Entered CNET Catalog: 01/07/2006
SKU: PC AREA51 3550 R1 SKU DEFAULT
Manufacturer: Alienware Corporation
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Manufacturer description
Alienware Area-51 high-performance gaming systems are supercharged with the technology required providing a 3D gaming experience like no other. The level of performance of these machines can only be described in one word: Explosive! Architectural optimizations applied to raw processing power combine with Alienware techno-wizardry to deliver a level of quality and performance that definitively outpaces the competition. The Alienware Area-51 features the most powerful and advanced graphics technologies imaginable, ushering in a new era of visual computing rivaled only by multi-million dollar Hollywood special effects production studios. Making this all possible are key technologies such as next-generation PCI Express, programmable vertex and pixel shader engines, and dedicated high-speed memories specifically designed to maximize graphics performance.Product summary
The good: Well constructed; tidy cabling; quiet operation.
The bad: Basic wired keyboard and mouse; immense case; limited expansion options; standard warranty lasts a mere 90 days.
The bottom line: Alienware's Area-51 3550 hits all of the requirements for Intel's Viiv platform, but it doesn't achieve the level of performance we've come to expect from the boutique vendor.
Average user rating: from 4 users
0.5 stars
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 03/16/2006
Less a new technology than a convenient branding of familiar parts, a Viiv system is supposed to be optimized for multimedia use, mandating the Windows Media Center Edition operating system, 5.1 or 7.1 audio, and Intel's Quick Resume instant on/off technology. A dual-core CPU, in this case a Pentium D 920, is also part of the spec, and one of the more useful requirements of Viiv. Other things we think you need for a great entertainment PC--such as a TV tuner (which is included) and a decent video card (which isn't)--are not part of the Viiv requirement, so simply looking for the Viiv sticker may not be enough to satisfy all of your multimedia needs.
Pop open the front door of the Area-51 3550, and you'll see only a double-layer DVD burner and a multiformat card reader. After Alienware shipped our test unit, it decided to allow for configuring the system with additional optical drives (the original configuration page allowed for one only), which makes sense given the three available 5.25-inch bays. Four USB 2.0 ports lie along the bottom edge of the case's front, two on each side. In back are FireWire and USB 2.0 ports, along with the requisite Gigabit Ethernet jack and connections for the integrated 7.1-channel audio.
Sliding off the side panel for a peek inside drew a mixed reaction. The interior is tidy, with all cabling sheathed and tucked completely out of the way. Arranging the cables probably wasn't very challenging, however, with so few components inside. Alienware chose an Intel D945GPM MicroATX motherboard to support this model. Considering the hulking full-tower case, the board looks like a twin-size bed in the middle of an empty master bedroom. The board also severely limits card expansion; the one empty PCI slot is inaccessible, blocked by the graphics card. All that's open to you is one x1 PCI Express (PCIe) slot. A low-end, 128MB Nvidia GeForce 6200 TurboCache graphics card fills the x16 PCIe slot, and the remaining PCI slot is occupied by a single-tuner TV card. Two 120mm cooling fans spin inside, keeping the rig cool and quiet.
Our system came configured with one 250GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, with room for three more drives and two additional sticks of memory. These components can be bumped up on Alienware's Web site to a maximum of 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
Performance on CNET Labs' SysMark 2004 application benchmark tests was statistically even with the similarly configured Dell XPS 400 yielded an 11 percent boost in performance.
While it's hard to think of an Alienware system without thinking of gaming, the included GeForce 6200TC GPU isn't intended for 3D graphics. Its unplayable score of 2.1 frames per second (fps) on our 1,024x768-resolution Doom 3 graphics test is proof of that. The available upgrades aren't much to write home about, either. The video cards max out at a 256MB GeForce 6800GS, available for an extra $154. If you're looking for more muscle, the configurator politely suggests, "Need more graphics power? Click here to upgrade to the Area-51 5500."
The included TV tuner performed adequately, providing respectable picture quality on live and recorded programming. A dual-tuner upgrade is available for $50, or you can opt for just the MCE remote, if you don't plan to use the system as a DVR.
Bundled with the PC was a basic wired Microsoft keyboard-and-mouse set. One noteworthy optional accessory is the $152 Gyration Media Center remote, which can be used as an MCE remote or as a gyroscopic mouse outside of the MCE interface. An OEM version of Nero's CD/DVD creator was included, as well as Microsoft Works 8. A variety of monitors and speakers are available for bundling, but our system came with neither.
Service and support is a mixed bag. Alienware's AlienCare policy is a good one, with an extensive online knowledge base and driver downloads, but the basic warranty is only 90 days. At the very minimum, you should add $30 for a full year of coverage. Onsite service is available only for terms of one year or longer. Online chat support is available Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, and phone support is a toll-free call, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with limited hours on Saturday.
Application performance (Longer bars indicate better performance)
 |
BAPCo SysMark 2004 rating | |
SysMark 2004 Internet-content-creation rating | |
SysMark 2004 office-productivity rating |
Polywell Poly 975MCE-E (3.46GHz Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 955, 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM, 667MHz)
265
320
220
Dell XPS 400 (3.2GHz Intel Pentium D 940, 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz)
229
276
190
Alienware Area-51 3550 (2.8GHz Intel Pentium D 920, 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz)
206
242
176
HP Media Center m7360n (2.8GHz Intel Pentium D 920, 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM, 533MHz)
200
243
165
iBuyPower Viiv-350 (2.8GHz Intel Pentium D 820, 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz)
196
236
162
Doom 3 (Custom Demo) (in fps) (Longer bars indicate better performance)
|
Doom 3 1,024x768 4XAA 8XAF |
Polywell Poly 975MCE-E (Nvidia GeForce 7800GT (PCIe)
99.1
Dell XPS 400 (Nvidia GeForce 6800 (PCIe)
46.6
iBuyPower Viiv-350 (ATI Radeon X300 (PCIe)
5.6
HP Media Center m7360n (Nvidia GeForce 6200SE (PCIe)
2.7
Alienware Area-51 3550 (Nvidia GeForce 6200 Turbocache (PCIe)
2.1
Find out more about how we test desktop systems.
