Is Alienware really that good?

It's a waste of money, you can easily get 98% of the performance of the box you're looking at for under $2k

If you want looks, look around the web for custom cases, there's some real awesome ones for only a couple hundred.

The best PC out there these days is one where you go to your local computer shop (not a chain), tell them what you want it for, that you want the best, and that you want it to look cool.

ya alienware looks great, but that is only skin deep... they also have some awesome components, but they have to make some money, so they up the price!!! custom is the way.

I was wondering that myself actually. I went to their site and saw the the details and I have to say I am not sure all of that is necessary for the best gaming.

But I guess that is not really the point of Alienware.

I just not sure I guess. I'm sort of in the same position as your in, ToeJo. I was very excited about their cases though

For me I was looking into the Dell XPS system. There are some techies here, I would love to here what they have to say about Alienware.

I always go for performance/expandability/price as opposed to appearance. I don't want to be looking at a nice neat little mini-tower while I'm wanting to stick in a new drive or card with no place to put it.

So many places are focusing so much on the mini-tower and 3 PCI slot configuration these days, with or without an AGP slot. Ya, ya I know there's USB and Firewire, but all of those externals cost more than the internal versions and you just end up with a bunch of little boxes and cables instead of a big box.

Now of course if I can performance/expandability/great looks for a good price I'd think about it...

I took the standard alienware computer (an area 51) and compared it with a dell, putted all the components that I wanted in the dell, and the same in the alienware machine, came out that the alienware was a bit cheaper.

In the land of the blind, one-eye is king. Alienware isn't quite all that, but considering how crap the average machine still looks today, it's a step in the right direction (though pricy).

apple makes the only good looking machines besedes alienware IMO (ofcourse there are some more custom builds, but I am talking about average machines)

I wouldn't get an Alienware. Instead, I would get a Falcon Northwest. The Exotix cases are a bit much, but you don't need the $600+ add-on. It's a GREAT computer otherwise. Firstly, the case is meticulously built, all wires are neatly tucked away, tied down, you open the case and any engineer would be proud. They also use the latest from AMD/Intel/ATI/nVidia what have you. Check any review on a Falcon, always 5/5, 10/10 no matter which site you go to.

There are 3 top production PC manufacterers that are in competition with each other...I pick Falcon.

http://www.alienware.com - Alienware
http://www.falcon-nw.com - Falcon Northwest
http://www.voodoopc.com - Voodoo

All are in the $4k price range, all are SUPERB machines. You can't really go wrong any which way you go.

$4k for a computer? OMG!  $1,200 is the most I'd pay, monitor included.

And that's 1,200 CANADIAN dollars, meaning around $800 US.

[Message Edited]

I spent $1600 on my new rig. Including an extra $200 for XP Pro because I was originally gonna load up Win2k for free, but then decided to put on XP afterwards. I should of just gotten it with the PC, I would of saved $60 or so. But spending $4,000, that's just money to burn...but hey...if you got it...flaunt it.

Ah...just ordered my upgrade 'bits'....about 700 USD....

ASUS p4p800 i845 fsb mobo

P IV 3.06 gig 800 fsb cpu

1 gig pc3200 ddr 400 mhz ram

Should keep me out of trouble for a while...

 

jafo

Configure a system at Motherboard Express with exactly the parts you want (they even custom-ordered some parts for me that they hadn't stock), let them assemble it (if they assemble it, lifetime support is free), pay half as much as Alienware.

Mike

Aqua...I've gotta disagree with you on the "White Box" PC being better than the "Chain Store" type of PC.

Maybe that is due to the fact that I live in a little town where the local computer guys just stink...but for me I want access to all my drivers in one place on the web. If I ordered a Dell or Alienware or something of that nature, I'd have all the updates right at one site. If I ordered the "Local Guy PC" I'd have to go to all kinds of different sites to get updated drivers.

Plus, If my local guy custom configures what I want...he may not know what components work well together. He hasn't tested "A" type mobo with "B" type video card.

On top of that, If my local guy PC crashes at midnight, I have to wait until the next morning before I can talk to a tech. Assuming it's not midnight on a Saturday, in which case I'll have to wait until Monday.

Plus, if my Dell Big Box hard drive goes bad...they can have another one to me in 24 hours whereas I have to wait for my local guy to get my PC, Diagnose it, pull my HD out, sent it back, get a replacement reload and give it back to me. I've seen the local guy take as long as a week just to get a replacement HD. After which he is going to try to sell me something I don't want to try and make up for the 4 hours he just lost while doing my warranty replacement.

Not to mention the fact that the bulk of the "local computer guys" around here where I live think I owe it to them to buy from them just because they are "The Local Guys" with no concept of what customer service should be.

Just MHO

Depends what you want.

If you know about hardware and which is best. If you want the best brand MO, the best brand video card, the best brand hard disk, etc, you're better off with a custom built computer from the small shops, since the known brand won't biud you a computer with the parts that YOU want.
As far as service goes, well it's a personal call as well. I know some small shops who give amazing service, but they indeed won't take a call in the middle of the night. So the question is, do you really need your computer fixed at 2 AM or can it wait till the morning.

I would certainly agree that there niether option is perfect. And yes...If my PC crashes at midnight it's probably God telling me to go to bed. Which is exactly what I would do. Maybe I'll just build my own. That could be a lot of fun as well.

Custom Built. Thats The Only Way For Me.
Its like would you rather have a Harley Davidson or an Orange County Chopper.
Tough Call but in the end you will get what you pay for.
Like this is what I got and love it all.
(1)Chieftech Aluminum Full Size Tower (Old Looking Alienware Case)
(1)ASUS A7N8X Deluxe
(1)AMD 2500+XP
(3)512 MB RAM
(3)120GB Seagate V Barracuda SATA - RAWK!
(1)80GB Seagate ?
(1)Samsung 60GB
(1)Lacie 40GB Pocket Drive
(1)ATI 9700 Pro

I would really reccommend if your getting an AMD Processor to get that motherboard. And I would really reccommend the Seagate V Barracuda SATA Drives.
Good Luck On What Ever Road You Choose To Follow.

Guy who built my pc lives in my home, sleep in my bed, uses my laptop and computer, and drives my car a lot too.

In other words, guy who built my computer is me.

Sometimes building your own is best way to get best prices, features, and lack of features that you don't want!

Of course, nowdays more suppliers can build a custom computer so that point is more and more a moot point.

Alienware Area 51 is going to be my next PC too. Hopefully soon. I have a 750 Gateway now and it is bogging. From all the reviews in PC magazines say Alienware is the best(Max PC, PC Magazine etc) and their case is awesome. I prefer to have a PC already configured so that I don't have to worry about driver conflicts, motherboard conflicts, etc, etc. I have heard some awful nightmares. Plus, the support is important too. Alienware has a good reputation so far. I am disappointed by Gateway and Dell seems just the same. I want performance and looks for my money. I think Alienware is the way to go. If you get yours before I get mine, let me know how it works out.