How does Alienware stay in business?

[Fardringle]

Some people are willing to pay extra for a name, even if they are actually getting an inferior product. Bose and Monster Cable are two examples...

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Did you miss the post just above yours, I don't think you compared "apples to apples"

Yeah I saw it. You can't compare apples to apples since you don't know exactly what Alienware uses for some of their components. I didn't use your configured system since it's a waste for gaming anyway. You didn't even list what parts you compared it to... I was about as close to apples to apples as you can get.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Yeah I saw it. You can't compare apples to apples since you don't know exactly what Alienware uses for some of their components. I didn't use your configured system since it's a waste for gaming anyway. You didn't even list what parts you compared it to... I was about as close to apples to apples as you can get.

A waste for gaming? I'm no expert for sure, but a waste?

 

[lxskllr]

I'd rank Alienware with Apple, where you're paying a premium for subjective, not objective features. I think both are a waste of money, since the added "features" don't add anything for me. Someone else may feel differently. Also, as already stated, some people have more money than time. I know someone who bought an Alienware system for some gaming, but primarily for photo editing. He has lots of money, and no desire to build a system. It's worked perfectly for him, and he got a computer suitable for his tasks.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

A waste for gaming? I'm no expert for sure, but a waste?

You paired an I7 930 w/ dual 5770's. Not a waste exactly, but a pretty poor choice. 6GB is a waste, but not a big one. Actually if you wanted more memory you'd be better off going 8GB dual channel on the 1156 platform.

 

[Anomaly1964]

You paired an I7 930 w/ dual 5770's. Not a waste exactly, but a pretty poor choice. 6GB is a waste, but not a big one. Actually if you wanted more memory you'd be better off going 8GB dual channel on the 1156 platform.

Ok, I get what you are saying now...

...that is just what they had pre-configured.

I will end up building myself I am 95% sure.

 

[cmdrdredd]

So it's kinda for the guy who wants to drive a sports car but not necessarily build one...?

It's for the guy who wants a dressed up Maserati because it looks sleek and his friend's don't have one. For the rest of us it's a tuned up Camaro or Mustang that costs less, but is just as fast if not faster.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Ok, I get what you are saying now...

...that is just what they had pre-configured.

I will end up building myself I am 95% sure.

Yeah I see that. I also noticed the dual 5770's have a $200 discount. If that wasn't there it wouldn't be any kind of a deal. You certainly don't need the 1336 platform for gaming. You could take my example build and replace the 5870 with a 6970 and the 4GB with 8GB which brings you to about $1,311. Cheaper than their pre-configured rig and much better for gaming.

Course if I wanted to build something now I'd just wait for Sandy Bridge.

 

[Zap]

I know someone who has the cash and doesn't want to be bothered with the DIY experience, nor does he care about "quality" of his parts. As long as his system works and runs his games at the appropriate frame rate, he's indifferent. The fact that he has an OEM power supply and not a Corsair in there means nothing to him.

If the computer has a warranty, works as it should and lasts for a few years, who cares about quality? Even the highest "quality" products have a failure rate.

You really want to bring up power supplies? Do you know the big harrumph that some forums with more popular PSU subforums are going through with Corsair lately with their CX430? Do you know that the higher end Dells (including Alienwares) have been known to use Delta PSUs? You know, the company that builds the Antec Signature PSU? Just because it has or does not have a recognizable "brand" on the label doesn't always mean a whole lot.

I'm all about saving money, but there is the whole aspect of "time is money". When you look at possible frustration of building (for newbs) and how much of your TIME it could take, there is that aspect to consider. Some may be JUST as happy to plug there machine in and get 60FPS as opposed to having to build it to get 60FPS...

Exactly! It isn't even noobs. I've built systems for a guy who runs a local business who is totally capable of building systems himself, but would rather be out on service calls or cultivating new business than to be spending time building systems.

It's also funny that they offer pre-overclocked CPU's but not overclocked GPU's in their "gaming" PC's.

Companies who have to warranty systems they sell usually are more conservative with overclocking. CPUs tend to have more headroom consistently than graphics cards, plus tend to be more robust. How often do you see forum posts about a dying CPU even though it seems as if the majority here overclock their CPUs? I don't see very many. How often do you see forum posts about dying graphics cards? Uh huh.

It's for the guy who wants a dressed up Maserati because it looks sleek and his friend's don't have one. For the rest of us it's a tuned up Camaro or Mustang that costs less, but is just as fast if not faster.

There are two issues at hand.

#1 Presumably a pre-built costs more for equivalent performance.

This is sometimes true, yet sometimes false. It is true that at the higher end a BYO tends to have some amount of savings (sometimes significant) over a pre-built. At the lower end, however, pre-builts are often in the same price ballpark or even cheaper. Additionally (and I see this over and over again on these forums) many people doing a price analysis neglect to factor in an operating system (amazing how many people "already got one" ). There are also issues of included peripherals (mice/keyboards) and of course warranty and labor (but apparently many people feel their time is worthless).

#2 Build your own or buy a pre-built?

IMO this is the real issue. I think the price issue is just a veneer over a pride issue. Computer enthusiasts take pride in building their own systems. Nothing wrong with that. However, IMO there is also nothing wrong with not building your own.

Time for another analogy.

Do you guys ever eat out? You know, go to a restaurant? I'm guessing everyone here has done that to some degree. Why? You know that cooking is really simple, right? Even kitchen noobs can cook, with a few simple instructions. Heck, you'll find written instructions all over the place, called "recipes." Cooking in your own kitchen can be healthier and cheaper than eating out at a restaurant, plus you get to customize your meal with whatever you want. Don't like or allergic to a certain ingredient but you love the dish? Customize it! You want portions a certain size? Customize it! Why in the world would anyone ever eat out at a restaurant and pay more, when you can do it yourself?

That's ridiculous, right? Who doesn't want to be pampered now and again, and not have to prepare the food nor clean up afterward? Who doesn't want to take a date to a nice restaurant now and again? Who doesn't want to treat their mother on her birthday to a nice restaurant meal? Shouldn't you have the right to choose to eat out at a restaurant without being judged by the hardcore home chefs on being indifferent noobs, or being ignorant and stupid?

 

[Axon]

If the computer has a warranty, works as it should and lasts for a few years, who cares about quality? Even the highest "quality" products have a failure rate.

You really want to bring up power supplies? Do you know the big harrumph that some forums with more popular PSU subforums are going through with Corsair lately with their CX430? Do you know that the higher end Dells (including Alienwares) have been known to use Delta PSUs? You know, the company that builds the Antec Signature PSU? Just because it has or does not have a recognizable "brand" on the label doesn't always mean a whole lot.

Not sure where the argumentative tone is coming from Z man, as we're in agreement. I don't steer people away from pre-builts unless someone asks me to specifically suggest a DIY build. If you come to a DIY hardware forum (or a forum with a DIY aspect if you prefer), however, people are going to suggest you build your own hardware. The Corsair PSU was simply an example, it could have been any large name. That the new CX line sucks compared to the old model is simply coincidence.

And for the record, I'm aware of most or all of the OEM distributors.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

This isn't a general buying vs. building thread, Zap. Of course buying pre-built has it's place. But this thread is specifically about Alienware's gaming PC's. Buying an overpriced combination of computer hardware isn't what I consider being pampered.