Alienware Alpha Console Replacement Owner's Lounge

If you are a proud owner of one of these console-slaughtering micro powerhouses, this is the thread for random discussion, asking questions and showing off what that little beast is made of.

 

Which GPU do these actually use? I really feel like the price is not justified.

So Alienware has just updated their website with this. It's some sort of FAQ about their upcoming Steam Machine. Seems like it's just going to be Alienware Alphas with SteamOS. I personally lost interest in Steam Machines some time ago; they just seemed like pre-built mini-ITX PCs.
Thoughts?

 

GTX 860m. Alpha currently sells for $499 (base) or $599 with Tactx keyboard and mouse.
And here's some news on the Alienware Steam Machine (an Alpha with SteamOS).

 

Thanks for the info.
I just posted a thread about the AWSM before you replied to me.

 

This is actually a pretty decent product for the price. Way better than a console and much cheaper than any gaming notebook capable of delivering equal performance. As much as I do not care for the current Alienware notebook product line, this machine actually makes a lot of sense to me. I borrowed one from a friend for a couple of months and really liked it for what it was. Probably didn't expect to hear that from an overclocking nut like me, but I have to admit that it is definitely worth $499... just my opinion.

 

Uh... You could put together a build which would absolutely thrash any of its configs for $500. Even in micro-ATX form. I don't understand your enthusiasm. Just because it's better than a console, doesn't mean it's good.

 

Is that $500 including the OS and the controller (wouldn't be far if you can't include both) with the parts new?
Here's the best I can come up with.

 

Yes it is. The controller has not been released yet.

Your link is an empty build.

 

Yah, you won't be putting together any rig that will be "thrashing" the Alpha for $500 if you're including the OS and quality parts. Now matching the performance at $500 is something I could do, but it won't be as compact as the Alpha.

 

Sorry about that. Here you go.
One problem with the Pentium G3258. Some games, like Far Cry 4, aren't playable at all because they require more than 2 cores (or threads). Then there's the fact that that build you linked has 180 GB less storage than the Alpha and no OS included (which adds about $88).
Of course, one could choose an AMD processor and/or an AMD GPU (like this one).
Controller adds $30, so there's that. The Alpha also comes with some bundled games included (let's value that from $30 to $50 even though Alienware says >$100).
If we were talking about Linux gaming desktops, then yes, I would agree. But Windows gaming desktops? Not really.

 

Here's the closest I got using parts I trust (except for the PSU, would wait for the CX430M to drop to the same price...):

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Th4tRedhe4d/saved/M2brxr

And that doesn't include the controller so add ~$30 to that.

Edit: Forgot to add a Wi-Fi card so add another ~$10.

The i5 and i7 Alphas are a different story though, you could beat those.

 

i5 build + 30 (for controller).
i 7 build + 30 (for controller).
Once you get to the i7 build, DIY with Windows will always be cheaper (even with the controller). It's somewhat debatable, I think, for the i5 build, but at that point, you could build better with the budget of the i5 build.
Amazon is selling the base Alpha for $469. The new low to beat now (Dell does price match, but you avoid taxes through Amazon... maybe).

 

Not really "enthusiasm" (note that I have not spent any money on one) but I can see the value of the Alpha. It's really tiny, cheap, better than a console, plays games fine and requires no effort. It's a dirt cheap addition to the home entertainment center that fits well, works out of the box, for next to nothing.

I don't go for micro-ATX boxes. I'm a multi-GPU and unlocked CPU beast-loving overclocker first, gamer second. I love big and bulky laptops and desktops. If I had an extra $450-500 to blow on a no-fuss plug-and-play toy for my entertainment center that my grandkids can enjoy, I would buy one. Makes perfect sense to me for a purpose like that.

 

This baby will kill the Alpha's base config. IF you really want to stay below $469, substitute that 280 with a 270X (or even a cheaper 280...there's always deals floating around for those). For reference, here's the closest about as close as I could get to the Alpha with a GTX 750 Ti. Still beats the Alpha. And before you mention the controller again, remember that will not be available until November.

