Alienware systems

[tony4704]

I have built several custom machines. I have recently been looking at alienwares website and messing around with customizing machines. I really like how, if customized right, you can put a lot of high quality stuff in your computer. I was just wondering if anyone has any comments on alienware machines? thanks

 

[ribbon13]

Overpriced... Do it yourself.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Overpriced if you're comfortable doing it yourself. Better than Dell in some ways because P4 peformance is so much lower than A64 in games, but for midrange systems Dell can be a better prebuilt value if you catch the right Hot Deal.

 

[boyRacer]

It's definitely overpriced. But it's a business what else are they supposed to do? I don't understand why people slag them off over here... it's not like they're pointing guns at people's heads to buy their systems.

Anything they can do you can do on your own too. Except maybe those high-end ATI videocards... where releasing 5 of them counts as a worldwide release.

 

[Tarrant64]

I'm not so sure if Dell could ever be better than alienware, no matter if prices are higher. Dell, is Dell. I've replaced more Dell parts at my job than any other part here. RMA's left and right, and 3 replacements so far on Dell notebook motherboards. Never had a problem like that with Alienware.

I used to own an Alienware. From my experience, with Alienware you are paying for a sleek style, a top notch warrant, good tech support(with dell it was mostly a 1 on 1 what the hell did you just say conversation), and very good hardware. Nothing generic. Their systems come with recovery cd's(at least, i think they still do...or they have their own special recovery utility). Sure they may take a little bit of time to get things to you especially when you purchase it(horror stories of months to get a notebook from them), but in the end they deliver a very applaudable PC that even my friends who built custom PC's would like to have. Since my Alienware is dead now(long fiasco with purchasing alienware from bestbuy, then bestbuy and alienware not dealing with each other, and having 5 yr warrant with bestbuy that they couldn't honor to replace my notebook...i will forever hate bestbuy...), I have gotten back into the custom PC building, but never really felt as cool as I did when I had my alienware. Plus...don't flame alienware unless you talk about someone else like...i forget...is it Falcon? Voodo? $5000 easy for a computer from them. If you have patience and money is no issue, i see nothing wrong with them. Everyone is so into the CUSTOM stuff that they forget not everyone on these forums or in the world has time to really build a computer and troubleshoot everything by themselves. Ya know?

Good luck

 

[bigj3347]

voodoo and falcon nw are more expensive than alienware, but they're cases are so much better looking than alienware and dell. IMO.

 

[doublejbass]

There's nothing wrong with pre-built machines. However, pre-built g-l-amer PCs? Give me a break. Alienware and its ilk are targeting the lazy-ass loser who can't even fit in with his local fat, smelly gamer clan, doesn't have the willpower or intelligence to learn anything in the hour it would take to learn on the web, but still wants to be KING OF THE LAN PARTY and win ALL THE HO-HOS without doing any of the work. If you don't have time for that stuff, then you have no business buying an ENTHUSIAST PC. I don't blame Alienware and the other companies for making money. I blame the losers who soothe their self-esteem with that garbage.

 

[HansGroenewold]

Hello,

I had an Alienware on order, but they took too long to even start the PC so I cancelled the order and went with AddictPC.com Same system from Alienware would have cost $2400., from AddictPC.com the same exact spec system was $1800. and it rocks. I priced it out and it would have cost me $1400. to put it together myself.

Since I'm not too sure of myself doing that, it was worth the $400. to have someone else do it, not to mention the tech support and warranty. Check out the system they built for me, I highly recommend them. http://www.addictpc.com/index.php?gal=1...s/Athlon%2064%203500%2B%20Socket%20939

By the way, I'm not a loser, just a 52 year old who wanted a good gaming PC out of the box. What's a LAN party anyway? You have to buy anything there?


Sincerely,
Hans Groenewold

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: doublejbass
There's nothing wrong with pre-built machines. However, pre-built g-l-amer PCs? Give me a break. Alienware and its ilk are targeting the lazy-ass loser who can't even fit in with his local fat, smelly gamer clan, doesn't have the willpower or intelligence to learn anything in the hour it would take to learn on the web, but still wants to be KING OF THE LAN PARTY and win ALL THE HO-HOS without doing any of the work. If you don't have time for that stuff, then you have no business buying an ENTHUSIAST PC. I don't blame Alienware and the other companies for making money. I blame the losers who soothe their self-esteem with that garbage.

