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Topic: Hardware

Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

Summary: Alienware has been teasing a new system on its website, with a majestic and mysterious monolithic tower as the primary image. So it may come as a surprise that the gaming PC giant has revealed that its new model is a humble small-form-factor desktop.

Sean Portnoy

By for Laptops & Desktops |

Alienware has been teasing a new system on its website, with a majestic and mysterious monolithic tower as the primary image. So it may come as a surprise that the gaming PC giant has revealed that its new model is a humble small-form-factor desktop.

OK, so Alienware would never call it humble, but the X51 looks more like an Xbox 360 than it does a traditional gaming PC. Compared to its recently revamped Aurora desktop, the X51 looks to be about a third of the size, with a width of just 3.74 inches and weighing a mere 12 pounds. It does include Alienware's trademark customizable lighting zones to give it a bit more flair than a typical SFF desktop.

In terms of specs, the X51 will uses a mini-ITX motherboard, with support for an Intel Core i3-2120 dual-core CPU (standard) or Core i5-2320 or Core i7-2600 processors. It will also take up to 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and either an Nvidia GeForce GT 545 or GT 555 graphics card. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi and a DVD burner.

If the X51 doesn't have the usual Alienware bells and whistles -- no liquid cooling options, no support for multiple video cards -- it does continue the company's move toward lower price points. The new desktop will start at just $699, with $899, $949, and $1,149 configurations also available.

Is going downmarket with the diminutive X51 the right approach for Alienware? Would you want your next gaming PC to be a slim small-form-factor rig? Let us know your thoughts in the Talkback section.

Topic: Hardware

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Talkback

18 comments
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  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    Personally, I wouldn't but there is a market for people that don't have the room for a full tower gaming rig. Honestly, Alienware probably won't attract many of their existing customers with this machine but they may get people that want a powerful machine but have a smaller budget.
    Crion629
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

      @Crion629

      I'd rather have a Mac mini. No OS limitations, and you get Mac OS Lion with it's awesome iWeb services.
      gtdworak
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

        @gtdworak : don't get me wrong, I own a MacMini and I love it, but for aprox the same price the X51 is far more powerfull.
        luis.dagle
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    The price point has my attention although I'll have to look into the specs to see if it will still do what I want in my next gaming machine.
    Edward.Caissie
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

      @Edward.Caissie

      Same here.
      Have an AW notebook and looking to replace with a tower.
      Like the smaller form.
      rhonin
      Reply Vote

      • Certified DELL Ispiron 620 owner and P1911 monitor; Dec. 2011.

        @rhonin > I suggest newegg.com; "When you know, you Newegg."<br><br>Coolermaster Scout case $89 (quality fans included)<br>Raidmax 80+ Gold 850watt power supply $110<br>AsRock P67 Extreme4 gen3 motherboard $149<br>Intel i5 2500 3.3Ghz (3.7Ghz turbo boost) $205 (95W w/ cpu fan)<br>Hitachi 500GB sata2, 7,200rpm hard drive $89<br>ASUS DVD ROM $29<br>Zotac Nvidia GTX 560 Ti $249 <br>Windows7 Home Premium (Retail version recommended) $199
        Zurk_Orkin
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

        @Zurk_Orkin, that case is about the same size as the typical AW case, the PSU is waaaaaay overkill for that build (500 would more than suffice), and you're paying $30 too much for that processor. You'd have to go with a good mATX case and board to come close, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a mITX setup that would equal this kind of power.
        Champ_Kind
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    This is a great idea. My ailing Dell needs replacement, and I'm looking for something a little more compelling than another crappy desktop. So Apple was top of the list until I saw this.

    This is what the PC makers should be doing. Their mainstream brands are terrible (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc.) so they should use Alienware, etc. for stylish boxes. The $99 Roku and Boxee boxes are more interesting than $900 PCs. It's embarassing and that's why Vizio sees an opportunity.
    solomonrex
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    Umm.. Alienware is Dell, so expect some cheap parts in there and support from 3rd world countries
    RIAAsucks
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    my co-worker's mother-in-law makes $87 every hour on the laptop. She has been out of a job for 6 months but last month her check was $7747 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site... makecash16.com
    DaltonDee
    Reply Vote

    • WoW!

      @DaltonDee ... that's alot of money for a dog ... WOOF!
      thx-1138_
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    I looked and wasn't impressed. No options for a recovery disk. No options for other Win7 flavors. Not even an SSD option.
    anubis@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

      @anubis@...
      Bet you could replace the HDD with an SSD and move the HDD to external.
      rhonin
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    The days of having the biggest means having the best are gone. I've been building these small form factors for a few years, even the biggest gamers prefer them. This is certainly the way the market is heading, dell and alienware are typically behind the curve on this type of stuff, so expect the companies who haven't already made the shift to follow suit. About 1/2 of high end rig makers either offer slim designs in a desktop flavor or have shifted their focus to laptop DTRs.<br><br>I don't see the traditional desktop moving the way of the dodo anytime soon but the smaller designs are the latest crave.
    KnightProdigy
    Reply Vote

  • What?

    Too expensive?
    People
    Reply Vote

  • Replace my current TVPC?

    I've got a standard-sized PC in my main room that's hooked up to a big-screen TV. While my family does use it for Internet TV (ie Hulu), we also use it for gaming. (ie Portal 2, Saint's Row: The Third)

    My current PC is plenty powerful to play these games, but the sound of spinning fans can be heard during quiet times and get louder when gaming. I've already swapped out the stock cooling fans for quiet/silent models, but I'd prefer not to hear them at all (and I'm not willing to install a water cooler - I don't trust my ability to select the right parts and fit them correctly). Plus, even though I'm using a mini-tower case, the PC still takes up a solid chunk of space on the AV cabinet. If this new system is small, silent, and powerful enough to play my games, then I'm willing to pay some extra $$.
    R_Connelie@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Alienware thinks small with new $699 X51 gaming PC

    As a Custom Systems & Gaming Builder, I feel it's simply pure theft in Alienwares's pricing! They charge $400 / $600 for a Dual-Core / Quad-Core PC and another $1k for their Tower/PS. That's just ludicrous. I build both systems (same specs) for under $500 / $849 which should be the true street value for each PC.
    intlnet
    Reply Vote

    • I hear ya

      @intlnet ... and couldn't agree more. I build my own systems too. <br><br>Thing is, the average Jane & Joe that want a powerful PC for say .. working on AutoCAD-like, graphic intensive applications - for work 'or' the guy that simply wants the top of the line, pre-packaged, glitz-ware for the latest, graphics intensive, GPU sapping, PC games and bragging rights, will likely go with something like this.<br><br>Those particular groups could probably get a system built cheaper by a local computer shop - but bear in mind, 'rich Jane & Joe' - without knowledge or care for that fact, will always gravitate to the "name products". Again, for the wealthier types, it's all about bragging rights.
      thx-1138_
      Reply Vote
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