Dell announces fast compact Alienware X51
Summary: Dell has launched a small console-style Alienware X51 that, while part of its games-oriented range, could appeal to other users who want an affordable, upgradeable Windows PC for video and graphics processing. It packs a full-size graphics card into a small box, and the options include an Nvidia GeForce GTX 5551 with a gigabyte of GDDR5 video memory.
Dell has launched a small console-style Alienware X51 that, while part of its games-oriented range, could appeal to other users who want an affordable, upgradeable Windows PC for video and graphics processing. It packs a full-size graphics card into a small box, and the options include an Nvidia GeForce GTX 5551 with a gigabyte of GDDR5 video memory.
The X51 can be used upright or in a horizontal position.
The £699 base system offered by Dell in the UK has a 3.30GHz Intel Core i3-2120 processor, a GeForce GT 545 graphics card, 4GB of memory, a 1TB (7,200rpm) hard drive, slot-loading DVD writer, Wi-Fi, 64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 and one year of Next Business Day (collect and return) hardware support. A high-end version with a Core i7-2600, GTX 5551 and 8GB of RAM costs around £950 including VAT and shipping.
For connectivity, there are two USB 3 ports, six USB 2 ports, and a gigabit Ethernet port. Outputs include SPDIF Digital (TOSLINK) and HDMI 1.4. (The press release has further details.)
The X51's compactness comes from using a mini-ITX motherboard and an external 240W or 330W power supply.
The X51 will sell into the gaming and home theatre markets, but it could handle high-performance video and audio content creation for users who want a stylish-looking compact PC rather than a tower.
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