Take a chill pill man. You have issues. Obviously you don't understand that it's not possible for everyone to build a computer just because you can. Dont' be stupid and post crap like that man.

 

[Waylay00]

I agree with Tarrant. Alot of people on these forums (and others) think they know everything and expect everyone else to as well. Not everybody is very knowledgeable about computers. It has taken me two and a half years to gain the knowledge that I currently own, yet I still don't know everything.

 

[Kishan]

OT: If the Dell has a 3.2 with a 6800GT and the Alienware has a 3.2 with a 6800GT, can the Alienware be that much faster? Maybe only in OCing? Best bet is to get a Dell with a 17inch for 5-600, add in a nice vid card. Basic gamer should be fine.

 

[Cha0s]

they got nice cases

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: KPSHAH316
OT: If the Dell has a 3.2 with a 6800GT and the Alienware has a 3.2 with a 6800GT, can the Alienware be that much faster? Maybe only in OCing? Best bet is to get a Dell with a 17inch for 5-600, add in a nice vid card. Basic gamer should be fine.

You're right, maybe one isn't as faster than the other, but you're leaving about looks and other things. Brands used, aesthetics(is that the right word), extras, online support, things like that. Sometimes it's the 'bundle' your paying for, not the equipment.

 

[dev0lution]

It's like someone buying a high-end sports car vs fixing up a domestic or import. Depends on whether you want the satisfaction of putting it all together, tuning it, and getting screaming performance for the cost. Some people just like plunking down the extra cash and not having to worry about anything else.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

I agree with Waylay00 and Tarrant64, I'm glad to see some people not automatically bash Alienware.

I'm using an Alienware system right now...sorta. It's 2+ years old and I recently swapped out most of the parts for upgrades. Right now the only thing that makes it an Alienware is the mouse, keyboard, case, mouse pad, and customized Alienware Windows XP. Otherwise it's built by me.

My experience with Alienware has been pretty good. Could be better if customer support wasn't overseas :disgust:. Two years ago I didn't even know it was possible to build my own PC! If I did I would have taken the time to research the stuff and saved a ton a money.

I prefer FNW though. And there are many other custom PC manufactures cheaper and probably just as good as Alienware.

SIDE NOTE: I"M SELLING AN X800 XT PE FOR $550! I payed $543 for it. AND I got an X850 XT PE for $499. I'm so lucky!

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: bigj3347
voodoo and falcon nw are more expensive than alienware, but they're cases are so much better looking than alienware and dell. IMO.

I agree 100%.

But I guess my case doesn't look so bad.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

If you are happy with Alienware and enjoy the PC you ordered from them than they are good.

I enjoy building my own PC's. If other people want to buy a nice gaming rig then there is nothing wrong with that. In fact before I taught myself how to build computers I was going to save up and buy an Alienware a few years ago. I don't like the style of their new cases but you can configure and have them build a very nice rig.

 

[Tarrant64]

Yeah, very good statments just made. After my alienware-bestbuy fiasco, I just started buildling my own rigs. However, for a notebook computer I am looking at another alienware. (If only i could custom build my own, now that would be somethin', wouldn't it?)

 

[bigj3347]

I think it was three years ago when ECS offered a barebone laptop. The buyer gets to choose which intel proc, amount ram and hd size. I had to replace motherboards on all RMA'd laptops that ECs received and i can tell you it is a huge P.I.T.A. there were four different size of screws that locked down the motherboard and just taking it apart took forever. I think the reason we don't get the chance to build our own laptop is that all laptop chassis have to have custom motherboards to fit the chassis. Everyone has their own tastes as far as laptop designs go so there's no way to create an industry standard for laptop motherboards. O yea, btw, the ECS barebone offering was 1) UGLY and 2) HUGE, maybe thats why it never really got off the ground.

 

[Tarrant64]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I took a laptop apart once and let me tell you, it was not pretty. I had parts everywhere, small tiny parts that I couldn't keep track of or remember where they went. I've seen a dell guy rip one out and replace it in like 20 minutes though. I was actually impressed for once by a techy from dell....
Anyways, I do think it would be nice to see an all-around manufacturer again for notebook comptuers. You know, somewhere where you can pick the case, type of mobo, chip, everything. ya know? Kinda like custom buildling a desktop.
Anyone ever seen this done?

 

[iamskew]

You could train a monkey to build a PC...just build it yourself