How Overpriced is Alienware? 2.0

[Mao_Zedong]

Preface

Welcome to the second edition of How Overpriced is Alienware? If you haven’t read the first article, you can read it here, though it isn’t needed to understand this one. If you don’t already know, this is a price comparison with alienware products, what you can build for yourself, and what else you can buy. You can also get a build from ncix.com, but you can just add $50 to the custom build to get that. I will be comparing a high end and low end model of every alienware product, to give a general range of their value. For the custom builds, I will be including both an equivalent build, and also what I think would be ideal for the price of the alienware build. One thing to remember is that even if the prices are similar, the custom builds I will be including will have much more reliable parts, which will make them generally better options. A final note is that prices do change, but there will generally be a very similar build for the same price. So now that that’s all said, let’s start.

 

Note: The formatting went to hell when the forum updated :l

Alienware Alpha console

So we'll actually be starting with a tricky build here, as you can’t build a normal PC this small. Because of that, I’ll have the custom builds in the Silverstone sg13, but I’ll also have a zotac zbox for a better sized comparison. The GPU in the alpha is technically an 860m, but those are practically the same as a 750ti, so I'll be using one of those.

 

 

Spoiler

So here I won't be having multiple builds. As you can see, this build is basically the best you can get for the price in addition to being the same as the alienware, but still costs more. There also aren't any good mini PC alternatives at this price. Would I recommend this model of the alpha? Yes, it is smaller and just as fast as a custom PC, while also being cheaper. 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($108.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($21.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($34.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Silverstone Sugo SG13B Mini ITX Tower Case  ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: xbox 360 controller ($27.99)
Total: $526.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 09:36 EDT-0400

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Spoiler

This time, building a custom build is a great value. The equivalent build is a great value, as it costs over $100 less than the alienware option.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($242.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.95 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Silverstone Sugo SG13B Mini ITX Tower Case  ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: xbox 360 controller ($27.99)
Total: $716.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 09:45 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

This build is different in that it has a gtx 960 and a single 8gb stick of ram, which brings the price up to $800.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($242.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.95 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 960 2GB XLR8 Video Card  ($198.74 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone Sugo SG13B Mini ITX Tower Case  ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: xbox 360 controller ($27.99)
Total: $794.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 09:51 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

Here we have a mini prebuilt PC, similar to the alpha. It doesn't include an OS, and with that the price is around $800. It actually isn't as good as an alienware alpha, since it has a slower CPU and hard drive.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LATIY6C/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687762&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00KX8OX2K&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1QGVMZPKHPZ0Z4PQ6R5X

 

 

Spoiler

For this type of build, the alienware alpha is a great option. It may not be quite as good as a larger PC, but is amazing for the size. Because of this, I would recommend the Alienware Alpha to anybody who wants a tiny media PC, and doesn't plan to upgrade it.

 

Alienware x51 slim PC

 

This time, the builds will more even in size. I will be using the silverstone rvz01, as it is similar the the x51 case in style and in size.

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

Here I have a build that is pretty similar to the base model x51. The only big difference is that this one has 8gb of ram, instead of 6gb.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($108.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GT 740 4GB Video Card  ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone RVZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case  ($79.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: Silverstone 450W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GS40N DVD/CD Writer  ($31.91 @ Mwave)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: xbox 360 controller ($27.99)
Total: $631.27
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 10:16 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

The only change I'm making here is that I have a 750ti here instead of the gt 740. Unfortunately it isn't a blower design so it won't be cooled ideally, but it shouldn't be a big issue.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($108.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card  ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone RVZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case  ($79.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: Silverstone 450W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GS40N DVD/CD Writer  ($31.91 @ Mwave)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Other: xbox 360 controller ($27.99)
Total: $671.27
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 10:21 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

Here is a prebuilt pc similar to the x51. To get a similar model, upgrade the cpu to the i3 4160, upgrade the psu to the 450w version, downgrade the GPU to a 750, and add the dvd drive. It then costs $711, which is fair, as it is slightly faster than the x51. This also comes with a copy of office 365, which is a nice value add.

