DailyTech - Alienware Introduces Liquid Chilled Quad-SLI Gaming System

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Hardware Alienware Introduces Liquid Chilled Quad-SLI Gaming System
Brandon Hill (Blog) - March 31, 2006 5:59 PM

21 comment(s) - last by Araemo.. on Apr 3 at 1:12 PM

Water-cooled

Alienware's new Aurora ALX gaming system makes use or a water-cooled system for its four blazing GPUs

Alienware may have been recently bought by Dell Computer, but that isn't stopping them from releasing the latest and greatest in gaming PCs. The company's new Aurora ALX used an AMD Athlon FX-60 processor backed by a liquid chilled Quad-SLI graphics subsystem.

Alienware's Liquid Chilled solution is based on CoolIT Systems' patented MTEC technology. The system ensures that the the GeForce 7900 graphics units are kept cool during extended gaming sessions. The unit is maintenance free so you keep your mind in the game instead of on your equipment.

CoolIT Systems' MTEC technology, used to power Alienware's Liquid Chilled solution, enables even the hottest processors to stay cool,” said CoolIT Systems. “By refrigerating the liquid, MTEC allows heat to be transferred away from the Aurora ALX's four GPUs, opening the door for unlimited graphics performance.

On Dell's side, it sells a system called the XPS 600 Renegade, which is a custom painted quad-SLI computer. Dell's system is not as equipped as the new Aurora ALX -- water cooling is not used, for example. Alienware also claims that its power supply is 25% more efficient than that of others. A fully configured Aurora ALX set us back $14,800 USD.

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I dont't know

By ThisSpaceForRent on 3/31/2006 8:04:14 PM , Rating: 2

As gas prices are now, at least in Chicago, it would probably be cheaper to buy this computer and save the cost of gas. Wait...nah scratch that I'll make due with my old 6600GT, old skool, and drive the wheels off my Civic SI.

I don't see Dealienware, or whatever you call it now, making a large amount of revenue off creations such as this. Awesome for ad purposes yes, but I can't see it making them a ton of money. Hmm...I could buy one and put a wing on it and lower it. Get a cool chrome tip for the power supply fan and...

RE: I dont't know

By Haggar on 3/31/2006 8:25:01 PM , Rating: 3

You've got to be a dumb and lazy guy to spend over $10k on a PC.

Even $5k is crazy...damn...most people buy PC's to play games on them anyway...LOL

Probably cheaper converting your Civic Si to right hand drive with all the Type R Recaro interior, tranny and block, LOL

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RE: I dont't know

By haelduksf on 3/31/2006 9:48:49 PM , Rating: 2

"You've got to be a dumb and lazy guy to spend over $10k on a PC."

Not at all, you just have to be rich.

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RE: I dont't know

By Griswold on 4/1/2006 4:14:53 PM , Rating: 3

Despite popular belief, its the same thing in many cases.

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I remember speccing one on their site

By suryad on 4/1/2006 12:20:11 PM , Rating: 2

...for kicks and drolling purposes...sans monitor, but with a 4 gig flash drive, a Saitek flight control system, anda momo racing wheel with 7.1 speakers, it came up to 9.5k...where did 14k come from?

RE: I remember speccing one on their site

By Griswold on 4/1/2006 4:16:55 PM , Rating: 2

The "25% more effective PSU"?

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RE: I remember speccing one on their site

