This is the Alienware X51 in question: Dell Alienware X51 Gaming Desktop Core i7-6700K 16GB RAM 2TB HDD NVIDIA 4GB NEW
How much would it cost to build a PC identical to this myself?
Considering an Alienware X51 $2,199 Model ($1732 if I wait for 21.25% off via Dell eBay plus Cashrewards) - Is it worth it?
Vustom on 08/04/2016 - 20:44
Last edited 08/04/2016 - 20:45
Last edited 08/04/2016 - 20:45
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Yeah, I figured as the latest one was last month. Not in a rush to get it just yet.
Install Gentoo.
Don't do it. Unless you must have the LEDs etc, you'll get a lot better value elsewhere.
If you're happy to spend $1700 on a new desktop, this one (https://www.pccasegear.com/products/35197/pccg-razer-970-gam…) will have at least double the gaming performance of that X51.
Isn't the CPU better on the Alienware one?
It has more RAM too but that seems pretty cheap these days. The main difference I can see is the GPU, would that be right?
I've always heard Alienware are over priced but with the sale price I listed I was hoping it'd even out more.
i7 is a waste of time with gaming - no games support more than 4 cores anyway.
8GB RAM is more than enough, but as you say it isn't particularly expensive.
The GPU is what really lets that Alienware down - a 745! That's a generation older and several tiers lower than the 970 in the PCCG build klaw81 linked you to. Here is a comparison between the 970 and the 750Ti, a more powerful card than the one in the Alienware.
The PCCG build also includes an SSD, which the Alienware doesn't. It also uses higher quality components meaning you will get more life out of it. For example the Alienware has a 240W power supply of dubious quality, meaning you couldn't upgrade the GPU without doing the PSU as well.
The GPU is by far the most important part of a gaming system; the GPU in the Alienware machine is really weak, and would struggle with pretty much any modern game these days. There's absolutely no way they can justify such a crazy price for a such a rubbish gaming system.
The GPU in the PCCG is capable of running an Oculus Rift - it's easily 3 times more powerful than the Alienware. And yes, it only has an i5 and 8GB RAM, but that's plenty for most games still.
How much would it cost to build a PC identical to this myself?
Don't do an identical build, as others have said the GPU on the Alienware is basically useless for any decent gaming. The CPU is good but it will be massively bottlenecked by the old GPU so stay away.
The PCCG build posted by klaw81 is good value. Yes the CPU on the Alienware is better (faster and able to overclock) but not by a lot.
I've done a quick build here for you
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
Type Item Price CPU Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor $335.00 @ IJK CPU Cooler Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler $99.00 @ CPL Online Motherboard Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard $179.00 @ CPL Online Memory Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory $109.00 @ Umart Storage Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $126.00 @ CPL Online Storage Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $98.00 @ CPL Online Video Card MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card $498.30 @ Newegg Australia Case NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case $105.00 @ CPL Online Power Supply EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply $129.00 @ CPL Online Operating System Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) $139.00 @ CPL Online Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts Total $1817.30 Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-10 09:41 AEST+1000 It costs $117 more than the PCCG build but it has
A better CPU and cooler (for overclocking)
Double the RamBut the PCCG build will be…
Built for you
Covered by warrantySo it really depends on what you want, but do definitely stay away from the Alienware listing. It is pretty but it's really not worth it
Love mine. Worth every cent.
Only upgrade was GTX960.
Check one of the threads I listed a comparable SFF system and it came out roughly the same.
You're gonna be waiting a while bro.
The 20% off the dell store doesn't come around that often.