Alienware's Area-51 ALX CF the first to use 45nm processors

Well, that didn't take long -- just a few hours after Intel confirmed that those hot new 45nm Penryn processors are shipping, Alienware blasted out a press release announcing the Area-51 ALX CF, the first machine to use the new chips. The QX9650-equipped machines can be ordered overclocked up to 4.0GHz, and Alienware also bumped the graphics to dual CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 3870 cards. All that power won't come cheap, though -- the CF line starts at $5499.

[Ben @ Nov 12th 2007 1:14PM]

To answer the question that everyone's dying to know the answer to....

Yes, it will most definitly play Doom.

[Chris @ Nov 12th 2007 7:48PM]

What about Crysis?

[Ben @ Nov 12th 2007 7:55PM]

I dunno...that's asking a lot.

[Luke \\\ @ Jan 4th 2008 2:51PM]

Yeah it will run Crysis.

Most things will RUN Crysis, just not on ULTRA MEGA FUKIN AWESOME setting at 12745665x78876 resolution that everyone is obsessd with.

Actually, with 4GB RAM with that spec it probably could.

[tonybullard @ Nov 12th 2007 1:17PM]

I still think they're ugly

[Josh @ Nov 12th 2007 3:26PM]

I agree, for all of the money spent on these computers they still use ass-ugly plastic cases. You would think that someone might suggest that computer cases could look "cool" without a bunch of plastic.

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 12th 2007 4:47PM]

You know, I cant disagree. Those ALX cases are so last decade. Its all about "The Blackbird" now. http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/hp-blackbird-002-gaming-rig-reviewed/

"Blackbird singing in the dead of niiiiiiight, take these broken wings and learn to flyyyy, All your life, Oops, sorry. Got carried away ;^(...

[Russell @ Nov 12th 2007 1:17PM]

It has ATI cards in SLI? Cool...

[k0an @ Nov 12th 2007 1:20PM]

It's Cross-Fire (http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Area-51_ALX/area-51_specs.aspx?SysCode=PC-AREA51-ALX-R7&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT#pdp-nav), not SLI. SLI is proprietary to NVIDIA cards. Subby, please update post.

[wickedpheonix @ Nov 12th 2007 1:20PM]

Yeah, since when did we have:

1) Radeon HD 3870 cards
2) ATI cards in SLI

?

[Andrew @ Nov 12th 2007 2:16PM]

Well, the HD3870 should be launching on Novemeber 19th along with AMD's other products. I'd guess that manufacturers like Alienware get to play with them beforehand though.

As for ATi cards on SLI...well, that's kind of, bleh. HP might have a few things to say about it though.

[Kal-El @ Nov 12th 2007 8:12PM]

It's called CrossFire, not SLI. SLI is a nVidia proprietary technology, CrossFire is ATI's version of SLI.

[Du @ Nov 12th 2007 1:27PM]

Looks like something The Combine would use.

[mcatrage @ Nov 12th 2007 3:47PM]

Well they couldn't make it silent so they obviously didn't want you to think Gordon would use it.

[mlody11 @ Nov 12th 2007 1:33PM]

"To answer the question that everyone's dying to know the answer to....

Yes, it will most definitly play Doom."

Damn, I was hoping to get an answer on if it plays quake... that android stepped up the requirements a notch.

Android, Alienware... wtf, did the industry get geekified while I was away...

[catfish @ Nov 12th 2007 1:47PM]

So it can play Doom, but will it blend?

[LesbianHam @ Nov 12th 2007 4:55PM]

Most probably.
But can it play doom WHILST blending?

*smug look*
*face screams "somebody slap me" *

[Luke "MacMan" Centino @ Jan 4th 2008 2:51PM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Awesome :)

[fatandstupid @ Nov 12th 2007 1:58PM]

I wonder how much a completly maxed out version would cost. Probably over 10,000 dollars.

[Yalooooo @ Nov 12th 2007 3:48PM]

Maxed out with all the bells and whistles:

$12,040

Give me 5 of them.

[fatandstupid @ Nov 12th 2007 2:00PM]

It could definitly play doom but probably on low to mid level graphics. Damn you Vista.

[Richard @ Nov 12th 2007 3:12PM]

That's an awsome Dell you got there.

The case needs to be redone. If my old mind recalls right it came out in 2003 and to be frank its time is done.

[Tiberian @ Nov 12th 2007 3:21PM]

Why anyone still buys prebuildt PCs is utterly beyond me.

