Dell Alienware X51 Gaming PC Starting from $699

Gaming, Notebooks, Technology News | Vin | January 19, 2012 at 6:41 am

Dell announced the Alienware X51, its smallest gaming desktop, designed to bring 1080p high-definition 3D PC gaming into the living room and to a more mainstream gaming audience. The versatile design enables customers to achieve high performance computing in virtually any living space with a dual-orientation chassis supporting 7.1 surround-sound audio and an optional Blu-Ray disc drive.

The sleek X51 unit with a matte “stealth” black finish tips the scales at just over 12 pounds, or about the weight of typical desktop replacement notebook. However, it’s smaller than one of those dreadnaughts. It’s roughly a square foot in size—13.5 inches high by 12.5 deep and a width of 3.74 inches.

Prices for the X51 range from $699 to $1149, depending on processor, graphics card and memory configurations. At the $699 end of the range, for example, the X51 has an Intel Core i3-2120 processor with a 3MB cache and running at 3.3GHz, 1GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GT 545 graphics and 4GB of RAM. That model, according to Alienware, is capable of playing Battlefield 3 at a frame rate of 34fps with high settings and 1080p resolution.

By contrast, the $1149 model has Intel Core i7 processor with an 8MB cache and running at 3.4GHz, 1GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GT 555 graphics and 8GB of RAM.

All models have a 1TB 7200RPM hard drive, WiFi support and include 64-bit Windows 7. None of the models include a keyboard, mouse or monitor, but those are items that most gamers customize, anyway.

The X51 also has six USB 2.0 ports—two in front and four at the rear—and two high speed USB 3.0 ports, also at the rear, and has two power supply options: 240 and 330 watts.

The unit also has an HDMI 1.4 port for connecting gaming hardware or a 3D TV to the computer, but 3D may require some extras like 120Hz 3D capable LCD display or compatible 3D TV and the NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit. Blu-ray and HD TV 1080p support is optional, too.

Alienware has also designed the X51 for easy access to key components inside the box, making it easy to swap the desktop’s CPU, graphics card, hard drive and memory.

Alienware X51 Product Specifications:

Intel Core i3 Dual Core (standard) and Intel Core i5 and i7 Quad Core Processor Options
Intel H61 Express Chipset Architecture
Mini-ITX Motherboard
Powerful NVIDIA Graphics Card Options
- 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 (Standard)
- 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 555
Configure with up to 8GB of DDR3 Memory (4GB Standard); 2x 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM Slots
Fast 7,200RPM 1TB Hard Driveiv
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader
Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software
Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Wireless LAN (standard)
USB 2.0 (6x); USB 3.0 (2x); Microphone In; Headphone/Speaker Out; HDMI 1.4 Output; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet; Front, Rear and Center Speaker Ports; SPDIF Digital Output (TOSLINK); SPDIF Digital Output (Coax)
Alienware 240 Watt Power Supply (Standard) or optional 330 Watt Power Supply
Dual-orientation tower system dimensions: h: 13.5″ (343mm) x w: 3.74″ (95mm) x d: 12.52″ (318mm)
Starting Weight: 12.1 lbs. (5.49 Kg.)

Availability and Pricing:
Alienware X51 is available now on Dell.com and Alienware.com with a starting price of $699. Alienware Gaming Services is available in the U.S. and Canada at this time.