 

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/SYBER_VAPOR_P

 

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

Here is where the deal is insane. For the same parts as the x51, you can save $450. This is just such a bad value for the x51 that I don't think anybody should take it, no matter what.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($318.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($97.95 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 960 2GB XLR8 Video Card  ($198.74 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone RVZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case  ($79.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: Silverstone 450W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Panasonic UJ-265 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer  ($83.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1155.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 10:47 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

For this build I only changed two things. The first is that I added a better power supply, and the second is that I put is a freaking 980ti. This will blow away the other build so hard that it'll find itself on the moon. Even though it is so much better, it still saves $50 in comparison to the x51.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($318.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($97.95 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($649.99 @ B&H)
Case: Silverstone RVZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case  ($79.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Panasonic UJ-265 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer  ($83.00 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1641.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 10:46 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

Here there is still a pretty good value, though not as good as the custom builds. To get the same parts as the x51, add a 4790k, a GIGABYTE GA-Z97N motherboard, 16gb ram, a gtx 960, a 450w psu, an 850 evo 250gb, and a dvd reader. If you do all of that, the price goes to a pretty nice $1356. There isn't a blu-ray drive here, so it is closer to the $1600 x51 than the $1700 x51. Despite that, it is still a pretty good deal.

 

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/SYBER_VAPOR_P

 

 

Spoiler

Unlike the alienware alpha, the x51 is a pretty bad deal. At the base model, it was just a little behind, but that gap became enormous when going to higher end models. I would not recommend the alienware x51, especially at the high end.

 

Alienware Area-51 Full Desktop

 

For these builds, the case is a slight problem. The area-51 has a very unique design, so I can't have something just like it. What I'll be doing instead, is having the nzxt noctis 450, as it also has a flashy design. There is also the phantom 530 (and other models), but the noctis is generally better in my opinion, so it will be the primary option.

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

A starting price difference of $300 is just sad, but that's what it is here. The custom build also uses some of the most reliable parts around, unlike the alienware.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($394.98 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_RD 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($203.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($57.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 370 4GB Nitro Video Card  ($178.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Noctis 450 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($136.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($117.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($74.29 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: LG external optical drive ($25.94)
Total: $1382.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 11:40 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

This one actually costs a little more than the alienware build, but not by much. The change in this build is that it has a gtx 980, which should practically double the performance.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($394.98 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_RD 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($203.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($57.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card  ($514.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Noctis 450 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($136.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($117.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($74.29 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: LG external optical drive ($25.94)
Total: $1718.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 11:43 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

This time, CyberPowerPC has actually beat a custom PC. It is using similar parts, but costs $1226. This is because some of the parts are slightly lower quality, but this is still pretty impressive. I won't tell all the specific parts I had this time since there were so many changes, but I'll have the link to the base model I used.

 

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_X99_Configurator

 

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

Here, the value is really good. By building it yourself, you can save $1700 for the same parts. You also have the option of the 980ti in a custom build, which would save a thousand dollars more with just a few percent of performance.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5960X 3.0GHz 8-Core Processor  ($999.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_RD 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI X99S Gaming 7 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($249.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($161.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Red Pro 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($215.99 @ Directron)
Storage: Western Digital Red Pro 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($215.99 @ Directron)
Storage: Western Digital Red Pro 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($215.99 @ Directron)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX Titan X 12GB Superclocked Video Card (3-Way SLI)  ($1029.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX Titan X 12GB Superclocked Video Card (3-Way SLI)  ($1029.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX Titan X 12GB Superclocked Video Card (3-Way SLI)  ($1029.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Noctis 450 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($136.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA T2 1600W 80+ Titanium Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($393.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-AC68 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($74.29 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: Samsung external Blu-ray drive ($74.73)
Total: $6221.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-11 12:08 EDT-0400

 

Spoiler

Here, I would just watercool the system above. There is no real reason to get anything higher, besides a xeon for select uses. The watercooling should put this at around the same price as the x51, but it depends on what parts you get.

