CPU 2.4GHz AMD Turion 64
RAM 2GB DDR 400
Hard Drive 120GB SATA
Graphics Card(s) NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS SLI (2x256MB)
Optical Drive 8X DVD+/-RW
Screen Size and Resolution 17" / 1920x1200
Dimensions 15.85"W x 11.75" D x 1.85" H
Weight 8.5 lbs
Approximate Price $3,126.00
No top ten list of expensive top tier systems would be complete without including an offering from Alienware. Billed as a high end gaming system/desktop replacement, the Aurora m9700 sports a 2.4GHz AMD Turion 64 CPU, 17' 1920x1200 screen, and two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS graphics cards running in SLI configuration. True to Alienware form, the unit is styled with the alien theme and comes in several customizable colors.
Alienware has never had the reputation of being the most affordable or cost conscious OEM. In this case, that reputation stands firm. It looks pretty with its snazzy paintjob, gills' on the top of the chassis, and contains some nice hardware inside. However even for a high end boutique system, this Alienware model could stand to have better technology for the money.
First off, the hardware is good, but not that good. Some may question why an Alienware Core 2 Duo system wasn't included instead (such as the Area-51 m5750), and it's simply because the Aurora m9700 comes equipped with SLI, which brings the total price higher. Therein lies two issues; first of all, yes, it's SLI, but it's not nearly as good SLI as some other manufacturers offer. For a price at the level this laptop commands, I would expect a 7800GTX or 7900GTX, but that may just be me. Second, running a high resolution such as 1920x1200 on a fairly small 17' screen may be rough on some users' eyes. Perhaps a more appropriate resolution for best readability would have been 1680x1050.
Since I've done a fair amount of modding in my time, I'm not easily swayed by fancy OEM paintjobs that bring a hefty price premium. I've seen many a case painted by Joe Schmoe that came out looking like near OEM quality and the styling of the laptop itself is not a compelling enough reason to pay top dollar for this system.
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