Alienware sneaks Core i7-980X Extreme Edition into Area-51 ALX desktop
We heard at Intel's GDC press event that Alienware would be one of the first PC manufacturers to ship systems with the newest six-core consumer processor, but neither company's representatives would confess to "when." Now, we've our answer... sort of. Hot Hardware has received a shiny new Alienware Area-51 ALX, complete with twin ATI Radeon HD 5970 GPUs, a self-contained LED system that stays lit even when the rig is unplugged (could be a great or awful thing, actually) and Intel's Core i7-980X Extreme Edition to boot. We're told that a full review is on the way, but in the meanwhile, you can hit the source link for a few more looks at this here monster -- you know you'll be ordering one in a few days, anyway.


















Why would the LEDS need to stay lit when this thing is unplugged?
@TangoEchoXray
Because its a rather simple ans......*stares into LEDs*
Pretty pretty.....shiny shiny......
What else does this expensive box-like lamp do?
@TangoEchoXray
Its powered by a BloomBox. Thats why its not plugged in.
@DeFlanko You mean Bloom Energy Server, wouldn't want to confuse anything now
@TangoEchoXray Kinda reminds me of the Simpsons episode in the "Mapple" store - "Oh, that light confirms that it's actually off"
@TangoEchoXray You ever work on your computer while it's still under the desk?
@TangoEchoXray I think they mean the internal LED lighting stays on when not plugged in. It's battery powered so you can change out hardware and not need flashlight. I actually have an Alienware Area 51 and the battery powered internal lighting is quite useful.
It's amazing that there are still people spending more than $1k on a desktop these days.
@TypeEE: imagine, in three years that pc will be less than US$600.oo.
@TypeEE SSD, Dual Graphics Cards, Motherboard, Chip, it's not that amazing if you love games, have some cash and want to power a sick 30" while having sick boots and load times for everything else.
@TypeEE
Someone wants a powerful desktop and that amazes you?
@Why should I have all the fun
I think he means that it's excessive to spend that much on a desktop these days. If you want to game, a $600 desktop will run everything just fine.
@TypeEE
*Sigh*
*Looks at 27" i7 iMac*
*Sigh*
@Devolve0
just fine isnt good enough.
i want my machine to contribute to global warming with the power it uses, and help find a solution to it with its processing power ;P
probably one of the most powerful rigs you can buy, BUT no thanks.
I made a configuration of almost $9000!
I love how we can have the ability of dreaming
@mikmik111 We used to do that when new Mac Pro's came out. I think we got one in the $20,000 range once.
@mikmik111
What was the name of the company/computers that used Asetek (sub-zero) cases that cost a fortune? If my memory serves right the sight had either some logos of the earth or some AIDS sign...okay my memory ain't working correctly -.-
Alienware? I'd rather not ever buy anything from that shoddy company. They're just barely a step above iBUYPOWER and CyberPowerPC.
@Prevacator Alienware is not a company by itself, it's a subsidiary of Dell. Get your facts right before trying to bitch some.
@dreamerkm
In fact they're worse now then they used to be since Dell took them over. I will continue bitching, because anyone who wastes their money on an Alienware product deserved to be bitched at.
@Prevacator Rumor has it they make good laptops, I wouldn't know but I trust the reviewers more than you.
@juanvaldez
They don't even make their own laptops, they're rebranded Compals and Clevos which they then add gaudy bright plastic vents to the front of, and repaint to make them look "alien."
You can get the same models without all that plastic crap from other resellers for less.
@Prevacator No one makes their own laptops.
@barry99705
Actually even though they're not manufactured in house, companies like Dell, Asus, Acer, HP, Apple, and Sony. Do design their specifications, build materials, etc in house.
Alienware laptops are not designed in house. They just buy Clevos and Compals, add those guady vents and other garbage to it, and sell them at higher prices than they should be sold at. I repeat again, at places like XoticPC and Sager you can buy those same Compals and Clevos, without the extra markup.
@dreamerkm
Po-ta-to : Po-tah-to. lol. Kinda hard to use phonetics online;)
@Prevacator
i just looked on the compal site, and by god, thats bull, there products are awful compared to alienware...
Alienware also offers the ability to upgrade your product when buying, i didnt see this option with compal
so, you know, OBVIOUSLY alienware just buy them, paint them, and sell them on...
Venting prevents explosi-on.
@To Hell
Depends on if you're using Nvidia with 196.75
Then it doesn't matter how many vents you have.
If only a mobile device had crazy power like that (rubs to patent office)
It's all about the gills.
I thought that people who were serious into gaming would build their own rigs rather than wasting money getting them pre-built.
@Wallyum It's sometimes cheaper/easier to just buy one prebuilt any more. Five to ten years ago it would have been cheaper to byo.
@Wallyum
no, lots of people have way more money than sense.
ummm if I were to upgrade to this processor on my area 51 what would I have to do? do I need a bios update? sorry I know nothing o_o
@BrownSound Depends on how old your current rig is now.
@BrownSound Oh, you'll also need $999 for the processor.
I just wish PC gaming was doing better to warrant these amazing rigs. The PC is so far ahead of consoles in sheer power but the industry focus is all on consoles. : (
@RKN Its true. With the massive increase in graphical capability new graphics cards have brought to PC's, you would think that PC graphics would now look several times better than consoles. But no, developers make games for consoles then do a crappy port for PC's. Ah well, we can still enjoy 2560x1600 plus 16X AA and AF bliss :-P
Not a big fan of Alienware for their exorbitant markups, but DAMN, if they sold that case as a standalone I would be first in line.