Yang88she’s Area 51 5550 Review (in Progress) 3-15-06
System Specs:
[1] Area-51® 5550
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Chassis: Alienware® Full-Tower Case (480-Watt PS) - Saucer Silver
Power Supply: Alienware® 480 Watt Power Supply
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 550 w/ HT Technology 3.4GHz 1MB Cache
Motherboard: Alienware® PCI Express Motherboard with Intel® 925XE Chipset 1066/800MHz FSB
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Graphics Processor: ATI RADEON™ X850 XT Platinum Edition PCI Express 256MB DDR3 w/ Dual Digital and TV Out
Video Cooling: AlienIce™ 2.0 Video Cooling System - Astral Blue
System Drive: High Performance - Serial ATA - 80GB Seagate® Barracuda 7,200 RPM w/8MB Cache
Optical Drive One: NEC® ND-3520 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Recorder
Optical Drive Two: Lite-On 52x32x52x CD-RW Drive
Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive - Black
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio (24-bit, 192Khz) with 7.1 surround sound
Network Connection: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet
Display One: No Monitor
Display Two: No Monitor
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad
AlienInspection: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $99.99 Value - FREE!
[1] $500 Instant Rebate; On Area-51 5550 Systems
[1] ; Free Shipping on Alienware systems excluding peripherals - Continental U.S. Only
[1] Special Financing Offer; 90 Days Same As Cash Financing with the Alienware Credit Card
Phases:
Phase 1: 2-28-05
Phase 14: 3-10-05
Shipping Date: 3-12-05 (wrong address, Fed Ex and miss communication)
Actual Ship date 3-15-05
Ok So I wake up around 12 in the afternoon, and immediately check Fed ex website to see where and when my PC is going to ship to me, since the last time I checked it gave me an estimated ship date of 3-16-05 and not 3-15-05 where 3 fed ex representatives had told me that date was the shipping date.
I check Fed ex @ 12:30PM and this is what I get
So I immediately call on the phone to be like WTF????!!!!
Not 2 minutes after I call, and while I’m on the phone giving my tracking number *knock* *knock*
I’m like um, hold on…and low and behold, my AW is at my doorstep, so yeah I was like "um, it's here nevermind...um haha bye, click"
I tried to take a picture of the fed ex guy, but he literally was running away, I guess he got the message that I wasn’t a very happy man…and the messed up thing was…he didn’t even have my signature…he saw me come out and said “um, the office let me in…” and ran off
Ok so I bring the box in and I give it the ceremonial “shocka” and bless it
I then take some shots in comparison to my TV b/c the damn box is HUGE
So, I clean myself off, sanitize my hands, put my scrubs on and begin the alien autopsy
After breaking through the “rib cage” we have the accessories
We have some organs of the “accessories” box
Now to the beast, the “heart of the beast” which is covered in a protective foam shell
Sticky Film substance that surrounds the “beast”
The “beast” has been freed
The “beast” got back and some junk n da trunk
The “beast” meets her playmate the 46” Samsung DLP
The “beast” strikes a frontal pose
The “beast” from the side strutting her stuff
The “beast” teasing you w/ her latch release, tempting you to “open” her up
The “beast” taking off her top
The “beast” showing off her “inside” ass-ests
Ok now on w/ the review:
So, I get the “beast” on her pedestal and carefully, gently, tenderly insert each loving piece of hardware to her awaiting connections: 5.1 altec lansing speakers, 21” IBM Flat P275 CRT, Power Cord, Logitech mouse and keyboard.
Power her up and, viola…no signal…um…hmmm ok
Check connections, switch our the dvi cable and try the vga to dvi adapter, still no video signal.
Ok, Time to call AW tech support…get a hold of Eric (who was very nice, informative and helpful)
-turn off PC, and turn on PC then Monitor, nope didn’t work
-re-seat GPU, nope didn’t work
-took out cmos battery, and jumper, nope didn’t work
Eric suggests that I may have a bad GPU…oh GREAT!!!, the one piece of hardware that I’m looking forward to most…so initially they want to send out a new GPU to me (which I would 1st have a hold $500+ on my C/C and once I received the GPU, I would then send back the bad GPU and then that money will be taken off hold) The GPU would get to me approximately by Friday, so I’m like great, wait even more and get bigger blue balls from all this anticipation and teasing…so I’m like well ok…at this point seriously, what can I do? Well I’m put back on hold and was told by Eric that they would like me to send my entire pc back to them, w/ a down time of approximately 12 business days…at this point I’m completely drained of all frustration and I just want to use my pc. I want to game. I want to basically enjoy the fruits of my labor and frustrations. So I basically ask Eric if it will be ok if I purchase a PCI X GPU from best buy to see if the GPU is the problem, so I can avoid sending my system back for god knows how long till I see her again. So yeah my bad luck continues.
