| Alienware ALX CFX |
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Alienware continues to provide gamers with uncompromised support, features, and technology; second to none in the consumer grade, gaming PC industry. This desktop is no exception and adds a few uniquely aesthetic bonuses. This is the first Alienware Desktop that we have reviewed and have been generally impressed with the performance. With four, 512MB ATi HD graphics cores this system surpasses the requirements for being a gaming PC. Not only does it surpass the requirements for being a gaming PC, but it also surpasses the requirements for a premium product. As configured, the system we review was worth nearly $9,000 USD. (Non-standard configuration, lower cost configurations are available. Standard configuration starts at $5,149 USD.) The primary drive of this system was 320GB (10 000 RPM) and also came configured with a 7200 RPM 1TB (1000GB) drive. Unfortunately, performance of both drives was standard and the secondary drive could be improved with a minor upgrade to a 10,000 RPM. The desktop plays most PC games with little lag. During some testing, the graphics engines took a while to kick on, and took longer to take advantage of the multiple cores. The graphics performance seemed to be hit and miss while gradually overtime performance tended to degrade. We haven’t had much to say as far as technical issues with any Alienware systems. Generally impressed with performance, we are slightly disappointed that we had to spend nearly 4 hrs on the phone with sorting out various technical issues with our support teams and Alienware tech support. This was due to an improper installation from the factory. Though the issue was very complex and difficult to repair, the agents were very polite, knew what they were doing and had a sense of personality, something not often displayed in sterile tech support. Just so you know...Not For The Environmentally Conscious Like every Alienware system that we've tested so far, this system sucks its fair share of energy. With the of the poorest energy conservation ratings of all time that we've recorded, this system will put a major dent in your energy bill if you tend to leave your computer on all the time. Good Ventilation Needed Similar to every other Alienware system that we've tested, is the absolute need for good ventilation. The system outputs a ton of hot hair, which could make a sizable difference as to lifetime of this system. Weighs a Ton Another problem, which I'm sure is expected is the fact that this notebook almost weighs as much as a desktop computer. That's mostly because of its slew of lighting gear, its 2 graphics cards and dual-SATA hard drives . So don't buy system if you are planning on moving any time soon; otherwise it may be a little cumbersome to relocate. Passmark Score----- 400.4 / 500 (Top Score, Not Average)
Credentials Given (non-specific): Leading Technical Support and Customer Service Leading Gaming Notebook Manufacturer |
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