Alienware resurrects iconic Area-51 gaming PCs with monstrous $4,500 model

In a nutshell: Alienware is kicking off the new year by reviving one of its most iconic gaming desktops, the mighty Area-51, as its new flagship. This brand was available since 1998 before Dell pulled the plug after announcing the Area 51 R4 in 2017. Now they are back, but be prepared to take out a small loan because the apartments are not cheap.

The Area-51 is a massive 80L full-size tower with incredibly powerful performance. The highlight is perhaps support for up to 600W of graphics power from Nvidia’s lowly “next-generation high-performance GPUs”, as well as up to 280W of multi-core processing power from the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor.

Cooling all this power is provided by a completely redesigned airflow system. Instead of simply installing an exhaust fan, the Area-51 creates positive pressure inside the case, essentially passively pushing hot air out the back. Alienware claims this approach delivers significantly better cooling performance than the brand’s previous desktops.

The chassis copes with this task with the help of a group of huge intake fans. This includes dual 140mm fans that push air up toward the GPU, another pair of 180mm fans that push out from the side at the front, and dual or triple 120mm fans that pull air from the top for liquid cooling systems.

Alienware speaks that this “positive pressure” design moves 25% more air, runs 13% cooler and is a whopping 45% quieter than the last generation Alienware Auroras. The company also claims that this setup provides 50% more processing power compared to older models.

Another important point is the ability to update. You can easily open the Area-51’s spacious chassis by turning the rear handle. The QR codes inside contain links to handy videos on replacing parts like RAM, GPUs, SSDs, and power supplies. There are even guides for basic maintenance tasks, such as cleaning the three removable filters.

Getting back to the specs, the system offers up to 64GB of ultra-fast 6400MT/s DDR5 XMP RAM, up to 8TB of internal storage across two 4TB drives, and liquid cooling support right up to a massive 420mm radiator. Power comes from either the beefy 1500W Platinum PSU or the slightly more modest 850W Gold PSU – neither of which should leave you wanting more.

As for the price to purchase this rig, the top-of-the-range starting model will set you back $4,499 when it arrives in the first quarter of 2025. Alienware hasn’t shared numbers for the cheaper options, but there are more affordable options. scheduled to follow later this year.