After I get off the phone w/ Eric and thank him for his help, I proceed to get ready for work and put my misery out of my mind till now. My plan is to go to best buy and purchase an ati x700, and see if I can trouble the issue and pin point the problem to the GPU.
At this point, I am completely drained of any excitement and anticipation. I know it’s not the end of the world, and I know many of our fellow members have waited much much longer. I also know that many other members have had bad luck as well. But I guess, just like the few who have had bad luck w/ their pc’s/lappies…it’s just soooooo disappointing. I’m not a rich person, my parents didn’t purchase this fine piece of machinery for me…I’m the working “joe” that enjoy’s earning his keep and saves and saves and finally splurges when a great opportunity comes up to be able to have the chance to fulfill a childhood dream of owning an alienware.
Well, thanks to the support of my fellow AW and non AW members of this forum for helping me and many others like myself make it through their misfortunes. I just hope tomorrow afternoon, I can know for sure that the GPU is the problem, so I can avoid sending my “baby beast” away. Back to the depot for seriously an unknown amount of time.
Fortunately I don’t do business on my pc like many others, but I value my time and money as much as the next person…but again I still have hope, I guess stubborn hope that my pc will perform the way that it’s supposed to soon enough…
Keep posted, I will keep everyone updated on my situation…
Special Thanks, for your support, phase game buddies, and misc. laughs etc. (in no particular order)
“Da Mods”:
Craig, Aurora
“Da AW Crew”:
(to everyone in general)
Redphyve, Rancidrice, Spaced, FlightDoc, neo incarnate, GBrilliantQ, Nyforever, TL Chris, deathraven, darthbeavis, nightshade, Joelist, 411alphaomega, unnatural, game33, and to the rest of the AW community
“Da Reps”:
AW Juan, AW Richard
AND A BIG SHOCKA TO THE X850XTPE AKA POS =P
*Ok Updated 3-16-05*
Well went to a B&M pc store and purchased the 9250 pci slotted gpu, to test out...
a picture of the x850xt pe vs the 9250
ok, so I installed the the 9250, and...the verdict is....is....
Ok, that didn't work, so back to the B&M pc place, return the 9250 and purchase the x700pro...I was very tempted to buy another x850xt since according to the salesperson "it just arrived" but I didnt want to have to fork over that much $$ for something that I was pretty sure at this point...would not fix my pc...so I get back to my place
a picture of the x850xt pe vs the x700pro
ok, so back again, w/ hope fading I might add...installed the gpu...plug everything in....and the verdict is...is....
So, for the past hour I've been w/ technical support getting an RMA, where fed ex will send me an e-mail, and I'll need to stick some printout of the serial number in order for them to pick up my beloved DOA beast back to depot...
Now, I've been transferred over to CS w/ some hope of compensation, since my pc was DOA...so i'll keep everyone posted on that as well...sigh...people talk about their laptops being a big "paper weight"...I guess my beast is a huge door stopper =(
*UPDATED 3-21-05*
Well Got an e-mail today
"Richard Cary
to me
More options 12:01pm (29 minutes ago)
Hey Eric,
Your system was received.
I had it set up for diagnostics immediately…..It works? Not sure where the problem is, but it booted and went into windows on the first power up.
Couple questions:
What monitor are you using?
Do you have a UPS or a surge protector hooked up or are you straight to the wall?"
So um, yeah well, I did have it connected to a powerstrip, but not sure if that's the problem, I called them to talk to CS directly and they said they found nothing wrong w/ it and depot is going to run further tests and my system should be shipped out in the next couple of days...argh!!!
*UPDATED 3-21-05 later in the afternoon*
"Richard Cary
to me
More options 3:12pm (27 minutes ago)
Yes it will ship out to you today.
