![]() ![]() test, its frame rates are mostly playable. Even on our tough, high-resolution F.E.A.R. We'll chalk it up to a mystery for now, but we're going to keep playing with it.Įven if the Area-51 5500 has a problem with Microsoft Office apps, it's a powerhouse for gaming and digital media. And since it lived up to its specs on the other tests, we think the Office slowdown is not the result of Alienware doing something wrong. ![]() According to its specs, its time on that test should have been faster. We're at a loss to explain the cause of the slowdown on the Office test. On all but CNET Labs' Microsoft Office productivity test, the Area-51 5500 either met or exceeded expectations. With next-gen 3D cards coming down the pike, we don't recommend spending money on a pair of current cards now, but it's nice to know the Area-51 5500's motherboard is ready.Įven though it's imminently upgradable, we think you won't need to add many parts to see fast performance. You also have two spare PCI slots, as well as two extra PCI Express slots, one of which can accommodate another graphics card for ATI CrossFire powerhouse gaming. The system's 700-watt power supply gives you the muscle needed for future upgrades and hardware additions. Alienware's case can accommodate up to three more hard drives, another optical drive, and two more memory sticks. The gamer-oriented case, as usual, is not for everyone, and we're still waiting on Alienware to deliver some promised features to its custom software, but minor gripes aside, we like the bang-for-the-buck the Alienware Area-51 5500 provides.įor the few things this config can't do (for example, wireless networking, which you can add on Alienware's site), you get plenty of room for upgrading. The baseline model costs $1,599, and our powerful $2,539 review unit outperformed more expensive PCs on a few of CNET Labs' tests, and in general, this gaming system will deliver smooth frame rates, with room to grow. What caught us off guard, however, is what a good deal the Area-51 5500 is. Not surprisingly, Alienware has rolled out the new case to the rest of its Area-51 and Aurora desktops as well (the ultra-high-end ALX series still awaits a case redesign). We first saw Alienware's new P2 case on its, a desktop we reviewed a few months ago in conjunction with our coverage of Intel's Core 2 Duo launch. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |