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Thinking about purchasing an Alienware

A

angelbelow

n00b
Joined
Dec 14, 2009
Messages
1
Hello everyone,

I am thinking about getting the Alienware Aurora sometime this Christmas. The truth is that I don't play much games anymore since I am pretty busy nowadays. But I have been very intrigued by Alienware since I was young and my friends who have them rave about it. Even though I don't currently play any games I still want a desktop that will cover me for future games (ex. Starcraft 2.) So I was wondering what are the pros and cons to the Alienware Aurora systems.

I don't have much experience with computers but I don't seem to have great luck with technology. That is the main reason why I want to buy from a company as opposed to building one myself.
 
I dont know to much about buying pre built pcs but alienware is going to be the most expensive pc you can buy for the parts. Unless you wanna pay extra for the alienware logo on the case cyberpowerpc.com or newegg will have the same computer for cheaper.
 
I would look at Falcon Northwest before Alienware...I bought my only pre-built gaming rig from them years ago before I started building myself...excellent build quality and amazing wiring job...

http://www.falcon-nw.com/
 
polonyc2 said:
I would look at Falcon Northwest before Alienware...I bought my only pre-built gaming rig from them years ago before I started building myself...excellent build quality and amazing wiring job...

http://www.falcon-nw.com/
Click to expand...

Falcon NW is even more of a rip-off than Alienware. $1100+ for Crossfire 5870s? That's laughable.

If you configure a system like mine it's $4k+! I paid less than $2000!

If you absolutely must have a prebuilt system I recommend ibuypower.
 
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I'd look into other company's first unless money is no object because Alienwares are not cheap. Do you have any firends with experence building computers?

If so you could post in General Hardware and we could help you pick out the parts and your friend could help you put it together. (It's not that hard and pretty fun ;))
 
Wests said:
Falcon NW is even more of a rip-off than Alienware. $1100+ for Crossfire 5870s? That's laughable.

If you configure a system like mine it's $4k+! I paid less than $2000!

If you absolutely must have a prebuilt system I recommend ibuypower.
Click to expand...

pre-built is always going to charge a premium over a do-it-yourself build...that's the nature of the beast...if companies like Falcon NW charged retail prices with no markup they would be out of business quick...there obviously is a market for pre built gaming rigs as not everyone has the technical know-how or time to build a system from scratch

you just have to know going in that it's going to cost you a lot more

the only 2 custom gaming companies I would go with are Falcon Northwest and Puget Systems...

http://www.pugetsystems.com/
 
Tekara said:
The biggest reason to look at Dell / Alienware is for their warranties. If your systems are abnormally prone to breaking, then it may be the best route to take. I do understand that sometimes it's nice to have somebody else take care of the troubleshooting for you and Dell / Alienware will actually send a live human over to help you out in person if you select that particular level of coverage.

If you're not planning to lay down the extra money on a high end warranty, I would take the advice of the other posters and look at other computer builders since you'd be able to get a better deal through them.
Click to expand...

Maybe. I understand the endless frustration of being an unlucky computer nerd, as my rigs have had intermittent issues since forever...

But have you tried to get service from a PC manufacturer? They're the worst. Even under warranty, they will absolutely still try to charge you for whatever they can, and in the end, you'll probably still end up with a defective product, because humans don't diagnose your pc's problem. A database with trees of possible defects does.
 
For your own sake,DON'T buy from CyberPower or IBuypower,the customer nightmare stories about them are endless.Alienware is grossly overpriced,you're just paying for the name.The system in my sig would have cost me at least $1000 more there.
 
I don't know how common this is but my local mom and pop repair shop offers system building and they tack on a little bit extra for the labor. Still pretty cheap compared to some of those companies.
 
There are alot of local companies that can make you a PC for ALOT cheaper, I did a nice rig setup with alienware that was 4K, Falcon-NW was 6K, most of those parts you can purchase for 2K, or buy from local shop for around 2.5-3K, still be cheaper.
 
Velocity Micro is the way to go for pre-built. I had issues warranty issues and they have been A+ about fixing it.
 
Heres what you do. Paypal me the money you would pay for the alienware, I will build the computer and kick you in the nuts. You will have the same experience as buying from Dell.
 
I believe NCIX (and NCIXUS) sells prebuilt systems. I haven't compared their prices, but they do allow you to add and upgrade custom parts (ie. video card) to each system.
 
i wouldnt go alienware either. we can help you pick out the parts here and see if there is a local mom and pop store who will put it together. i dont expect alienware ,falcon northwest etc to build systems at retail but dam........there is a considerable markup on those machines.
 
