Laptops specially designed for gaming are a great solution for those who don't have enough space to keep a high-performance computer stationary in one place. But they have a tremendous problem, since they require a large outlay for hardware that you will not be able to upgrade again. Well, that's not a problem for him. Alienware Area-51M.
The laptop that wanted to be a desktop
Don't misinterpret this headline. Alienware's new laptop doesn't want to be a desktop because of the immensity of its size (it is a bit big), but because of its versatility. The manufacturer has decided to put an end to the problems of the users, and has designed a computer like before, completely modular so that we can replace each and every one of the components, including the high-performance graphics card and even the processor.
But it is that in addition to being able to explode the interior, the manufacturer has decided to present the equipment using some desktop components such as the Core i9 or a NVIDIA RTX 2080 as higher options. An incredible configuration today, but one that tomorrow you will be able to replace with your own hands using updated components. Do you want a new processor? You can change it. Do you need more graphics power for the latest game on the market? No problem.
Introducing the new #alienware Area-51m gaming laptop. Engineered for performance with graphics upgradability and overclocking capabilities. #CES2019 https://t.co/r89naWXGBp pic.twitter.com/rQu9K58WJm
- ALIENWARE (@Alienware) January 8, 2019
En The Verge they have been able to take a look inside the equipment experimenting with the process of changing the components, and although it is not a task within the reach of all users, it is still a process with which the most hardware enthusiasts will be totally familiar .
But not everything was going to be rosy. The product, although it is fully functional and can be purchased from January 29, there is a small detail that should be taken into account, and it is related to the graphics. This key element in the performance of a gaming computer can be replaced, yes, but does that mean that we can connect any graphics card on the market? Obviously not.
Alienware uses in its Area-51m a Dell proprietary form factor called DGFF (Dell Graphics Form Factor), so users will depend on the manufacturer's work to qualify for future updates. Neither NVIDIA nor AMD have promised chips that support the format, and the manufacturer's only guarantee is that it expects future GPUs to be small and powerful enough for a DGFF board. Something that certainly does not generate confidence to invest the $2.549 that the most basic model of this peculiar computer costs.