFX lighting and backlit keyboard
* Internal TV tuner & remote control
* Alienware Orion messenger bag

As of writing, the Area-51 m17x starts at $3,849; our configuration totals $5,899. Note that our test unit includes several costly items such as the Intel Extreme processor and RAID 0 array. The m17x is only available from Alienware directly.

Frag or Be Fragged To Win a $2300 Benchmark Destroyer Area51 X-58 Desktop

it's Frag or Be Fragged for Counter-Strike: Source Gamers in the Alienware(R) Winter Frag Fest Tournament, Jan 17-24

It's Frag or Be Fragged for Counter-Strike: Source Gamers in the Alienware® Winter Frag Fest Tournament, Jan 17-24 Winners to Be Equipped With Area-51® X-58 Gaming Rigs Featuring Intel® CoreTM i7 Processors and Windows Vista® Home Premium.

SAN JOSE, CA--(eMediaWorld - December 17, 2008) - iGames announced today the Alienware Winter Frag Fest, a Counter-Strike: Source tournament sponsored by Alienware, Dell's premier high-performance PC gaming brand. The tournament will kick-off the 2009 season of the Gamers Tour, a leading program of eSports tournaments managed by iGames in partnership with CEVO.

In the opening phase of the tournament, January 17 to 22, up to 160 teams will compete in single-elimination until only five remain. They will advance to the championships on January 24 where they will compete in double-elimination along with the top three finalists from last summer's Alienware PC Gaming Season Open tournament. All matches will be played online using the industry leading CEVO Match Network (CMN) client.

Each gamer on the tournament winning team will win an Area-51® X-58 gaming rig from the latest line of desktops by Alienware. The Area-51 X-58 is a benchmark destroyer powered by an Intel® Core%u2122 i7 processor and Windows Vista® Home Premium, valued at $2,329 USD. Runners-up will win Alienware Gear Shop prizes bringing the total retail value of all prizes to over $15,000 USD!

"A gaming grade system is the most essential weapon in a gamer's arsenal. With Area-51 X-58 systems in hand, the winning gamers will be in an optimal position to continue owning their victims in all the latest games," said Mark Nielsen, President of iGames, Inc.

"Alienware rigs are built for competition," said Claudina Lopez, Marketing Manager for Alienware. "The Alienware Winter Frag Fest will give some of the nation's top competitors a chance to compete for one of the world's most powerful gaming systems, the Area-51 X-58."

The Alienware Winter Frag Fest is free to enter and registration is open now at www.alienware.com/fragfest. Slots are limited to 160 teams and will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis.

For more information about the Area-51 X-58 and the other latest gaming grade desktops and notebooks from Alienware, go to www.alienware.com.

For further event details and information, go to www.alienware.com/fragfest or contact the iGames events team at events@igames.org.

12 Killer Days of Christmas

Wowhead is having a huge Christmas Giveaway! We have a host of Wowhead Prize Packages and a collection of Killer Gaming Network Cards, all leading up to the grand prize: an Alienware® Aurora Online Gaming Edition PC!

Read Contest Details Here.

WIN AN AWESOME ALIENWARE LAPTOP OR AN XBOX 360 WITH ICEBERG AND MASHABLE

Iceberg v2.0 launched recently with a powerful web platform that allows anyone to create business class applications in minutes rather than days - without the need for code of any kind. To celebrate the launch, Iceberg joined forces with Mashable and Top Hosting Center to reward new users with prizes from a powerful Alienware Area 51 laptop to Xbox 360 Elite and free hosting.
New users are eligible to enter the competition after signing up for the Iceberg hosted version or downloading the Iceberg application and filling in a short survey that basically answers one question: "What do you want to do with Iceberg?"

For more information about Iceberg, go Here. Get more information about the competition Here.

Far Cry 2 Level Design Contest

One of the hottest shooters of the year is also the most editable. Far Cry 2's Dunia engine powers the incredible visuals behind this game - from dense African jungles to the dynamic fire propagation. Best of all, the game's WYSIWYG level editor puts all of this power at your fingertips. You can design your own African-themed adventure in just a few hours. But it takes more than a little gumption to create a multiplayer level that's worth playing. ModDB presents the Far Cry 2 level editor contest; create your own multiplayer level for Far Cry 2 & you could win great prizes thanks to Alienware