 

Spoiler

I used the x99 base again, but I changed even more parts this time. In the end, it cost 7253, which is an ok deal, but not anything to write home about.

 

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_X99_Configurator

 

 

Spoiler

This time it was just plan sad. The alpha was actually a pretty good value, especially in the low end. The x51 was a decent value in the low end. This time, it started off bad, and got even worse. I would not recommend the area-51 to anybody.

 

Alienware 13 Laptop

 

With laptops, it is hard to find something almost identical to another product. This is even more the case in a niche market, like 13" gaming laptops. Because of this, the laptop being used may not be identical to the alienware ones in every way, but I will try to explain to pros and cons.

 

Spoiler

Here, the lowest end laptop is a bit behind the sager one, so I beefed it up a little. I upgraded it to have 8gb of ram and a 1080p display. The alienware 13 ends up at $1200 with this configuration. The sager has those general specs, but it has an intel 4710mq instead of the intel 5200u of the alienware 13. The 4710mq is a much faster CPU, as it has double the cores of the 5200u, though isn't quite as power efficient. The Alienware 13 has a four zone RGB keyboard, while the NP7339 just has a white LED backlight. The sager laptop costs $180 less than the alienware 13 at $1020, making it a good deal. The alienware 130 does have one more trick up it's sleeve though, it can be used with the alienware graphics amplifier, which let you use a desktop GPU with it. This isn't especially useful for this laptop, as it is just as a dual core, which would hold back many GPUs.

 

http://www.sagernotebook.com/customize.php?productid=725

 

Spoiler

The Alienware 13 and MSI gs30 were built on the same concept, that you can have a portable laptop, but you can plug that into a dock to give it extra power. The Alienware 13 is 1.04" thick while the MSI GS30 is just 0.77" thick, a difference of 35%. With the most even specs possible, the biggest difference is that the GS30 has a i7 4870hq CPU with no dedicated GPU, and the alienware 13 has an i7 5500u with a gtx 960m. This difference shows how much more dedicated to the idea MSI was in comparison to Alienware; MSI went with a full quad core i7 and assumed you would use a dedicated GPU to game, but Alienware included a dual core i7 and a dedicated GPU, so that you wouldn't need a dedicated GPU if you didn't want it. Because of this difference, the msi laptop is better for general use and for gaming at home, but the alienware is better for gaming on the go. Personally I like MSI's solution more, but some may disagree. So how do the prices differ? If you're including the price of the dedicated GPU docks, the alienware 13 is $1750, but the MSI GS30 is $1700.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152710

 

Spoiler

This is a pretty good value laptop. The others were a little bit better in general, but the alienware 13 still had some strong points. I would recommend the Alienware 13 to people who want a cheap, small laptop, and want to game on the go.

 

Alienware 15 Laptop

 

Now its time for a more traditional gaming laptop. I won't be having any more laptops with external GPU docks anymore, as alienware is the only company doing it at this size. It is possible to use a thunderbolt to PCIe adapter, but that isn't a great comparison.

 

Spoiler

This will be a comparison between the second standard model of the Alienware 15 and the Sager NP8651 at stock besides that it has the IPS display. With those setting applied, they have practically identical specs. One feature that the NP8651 has that the Alienware 15 doesn't is a fingerprint reader. These are actually really nice, and is more important than many may think. I don't know about the quality about this exact sensor, but they are generally pretty good. The alienware has an RGB keyboard, but this one just has a white backlight. The Alienware 15 is 34mm thick, but the NP8651 is just 25mm thick. The NP8651 costs a bit less than the alienware 15, at $1345, compared to the $1500 of the alienware 15. Because of that price difference, I think that the NP8651 is the overall better value.