[Mike Benton @ Nov 12th 2007 4:26PM]

Because there is very little in the way of instructions or 'how to' when it comes to making your own. There are so many little acronyms and standards that it scares most people.

If anyone knows enough, they should make a 'how to' make your own computer website. Get rich of the advertising.

This idea courtesy of Mike Benton

[XenoX101 @ Nov 13th 2007 2:25AM]

Are you joking?

Have you actually been on the internet anywhere apart from engadget?

http://www.google.com/search?q=build+your+own+computer%3F&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=me8&start=20&sa=N

Yeah just scroll past the first 1000 pages or something, then you might have trouble finding a guide further from there.

Honestly, in this day and age, if you have the internet and some form of intelligence, you should be capable of building your own computer.

As for whether you can be bothered finding the parts, inquiring about the best build and making sure of compatibility and all that jazz, is another story (and probably where most people stray from the Build Your Own method)

[BigPana @ Nov 12th 2007 3:22PM]

Dude come on, that's sweet looking. Apple and Alienware seem to be the only ones with any sense of style.

[Ashraf @ Nov 12th 2007 3:43PM]

don't forget HP. have you seen their Blackbird 002? and Pavilion Elite?

[michael @ Nov 12th 2007 4:52PM]

What about Sony?

I quite remember that the MacBook Pros, took a few cues from Sony Vaio laptops. You know, like the keyboard, the feel and finish, the integrated webcam, etc. Those were all in several Sony Vaio models before MacBook Pros came out.

[cameron @ Nov 12th 2007 6:06PM]

"What about Sony?

I quite remember that the MacBook Pros, took a few cues from Sony Vaio laptops. You know, like the keyboard, the feel and finish, the integrated webcam, etc. Those were all in several Sony Vaio models before MacBook Pros came out."

The macbook pro's design originally came from the powerbook g4 (excluding the webcam, IR sensor, etc)

[BigPana @ Nov 12th 2007 6:12PM]

To be honest I don't any of those you guys mentioned look very good, for me at least.

And yeah the Powerbook G4 came out in 2001.

[Tech Savvy @ Nov 12th 2007 3:26PM]

Surprisingly, many other top-notch manufactures don't have this config, but the small, not known as well companies like Maingear and Digital Storm do.

[giedrys @ Nov 12th 2007 3:30PM]

Just curious: how much would it be if wanted to build the system myself with the same components from scratch. My guess is around $2000-$2200?

[Tech Savvy @ Nov 12th 2007 3:44PM]

Well, the processor is about 1100+another 1k for GPU+ case (300-600)+ memory and hard drive(around 800 roughly). It all adds up to a sum of 3100- 3400.

[Tech Savvy @ Nov 12th 2007 3:44PM]

Whoops, i forgot to add in optical drives, water cooling, fans , and lastly some lighting.

[dude @ Nov 12th 2007 4:18PM]

All that money... and still a useless OS.

[Bobs @ Nov 13th 2007 1:27AM]

Ok, you go play doom or quake, ill be playing crysis on maxed out settings, have fun with openGL

[kuzu-b @ Nov 12th 2007 6:36PM]

Can it out Folding@Home a PS3? That's the real benchmark.

[leeeevy @ Nov 19th 2007 1:04PM]

dont buy alienware
they look really nice but i fell for the glitz and glamor and bought a laptop from them almost 3 years ago...have had to send it in with the same problem (overheating and turning off) 3 times and thats only because i needed the laptop so bad i couldnt afford the down time of not having it and sending it in
their customer service is TERRIBLE
my 3rd year of extended warranty is almost up and i have to send it in again for the same thing...dont know what ill do if the same issue crops up again

[bleh bleh @ Nov 24th 2007 3:01PM]

I am truly amazed people still play doom, that game looks like crap i have had like 3 new systems with all the best bells and whistles for the past few years and it looks like crap still. and the game is just boring. I have a home built rig now that cost me 3k and i run crysis full power. it is comprised of Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz, 2x Corsair Dominator Low latency DDR2, 1x BFG 8800GTX, 2x 150GB Raptors, EVGA 680i SLI mobo. I have been looking at what the price difference is between prebuilt rigs and putting one together that runs like it. and as for ait cards the 2900 xt is a dx 10 card and out performs the ultra in almost all games, taking that a few were made to run with the nvidia system. So most of you just osund like bias assholes who are just pissed because you cant afford them. This computer would run anything you put on it. and the 3800 cards are not for high end gaming that is why they are cheaper then the 2900. research and then maybe you people will be qualified to talk abotu such topics.