Alienware brings quad graphics support to ALX CrossFireX

Believe it or not, Alienware's Aurora ALX rig was boasting quad SLI support two whole years ago. After yesterday's official launch of ATI's CrossFireX technology, now the ALX has another partner in quad GPU crime. Dubbed the Area-51 ALX CFX, this rig features a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a bevy of HDD choices, optional Blu-ray burner, a 1,000-watt power supply and of course, twin 1GB Radeon HD 3870 X2 cards (four GPUs in all). Granted, this thing will run you at least $5,649 as a CrossFireX-equipped rig, so think carefully if slicing into your son's college fund is really worth 4x the graphical mayhem.

[Ignatius @ Mar 5th 2008 9:54PM]

Only 4GB? 64-bit Vista (Home Premium and up) will allow 16GB.

No more pagefiling!

[Chebwa @ Mar 5th 2008 9:59PM]

I believe some editions of Vista can recognize 128GB of RAM and up.

And on a side note, I just installed 64-Bit Vista on my desktop and it is FANTASTIC. Rock solid and very quick.

[Ignatius @ Mar 5th 2008 10:12PM]

The only problem now is the wait for 64-bit compatible drivers for most hardware/programs.

[Kelmon @ Mar 6th 2008 2:46AM]

Out of all the specs, a measly 4GB RAM MAXIMUM was the one that jumped out at me. Heck, even a laptop these days should support 4GB (mine tops out at 3GB, unfortunately) so a desktop should certainly be beyond that given a 64-bit processor and OS. Mind you, if all you are going to be doing with it is playing games then perhaps this doesn't matter so much but it seems a silly restriction given the power of the rest of the system.

[Ignatius @ Mar 6th 2008 5:53AM]

It will matter greatly, actually. With constant pagefiling, being limited to say, only 3.5GB (maximum Windows XP/Vista can detect in 32-bit installations), Crysis will run extraordinarily slower than with 8GB in a 64-bit installation.

[blu0ray @ Mar 5th 2008 9:56PM]

is their anywhere I can get a alienware case? I heard they were selling only the case a limited time a while ago...any heads up?

[derred @ Mar 6th 2008 12:33PM]

you are actually correct. I got one of those and filled it with Newegg's components. I admit I lost couple bucks on the casing yeah, but at least I am saving alot more than buying all of em from Alienware.

[eggothewaffle @ Mar 5th 2008 9:58PM]

Wait, wait wait...

...Since when did Battlefield 2142 need quad SLI?

[daschupa @ Mar 6th 2008 1:00AM]

What, you play under 500 fps? Pfft, and you call that gaming.

[eggothewaffle @ Mar 6th 2008 1:14AM]

I'm still using a dual SLI visual cortex :[

[Chebwa @ Mar 5th 2008 10:01PM]

What the hell is going on in that picture? The reflections look all screwed up.

[fischju @ Mar 5th 2008 10:13PM]

I *think* it may be a shop. Mainly because of the aliasing on the back of the case (overlapping the monitor)

[kevin @ Mar 6th 2008 1:55AM]

Guys, the picture looks weird because the super-shiny case is reflecting the screen. the monitor is actually partway behind the computer.

[Chebwa @ Mar 6th 2008 1:59AM]

No, I knew that much already (although to be completely honest, I had to look at it for a minute to catch that). It still looks *wrong* to me, though... o_O

[blarvh @ Mar 6th 2008 9:58AM]

Well the reflection should obviously be angled upwards.
Someone didn't pay attention in art class.

[Eric B. @ Mar 5th 2008 10:20PM]

THIS Vs. HP Blackbird!

It's on!

I vote blackbird. Better case design

[robothouse @ Mar 5th 2008 10:24PM]

That's the equivalent of saying a car will go faster because it has flame decals.

[PRONSALFJKS @ Mar 5th 2008 10:50PM]

or its like having racing stripes! mines bigger than yours!

[Krono6 @ Mar 5th 2008 11:13PM]

I don't know what you're talking about, after I've had these 'speed holes' in place, my car definitely goes faster.

[Eric B. @ Mar 6th 2008 9:28AM]

So they are the same basically?

[Chris @ Mar 5th 2008 10:15PM]

Actucally, I checked the site and the cpu is overclocked to 4ghz which is pretty good considering its a quad core but expected at that price.

[Jesse S @ Mar 5th 2008 11:16PM]

Where is my curved display?

[frankXchange @ Mar 6th 2008 12:14AM]

If I spent that much money on a gaming computer, I'd want a HUGE friggin monitor - one of those curved ones perhaps. But will be enough to play Crysis?

[Kris Quigley @ Mar 6th 2008 12:37AM]

Can it play Doom?

[ugg.tryptophan @ Mar 6th 2008 3:53AM]

what is this, 2004?

[AETH3R @ Mar 11th 2008 9:43PM]

OH YEAH DUDE IT PLAYS DOOM, AND WORLD OF WARCRAFT.

[Bevon Findley @ Mar 6th 2008 1:11AM]

I R Broke

[paradigmsick @ Mar 6th 2008 8:05AM]

1000 watts, u need ur own nuclear core for that kind of operations. Might as well come with an industrial 3 phase connection.

[MaXKiLLz @ Mar 6th 2008 8:39AM]

Don't these companies realize that PC gaming is not really happening anymore? Let me see, spend $5000+ on a game pc, or $350 on a console with a library that grows on a weekly basis. Hmmm, that's a tough one.

[derred @ Mar 6th 2008 12:40PM]

shut up. Stop this console vs. PC thing. Can your console do a website or photo-editing? No. What are you, 16? or maybe some broke ass dude? Most of the time people who can bought an Alienware can bought consoles too. So that means they have all of them in their houses. So there is no point for you to compared; oh console bla bla bla STFU and jerk off to ur pr.. oh wait, you have a console didnt chu?

[followthereaper @ Mar 6th 2008 2:08PM]

Lol! Haha! My PS3 has a browser, so YES! I can indeed watch porn lol. Anyway, if I want to spend a lot on a decent gaming PC I think I reserve the right to! If I want a PS3 to play some other games, well, I think I reserve the right to buy a PS3. Dude, why would you even say such a stupid thing! *slap*

[derred @ Mar 6th 2008 2:23PM]

@followthereaper,

indeed! I agree with you totally. If you were talking to me, not I dont said stupid. I said it's no point comparing which one is a better buy since most of Alienware potential buyers or current users can most probably buy both consoles and PCs. So stop this comparison stuffs cause I am sick of it.

There are still people who play ancient Mario with ancient Nintendo console. Point is, as long as people happy with their systems (be it consoles or PCs), stop pretending to be smart ass and if I have $5000.. stop flaming people like they are so dumb to spend money on, u just don't have the money so STFU. People who have it can do whatever they want with $5000 it's their money not yours..

I know it's a waste sometimes when you can save more, but that is from customer point of view. If you the companies, that is exactly what you will want.

[mr_icyfire @ Mar 9th 2008 3:31PM]

$5000+ this is why I no longer do PC games...a one time $500 console will be fine till the next gen comes out in about 6 years.