Is buying from Alienware worth it?

[Itachipirate]

I was curious about Alienware's price to performance ratio for gaming purposes so I went on the Alienware website to see what it would cost to build a similar desktop computer yourself. The model I chose for comparison was the Alienware Area-51 R2 2014 desktop computer, as it was the cheapest coming in at $1,699 without any peripherals. (link) [www.dell.com]. To create a fair comparison I tried to replicate the parts on PCPartpicker.com. The build I came up with can be found here [pcpartpicker.com], I only used parts that were the same or better than what was listed on the Alienware website. They did not list the motherboard on their website, because with prebuilt computers it's not really a selling point, so I searched around for the comprehensive specifications here [http//ftp].

Part Comparison Breakdown

Parts found here [pcpartpicker.com]. Jusk desktop in both cases with NO peripherals.

• CPU - Same as listed by Alienware
  
  
• CPU Cooler - Corsair single-fan thick radiator closed CPU water cooler similar to the unbranded cooler seen on the Alienware Area 51
  
  
• Motherboard - The motherboard I chose is a clear winner. It uses the x99 chipset instead of the Alienware which uses the "x99 Express chipset" which I could find no information about. The motherboard I chose supports more and faster RAM, Has better onboard audio, and more expandability, compatability, and I/O ports than the Alienware motherboard
  
  
• RAM - The RAM I chose is the same capacity and speed, but is quad channel so is also a clear winner over the Alienware defaulted dual channel memory. Alienware does not list CAS latency but the RAM I chose is CAS 13 which is nearly the fastest CAS among DDR4 memory running at this speed
  
  
• Hard Drive - Alienware only lists that the hard drive is 2tb and 7200rpm which is all well and good except there's no brand information or cache size listed. I chose a WD Black 2tb 7200rpm drive. WD Black is one of the fasted HDD based storage drives on the market. Although a SSD for the OS could be added for at least $80 that would improve boot time by about 800gazillion percent this Alienware does not include an SSD by default, and so to keep comparisons close I didn't add an SSD
  
  
• GPU (Graphics card) - I was very surprised to see a "Gaming" computer with an overall budget geared so far away from the GPU. It's crazy to see a gaming computer with a CPU so much more expensive than the GPU. This is not optimal for gaming, but more for multi-tasking, video editing, and general utility. The R9 270 is a cheap and hot-running video card that's been shoved into this case, right next to the overpowered PSU which most likely gets very hot on it's own. In the case of the GPU i chose, it is the same chipset with an MSI Twin Frozr cooler. Which is one of the best air cooling GPU solutions on the market. Thermal throttling will NOT be a problem in my part list. The case I chose most likely has much better airflow then Alienware's custom case. (I've used this specific case on a build with an ASUS GTX 780 TI that never went over 75Degrees under stress testing)
  
  
• Case - Alienware uses a strangely shaped case that, just by my own visual speculation, has poor airflow with only front and rear airflow vents. The CPU is in a closed-circuit water cooling system so this shouldn't be a problem on either machine for CPU throttling, but remember this is gaming oriented. The CPU is bound to stay cool but the GPU is a bigger concern for gaming. With the alienware case the GPU will most likely thermal throttle and reduce performance, Alienware put their GPU bays right by the nonlisted efficiency and overpowered (BAD) PSU. The case I chose is a very high quality and popular case with a window and plenty of airflow room and expandability. I have used this case in computer builds and it is a great, silent case with superb cooling
  
  
• PSU (Power supply) - Alienware chose an 850w "mystery efficiency" PSU. Their computer will NOT EVER USE 850w so power is wasted and more heat is created. I chose a 650w Semi modular 80+ gold power supply from Cooler Master which is a much better choice. It will power the computer with no problem, generate less heat, be quieter, and save money on the power bill
  
  
• Optical (Disc) Drive - Alienware doesn't include much information except that there is a single Dual Layer DVD/CD reader/burner. The disc drive I chose wins here.
  
  
• Operating System - Same operating system, Windows 8.1
  
  
• Sound Card - Originally I was going to include a dedicated sound card. But after checking what the Alienware was toting in the sound department, It was obvious a sound card woul be a waste in terms of a comparison build. The alienware has a 5.1 channel integrated sound controller. The motherboard I chose already includes integrated 7.1 ch ALC1150 sound for better compatability and better sound quality.