I also suggest buying the parts yourself and taking them to a local store to have them put it all together for a small fee. It might be even cheaper if you have a computer-savvy family member or friend (or friend of a friend) who could do it for you. Just don't take it to any large retail place because they'll charge you way more.
 
I can see why you would consider buying a pre-built PC but I too recommend building it yourself. It is really easy to do and depending on what you are looking to buy, it could save you over a grand.

I think you should consider buying the parts and building it yourself. I mean, really make sure you don't mind spending the extra money.
 
You can rave to your friends about how much money you saved or build a system that's even better than theirs for the same amount or less. Core i7, 5970 (or two), 12GB DDR3, 1kW+ PSU, the works. :D
 
Sorry dude, but if you expected a different answer from this group, then ya must have mistaken [H] for tomshardware... lol

Seriously, building your own is almost cake and a rewarding feeling when done. And, the money you save can be put towards even better components or a triple monitor setup like Kyle ;)
 
Hey angelbelow,
I personally don't have any first-hand experiences with Alienware but based on the reviews I've read about their service "cough:resellerrating.com:cough" and their high configuration prices I think you could do better other places. I'm just going to give you a quick list of available companies and what I think their pro's and con's are based on the research I've done.

Puget Systems: Pro: Probably one of the more highly regarded system builders on this forum. Known for very good customer service during and after the purchase. I've talked with them several times on their live chat feature they have on their website and have been provided good recommendations on parts. They have a forum you can post in but it's not all that active but worth a look to see what people are saying. Also have a blog updated by the staff with some interesting articles on the parts they use. I also like their level of customization. Parts seem to be quality choices but tend not to be the "flashy" which can be a pro/con depending on your preferences The other thing that's nice is there build time is usually stated to be about a week which is pretty quick for a customized system.
Cons: Definitely price for the system. Comes only with a standard 1 year warranty with some costly prices for extended warranty (although they look to be having some deals going on now, with free upgrades to 3 years on some systems). Live technical support only available Monday -Friday. They are are also located in Seatle which could be a negative if you live on the East Coast and worry about shipping damage.

Maingear: Pros: Another highly regarded company with good reviews for their customer service. They have live technical support Monday-Saturday which is nice to see in a small system builder. They have some nice sophisticated looking cases with (Silverstone and Lian Li) with laser engraving available on most models. They offer some customization options for your main system parts but tend to be a little more restrictive in this department compared to other builders. They are located in New Jersey which is nice if you live on the East Coast and they have a have a nice forum with quick responses by staff.
Cons: Tend to be more expensive then others, about on par with Puget depending on your build. Warranty is 1 year standard (2 year on the Shift) and is expensive to upgrade. They also tend to have long build times of 3 to 5 weeks depending on your level of customization. Overclocking options are somewhat lacking as well (only the Asetek sealed liquid-cooler available on the top-of-the-line Shift)

DigitalStorm: Pros:One of the cheaper system builders with a good reputation, they have a very large selection of parts and lots of cases to choose from. The style seems to be more flashy than Maingear or Puget with Coolermaster providing most of the case options. They also have occasional quick ship systems that they send out within three business days. Standard 3 year warranty. They have an active forum which is worth a look as well.
Cons: Live support only available Monday-Friday. From the reviews I've read, the customer support does not seem as good as Maingear or Puget (messages left and never returned) but still positive for the most part. Located in Cali. which may or may not be a problem for you.

Vigor Gaming: Pros: they tend to also be one of the cheaper builders with a good reputations. Started offering pre-configured systems that look decent for be a good deal. but they also offer a lot of customization. Cases tend to be Antec (1200 and 900 Gen 2) and I think Coolermaster, with plently of blue LED fans if that's your thing. Standard 3 year warranty.
Cons: No option for overclocking on website (but I think they do it for free if you ask). Also seen complaints about systems being very noisy relative to the parts used. Don't know about this company as far as build speed and I haven't talked to them. Worth a look though.

These are the four companies from my research I would feel most comfortable buying a pre-built computer from. There are others like Velocity Micro, Falcon Northwest, etc. but I think their prices are unjustified based on the parts/service rendered. If I had to give a nod to one company that I would buy a system from it would be Maingear. I really like their new Shift case with the rotated motherboard and clean lines and I've heard nothing but good things about them in term of customer service. I've received prompt, knowledgeable feedback when I posted questions in the forums and even the company CEO answers questions in the forum on occasion. If you were looking to stretch the money in your budget a little more and wanted raw power in your system I think Digital Storm offers the best value.

