Alienware X51 refresh powers up with Intel’s new Haswell chip

By Adam Rosenberg Published June 6, 2013

Alienware-X51-press-image — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our review of the Dell Alienware X51 gaming PC.

Dell’s pint-sized Alienware X51 gaming PC successfully offered a console-sized alternative to the Xboxes and PlayStations of the world when it was released in 2012. Now, it’s time for an update. The new machine sports Intel’s fancy new Haswell processors, in both i5 and i7 varieties, and supports Nvidia’s 6xx line of GPUs up through the GTX 670. Hard drive options include 1TB and 2TB capacities, at 7,200 RPM, though an additional step-up for a 256GB SSD plus a 1TB drive (5,400 RPM) is also available.

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The compact desktop PC is designed to fit in alongside the rest of your media center devices. Dell designed the X51 so that it can lie horizontally or stand vertically, making it a great space-saving solution. Space is at a premium on the inside just like it was with the 2012 model, and the 330W power supply limits the overall upgradeability. The power constraints are balanced out by the new Haswell, which draws less wattage than its predecessor.

Alienware aimed for across-the-board performance improvements with the upgraded X51, and the specs on paper seem to deliver. Pricing for the 4th-gen CPU-equipped machines starts at $700.

Dell was kind enough to send us the Alienware X51 so we could get some in-depth hands-on time with it. Without giving anything away, we’ll just say that we are very impressed. Check back tomorrow to read our full review.

Former Gaming/Movies Editor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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