![]() ![]() Though it's full of praiseworthy and refreshingly new elements, the Area-51 isn't without its faults. The few added programs that Alienware pre-installs include one for capturing in-game footage, so even if you don't agree with the company's software choice, you can see the justification for why it's included. The Area-51 is a machine built for speed and performance, so it's also good to see almost no bloatware on its stock setup. Sure, the LED lights are pure ostentatiousness, but they can be switched off - or customized to pulsate in all the colors of the rainbow - via the included Alienware Command Center software. The power supply is tucked away in one corner and all the upgradeable parts are readily accessible thanks to a thoughtful internal arrangement. The input and output ports on the back are more convenient to reach because of their new upward-facing orientation. In fact, as striking as the Area-51's design is, most of it can actually be justified on functional grounds as well. I appreciate that Alienware didn't feel the need to dress up the memory with extra heatsinks or other superfluousness. The CPU is liquid-cooled, of course, and there are four sticks of 4GB Samsung RAM in a quad-channel configuration. The other side is dominated by three ( three!) Radeon R9 290X graphics cards, for which Alienware has built a special support structure inside the case, to keep the cards firmly in place. Delving inside, I see one section is dedicated to storage, which is arranged behind the motherboard and even has extra room for expandability beyond the SSD and hard drive already attached. Opening and closing the sides is such a satisfyingly simple process, and so evocative of spaceship equipment from the movies, that I find myself doing it just for kicks. There is a carrying handle at the top of the case, and just under it are a couple of latches that open up the side panels. Alienware isn't taking any chances with its choice of materials, and the company even claims that in spite of its massive weight, each corner of the Area-51 has been tested to withstand up to five times the weight of the entire system. The second thing you'll notice, should you ever attempt to lift it, is that it weighs about as much as a small person. With LED lighting embedded into each side and around the front frame of the case, The Area-51 is designed to attract attention. This is not an effort to minimize your PC's footprint or visibility (like the Falcon Northwest Tiki). The first noticeable thing about the Area-51 when it's seen in person is that it's surprisingly large. Forget the square box, try the hexagonal one instead ![]()
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December 2022
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