​£450 for a machine that struggles a little when playing a new game on LOW settings, and only at 30fps?? Doesn't seem like a very good deal to me.

Not sure if serious... but no.

its equivalent to a desktop 750ti this is a basically laptop hardware. Awesome price, will run linux flawlessly. This isn't the be all and all steam os, its one of the first itterations its a pc running linux (steamos). You can install windows of course, the focus was steam os though. This didn't sell too well as it was high priced when it came out this price isn't a steal but im going to vote it hot. You can build a fullsized desktop atx for cheaper. This however offers the tiny form factor. ITS REET SMALL.

might be better to price up your own build

I know you have said don't say build a gaming computer, but you could build a much better ITX system for a respectable cost without he focus being on video game fps. If instead of focusing on pushing the most fps out of a system you focused on something with comparable specs and size to your Mac book pro, you could do very well, as if you aren't going to put a £200+ dedicated long GPU not the system, you have a good little bit to play around with, meaning you could get a Bluetooth and WiFi integrated mobo, a small size GPU with enough power for your needs, and then have a system you can gradually upgrade if the need for more performance in certain areas arrises, and you have a system that you have put together meaning that any repairs/replacements should be able to be done yourself

I think the gaming-focused conversation here has swayed the discussion a bit, although understandable because the brand does direct it towards the gaming market.

I'm interested in getting one of these as I travel frequently and have to do lots of intensive graphics and video work, but I absolutely hate using a laptop for any serious editing - ask anyone who does this kind of work seriously and they'll tell you that 9 hours spent at a laptop results in serious deformities. Lightweight monitors are available now, and I can certainly get a few pounds of monitor in a suitcase, as long as it's no bigger than a 22 monitor.

It's nigh on impossible to find a portable PC with a half-decent graphics chip. I've no particular interest in gaming, but I'm hugely interested in this if it would allow me to ditch my macbook pro for a proper computer. I'm sure anyone reading this will suggest to just carry on with the laptop, but really, after 9 years of doing so, it's really taking a toll. Moreover, repairs are so expensive to high-end laptops - if something happens to the screen, it's really difficult to get a replacement.

Interesting re: the updated model coming after e3 - but what sort of price will this entail? An i7 with dedicated graphics is hard to find. As a competitor to the Mac mini this looks hard to beat.

If this is overpriced for its hardware, as many of you have said, can anyone please point my in the direction of a comparable model? I've considered Micro ITX, but I still haven't managed to get anywhere near this size/ price point for what I need.

...and please - don't just tell me to build a gaming computer, I have absolutely no use for FPS related willy-waving.

Could this run GTA V PC properly?

I did not read or post in relation to your first post... I was just stating facts... you really do have a complex over your card. I funny enough, was talking about my experience of this machine. Weirdly not my opinion of what you are guessing about a machine because you have a completely different system with a similar or same GPU. I have no more time to waste on your paranoias sorry, Over and out!

In my very first post in this thread, which also happens to be post #1, I said it would run modern games on med/high at 30fps. Exactly what part of that do you think people might misconstrue as 'it will run Witcher 3 maxed out'?

debating nothing it seems... IDK, why you chose to defend the 860m if you aren't concerned about fps, as that is a gpu job... The 860m maybe fine in you laptop, but in this, for the money, it is pants, google it if you want, I just don't want ppl buying this thing thinking it'll run maxed out Witcher, because it wont.

Bless. It's sweet that you think I have any kind of complex about the numbers in my PC. I look at what will do the job I want and go for it, I don't get bogged down in chasing fps. My laptop has served me well and I'm perfectly happy with it, whether or not you are is of no concern to me.

Oh, and it's an 860m.

It unfortunately doesn't, I don't care what laptop you have, my friend has this exact machine and it falls on it's 1080p face, the drivers supplied for the custom card, which is a modded mobile gpu are worst than poor, please do not try and shoot me down when I try to be helpful and state facts, your inferiority complex over your 960m has no place in being critical of my original post.

Insane advice.

Yes it's great for an 11 year old as it's so easy to use. Obviously you need to be in control of steam purchases though and ensure now adult games are purchased. Other than that it's perfect for a kid.

please do use the common sense of the good family father, my dad would have kicked me there if he would have found me using this stuff at 11. My suggestion?? unsuitable for that age

Would this be a good buy for a first gaming PC for an 11-year old? He's got an xbox360 but wants to play Steam games.

It fortunately does. I have an i7 860m laptop and it runs games as I described above. Mobile parts aren't the laughable messes the master race would have you believe.

it's one of the ###M cards/laptop cards, and it is not good.

it unfortunately doesn't, the GPU completely screws it, it is worse than it looks on paper.

Gtx 750 ti spec. I could build a far better pc for this price in a mini itx if small is your thing.

Cold just for the i7 over a better gpu.

