Alienware Area 51 worth it?

Desslok

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2001
3,780
11
81
The way I have it configure it comes out to roughly 1400. I was looking at systems from Falcon Northwest and ABS. The systems from Falcon were too "plain jane" for me and while the 'Frag Box" is sweet, I will need more slots than it has. So I guess the choices come down to ABS and Alienware or build it myself. Does anyone have an Area 51? Are they worth the premium?
 

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
4,698
0
71
Platinum member and you don't know how much of a ripoff that is? Build it yourself or look at the hot deals you can get a pretty good one from Dell for cheaper.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
hahaha,
please tell me where exactly would the premium be. If you take the alianware PC and a box that some guy built himself, point out where exactly is the premium hiding
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
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Hell yeah they are worth it. You get a cool alien looking case, and it's all painted, and it has a cool name like aurora or something. And all that tech support, that is the real deal, not some Indian guy across the globe. And they paint your keyboard and mouse too. I'd pay like twice as much and it'd be worth it.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: halik
hahaha,
please tell me where exactly would the premium be. If you take the alianware PC and a box that some guy built himself, point out where exactly is the premium hiding

On the price maybe?
 

TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
5,742
1
0
Originally posted by: Desslok
The way I have it configure it comes out to roughly 1400. I was looking at systems from Falcon Northwest and ABS. The systems from Falcon were too "plain jane" for me and while the 'Frag Box" is sweet, I will need more slots than it has. So I guess the choices come down to ABS and Alienware or build it myself. Does anyone have an Area 51? Are they worth the premium?

If you want a fancy painted case, alienware tech support, and that's about it, yeah, they're worth it. Otherwise you could probably build your own for cheaper with parts from newegg.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
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Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Originally posted by: Desslok
The way I have it configure it comes out to roughly 1400. I was looking at systems from Falcon Northwest and ABS. The systems from Falcon were too "plain jane" for me and while the 'Frag Box" is sweet, I will need more slots than it has. So I guess the choices come down to ABS and Alienware or build it myself. Does anyone have an Area 51? Are they worth the premium?

If you want a fancy painted case, alienware tech support, and that's about it, yeah, they're worth it. Otherwise you could probably build your own for cheaper with parts from newegg.

Yeah but don't the alienware parts come from Area 51 surplus or something? Newegg doesn't carry that.
 

AaronB

Golden Member
Dec 25, 2002
1,214
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0
People with a small penis buy them.

BTW, I was able to configure one for "$5,756.00 as low as $173/mo.*"

Can anyone build one that is more expensive? :D (think of it as the opposite of a Dell deal)
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Originally posted by: Desslok
The way I have it configure it comes out to roughly 1400. I was looking at systems from Falcon Northwest and ABS. The systems from Falcon were too "plain jane" for me and while the 'Frag Box" is sweet, I will need more slots than it has. So I guess the choices come down to ABS and Alienware or build it myself. Does anyone have an Area 51? Are they worth the premium?

If you want a fancy painted case, alienware tech support, and that's about it, yeah, they're worth it. Otherwise you could probably build your own for cheaper with parts from newegg.

Yeah but don't the alienware parts come from Area 51 surplus or something? Newegg doesn't carry that.

What the hell are you talking about?
 

elTaco

Banned
Dec 26, 2003
71
0
0
Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Originally posted by: Desslok
The way I have it configure it comes out to roughly 1400. I was looking at systems from Falcon Northwest and ABS. The systems from Falcon were too "plain jane" for me and while the 'Frag Box" is sweet, I will need more slots than it has. So I guess the choices come down to ABS and Alienware or build it myself. Does anyone have an Area 51? Are they worth the premium?

If you want a fancy painted case, alienware tech support, and that's about it, yeah, they're worth it. Otherwise you could probably build your own for cheaper with parts from newegg.

Yeah but don't the alienware parts come from Area 51 surplus or something? Newegg doesn't carry that.

What the hell are you talking about?

S.A.R.S *cough* casms
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
If money isn't a problem for you, and you're too lazy to configure one yourself, and like the case, then i would say go for it. They do make kickass system, and they look sweet. But you're paying twice the price for a similar system you can build yourself. That said, from your OP, i would say you don't have the money if you're looking at the low end systems, inwhich case i would say with $1400, you can build a highend system, or get a sh1tty system from Alienware with only a 5200FX card.

BTW, Raidmax makes the alienware cases... but Raidmax haven't started selling the cases. But they have other sweet looking cases. I've been building systems with Raidmax cases for awhile now.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
25,375
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Okay, straight from their website:

...you will also receive a personalized owner's manual with your machine's specific performance benchmarks and a 200-point quality checklist.

A tremendous level of pre and post sales support backs up every Alienware® machine which includes 24/7 Toll-Free technical support. Alienware sales representatives are avid gamers who understand your needs and can help you customize your dream machine.


See, if you build it at home there is no way you're getting personalized manuals and quality checklists. They are even gamers too! And what about their AlienIce cooling system? I searched Newegg for AlienIce and I didn't find anything! That's worth a few hundred right there!
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Okay, straight from their website:

...you will also receive a personalized owner's manual with your machine's specific performance benchmarks and a 200-point quality checklist.

A tremendous level of pre and post sales support backs up every Alienware® machine which includes 24/7 Toll-Free technical support. Alienware sales representatives are avid gamers who understand your needs and can help you customize your dream machine.


See, if you build it at home there is no way you're getting personalized manuals and quality checklists. They are even gamers too! And what about their AlienIce cooling system? I searched Newegg for AlienIce and I didn't find anything! That's worth a few hundred right there!

rolleye.gif


Do up your own benchmark manual.
AT is 24/7 toll free tech support.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
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Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Okay, straight from their website:

...you will also receive a personalized owner's manual with your machine's specific performance benchmarks and a 200-point quality checklist.

A tremendous level of pre and post sales support backs up every Alienware® machine which includes 24/7 Toll-Free technical support. Alienware sales representatives are avid gamers who understand your needs and can help you customize your dream machine.


See, if you build it at home there is no way you're getting personalized manuals and quality checklists. They are even gamers too! And what about their AlienIce cooling system? I searched Newegg for AlienIce and I didn't find anything! That's worth a few hundred right there!

rolleye.gif


Do up your own benchmark manual.
AT is 24/7 toll free tech support.

Fine, but what about all that spook technology from Area 51 that they used to develop their machines? I heard the CEO of Alienware is actually an ex-spook.
 

axemanxt40

Senior member
May 13, 2003
488
0
0
Originally posted by: AaronB
People with a small penis buy them.

BTW, I was able to configure one for "$5,756.00 as low as $173/mo.*"

Can anyone build one that is more expensive? :D (think of it as the opposite of a Dell deal)

I completely disagree with that, and I am not talkin about in the literal sense either. Premades are for people who feel uncomfortable building their own, or are too lazy to make their own.

It is like going to a restaurant, why go when you can cook your own? Chances are you are either bad at cooking, or lazy, or just don't have the time. And why go to a 5 star restaurant when you can go to a cheap one? Same thing with choosing a PC vendor...people want quality (and for some reason don't feel like doing it themselves).

As for the original poster, I would not recommend Alienware because I feel their management is disgusting. I think their actual product is fairly good, but bad management = long build times, "the run around" when trying to get your system, and lastly their tech support is sub par IMO.
 

TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
5,742
1
0
Originally posted by: AaronB
People with a small penis buy them.

BTW, I was able to configure one for "$5,756.00 as low as $173/mo.*"

Can anyone build one that is more expensive? :D (think of it as the opposite of a Dell deal)

$9,167.00 as low as $275/mo.*