By suryad on 4/1/2006 9:53:39 PM , Rating: 2

Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-60 with HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Chassis: Alienware® ALX Full-Tower Case - Space Black
Chassis Upgrades: Alienware® Acoustic Dampening with AlienIce™ 2.0 Video Cooling
Thermal Management System: Alienware® ALX Active Liquid Cooling System
Power Supply: 850 Watt Alienware® Approved Turbo Cool SLI
Graphics Processor: Quad NVIDIA® SLI™ technology featuring four GeForce® 7900 GPUs
Video Optimizer: AlienAdrenaline: Video Performance Optimizer
Motherboard: Alienware® NVidia nForce™4 SLI™ X16 Motherboard
Memory: 2GB Low Latency DDR PC-3200 SDRAM at 400MHz - 2 x 1024MB
System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 300GB RAID0 (2 x 150GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 10,000 RPM w/ NCQ & 16MB Cache)
Storage Drive: Additional Storage Drive - 1TB (500GB x 2) Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/32MB Cache
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Drive w/LightScribe Technology
Secondary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Drive w/LightScribe Technology
Monitors: No Monitor
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi® Elite Pro High Definition 7.1 Audio with XRAM Technology
Speakers: Creative GigaWorks™ THX® S750 - 7.1 700-Watt Speakers
Removable Storage : Alienware® 28-in-1 Digital Media Reader / Writer
Power Protection: Tripp Lite LC1200
Game Controllers: Saitek X52 Flight Control System
Headphones: Alienware® Ozma 7™ Headphones with S-Logic™ Technology
ALX Out Of Box Experience: Exclusive Alienware® ALX Items
Thumb Drives: Alienware® USB 2.0 4GB Flash Drive
Hot Titles: Call of Duty® 2
Hot Titles: F.E.A.R.
Games: Battlefield 2
Retro Gaming: Intellivision Lives! 50 Retro-Style Gaming Classics
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® ALX T-Shirt - Black
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® ALX Mousepad (a $19.99 Value!)
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
AlienInspection: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $99.99 Value - FREE!

Total $9654...not bad I say...though I opted for no monitor and no keyboard because I would get the Logitech diNovo BT keyboard set. 30 inch monitor would set you back another 2 grand not counting those crazy Dell Canada deals...so all in all is it worth a new Civic or a new desktop rig? That choice I leave to you.

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RE: I remember speccing one on their site

By Araemo on 4/3/2006 1:12:42 PM , Rating: 2

$16,145.00

This was with every possible item on the config page at the highest cost.

No, I would never buy 4 32" LCDs for one computer, but they offer it. ;P

$10,068.00 without the monitors, but with two terabytes of storage.

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I could buy a car

By Bull Dog on 3/31/2006 6:40:15 PM , Rating: 2

"A fully configured Aurora ALX set us back $14,800 USD."

But the dell only set you back around $10,000

RE: I could buy a car

By Bull Dog on 3/31/2006 6:40:58 PM , Rating: 2

LAMO 2 I could buy a car in 4 seconds of each other.

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RE: I could buy a car

By Tegeril on 3/31/2006 6:45:18 PM , Rating: 2

But a fully configured Dell comes with less options. Alienware has more diverse choices, more high quality offerings, and that's where the difference of cost comes in.

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quad sli?

By pd2006 on 4/1/2006 2:53:51 PM , Rating: 2

sounds cool but certainly a waste of money.
forget quad SLI even SLI is not required to play the "next-gen" games.a 7600GT with 1GB ram would be gud enough!!

RE: quad sli?

By suryad on 4/1/2006 9:48:07 PM , Rating: 2

Right but you do realize if you wnat to play FEAR and GRAW on 30 inch LCD monitors @ 2560 x 1600 resolution you will need all the juice you can get!

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15K$

By Jedix123 on 3/31/06, Rating: 0

RE: 15K$

By somasaint on 3/31/2006 9:00:01 PM , Rating: 3

5mins after you buy a car turn back around
and see how much they will offer to buy the
car back from you after just 2miles..

EVERYTHING depreciates.

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A break in story

By crystal clear on 4/1/2006 11:01:03 PM , Rating: 1

Newegg to buy DELL.

RE: A break in story

By Haggar on 4/3/2006 8:07:16 AM , Rating: 2

LOL - That was an April Fools day joke...

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Ferris Buhler

By The Cheeba on 3/31/2006 6:42:32 PM , Rating: 2

The Ferris Buehler joke about asking for a car but getting a computer instead oddly applies to this conversation.

Think of it as an investment.

By bunnyfubbles on 3/31/2006 6:59:39 PM , Rating: 2

The water isn't just cooling the system, the system is surely heating up the water. Buy this bad boy not only to game, but to replace your hotwater heater! ;)

Wonder who designed that manifold...

By haelduksf on 3/31/2006 9:59:46 PM , Rating: 2

That loop looks incredibly restrictive to me. Looks like a Koolance block on the CPU, probably more koolance on the GPUs, and a crapload of right angles on the manifold...thing. Seems like a waste somehow.

are we sure it's a 7900GTX?

By Sunrise089 on 4/3/2006 1:27:30 AM , Rating: 2

Don't know if anyone is still opening this thread, but I notice that the story and other sources claim it has "7900 series GPUs". Is this a real lousy way of hiding the fact that they are 4 7900GTs, or are they GTXs, just not labeled as such?