Jump to content
Ghost Recon.net Forums

Alienware? Good / Bad?


Recommended Posts

I've been thinking of getting a new Hi-End Gaming Computer and I have been looking at the Alienware Computers. I see there reviews in PC Gamer and they are always good matter of fact I never see or here anything bad about them and that concerns me. So I now ask you my fellow gamers do you know anything about these Hi-End Gaming Computers?

Good or Bad Let me know.

This is what I'm looking at Getting.

P4 2.66 GHz

512mb RDRAM PC-1066

120GB Western Digital UltraATA 7200RPM 8Mb Cache HD

PlexWriter 48x24x48A CD-RW

ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128mb AGP Dual Monitor

SB Audigy 1394 5.1

Intel Pro/1000 Network Card

NEC19" FE991SB Monitor

Microsoft Windows XP Pro

Thanks for the input!

Link to post
Share on other sites

They are one of the top 3 pc manufacturers for gaming. Not only do they make high-quality pcs, they actually work. If you have to go prefab, they're a good choice.

The only difference you'd find between buying that and building one yourself is you'd save a lot of money building one and you'd also get to choose what specific components go into it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah I thought of that (building one myself) and I printed out the Specs of the Alienware system I want to see by how much I could save and it was around 500.00 maybe a little more. I was worried about the troubleshooting though how tough and frustrating would it be for a first timer? Putting the computer together is a not a problem but my troubleshooting is limited. Maybe 500.00 extra for the Alienware is worth it. I'll have no headaches when something wont work and I can't figure why. (but then again if the Alienware is buggy & wont work I'll be ######!) Decisions, Decisions.

I used PriceWatch.com to search for the best prices on the computer hardware if you have never been to pricewatch that place is great. I just ordered Plantronics 500 headphones for 65.00 at best buy they wanted 100.00.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Chances are you'll have problems with any pc. The difference there is Alienware offers a toll free support number for one year while you'll have to contact individual hardware manufacturers or resort to pc bulletin board communities online (which I've found is better than any tech support number could ever be).

It's just a matter of preference, but I, for one, am not going back to prefab no matter what.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I have one almost identical to what you have listed, if you decide to by it, and once you have it up and running, you'll crap. Its a nice machine. It is a bit noisy though, it has six cooling fans. When I bought mine, just over a year ago the Radeon 9700 video card was'nt available yet. As a matter of fact I ordered a GF 4 card but would have had to wait a month for that card to be released so I settled on the Geforce 3 card to hasten delivery. I dealt directly with Alienware (located in Florida) if I'm not mistaken, it took about two weeks, from ordering to delivery. I have'nt had any problems with it so I can't comment on their support, which is a good thing I guess. When I got it I did'nt know much about computers either, still got a lot learn. Next time around though, I like to do my own.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Alienware are great pc's a friend of mine has one and it hasnt had a single problem yet. I have a prefab/custom hybrid puter, and lots of troubles. But I wouldnt have ever learned half the stuff now if I hadnt gotten in it some. I blew a mobo, broke a fan, and once fried a psu at school but that is a different story and not all my fault. :D If you do decide to go custom though, you got the best tech support right here. Always willing to help out. ;) How much is the model you are looking at? And I think in not too long the Area 51 Series is to be killed off and replaced with the Predator systems so ya know. ;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

the Alienware computer I am looking at runs around 2,700.00 I think Im gonna go Alienware this time and maybe tweek the one I use now to get used to messing with the insides and maybe start to build one slowly when funds are avalible with the fourms help I think I could do it.

Thanks everyone for the comments on Alienware and the offer to help with any problems I may run into with building a computer. This fourm is great.

Link to post
Share on other sites

One thing you have to remember is the boutique PC makers like Alienware (tho now more mainstream and available in big box retail stores) Falcon-Northwest, and Voodoo is they also super tweak and overclock their machines to run as well as they do. That is one reason for their rather large price tag. That said, if I had the money for a one of the above, I would probably invest in one. They even will replace the parts under warranty if they fail from being overclocked as much as they do. Now if you do the same thing in your own homebuilt PC and a part fails, you have to ante up for the replacement part.

Which would you rather do?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Iv'e already got my eye on the top of the range Alieware comp since they moved over here as well, should be getting it in the next month or two, at least i will have this one to use as a back up in case of any repairs etc...

Link to post
Share on other sites

WhiteKnight, that's not true. Yes, they may tweak the OS for better performance, but they do not overclock unless it specificly says they do on a certain item. Secondly, all my parts have warranties. My PSU, case, cpu, mb, ram, hdd, you name it, ranging from 1-3 years. Just I have to send them off to seperate manufacturers instead of one company.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...