Comparison Conclusion, PROs and CONs

The computer I built on PCPartpicker:
PROs:

• Faster RAM and GPU (no thermal throttling)
  
• Less expensive at time of posting in US
  
• Most likely colder running
  
• More compatability and room for upgrades
  
• More efficient
  
• Practically shaped case
  
• Better
  
• Guarunteed no bloatware

CONs:

• You have to build it yourself which can be scary and dangerous for inexperienced people.
  
• I did not include Bluetooth or Wireless networking solutions in part list
  
• Takes time to setup and there is room for user error
  
• Less convenient at first

Alienware Area 51 2014 model default configuration
PROs:

• If you have no idea what you're doing you can call Dell for help
  
• Conveniently pre-built and ready to go out of the box
  
• Onboard wireless internet and Bluetooth
  
• Custom and originally shaped case
  
• Almost no room for human error
  
• Pay-by-month options
  
• Still better than every console ever made

CONs:

• Worse
  
• Alienware brand name carries negative connotations amongst many gamers
  
• Possible GPU thermal throttling
  
• May include bloatware that will slow down computer
  
• Less options for customization then a custom built PC
  
• Worse price-to-performance ratio

I'm not trying to tell you which is better, each person is different with different values. Prebuilt computers are more convinient but less customizable. In the case of this Alienware compared to my computer part list you could buy all of the parts, plus a WIFI/Bluetooth card if you wanted it, pay someone to build you computer (max you should pay for that is around $60), and still save money for a better computer.

[👽H€L¡XX®]

Diposting pertama kali oleh MiddleFinger77:

Folks that buy Aaliem-ware computers usually dont wanna boder buidling there own system or dont have the will to do so but im any case iam always sure a better system can be built with a little research, this is not anything new. They charge a Premium to do the work for you, and if your Stupid enough to fall for it-Hey why not another sucker down and many more to go!......Origin Pc, Cyberpower or whatever there called same thing.If you build it they will come lol.


I would NEVER buy a Dell or alienWare as you may call it.

A lot of people seem to think they can't build their own PC I don't know why.Todays hardware is so much easier than ever before.But-if you want to be victimized by a sweatshop custom builder It's your cnoice......the key is REASERCH.................

[mika]

Hey I couldnt agree more but iam just saying some people dont want the hassle so they would pay up-front.You cant say there no market for it-there is obviously. I almost ended-up buying an Old Alien-ware Aurora Pc back in the day- I knew nothing about hardware and thought to myself this must be the best there is if there asking close to $3000 for it lol. Little did I know its an overpriced DELL with a fancy alien looking case and some neon lights haha. I almost bought the damm thing too!

And $60 dollars for someone to build your computer for you lol? Where did you come-up with that rate iam just cuirious?......MicroCenter will charge you 3 or 4 fold that amount just to set-up and configure your new gaming rig- Do you even relize how much time goes into building a custom computer? They you have Overclocking,Testing, Benchmarking ect.......$60 dollars for someone to do all that work for you? For that amount the only thing you can get is a Hardrive swap iam sorry to say,and pro will tell you to FO if you say build me a computer ill pay you $60 dollars lol!

$200-$250 per System my friend, if not more.

[Itachipirate]

Diposting pertama kali oleh rotNdude:

My apologies, after looking at it I see you priced what you thought would compare. My opinion was based on when you said quad channel RAM and a different PSU.

You won't be running quad channel RAM unless you get 4 RAM modules and A-Data RAM is not much better than Dell RAM.

The power supplies that Dell puts in their Alienware PCs are pretty good and that Cooler Master power supply that you chose is not what I would choose for a PSU. Also a power supply only outputs what is needed to power the system. The efficiency of the power supply will add a little more heat to your case, but not much. If you want me to explain this a little better with calculations, please let me know.

My bad I didn't realize that I chose 2 ram sticks, but this will make it a better comparison anyway because I couldn't find an x99 motherboard with 5.1ch audio, dual channel, and full ATX size. The power supply by Cooler Master has a 9.4 rating on Jonnyguru, is 80+ gold certified, and Cooler Master has always been a trusted brand of mine

[👽H€L¡XX®]

Diposting pertama kali oleh MiddleFinger77:

And $60 dollars for someone to build your computer for you lol? Where did you come-up with that rate iam just cuirious?......MicroCenter will charge you 3 or 4 fold that amount just to set-up and configure your new gaming rig- Do you even relize how much time goes into building a custom computer? They you have Overclocking,Testing, Benchmarking ect.......$60 dollars for someone to do all that work for you? For that amount the only thing you can get is a Hardrive swap iam sorry to say,and pro will tell you to FO if you say build me a computer ill pay you $60 dollars lol!

$200-$250 per System my friend, if not more.

