Does Alienware Alpha Compete Strongly Against Leading Gaming PC Consoles?

The Alienware Alpha features Microsoft's software and some amazing hardware specifications, to become a close competitor to all the leading gaming consoles. Read the article below how the console based gaming PC can let you enjoy Alienware Alpha games at its peak.

Valve's Steam Machine appeared as one of the most advanced gaming hardware during the CES 2014 in Las Vegas, but the company took too long to introduce the entire concept. Undoubtedly, Valve Corp is still working on the SteamOS gaming platform and Valve's Steam Controller, but Dell Alienware Alpha has made a surprising entry into the gaming markets. The company has introduced the custom console-sized system for SteamOS and has also transformed your entire living room gaming environment. The device supports a simple 10-ft UI developed in-house and ships with an Xbox 360 wireless controller to let you control and navigate through the Alienware Alpha games. Market researchers claim that the gadget doesn't incorporate the best gaming CPU, but there are some specifications that make it a worth purchase.

Some Generic Details

Running on Windows 8.1, the gaming gadget is operating on Dell's custom Alpha UI. The device offers two user modes- Console Mode and Desktop Mode, which are meant for gaming and computing operations, respectively. Users can also boot directly into Steam Big Picture mode to navigate Steam on their TVs within a few minutes only. The current range of the gaming hardware series starts from $499 and goes up till $849, depending on the specifications you choose.

Users can select their desired hardware by selecting an ideal processor, and the company's array includes Intel Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 CPUs. The Alpha series relies on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M GPU with 2GB of GDDR5 memory to ensure faster and optimal performance while playing heavy games. The Alienware Alpha's power button features the company's logo, and its backlit blue color makes it visible even in a close, dark room. The ports bucket includes three USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI-in port, optical audio, and an HDMI-out port. The Dell Alienware Alpha also supports Ethernet port and Intel's Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265/Bluetooth 4.0 adapters to provide immense support while wirelessly connecting the device.

Real World Performance

Fortunately, the hardcore PC gamers don't focus much on the power consumption otherwise; the constraint would have worked negatively for the gadget. The Alpha really shines by only using 24.3 Watts as average power consumption and performs well under load by pulling a mere 106 Watts. The Alpha series features a segment containing quiet little PCs, which stay nearly silent during usual course of usage. The gaming hardware is too silent and powerful that it will not bother anyone while you play your favorite computer games.

SiSoft SANDRA and Content Creation Performance

Many of the independent research labs put the Alienware Alpha through SiSoft SANDRA and Cinebench tests to judge its actual performance. The SiSoft suite tested the entire range on various diagnostic and system utilities and presented several performance benchmarks that are unmatchable with average gaming consoles. The tests focus on particular components, including the processor, memory, graphics card, and the main storage device. SiSoft SANDRA simulates certain tasks, and the Alpha series presented outstanding results at the CPU Arithmetic, Memory Bandwidth, Multimedia, and Physical Disks tests. The Alpha produced an average 84.95 frames per second and has bypassed the best gaming CPU performance by retrieving 273 as the final CPU score.

Market Expectations

Gaming machines like the Alpha bridges the gap between PC and console gaming experience, but attempting it without the SteamOS seems challenging. Dell has rightfully accepted the challenge and introduced the Alpha series to change your living room gaming experience. Today's buyer focuses on purchasing a device that is a living room PC along with featuring unmatchable gaming capabilities. Anyone who has a serious gaming rig can fire up Steam Big Picture and play his favorite Alienware Alpha games right from the couch. The Alpha is capable of handling your computer games at reasonable settings on your 1080p TV, and GeForce GTX 860M class GPU boosts up the image quality settings. Undoubtedly, the Alpha series is one the most advanced and innovative gadget that delivers twin-medium support in a single hardware.

Final Verdict

Since the device features Windows 8.1 and common PC configurations to support your computing tasks, the general computing tasks may take some time to respond. The device equips a slow hard drive, but you can use it only for gaming or for occasional web browsing. PC gurus will love to call it a console PC, not a mainstream computer. The gaming gadget can easily handle your favorite computer games on HDTV by using minimal power and producing negligible noise. Unfortunately, the gadget can't compete with larger PCs, but it can offer seamless computing and gaming experience to the beginners.