I don't think there's a second drive bay, but I've seen pictures of people mounting SSDs in odd places in this thing. I'm not entirely sure though, perhaps someone can open theirs up and see.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Alienware X51 thread of 2.56TFLOPS comfy couch gaming at 180W in a console size box
- Thread starter Chittagong
- Start date
- Status
I don't think there's a second drive bay, but I've seen pictures of people mounting SSDs in odd places in this thing. I'm not entirely sure though, perhaps someone can open theirs up and see.
ShinobiFist
Banned
Jawmuncher
Member
You can but not officially.
On the Dell forums it shows what you have to do.
But the SSD just kinda sits somewhere so I wouldn't receommend it.
ShinobiFist
Banned
This...
If you're not safe with the x51 with an i5 and gtx 660, no rigs but the extremely hardcore ones are safe. And no devs wants to develop for extremely hardcore rigs only.
This is a very good gaming machine already, you just don't have to expect to stretch it to eat every possible graphical options in every games (though it does it for most games still), notching down anti-aliasing would be the first thing to do, which is quite reasonable.
Don't get me wrong, what I'm saying is that if anything, it's only going to get better with age (and new engines). The issue that exists right now, which isn't significant either, is totally transient and exists due to engines made for console processors from 2005. I'm a big fan of the X51. In fact, it's pretty much on par with a similarly priced small form factor DIY, which I'm hoping to demonstrate with some benches from a cooperative X51 owner.
Maybe what I didn't make clear is that games in the future will *not* have this issue. Borderlands 2 is on Unreal Engine 3, which along with Starcraft 2, are the two main culprits of CPU bottlenecking. It's a great purchase.
That's not entirely true, as an i5 with even a stock heatsink can be OC'd to 4.0GHz without even a voltage bump.
SSD's have zero moving parts so they can just sit wherever. It's one of the things that I absolutely love about them. Here's my two Crucial M4's taped to the side of my 5.25" bay:
Jawmuncher
Member
Ahh I see.
Then I guess it would be fine then.
I know SSDs are faster and what not, but I honestly haven't done to much research into them.
Baron_Calamity
Member
When I used an SSD for my windows drive, I really didn't notice it was that much faster. Sure, booting was quick (something I rarely do) and my Windows index score was significantly higher but one I was in, using the system, play games (even off the ssd) it didn't seem any different.
Jawmuncher
Member
So to those who ordered an X51, when did they charge you for it?
I checked on the website and apparently it's going to be delivered today.
However I never recevied a shipping email, and they've yet to charge me.
Will they not charge until it's actually signed for?
I checked on the website and apparently it's going to be delivered today.
However I never recevied a shipping email, and they've yet to charge me.
Will they not charge until it's actually signed for?
I had some technical/money issues and had to return my original x51. I'm getting a newer/better one this week, and I just wanted to make sure.
If I just plug it into the HDMI, will it use the graphics card? On my original X51, it would run games using the integrated graphic card rather than the video card, and they ran like shit. If I ran a HDMI to DVI, it would work great but had no sound. I want to say I was able to run bios and get it to work with an HDMI cord because they turn it off my default for whatever reason.
edit: and what are you guys using to play kb&m games on the tv with this? Like a tray or something? I've got a card table that I use, but it's not ideal.
If I just plug it into the HDMI, will it use the graphics card? On my original X51, it would run games using the integrated graphic card rather than the video card, and they ran like shit. If I ran a HDMI to DVI, it would work great but had no sound. I want to say I was able to run bios and get it to work with an HDMI cord because they turn it off my default for whatever reason.
edit: and what are you guys using to play kb&m games on the tv with this? Like a tray or something? I've got a card table that I use, but it's not ideal.
There are two HDMI's on mine. I have it plugged into the one on the graphics card.
BarrelMakingPenguin
Member
Does anyone have any experience playing The Walking Dead on an X51? I've been replaying it after doing a fresh OS install to resolve other issues and the frame rate seems to suffer in many instances whereas I don't remember that being the case on my first time through. I might just be being paranoid but I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience and if not...what should I do to try and fix this issue?
My drivers are up to date by the way.
My drivers are up to date by the way.
Chiggs
Gold Member
There are wireless options. Microsoft sells a wireless version for the PC.