We had to replace your case, it was damaged in shipping. (The accessory
box was not sent back, allowing the case to move around in shipping.)
I'll send you racking once they are available.
Richard Cary
Vice President of Manufacturing
Alienware Corporation"
whoo hhoo so I hope to have my system Wed. I hope
*UPDATED 3-21-05 Early Evening*
well it's being shipped back to me, so I'll probably get back this week, whoo hoo
*UPDATED 3-21-05 Later Evening*
UPDATED 3-24-05
Ok, so as many of you know, there was nothing wrong w/ my pc.
1. I thought the PC was DOA
2. Got it back, and the samething happenned <no video signal> so thought the culpret was the DVI cable
3. Purchased a new DVI cable...nothing's wrong w/ the DVI cable
4. Concluded it was the CRT, nothing's wrong w/ the CRT
5. Plugged my PC to my 46" Samsung DLP, works like "butta" baby
6. Plugged my Lappie into the CRT, works like "butta" baby
7. Tried the PC into the CRT, no workie
So at this point I have no idea why my CRT does not work w/ my PC, but it works fine w/ my lappie, it worked fiine w/ {IDC} j0ker's pc (amd 3400+ w/ x800pro)
well ran some benches and took some pics of the pc in action w/ my samsung DLP...enjoy
The Benches have been done w/ no OCing also, b/c frankly I've never really OCed an ATI or an Intel before...so if anyone has any good ati OCing tools similar to coolbits that would be great, and I'll probably mess w/ CPU FSB later when my g/f has left =P
3dmark03
3dmark05
Some kool new game
System Specs:
[1] Area-51® 5550
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Chassis: Alienware® Full-Tower Case (480-Watt PS) - Saucer Silver
Power Supply: Alienware® 480 Watt Power Supply
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 550 w/ HT Technology 3.4GHz 1MB Cache
Motherboard: Alienware® PCI Express Motherboard with Intel® 925XE Chipset 1066/800MHz FSB
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Graphics Processor: ATI RADEON™ X850 XT Platinum Edition PCI Express 256MB DDR3 w/ Dual Digital and TV Out
Video Cooling: AlienIce™ 2.0 Video Cooling System - Astral Blue
System Drive: High Performance - Serial ATA - 80GB Seagate® Barracuda 7,200 RPM w/8MB Cache
Optical Drive One: NEC® ND-3520 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Recorder
Optical Drive Two: Lite-On 52x32x52x CD-RW Drive
Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive - Black
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio (24-bit, 192Khz) with 7.1 surround sound
Network Connection: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet
Display One: No Monitor
Display Two: No Monitor
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad
AlienInspection: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $99.99 Value - FREE!
[1] $500 Instant Rebate; On Area-51 5550 Systems
[1] ; Free Shipping on Alienware systems excluding peripherals - Continental U.S. Only
[1] Special Financing Offer; 90 Days Same As Cash Financing with the Alienware Credit Card
Phases:
Phase 1: 2-28-05
Phase 14: 3-10-05
Shipping Date: 3-12-05 (wrong address, Fed Ex and miss communication)
Actual Ship date 3-15-05
Ok So I wake up around 12 in the afternoon, and immediately check Fed ex website to see where and when my PC is going to ship to me, since the last time I checked it gave me an estimated ship date of 3-16-05 and not 3-15-05 where 3 fed ex representatives had told me that date was the shipping date.
I check Fed ex @ 12:30PM and this is what I get
So I immediately call on the phone to be like WTF????!!!!
Not 2 minutes after I call, and while I’m on the phone giving my tracking number *knock* *knock*
I’m like um, hold on…and low and behold, my AW is at my doorstep, so yeah I was like "um, it's here nevermind...um haha bye, click"
I tried to take a picture of the fed ex guy, but he literally was running away, I guess he got the message that I wasn’t a very happy man…and the messed up thing was…he didn’t even have my signature…he saw me come out and said “um, the office let me in…” and ran off
Ok so I bring the box in and I give it the ceremonial “shocka” and bless it
I then take some shots in comparison to my TV b/c the damn box is HUGE
So, I clean myself off, sanitize my hands, put my scrubs on and begin the alien autopsy
After breaking through the “rib cage” we have the accessories
We have some organs of the “accessories” box
Now to the beast, the “heart of the beast” which is covered in a protective foam shell
Sticky Film substance that surrounds the “beast”
The “beast” has been freed
The “beast” got back and some junk n da trunk
The “beast” meets her playmate the 46” Samsung DLP
The “beast” strikes a frontal pose
The “beast” from the side strutting her stuff
The “beast” teasing you w/ her latch release, tempting you to “open” her up
The “beast” taking off her top
The “beast” showing off her “inside” ass-ests
Ok now on w/ the review:
So, I get the “beast” on her pedestal and carefully, gently, tenderly insert each loving piece of hardware to her awaiting connections: 5.1 altec lansing speakers, 21” IBM Flat P275 CRT, Power Cord, Logitech mouse and keyboard.