 

http://www.sagernotebook.com/customize.php?productid=532

 

Spoiler

This time it is more of a mid range model, at $1800 for the Alienware 15 and $1700 for the MSI GS60 ghost. This time it is the alienware 15 second base model again, but with the ram up to 16gb and a 128gb ssd added. Both of these laptops have great keyboards, which feel good and have RGB lighting. The GS60 is much thinner than the alienware i5; the alienware 15 is 1.34" thick, and the GS60 is 0.78" thick. That makes the alienware 15 over 70% thicker. The GS60 is much lighter, at 4.32lb, compared to the 7.07lb of the alienware 15. Besides those, these laptops have very similar specs. I would say that the MSI gs60 is a better value, because it is thinner, lighter, costs less, and has similar technical specifications.

 

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GS60-GHOST-PRO-606-15-6-Inch/dp/B00YPBWWO2/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1436641666&sr=1-6

 

Spoiler

This time We are finally fully maxing out the alienware 15, everything is at the very top. The upgrades to the sager laptop are adding the matte 4k display and a 500gb ssd. The price difference with these models is actually pretty large; the alienware i5 costs $2700, while the NP8652-S costs $2220. The alienware 15 has two big extra features, an RGB keyboard and an touch display. The NP8652-S just has a white backlit keyboard and a matte display. The NP8652-S has a full numpad on it's keyboard, but the alienware 15 has no numpad, though it does have six macros.The NP8652-S is a decent amount thinner and lighter than the alienware 15, at 1.13" tick compared to 1.34" and at 5.60lb. compared to 7.07lb.  I think that the NP8652-S is a much better option here, and it is a huge difference in price vs performance for a laptop.

 

http://www.sagernotebook.com/customize.php?productid=732

 

Spoiler

Unlike the alienware 13, I don't think that the alienware 15 has a real place in the market. It was overall worse in all three comparisons, so I would not recommend this laptop.

 

Alienware 17 Laptop

 

Its finally time for a classic beast laptop. This is designed to be extremely powerful, with size being a sidenote. 

 

[spoiler=Asus ROG G751JT]

Here is a case where it is easy to see which laptop will win right off the bat. The g751 costs $1690, while the similar Alienware 17 costs $1900. The alienware 17 is the lowest base model but with the ram upgraded to 16gb and a 250gb ssd added. The G751 is the one linked below. These laptops have identical tech specs, so there is no real need to compare those, its just the features that make the difference. To start off, the g751 is much thinner than the alienware 17, at 0.90" compared to 1.35". This doesn't continue to the weight, where the g751 is 8.4lb, and the alienware 17 is actually 8.3lb. The g751 has a red backlit keyboard, but alienware continues their trend of having RGB keys. The g751 has an optical drive, which the alienware 17 doesn't. I think that the g751 is a better value, as it is generally similar, but is thinner and cheaper.

 

http://www.amazon.com/G751JT-DH72-17-3-Inch-GeForce-GTX970M-Graphics/dp/B00OBQ5950/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1436644410&sr=1-4

 

Spoiler

This time I will be comparing the alienware 17 and the sager NP9377-S. The alienware 17 is the second highest base model with a 512gb ssd added, and the NP9377-S will be the base model but with a 500gb ssd. The price difference this time is pretty large, with the alienware 17 being $2550, and the NP9377-S costing $2085. The technical specifications are the same this time, so they don't need to be compared. Both laptops have RGB keyboards this time. The sager laptop has a fingerprint reader, which the alienware 17 doesn't. There really isn't that big of a difference between these, which makes the price difference perplexing. The sager NP9377-S is a much better value than the alienware 17, as it is slightly better and costs a lot less.

 

http://www.sagernotebook.com/customize.php?productid=342

 

Spoiler

This laptop is a pretty bad value, being significantly behind in both comparisons. I really wouldn't recommend it to anybody.