For someone who's interested in getting an Alienware Alpha, i'd wait until E3, supposedly a new updated Alpha cable of playing the newer games at higher settings is getting shown.

An employee at Alienware hinted on the Alienware Alpha subreddit:
https://m.reddit.com/r/AlienwareAlpha/comments/4j3iwk/upcoming_update/d33jfpr

These have a slightly better gaming performance than a PS4 but can obviously do all your day to day computer activites also, Just depends on what you expect of it to wether it's worth while.
I had a Zotac with simillar spec and had no issues with modern games on high settings averaging between 30 and 45 fps. Directx 12 should help a little going forward.

I got the i5 version of this with Windows installed. Whacked in an SSD and 16gb ram and it copes with many of the newer games with medium / high settings. I primarily bought this as a HTPC / games machine - I travel a lot and the portability of this thing makes it perfect for me. Good find for the money

Though the GPU is a mobile part, the CPU turbos up to 3.2 GHz under load and is a full desktop CPU, rather than a two-core mobile chip, so you're getting a desktop i7 four cores and eight threads, here. The T designation models reduce single core and multicore frequency to, for the fourth gen models, hit their comparatively low 35W, the lower power draw means less heat which is ideal in a small form factor PC.

Supposedly you can, but there are bugs. There is a guide here: http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/alienware-alpha-almost-100-functional.164759/

Seems to be problems with optical audio (no drivers), inbuilt wifi (no drivers) and needing the usb plugged in to boot. You should probably know how to use unibeast/multibeast and other tools like clover, but there are guides available for those.

Can I install OS X on it? Thanks

It's effectively a 2-year-old high-end gaming laptop without a screen/keyboard/battery. Good for anybody who has severe space restrictions or would like a bit of portability, ie students etc.



But anybody else would be buying it just to get some sort of buzz out of how small it is, same reason most people buy those rubbish compute sticks instead of better alternatives.

This is not going to run the latest games with decent fps on high settings at all.
It is all old technology, i7 2 generations behind, ddr3 ram, and a budget watered down graphics card?
Yes it fits under your tv, but you could also build a low profile pc that will fit under there or if you are serious about playing games i dont want it to look shoddy then buy something decent.

can you use sheild as a pc though?

is this store trustworthy?

I'm fairly sure Tomb Raider is a horrifically optimised Windows Store app, ala Quantum Break, which would explain a lot.

What a stupid comment.

Might aswell get a console if your happy with 30fps

With these specs, it should not struggle at all.

​
Yes, it's a low power i7 CPU, not a desktop chip

​
Yes but no point, can get other systems for less. What you plan to use it for?

I've had the i5 model for a year and a half, it's incredible. It plays anything you throw at it, and it's the so of my hand.
The ultimate PC Console, that also turns into a gaming pc when you plug a keyboard and mouse in.

is it cheaper if you opt for steamos, do they remove the cost of the windows license?

Vendor is excellent; you should see the rate that the 22 and 24" monitors fly out the door when they are posted here. Good after sales.

While the GPU is irremovable, you can replace the m.sata wifi card with a external graphics card adapter and use an external graphics card. More details can be found here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1526246/alienware-alpha-owners-club/1740.

I do accept however this is not an acceptable/feasible solution for most people. Unless you can find a particularly good deal, it might be worth waiting 2 weeks for e3 and see if a new model is released, which has been hinted at.

No, you can't upgrade the GPU in these at all, it's integrated.

You can stick the current form 1080 in but maybe when the bring the lower form version out :smiley:

No need to spend more, wait a couple months then whack a 75w Nvidia 1060 or AMD Polaris card in a cheap business desktop, maxed out 1080p gaming for under £450.

Solid State Drive, like hard drives but much much faster. Although, £ per GB is higher than a conventional hard disk (SSD's have lower capacity than a similarly priced hard drive), its definitely worth upgrading for the faster speeds and significantly faster boot times.

I owned this machine for quite some time... Upgrade to an SSD and its a cracking little machine. Started to struggle with newer games like Tomb Raider could only get 30fps on low albeit still at 1080p. Good value though.

Not as flexible but I recommend just getting a Steam Link for £40 if you already have a powerful enough gaming PC.

Bought one last month. Zero lag and its the same quality picture.

Save some money!

Yeah, but it looks really cool :smiley:

Can't see a compelling reason to buy one of those over a console unless you have a decent library of steam games. Seriously spend an extra £200 and get a reasonable desktop. Yes I know this is small form factor but you're really paying for it. This will be an absolute brick in 2 years with new games

I got the i5 version of this from dell outlet, for quite cheap around a year ago, worth checking there if you don't mind refurbished.
It's definitely a solid machine, can get 60fps with ultra settings on battlefield 4, dark souls 3 plays at around 50 fps with high and one or two settings medium, most modern games play very well (60fps) mostly high/few medium settings.

I would definitely replace the 5400 rpm hard drive with a ssd, as the original hard drive is very slow.