I agree-small number - maybe it's per hour ? It took me about 5-6 hours but I was doing cable routing-CPU liquid cooling-etc....not an "over the top " build" but really decent @ $1450 (US)

[Itachipirate]

Diposting pertama kali oleh vlad2014:

Diposting pertama kali oleh MiddleFinger77:

And $60 dollars for someone to build your computer for you lol? Where did you come-up with that rate iam just cuirious?......MicroCenter will charge you 3 or 4 fold that amount just to set-up and configure your new gaming rig- Do you even relize how much time goes into building a custom computer? They you have Overclocking,Testing, Benchmarking ect.......$60 dollars for someone to do all that work for you? For that amount the only thing you can get is a Hardrive swap iam sorry to say,and pro will tell you to FO if you say build me a computer ill pay you $60 dollars lol!

$200-$250 per System my friend, if not more.

I agree-small number - maybe it's per hour ? It took me about 5-6 hours but I was doing cable routing-CPU liquid cooling-etc....not an "over the top " build" but really decent @ $1450 (US)

When i build people's computers I don't charge them. And if I were to charge someone, 60$ would be absolute maximum for me. I'm not sure what people who do it for a living have to charge but personally $60 would be my max. I'm 16 so i mostly just build for my friends. I suggest parts based on budget and intended use. I build the computer, benchmark and stress test, install OS, ccleaner, and Avast antivirus, and ask about overclocking. I've never done huge water cooled or exotic computer builds so it's mostly inexpensive and not very time consuming for me.

[MA☝Omgwtfbbqstfu™]

As always, depends how much your time is worth.

[👽H€L¡XX®]

And nothing is worth anything-until someone wants it......

[Rove]

Well I'm a fan of building your own PC. I've been a Noob before and regret being trapped by prebuilts years ago. Glad that I built my last rig myself. Very rewarding & better performance.

All I need now is like a R9 390X (upcoming) or maybe R9 490X (or whatever they will be called) to replace my HD 6950 which I got sort of as a placeholder card till I knew next-gen console specs. Rig is almost 3 years old, still beautiful, still better than the consoles.

I also got to point out that in your build you could get a GTX 970 instead of that R9 270 and a additional 128GB SSD for about exactly the same price as the Alienware. Just a performance comparison instead of a money saved comparison to give another angle on the situation.

[Silence]

If money is not your issue: ... maybe.
if money is not your issue and you are lazy: buy an Alienware.
If money is not your issue and you are not lazy and can build custom PC: then don't buy Alienware and build your custom PC.

[_I_]

there are very few reasons to get a aleindell

1. if you never want to upgrade it
2. if you never need to contact dell support
3. if you have lots of money to burn
4. if you do not know how to build your own pc

you can get a better pc elsewhere for the same ammount of money

[ARmodder]

Buying a cheap yet capable gaming PC and then upgrading it is probably the best way to go if your worried about human error in assembly as the hardest part is putting the motherboard in and setting the CPU in the socket ( on the Motherboard side the slightest static discharge can short it out, on the CPU side every prong has to match up perfectly and any side to side movement or slip could bend them) besides once you get a setup you want all you'll be doing is upgrading the RAM and GPU and adding an Extra HDD.

[👽H€L¡XX®]

Or just donate to charity and BUILD YOUR OWN-it just isn't that hard......

[Itachipirate]

Diposting pertama kali oleh ARmodder PFC Collins 1st MEF:

Buying a cheap yet capable gaming PC and then upgrading it is probably the best way to go if your worried about human error in assembly as the hardest part is putting the motherboard in and setting the CPU in the socket ( on the Motherboard side the slightest static discharge can short it out, on the CPU side every prong has to match up perfectly and any side to side movement or slip could bend them) besides once you get a setup you want all you'll be doing is upgrading the RAM and GPU and adding an Extra HDD.

If you're going that route just make sure you're choosing a very new and upgradable motherboard and CPU. Everything else can be replaced easily, but if you replace something you're still losing money on buying the first product that you'll no longer be using. If you're going this route I suggest shopping for a motherboard with the newest chipset, CPU socket, and most RAM compatability. The CPU should be something very new and to avoid wasting money should have onboard video until you're ready to upgrade. With something like RAM that you're planning to upgrade, buy a single stick of the exact RAM you want to upgrade to in all slots. This way you won't be tossing the old one, and you should always use the exact same type of RAM in each slot. The power supply should be of sufficient wattage to power whatever you plan to upgrade to in the future. Also, on Intel CPUs the pins are on the motherboard, AMD has the pins on the CPU.