One company I have to tell you to avoid is AVA Direct. I had a horrible experience with them a year and a half ago and many others on here can share similar experiences. I've also heard horrible stories about Ibuypower and Cyberpower as stated by a previous poster and I would avoid them.

My advice to you is to do a little research on your own before you lay out the cash. Call up some of these companies and/or send them an e-mail, ask for recommendations on parts for your needs, and see who you get the best vibe from. Resellerrating.com is also a great resource for reviews on all these companies.
These are just my opinions but hopefully this information will be useful to you and welcome to the forum.
Dave
 
If you're looking for good prices,component selection,and quality workmanship,check out Max Force PC. They did a great job on my system,including overclocking,and their systems all come with a 3 year warranty.
 
Like many looking for pre-built systems, I don't have the time to assemble components and ensure they all work; I am willing to pay extra to have someone configure the system I want and give me a warranty that says 'hey, this stuff works, and we'll get it working if it doesn't.'

I had two Falcon Northwest computers, and I decided after the last one that I would seek an alternate vendor. They are just as (or more) expensive than their competitors, but offer very few (if any) options for creating a custom system. My most recent system had a lot of instability caused by a 5V motherboard connector that wasn't plugged in (and never was); according to the motherboard manual this connector was required for multi-GPU systems, which mine was, and without it I had a lot of problems with the system.

I was also unhappy with their choice of a closed-loop liquid cooling system for the CPU. I thought it was ok, but was expecting something better from 'liquid cooling.'

I know a lot more about computers, liquid cooling, different bits of hardware, and what I want out of a PC now. I went with Puget this time around. They worked with me to get me whatever I wanted, and in some cases challenged my decisions or reviewed my research to confirm my choices. In the end I used many components they don't normally carry, but they special ordered items as required.

I had two systems made: Coco, a silent-but-powerful desktop, and Pixel, my liquid-cooled monster. I've been using Coco for a few days now, and am extremely pleased. Pixel is arriving in a few days.

However, expect to pay a premium for Puget's excellent service and final product; their markup on retail is around 30%. I'm willing to pay this, but if you have the inclination and time you can definitely build equivalent systems for less.

I should also note that I was impressed with the shipping protection used; they pack in expanding foam inside the case to keep components from moving, and use a little hot glue to keep connectors secure.

Like many looking for pre-built systems, I don't have the time to assemble components and ensure they all work; I am willing to pay extra to have someone configure the system I want and give me a warranty that says 'hey, this stuff works, and we'll get it working if it doesn't.'

I had two Falcon Northwest computers, and I decided after the last one that I would seek an alternate vendor. They are just as (or more) expensive than their competitors, but offer very few (if any) options for creating a custom system. My most recent system had a lot of instability caused by a 5V motherboard connector that wasn't plugged in (and never was); according to the motherboard manual this connector was required for multi-GPU systems, which mine was, and without it I had a lot of problems with the system.

I was also unhappy with their choice of a closed-loop liquid cooling system for the CPU. I thought it was ok, but was expecting something better from 'liquid cooling.'

I know a lot more about computers, liquid cooling, different bits of hardware, and what I want out of a PC now. I went with Puget this time around. They worked with me to get me whatever I wanted, and in some cases challenged my decisions or reviewed my research to confirm my choices. In the end I used many components they don't normally carry, but they special ordered items as required.

I had two systems made: Coco, a silent-but-powerful desktop, and Pixel, my liquid-cooled monster. I've been using Coco for a few days now, and am extremely pleased. Pixel is arriving in a few days.

However, expect to pay a premium for Puget's excellent service and final product; their markup on retail is around 30%. I'm willing to pay this, but if you have the inclination and time you can definitely build equivalent systems for less.

I should also note that I was impressed with the shipping protection used; they pack in expanding foam inside the case to keep components from moving, and use a little hot glue to keep connectors secure.

Like many looking for pre-built systems, I don't have the time to assemble components and ensure they all work; I am willing to pay extra to have someone configure the system I want and give me a warranty that says 'hey, this stuff works, and we'll get it working if it doesn't.'

I had two Falcon Northwest computers, and I decided after the last one that I would seek an alternate vendor. They are just as (or more) expensive than their competitors, but offer very few (if any) options for creating a custom system. My most recent system had a lot of instability caused by a 5V motherboard connector that wasn't plugged in (and never was); according to the motherboard manual this connector was required for multi-GPU systems, which mine was, and without it I had a lot of problems with the system.

I was also unhappy with their choice of a closed-loop liquid cooling system for the CPU. I thought it was ok, but was expecting something better from 'liquid cooling.'