 

Overall Conclusion

 

The overall conclusion is that sometimes alienware is overpriced, but in some cases it can actually be a decent value. Since last year, they have changed quite a bit; they have added the alpha, and have changed the laptops from the 14, 17, and 18 to the 13, 15, and 17. Since last year, they have become an even worse value in most cases, which is really saying something. One odd trend in their value is that the smaller models (alpha and 13" laptop) are pretty good values, the medium sized models (x51 and 15" laptop) are mediocre values, and the larger models (area-51 and 17" laptop) are just abysmal values. So to answer to question "how overpriced is alienware?" Thats for you to decide.

 

 

 

This took over eight hours to make and I would really appreciate your support. If you have any thoughts on this post, please leave it below.

[Aytex]

tldr but nice job

[KayTees]

tldr but nice job

Woah! Your PUTIN on a good show! 

[Aytex]

Woah! Your PUTIN on a good show! 

[Mao_Zedong]

-snip-

tldr but nice job

Well the overall conclusion was basically a tldr section.

[Dossium]

*bookmarks for later time*

 

Excellent job. Especially on the Area-51 equivalent!

[Picky Peep]

Nothing for the TL;DR people?

[Mao_Zedong]

*bookmarks for later time*

 

Excellent job. Especially on the Area-51 equivalent!

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

 

Nothing for the TL;DR people?

The overall conclusion was basically a tldr section.

[Picky Peep]

The overall conclusion was basically a tldr section.

 

Can you make a TL;DR of that?

[Mao_Zedong]

Can you make a TL;DR of that?

The smaller ones are ok, the larger ones are bad.

[Aytex]

Can you make a TL;DR of that?

o god a infinate spiral

[Picky Peep]

The smaller ones are ok, the larger ones are bad.

 

Perfect!

Excellent Job.

[Dossium]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

 

I did indeed. Ironically my own personal build is VERY similar to it, due to the fact that I may or may not have modelled it after the Alienware's brawn. 

[Picky Peep]

o god a infinate spiral

 

much long, so wow.

[EnSabahNur]

I was able to pick up an Alienware A-51 system for just over 2k with a gtx 980, 2tb HDD, x99 mobo, 1500PSU, i7 5820 with CPU water cooler, and premium lit case.I've configured similar specs (as Dell doesn't release the exact brand/models of some of their components) with PC part picker and it came out to be almost + or - $100; otherwise the prices are quite comparable. 

 

However, the lower end and higher end systems you are right on about in terms of the ~$300 difference. It seems that the mid range A51 build with a 1 gtx 980 is by far the best deal, and the only one that comes out about even to building your own with similar specs. 

[Bsmith]

hmm the aurora is no more? damn....

[Nohemi]

*bookmarks for later time*

 

Excellent job. Especially on the Area-51 equivalent!

Indeed

[Mao_Zedong]

hmm the aurora is no more? damn....

Partially. It was replaced by the area-51 as their new desktop. They actually do this a lot for a company their size.

[Bsmith]

Partially. It was replaced by the area-51 as their new desktop. They actually do this a lot for a company their size.

 

damn.... i really liked that case, maybe i can find one pretty cheap a few years down the road.

[FaZe Booce]

Slow down. Alienware has a desktop that costs as much as my car? 

[Mao_Zedong]

Slow down. Alienware has a desktop that costs as much as my car? 

Yup, thats what happens when you spend $3000 on GPUs and $1000 on  a CPU.

[Norman_the_Owl]

Slow down. Alienware has a desktop that costs as much as my car? 

Mate there are graphics cards that cost 10,000 dollars, of course there are PCs as expensive as a car

[SImoHayha]

No love for the Y50 T~T

[Mao_Zedong]

No love for the Y50 T~T

By the time I was there, I had been working for well over six hours, and I really didn't feel like doing more than I needed to finish it. I had to do all of this within a pretty short period, or parts I used in multiple builds could change prices. 

[FaZe Booce]

Mate there are graphics cards that cost 10,000 dollars, of course there are PCs as expensive as a car

Those are workstation grade cards though. Those are usually very expensive.

 

p.s. the most expensive card on pcpartpicker is $5000, but there might be a more expensive one that isn't listed.