So It Begins...

Just finished ordering my Area-51 m5790 and am now in Phase 1. (Here's a little ninja for good-luck, let all things go smoothly )

[1] Area-51® m5790

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium - With USB Mini Media Center Remote Control
Display: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD - Saucer Silver
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 512MB
System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 200GB (100GB x 2) Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 8x Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW w/ Nero Software
Video/Graphics Card: 256MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1900
Sound Card: Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mousepad
Alienware Extras: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $100 Value - FREE!
Free Alienware® T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black

The anticipation is kicking in and I doubt I'll get sleep any time soon...

Wow, that was fast. I ordered on Thursday, payment went through Friday. Stuck on phase 3 for what seemed forever, I checked my e-mail today to find a FedEx tracking number. Damn, that was fast. It wasn't supposed to ship till Wednesday next week!
The site shows a jump from Phase 3 to 8, but whatever, this is great!

Well did you put a lucky ninja in your phase game thread? No? Well, I think we know why yours was a day late!

*ignore double post*

Well, I am now done with the Phase Game amigos!
I received my computer around 2:00 this afternoon and I'm loving it. Unfortunately I don't have a camera with me, so pics will have to wait till I get home on Thursday (and I'll do a full write-up/review as well). I will say the packaging was impressive, and the computer itself is beautiful.

What strikes me most is that the 17-inch screen (WUXGA 1920x1200) is absolutely gorgeous and colossal when open, but folding the computer shut it it doesn't feel so big and isn't a pain to carry around from room to room.

Just for some rough 'benchmarks', CSS runs like a dream. With all High settings, no HDR/AA/AF, I get up to 130-150 fps on bland custom maps, but usually 80 fps average on stock maps, dipping no lower than the high 50s/low 60s in strenuous firefights with smoke and loads of players. Not bad for immature drivers and only 1GB of RAM on Vista.

The 2GB I'm getting from Crucial will definitely make a difference, and I'm totally psyched for the release of actual X1900 drivers (whenever that may be :/)

The oddly positioned Left-Ctrl is the biggest problem I have with the computer, I keep hitting FN instead, but I'm getting somewhat used to it. I never use the Right-Shift and the squished keys on the right side of the keyboard have thusfar not been a hinderance.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to stare at the AlienHead on my computer