I know a lot more about computers, liquid cooling, different bits of hardware, and what I want out of a PC now. I went with Puget this time around. They worked with me to get me whatever I wanted, and in some cases challenged my decisions or reviewed my research to confirm my choices. In the end I used many components they don't normally carry, but they special ordered items as required.

I had two systems made: Coco, a silent-but-powerful desktop, and Pixel, my liquid-cooled monster. I've been using Coco for a few days now, and am extremely pleased. Pixel is arriving in a few days.

However, expect to pay a premium for Puget's excellent service and final product; their markup on retail is around 30%. I'm willing to pay this, but if you have the inclination and time you can definitely build equivalent systems for less.

I should also note that I was impressed with the shipping protection used; they pack in expanding foam inside the case to keep components from moving, and use a little hot glue to keep connectors secure.


Pixel


Coco
 
For what it's worth, I bought a Maingear a year ago and love it. In fact, I had ordered a GTX 280 at the time, but they upgraded me for free to a 4870 x2 because they no longer had the GTX. They have great customer service too. I spent a lot of time researching and obsessing over which company to go with, and I narrowed it down to Maingear and Velocity Micro. I ultimately went with Maingear because they're in NJ (I live in NY) and because they have Saturday hours. Highly recommended.
 
My take on this question is always the same:

Any builder can sell you a box, with the parts you want, the way you want (most of the time).

What you are buying is service, experience and a warranty......and an out of the box-ready build.

Ask questions, call these folks on the phone BEFORE you buy anything.
How do they handle warranty work?
Can you replace a part yourself without voiding the warranty?
Can you upgrade components?
Do you have to send the whole thing back if it needs work, or do they have competant people they work with to come to you?
Will the builder GUARANTEE stability of your build....ie, are the parts they put in your box compatable and will they work, stable as a rock for you? Will they test the shit out of your system before it's sent out.

The general consensus of excellent builders goes something like this:
Maingear,Puget,Overdrive.......essentially custom builders.....you ask, they provide.
VelocityMicro.............builds a great deal of standard high volume computers, like anyone else, but does have high-end configurations, and pretty good customer service.

Suspect players: Alienware...........can build anything, but has really bizarre customer service and alot of wierd rules on warranty issues........I know this from experience, and frankly I was disappointed in the cost vs. quality. (this was a number of years ago before they sold out to Dell.) Please ask someone about their Vaporware Project.....it was their version of SLi that never materialized.....I don't remember what they called it, it was a while ago.

Places to avoid: iBuyPower,and Cyber-whatever.

Do yourself a favor and go into the [H] archives and read some of the [H] Consumer reviews of pre-built systems......[H] Consumer is gone now, but when it was up and running it was awesome, the reviews were honest and the systems were ordered anonymously.
 
ugh. you can buy old alienware cases on e-bay and fill it with your own goodies. :D
 
I have had the opportunity to own a number of different alienware products for work purposes. I have had nothing but issues, and would not recommend them to anyone.
 
i have an ALX area 51 that is pretty sweet. No matter what i run on it it handles it fine. however i don't even play pc games anymore.
 
Over the years, I have bought from Dell, Alienware, GamePC, Falcon NW, AVA Direct, and most recently Puget. Of those, I would buy from Puget or Falcon NW again. I also considered Maingear, but their build times are around 4 weeks. Stay away from Alienware.
 
I'm just going to toss in my personal opinion here. Alienware makes really, really ugly computers. They are overpriced, ugly, the wiring inside is poorly done, and you should definitely build it yourself. If you're into glowing lights and colorful cases with weird alien shapes (I was into the lighting when I was 16 or 17 too) then just buy those parts and install it yourself.

Personally though, I think most people would be happier with a more elegant, understated case that is quiet and well wired.
 
I own a Velocity Micro and I would say stay away from them. They have grown fast and support and quality are poor. Look at my recent thread in Computers & Gadgets if you want more info on VM.

During my research I have never found anything positive about Alienware. If you are going to go with a big computer company then look at HP.

The HP Pavilion Elite e9280t series is excellent for the money. The wiring inside is great for a non-botique builder. You could easily game on this machine with the right config. For $1,400 you will get a good gaming machine.

I work for Toyota and we buy all HP machines. Their quality is top notch for big PC company and their support is great in-terms of replacement parts and repairs. What stinks is their techs less than the customers.

Link to e9280t http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...p/psg/desktops/High_performance/e9280t_series.
 
Dells customer service is horrible. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Dell. Building you own you get more bang for your buck.
 
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