 

Xbox 360 controller, so a controller has to be included. I'm not talking about the Alpha Steam Machine. I'm talking about the Alpha currently being sold. If we were talking about the Steam controller, we would have to add $20 to our builds and compare to $479 as opposed to $469 ($10 difference, really).
What R9 280 (link hadn't gone through at time of posting)? The build you originally linked (teksyndicates) had a GTX 750 ti.
Most of our builds are slightly more expensive but with more CPU power and slightly more GPU power (if not factory OC), and that's it (I'm ignoring the blatant GPU upgrade-ability for now). The one you linked, while it has a lot more GPU power, I'm skeptical about that CPU. But that's about it.

 

The build I linked has a 280. It's in the post you just quoted ('This baby').
Tek Syndicate used a more expensive case and dual channel 8 GB RAM.

 

Reread my updated post.

 

The FX-4200 should be enough for most games. While it might be slower per core, it has other advantages (more cache, higher frequency, quad core), and the system would perform better overall.

 

I highly doubt an FX-4300 performs better than the i3s we were using.

 

I said the system would perform better overall. The i3s would probably beat the FX-4200 in benchmarks, but for gaming, a 280 and FX-4200 would beat an i3 and a GTX 750 Ti. And again, the 4200 is a quad-core, and much better at overclocking.

 

That's an awesome link but the guy is kind of a prick haha. Still I actually watched through the video and kind of want to do it just to have a fun project.

 

Logan? Yeah, I love him for it.

 

UI beta update #2.

 

Get your Alpha for $399.

 

Since I'm chucking my m18x due to size/not needing a laptop, I've been considering an Alpha later on.

The price is excellent and convenient, and the form factor is great.

I tried Windows 10 out and really enjoyed it. I wonder if Alienware will be active at E3 showing late or next year steam box/win 10 models.

The performance from 6990m CFX with i7 to the i3/i5 w/860m would be too significant I think. I will probably wait to see what the next set of Alienware consoles are before moving on.

 

A new sweepstakes has appeared on AWA for the Alienware Alpha. Well, two of them. And if you don't win one, there's a chance for a triple digit Steam Gift Card.
https://na.alienwarearena.com/contest/HiveMind
https://eu.alienwarearena.com/contest/HiveMind
Open to legal residents of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, and any Province of Canada (other than Quebec), that are thirteen (13) years of age or older, legal residents of Sweden that are sixteen (16) years of age or older and legal residents of Australia, Germany, and Norway that are fifteen (15) years of age or older as of June 24, 2015.

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=9182719&sku=DEI-102588294
$380 for the Alpha. As well, if you're a member at AWA, an ARP sweeps for an Alpha Steam Machine with an i5 will come up next week. (Out of stock)

 

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-steam-machine/pd?ref=PD_OC
Steam Machine available through Dell. The i7 got a bump form the 4765T to the 4785T.

 

Are there any differences between alpha and steam machine?

Gesendet von meinem Nexus 5 mit Tapatalk

 

Except for the Steam logo and OS differences, they're essentially the same machine.

 

Alpha has been updated for Skylake-T, has Graphics Amp compatibility, and comes with either an R9 m470x or a GTX 960. Also has support for PCIe SSDs. However, it can only hold 1 stick of DDR4 RAM.
So yeah, the Alpha R2.

 

I bought one from Fry's. Price was too good to pass: $380 with i7-4785T

I have to say.. it is awesome for its size and portability. I initially bought to build a DNS and Plex server but I fell in love as a portable gaming rig.
I personally dont see much advantage on the R2 version if one buys because of amp. If you7 are going to rely on amp to get the best gaming experience it is better to just build a custom rig.

The biggest advantage is its size: put in a back pack and go have fun

 

$799 for 960 is slightly on the high end price wise. I'm definitely going to wait for the 1060 refresh.

Also, very interesting that the m470 version doesn't work with the amplifier....