Theres a benefit to that.
The Area-51 is made to be your forever case.
Pros
Cons
The main thing you notice about Alienwares latest desktop is that its big.
An image of a glowing desktop, mouse, keyboard and monitor.© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Its so big, you need two people to lift it onto your desk.
Its so mundane looking, I might not want it on my desk at all.
The premium build quality also comes at a premium price.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The big Alienware pre-built PCstarts at $3,750.
The Area-51 is essentially an upscaledAurora R16 from 2024.
I liked that PC, and I think that rendition feels more evocative than this rendition.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The best aspects of Alienwares new design are centered around its huge body.
That kit includes cables to help the new motherboard interact with the AlienFX board on the side panel.
The company promised it will offer the kit for several years after the end of the Area-51s lifespan.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The panels are detached by unscrewing a lock, turning a dial, then hitting a button.
Dell even took a page from Frameworks playbook.
If you have any experience with PC building, all the advice will seem rote.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The most dramatic feature of the redesigned Area-51 is the positive pressure environment used for cooling.
The desktop doesnt have any exhaust fans.
I would be lying if I told you I wasnt skeptical, but it does indeed work.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
If you stand behind the rear vents, you’re free to feel the hot air moving.
In my tests, using Alienwares built-in Command Center software monitoring, the PC wasnt getting overly steamy.
Above: An older edition Area-51 Desktop compared to the 2025 Alienware Area-51.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Alienware claims this supplies better airflow, allowing for better temps which should also help it run better.
I dont have enough systems to offer apples to apples comparisons to check those claims.
I also wouldnt say the Area-51 system is any more silent than its contemporaries.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
It still will sound like a jet engine when you want to get the most out of your performance.
Alienware pulled out all the stops for this build, all the way down to the efficient cable management.
This is a primo machine made to pair with other premium hardware, like a 240 Hz QD-OLED monitor.
The new Area-51 looks like a big desktop.
I know which one Id plug in first.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
The Area-51 desktop is extra big to accept Nvidia’s GPUs.
It has solid audio, but it may be looking too much to the past.
