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Alienware Aurora Extreme Review |
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Recently, I was presented with an opportunity to review another of Alienware's gaming computers, and this time it was their Aurora Extreme system with AMD's new Athlon 64 FX-51 processor. Alienware's Area 51 Extreme (which I recently reviewed) uses the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor, which meant that I could actually compare the performance of each computer side-by-side.
Other than the obvious processor and motherboard differences, this particular Aurora possessed identical hardware as the previous computer I reviewed. Here's a full list of the specifications for reference:
- AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 Processor
- ASUS SK8V Socket 940 K8 Motherboard
- 1 GB PC3200 DDR System Memory
- ATI Radeon 9800 XT 256MB
- (2) Seagate Barracuda 160 GB 8MB Cache Serial ATA Hard Drives
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
- Samsung 52/24/52/16 CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
- Plextor PX-708A 8x DVD±RW
- Atech 8-in-1 Pro 9 Media Reader
I already talked quite a bit about the hardware in my Area 51 review, so this time I'd like to focus primarily on the performance difference between the Athlon processor and the Pentium 4 processor. Both the Athlon 64 FX-51 and the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition chips represent both companies' push toward the gaming market, so it only seemed fitting to benchmark each to see just how good they perform with specific games.
The Alienware binder that came packaged with the Aurora claimed that the machine was capable of about 350 FPS in Quake 3, which was actually close to 50 FPS slower than the Area 51. However, after I downloaded specific AMD-optimized DLL files for Quake 3, the Athlon 64 FX-51 outshined Intel's Extreme Edition processor in every benchmark I ran. I also found that the Athlon processor clocked higher than the Extreme Edition chip in Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and, using tools such as the downloadable Unreal Tournament 2003 benchmark utility, I found that it outperformed the Extreme Edition processor in UT2K3 by about 6%. However, the Area 51 did outperform the Aurora in several other applications (such as DivX encoding) and games like Halo that are specifically optimized for Intel processors. When you consider that both computers are capable of playing the current crop of games to their fullest extent without even the slightest delay, though, such negligible differences really don't matter. I've basically come to the conclusion that although the Athlon was statistically faster in most of the games that I personally play, each game's performance really just depends on which processor the developer optimized their game toward.
To support the 64-bit architecture, the current Aurora PCs come with the ASUS SK8V motherboard installed, which really doesn't differ much from the Area 51's P4C800-E Deluxe in terms of features. One of its advantages, though, is that it provides the option to install the ASUS WiFi-b add-on card, so if you're looking for an easy wireless network solution, this particular motherboard will do the trick. Again, as I said in my previous review, the installation of such high-end ASUS motherboards shows Alienware's commitment to creating a very fast and stable computer.
If you are trying to decide which of the two computers to purchase (the Area 51 or the Aurora), it really comes down to personal preference and what type of applications you will be running. Both machines will deliver in all respects, but the Aurora may offer somewhat of an edge for gaming, especially when Microsoft releases an operating system designed to take full advantage of 64-bit technology. However, Intel has always been the champion for multimedia performance, so if you run a lot of applications other than games, you may want to opt for the Area 51.
The rest of the hardware installed in this particular Aurora is identical to the Area 51 I previously reviewed, and it's all absolutely top-notch. To get an idea of what to expect when purchasing an Alienware, and just how much the company goes above-and-beyond in creating the fastest gaming computer on the planet, I highly recommend giving that review a read. These two computers are easily the sleekest, best equipped, and most powerful computers I have ever had the pleasure to use. With the Aurora Extreme, Alienware has taken AMD's most powerful gaming processor and complemented it with a perfect array of additional hardware, meaning you simply won't find a faster machine to play many of your favorite games on.
Overall, if you're craving the fastest PC money can buy, then an Alienware computer - Aurora or Area 51 - is the best choice you can make.
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| Article Details |
| Reviewed Alienware Aurora Extreme
Reviewer Jon "Buck" Birnbaum
Published 03/09/04
Pros Tweaked and optimized before being shipped, state-of-the-art hardware, stylish and attractive case, insane performance overall
Cons Somewhat steep price, large case dimensions |
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