Review: Alienware Andromeda X51

It's been quite a while since I attended my last LAN party, but I was under the impression that most gamers have moved on to laptops like these folks, if for no other reason than to quit it with all the lugging, loading, and hauling of gear. A laptop makes things easy: Bring your power adapter and a laser mouse and you're ready to frag.

But every gamer knows that laptops – even so-called "gaming laptops" – have limitations. Namely, they suck at gaming. And they are ridiculously expensive, and if there's one thing the typical gamer doesn't have, it's lots of money.

And so "real gamers" continue to soldier on, lugging their home-built desktops, a keyboard, mouse, monitor, cables, and gumption to every LAN party.

To them, Alienware offers this proposition: Give us $1,000, and we'll give you a gaming desktop in a pint-sized design that's easier to lug around. At a bit over 12 pounds (not including the 3-pound power brick) and a bit larger than a gaming console, the Andromeda X51 is easily toted under one arm, leaving the other free to carry the Keystone Light.

Our tester was spec'd a little higher than the $700 base model. Here's what $1,000 gets you: a 3GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM, a terabyte of hard disk space (7200 rpm), an Nvidia GTX 555 graphics card (with dual outputs), and slot-loading DVD. Loads of ports are available, including two front-mounted USB 2.0 and audio jacks. In the rear, you get four more USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, SPDIF TOSLINK and coaxial ports, and, on the graphics card, dual DVI and one mini-HDMI port. Certainly a workable configuration either as a gaming luggable or as a pint-sized computer for, say, a dorm room.

Of course, it's the benchmarks that really matter on a gaming machine, and the Andromeda doesn't disappoint. It didn't stutter on any game we threw at it, delivering well into the 60fps-plus range on every gaming benchmark we use. Perfectly playable, and with a P3166 rating on 3DMark 11, vastly superior to any laptop you're going to find at video operations. General performance was exceptional but not record-breaking. Most computers with Core i7 chips will do better with CPU-intensive operations if that's on the menu.

Gaming on a laptop is no picnic, but hauling gear to an event is no fun either. There's no denying the X51 will provide a far better gaming experience than any laptop – even a machine three to four times the price. But only you know your tolerance for attempting to strap a desktop into your car's passenger seat with the seatbelt.

That's probably why they invented online multiplayer.

WIRED Plenty of ports and power for most gaming needs. Super portable: 15 percent the size of a regular Alienware tower. Modular internal design makes replacing or upgrading parts easy. Sturdy build. Reasonably quiet.

TIRED Necessarily limited expansion options: 330-watt power supply and physical issues mean replacing the video card is tricky. Still more expensive than a DIY system. Power brick is the size of a man's shoe.