Well here's what made me nervous about jumping into PC gaming...
Got my x51 today and have been trying to get it up and running and it's been a myriad of small issues I can't figure out.
1.) where do I go to get the latest nvidia drivers?
2.). Why when I ask steam to check for driver updates does it not recognize my card and tells me unknown vendor?
3.). I tried the arkham city demo and the game is at a crawl despite users saying this game maxes out easy with good FPS.
I'm guessing this is simple stuff I should know but I don't and its frustrating cause everyone made it sound like this was as close to plug and play as it gets and yet I'm spending hours and feel I'm getting nowhere.
Got my x51 today and have been trying to get it up and running and it's been a myriad of small issues I can't figure out.
1.) where do I go to get the latest nvidia drivers?
2.). Why when I ask steam to check for driver updates does it not recognize my card and tells me unknown vendor?
3.). I tried the arkham city demo and the game is at a crawl despite users saying this game maxes out easy with good FPS.
I'm guessing this is simple stuff I should know but I don't and its frustrating cause everyone made it sound like this was as close to plug and play as it gets and yet I'm spending hours and feel I'm getting nowhere.
maquiladora
Member
Are you connecting to the HDMI port on the graphics card?
This. It should have the latest drivers already installed. I just wait for automatic updates.
I apparently wasn't but now I am and I lose signal when I start a game from steam...one more problem now.
Though thanks to the poster for the link to the drivers. Downloaded them. Now I can't see my games though once they launch. I know it's not the drivers but this is frustrating.
soul creator
Member
there's some option in the graphics settings (don't remember off hand) where I think you can force it to always use the Nvidia graphics, and not the integrated graphics, regardless of what HDMI port you're plugged into. I think it's called Optimus or something?
maquiladora
Member
For anyone upgrading to Windows 8, Dell posted Windows 8 Bios along with proper Drivers:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/alienware-x51
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/alienware-x51
I believe it was just refreshed with Ivy Bridge..not sure though.
Good for emulation? 660 good for maxing most games out?
was recently refreshed to ivy bridge and the GPU bumped to 660. Good time to jump in.
Marty Chinn
Member
If you use the one that's on the MB, your system will automatically switch between the integrated and dedicated when needed. It's useful if you're doing other stuff outside of gaming like watching media.
Just wanted to chime in after a few days with this thing and a few too many steam sale purchases; this thing really is incredible.
The difference on games from console to this is pretty incredible. My brother came into the room while I was playing sleeping dogs and was wondering why he never realized how incredible the game looked when he played it on 360.
My only question right now is i am having trouble getting the games to play in 5.1 surround. I have it hooked through my receiver and the receiver reads 5.1 but it seems to only be playing through my front speakers for some reason.
The difference on games from console to this is pretty incredible. My brother came into the room while I was playing sleeping dogs and was wondering why he never realized how incredible the game looked when he played it on 360.
My only question right now is i am having trouble getting the games to play in 5.1 surround. I have it hooked through my receiver and the receiver reads 5.1 but it seems to only be playing through my front speakers for some reason.
doniewhalberg
Member
Did you go for the new update? What kind of settings are you hitting if you got the i7-3770, gtx 660 etc? Pretty much exploring all options between now and e3 deciding what I'm going to do for next gen, but in the case they all announce glorified cable boxes, the missus REALLY doesn't want a desktop in the house (apparently the only spot that's good is also the christmas trees spot? Yea, I know) so this could be an option. All the reviews though are from the original launch set of specs so any info on how the new ones are running would be great. I could always literally buy a tower and plug it into my tv, but interested in this as an option at least.
Right click on Speakers icon in system tray --> Configure HDMI (or SPDIF/Optical if that's how you connected it) to 5.1.
And click Properties on it to check supported formats afterwards.
I think the 7870 or GTX 670
mr stroke
Member
would this require swapping the stock power supply too?
Well OP had it on torture test run at 204w. Could probably do it on the Stock, but you'd probably want some room to spare.
And is it easy to switch out the PSU on these things?
Marty Chinn
Member
The power supply is external so it's super duper easy, although you're limited to what Dell offers.
Where can I buy a PSU for the x51? Don't want to be stuck with the stock video card
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked