Alienware Alpha

The Alienware Alpha is a small powerful PC made to look like a console by DELL.

General specs:

This small console like PC includes a powerful NVidia GPU with 2Gb of VRAM and up to 8Gb of Main memory, you can get either a 500Gb or 1Tb hard drive and anything from a intel core i3 processor clocked at 2.90Ghz to a quad core intel i7 processor clocked at 3.00Ghz. Because its a PC and not a console all types of games can be downloaded and played and can be used as a normal work PC. The console has cool LED's on the power button and on the alienware logo. Unlike consoles you can pick how powerful the system is when buying it from alienware directly altough the more powerful you make it the more expensive it gets.

To Summarise Specs 

1. Powerful GPU

2. Can be configured with lots of RAM

3. Can be configured with a Fast CPU

4. Cool LED's

5. Specs can be configured

Gaming:

The Alienware alpha is an extremely powerful device and can play almost all of the huge PC market of games without struggling. Unlike other systems becuase this is a PC its not limited to using only one type of controller. this means it can accept xbox 360, Xbox one, keyboard & mouse, and third party controllers like the steam controller. The Alienware Alpha has its own software called Alienware Hive Mind. This software emulates the console experience and can even be set to launch when the computer boots. Becuase its a PC most of the components can be upgraded if the computer is starting to become slow and could use more RAM unlike consoles that can be done. Game settings can be changed on this system unlike other consoles so you can higher the resolution and quality of textures to make the game work for you.

To Summarise Gaming

1. Lots of games to play

2. Not limited to one type of input

3. Alienware hive mind

4. Cool LED's

5. Upgradable

6. Customisable settings

Limitations:

The Alienware Alpha uses a mobile GPU with only 2Gb of RAM so playing games at ultra quality is not usually playable. It is also much more expensive than the consoles starting at £498.99 for the base model and £748.99 for the higher spec model. With the base version the 4Gb of RAM and the slow i3 processor limits the performance of playing games and multitasking, this isnt a problem with the higher priced version. The GPU isnt upgradable on the Alienware Alpha so a new device will need to be bought if games become too much to handle. 

To Summarise Limitations

1. Low VRAM

2. More expensive than consoles

3. Not very powerful base model

4. GPU isnt upgradable

Future Developments

The next version of the alienware alpha should include the steam controller and use the steam OS as standard, it should also improve on the hive mind overlay and make it even more like a console overlay. The alienware alpha should use a more premium design using carbon fibre and aluminium like the other alienware systems that are already on the market. The final improvement to the console for a future development is to make the system completely modular and allow the removal and replacement of all of its compenents.