System configurations:
Alienware Area-51 3550
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 2.8GHz Intel Pentium D 920; Intel 945G chipset; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Nvidia GeForce 6200 Turbocache (PCIe); Hitachi, 250GB, 7,200rpm, SATA
Dell XPS 400 (Viiv)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 3.2GHz Intel Pentium D 940; Intel 945P chipset; 1,024MB DDR SDRAM 533MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 6800 (PCIe); (2) Maxtor, 250GB, 7,200rpm, SATA; integrated Intel (RAID 1)
HP Media Center m7360n
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 2.8GHz Intel Pentium D 920; Intel 945G chipset; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 6200SE (PCIe); Maxtor, 300GB, 7,200rpm, SATA
iBuypower Viiv-350
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 2.8GHz Intel Pentium D 820; Intel 945G chipset; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB ATI X300 (PCIe); Seagate, 160GB, 7,200rpm, SATA
Polywell Poly 975MCE-E
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 3.46GHz Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 955; Intel 975X chipset; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800GT (PCIe); (2) WDC WD740GD-00FLC0, 74GB, 10,000rpm, SATA, (2) Maxtor 7Y250M0, 250GB, 7,200rpm, SATA; Integrated Silicon SiL3114 SoftRAID5 (RAID 0)
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Total garbage, waste of money
Pros: none I can think of
Cons: HUGE, LOUD, expensive, no tech support
Review: This things sounds like a restroom hand dryer with optional noise-reduction kit. The case is HUGE and will not fit in any conventional spot- trust me the AW cases are bigger than you would ever believe- 2 or 3 times the volume of a Dell. Factory WAY overclocked so runs hot as the sun. 10min wait for a desktop. Crashes and seizes every 10-120 seconds. And the SECOND one from AW (first simply didn't power on). Tech support is worthless. Hyper-priced steaming pile of garbage.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Alienware Area-51 3550 SUCKS!
Pros: Great for games, but so is Dell XPS
Cons: Customer Service and Tech Service is HORRIBLE!!
Review: I just received my new Alienware Area-51 3550 on Friday June 30th 2006. I have had nothing but issues with my new computer. The LED lights don't work, the fan noise is loud, you can't touch the case without leaving finger prints all over it and the case is made out of cheap plastic. I had problems shutting down the computer and it took forever to start up. I called Alienware Tech support and they are clueless. I was feed up calling them so many time and no one having a clue how to repair the computer that I wanted to return it. I called customer service and all they would do is connect me with tech support. After spending 6 hours on the phone with customer support and tech support I requested a refund. They said they would take it back, but I had to pay a 15% restocking fee since that is their policy for any returns. I was shocked. They send me a piece of junk and I have to pay them over $500.00 in restocking fee and shipping fees. I will never again in my life order or recommend Alienware to anyone. Their customer service reps are horrible and hard to understand. Their tech reps are a joke. I spoke to one of their supervisor and he was even worse than their customer service reps. Don't waste your money with Alienware, go to Dell or another company.
Look up ALIENWARE SUCKS! in any search engine to see exactly what I mean and what everyone else is also saying. I wish I knew about it. It would have saved me money and time.
Look up ALIENWARE SUCKS! in any search engine to see exactly what I mean and what everyone else is also saying. I wish I knew about it. It would have saved me money and time.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Worst machine I ever owned
Pros: Color choice
Cons: Everything else, performance, service
Review: It took several service calls to get it to work. Performance was very bad. Quality was very bad. There was a loose screw floating around inside.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 4 user reviews
Worst piece of junk on the market!!
Pros: It has a cool look
Cons: 90 day warranty!!?? Can't get help from customer service.
Review: I gave this to my son for Christmas. His "dream" computer. It was delivered Nov 26. He got it Dec 25. The warranty started on confirmation it had been shipped. It hadn't even been taken out of the box. I was not aware of the ridiculous warranty or I would have never bought it in the first place. 90 days on a computer - COME ON! 3 days after THEY say warranty began, the computer stopped working. When I told them I wasn't aware of that policy, I was told it was MY responsibility to look at the shipping receipt for incorrect items. (How many times have you studied a SHIPPING RECEIPT?! Not only would they NOT recognize my warranty. The made me pay $39.00 to ask a question they couldn't assure me would even help. After 2 hours on the phone with the person, I was told either the power supply or the mother board was bad. THE TECHNICIAN recommended I take it to a local computer shop to determine which, to save me the astronimical cost of shipping the monster back & forth. At that time, I WAS TOLD, I could call back and order a replacement part to have installed locally. In good faith I follow his recomendations. When I call back to order a new power supply, I'm told THEY DON"T SELL PARTS! I HAVE TO SEND IT TO THEM, PAY FOR THE STUPID PART AND LABOR!!! After going completely ballistic he did give me the model number and tell me I can go somewhere else to buy the part.
NEVER,NEVER,NEVER buy Alienware! They are a totally pitiful company with an even worse product.
NEVER,NEVER,NEVER buy Alienware! They are a totally pitiful company with an even worse product.