Also worth mentioning that on the r/alienwarealpha subreddit that an Alienware Software Product Manager hinted a new model might be previewed at e3.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AlienwareAlpha/comments/4jnl8s/i_need_help/d391sac
http://www.reddit.com/r/AlienwareAlpha/comments/4j3iwk/upcoming_update/d33jfpr

While the GPU is unremovable in this machine, people have had success in using external graphics card (eGPU) by replacing the m.sata WiFi card. The CPU can be changed but if I recall correctly the CPU is throttled if the power draw is more than 35w, so best to use t or s CPUs.

my posts are for CONNOISSEUR only

One of the better options out there :smiley: same as the steam link

If your time is expensive you should probably spend less of it posting £600 blu ray players and over RRP VR headsets as "deals" :smirk:

It's a tweaked version of the 860m laptop card, with a ever so slight overclock.

They're decent machines if you're looking to save on space, and obviously due to the branding hold resale value much better than something you'd build yourself.

can this be used just as a PC?

Worth pointing out there's the i5 version for £50 less: alienware-alpha-asm100-i5. If you're using it for casual gaming you won't find much difference performance wise between the two, as the GPU will be the limiting factor.

Wouldn't bother with this get a good desktop and stream to TV via a Nvdia Shield. Sorry voted cold as this is trying to be a game station with all the pitfalls a PC owner has in upgrading for gaming every year and not the technology to do it

is this a joke? my time is expensive and I do not come here to look at this

I have tried to find info on that card before and couldnt find anything. A nice enough looking machine but to me over priced for gaming performance.

A gaming PC thread with no one posting a part picker build of no interest to anyone else

"Two years ago", you do realise how fast technology has changed from 2 years ago.

Possibly a good price for this setup so won't vote cold, but due to the price of the system and the specs, I can't vote hot either. I spent £700 last year on a new system, ITX so it has a small form factor, and I manage to get 60fps at 1080p on any game I play maxed out, bar GTA V due to the gtx970 not quite holding its own in it.

Might be a good deal, but for around the same price or a little more, you could get a newer gen card like the 950/960 in an ITX build with an i5 and get much better performance, rather than the 750ti or as aged gpu all these systems seem to be shipping with currently

2.2Ghz CPU?

2gb GTX what exactly. Doesn't really narrow it down does it. considering its probably the most important component for a gaming machine. makes it sound a bit suspicious

Not a great gaming rig by modern standards, perhaps, good to have that low energy consumption T-version 4core/8-thread i7 but the Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M, as far as I could find, scores 3,919 points in 3dmark fire strike graphics, only a tad better than an old non-Ti version of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 (3,810 points - the Ti version scores 4,211 ). I imagine that's why it's so reduced in price. I like the design and concept, though, good price if you were after one. Not familiar with the vendor.

I just bought a Shield and stream my desktop to it it plays all my games at 1080p 60fps, i bought Just cause 3 last week and it plays that flawlessly on ultra settings and everyone knows the crazy specs required to run that. Its by far the best way to go if you have a gaming PC with a decent GPU or get a nuc or the brix and stream to that then you get the little box for under your TV. This is really a ridiculous price for what it is as you could get a really good GPU and the Shield fo the same or less something like the new 1070 GTX thats faster than a Titan X and the Shield as most people on here have a desktop that they could slide in a decent graphics card.

It's hot for the price but it's a very niche system. Anyone who doesn't need the tiny form factor can get a much more powerful system which would be longer lasting than this for cheaper

https://www.nrgit.biz/collections/gaming-pcs?sort_by=price-ascending

they have the I3 and I5 versions for cheaper too, since this won't run the top games these couple be good options instead

I'd rather them put an i5 and a killer gpu if they calling this a gaming pc

Noise levels?

its equivalent to a desktop 750ti this is a basically laptop hardware. Awesome price, will run linux flawlessly. This isn't the be all and all steam os, its one of the first itterations its a pc running linux (steamos). You can install windows of course, the focus was steam os though. This didn't sell too well as it was high priced when it came out this price isn't a steal but im going to vote it hot. You can build a fullsized desktop atx for cheaper. This however offers the tiny form factor. ITS REET SMALL.

might be better to price up your own build

2gb graphics says it all really

This isn't a gaming PC with that graphics card. Alienware are known for overpriced hardware but for a small form factor PC this is a decent price but don't expect to play the latest games on decent settings.

Probably not, if your i3 could be used a HTPC. PS4 is purpose built so better overall experience than you would have with this for gaming.

Heat

Not sure if serious... but no.

can u stick a 1080 is there

question is... if I already have a PS4 and an I3 PC, is it worth the upgrade?

Very good price, paid this much when I built mine 2 years ago with considerably lower spec.

Good deal! Not your typical Alienware monster machine, but will fit nicely under a TV and handle most modern games at med/high at around 30fps.