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Just when you thought the boutique system builder market had grown a bit state, Dell jumps in to try and freshen things up with its new Alienware X51, its smallest gaming desktop to date. The X51 is a small form factor (SFF) system with an equally small starting price of $699. It's built around Intel's second generation Core i3/i5/i7 platform and features an Nvidia GT or optional GTX class graphics card.
"The Alienware X51 allows us to bring the exciting nature of high-definition, immersive gaming within reach of more gamers than ever before," said Arthur Lewis, vice-president, Alienware and Product Management for Consumer, Small and Medium Business. "With the X51, we’ve expanded our gaming desktop offering to cater to all gamers in addition to our core enthusiast and competitive gamers. Now everyone can enjoy the latest games on a sleek, powerful, compact and customizable system. The X51 desktop delivers an incredible feature set for its size and price."
A baseline configuration consists of an Intel Core i3 2120 processor clocked at 3.3GHz, 4GB of DDR3-1333 memory, GeForce GT 545 graphics card, 1TB hard drive (7200 RPM), slot-loading DVD burner, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
Faster components are available with upgraded rigs starting at $899, $949, and $1,149. The latter beefs things up to a Core i7 2600 processor clocked at 3.4GHz, 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory, and GeForce GTX 555 graphics card.
Regardless of the configuration, all of them sport the same SSF chassis with a matte black finish, dark chrome accents, and three customizable lighting zones controlled by AlienFX software. The case can be oriented horizontally or vertically, giving users some flexibility in placement, such as underneath a desk or squeezed into a home theater.
Image Credit: Dell
Be sure to check out our autopsy of the Alienware X51 with additional info and a handful of pics of the internal configuration.
Comments are closed on this article
praack
January 18, 2012 at 10:10am
even the max config only gets you a terabyte and 8 gigs of memory,
other than the vid card not sure what the step up is for
not even a keyboard or mouse
unlike the other alienware products- this is a very low end build- I would place this as the most rebranded dell product alienware ever pumped out
mrtheferrett
January 18, 2012 at 9:32am
A few years ago I bought an Alienware rig after coveting them for years. Short version: biggest POS I've ever owned. Support was terrible. I wound up junking it after 10 months and going back to rolling my own.
It may have a great looking case and pretty lights but it's not worth money you had to work for.
457R4L
January 18, 2012 at 8:42am
the power supply only provides 150w to gpu. I could build a better mitx.
Joe The Plummer
January 18, 2012 at 9:29am
I was thinking the same thing. For $855 I could build a better rig that would have a GTX 550ti which is better than the 555.
Case: $75
Power Supply: $125
Memory: $75
i7 2600k: $280
Motherboard: $150
550ti: $150 (can probably get for less)
somethingelse
January 18, 2012 at 10:35am
@Joe The Plummer
What kind of case would you use? I'm looking to build my own mini-itx box, but most cases of this size support only single-slot, half height cards (AMD 6670 would be my best bet). And what kind of power supply that fits an SFF case with 2 PCIe?
I was looking at some in-win SFF cases...what do you suggest?
I'm not a big alienware fan but this box is...intriguing? :)
cmasupra
January 18, 2012 at 10:49am
I use the Silverstone SG07 for my mini-ITX rig. It easily fits my longer-than-usual GTX 470 (mine is 11.5", longer than a GTX 480) and comes with a 140mm PSU. The SG08 is the USB3 version of the case.
Joe The Plummer
January 18, 2012 at 10:46am
I was talking in general. I didn't have a micro case in mind but here is one from Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108196
allenm00
January 18, 2012 at 9:55am
I agree you can build a better system for the price of an Alienware, but I am afraid you failed. You forgot to include Windows and a storage device (ie. hard drive) which I assume they include with that price.
Joe The Plummer
January 18, 2012 at 10:48am
Didn't fail. So add $100 for a 1TB hard drive or 64GB SSD and another $100 for Windows 7 Home Premium. Still cheaper. I didn't include them because most people who are building have this stuff lying around and don't need to get them.
somethingelse
January 18, 2012 at 12:51pm
The In-Win case you linked to is the one I had in mind. However the 200 watt or optional 300 watt power supplies don't have 2 pcie power cables to run the GTX 555. This case can only fit a single slot low profile GPU...so it can't even fit a GTX 555 (or GTX 550 Ti). So it can't do what this alien does.
The Lian Li PC-Q08 and Silverstone cases that were suggested much bigger then the alienware. Sure they can fit bigger, more powerful components, but it's the size that's the main appeal of this box. So, so far...power to size ratio...i can't find anything better then alienbox...
Although an AMD A3800 APU with an AMD 6670 GPU in Cross-Fire might give it a run for it's money, still...and that can all fit in the In-Win BP655...with 2 drives :D
Joe The Plummer
January 18, 2012 at 1:46pm
I'm confused. I have the GTX 550 ti and it doesn't require two PCI-E power connectors. I have the EVGA model and it requires just 1 6 pin PCI-E cable but it comes with a 6 pin cable that splits into two regular molex hard drive connectors.
The real worry is finding one with +12V@25A