Power her up and, viola…no signal…um…hmmm ok
Check connections, switch our the dvi cable and try the vga to dvi adapter, still no video signal.
Ok, Time to call AW tech support…get a hold of Eric (who was very nice, informative and helpful)
-turn off PC, and turn on PC then Monitor, nope didn’t work
-re-seat GPU, nope didn’t work
-took out cmos battery, and jumper, nope didn’t work
Eric suggests that I may have a bad GPU…oh GREAT!!!, the one piece of hardware that I’m looking forward to most…so initially they want to send out a new GPU to me (which I would 1st have a hold $500+ on my C/C and once I received the GPU, I would then send back the bad GPU and then that money will be taken off hold) The GPU would get to me approximately by Friday, so I’m like great, wait even more and get bigger blue balls from all this anticipation and teasing…so I’m like well ok…at this point seriously, what can I do? Well I’m put back on hold and was told by Eric that they would like me to send my entire pc back to them, w/ a down time of approximately 12 business days…at this point I’m completely drained of all frustration and I just want to use my pc. I want to game. I want to basically enjoy the fruits of my labor and frustrations. So I basically ask Eric if it will be ok if I purchase a PCI X GPU from best buy to see if the GPU is the problem, so I can avoid sending my system back for god knows how long till I see her again. So yeah my bad luck continues.
After I get off the phone w/ Eric and thank him for his help, I proceed to get ready for work and put my misery out of my mind till now. My plan is to go to best buy and purchase an ati x700, and see if I can trouble the issue and pin point the problem to the GPU.
At this point, I am completely drained of any excitement and anticipation. I know it’s not the end of the world, and I know many of our fellow members have waited much much longer. I also know that many other members have had bad luck as well. But I guess, just like the few who have had bad luck w/ their pc’s/lappies…it’s just soooooo disappointing. I’m not a rich person, my parents didn’t purchase this fine piece of machinery for me…I’m the working “joe” that enjoy’s earning his keep and saves and saves and finally splurges when a great opportunity comes up to be able to have the chance to fulfill a childhood dream of owning an alienware.
Well, thanks to the support of my fellow AW and non AW members of this forum for helping me and many others like myself make it through their misfortunes. I just hope tomorrow afternoon, I can know for sure that the GPU is the problem, so I can avoid sending my “baby beast” away. Back to the depot for seriously an unknown amount of time.
Fortunately I don’t do business on my pc like many others, but I value my time and money as much as the next person…but again I still have hope, I guess stubborn hope that my pc will perform the way that it’s supposed to soon enough…
Keep posted, I will keep everyone updated on my situation…
Special Thanks, for your support, phase game buddies, and misc. laughs etc. (in no particular order)
“Da Mods”:
Craig, Aurora
“Da AW Crew”:
(to everyone in general)
Redphyve, Rancidrice, Spaced, FlightDoc, neo incarnate, GBrilliantQ, Nyforever, TL Chris, deathraven, darthbeavis, nightshade, Joelist, 411alphaomega, unnatural, game33, and to the rest of the AW community
“Da Reps”:
AW Juan, AW Richard
AND A BIG SHOCKA TO THE X850XTPE AKA POS =P
*Ok Updated 3-16-05*
Well went to a B&M pc store and purchased the 9250 pci slotted gpu, to test out...
a picture of the x850xt pe vs the 9250
ok, so I installed the the 9250, and...the verdict is....is....
Ok, that didn't work, so back to the B&M pc place, return the 9250 and purchase the x700pro...I was very tempted to buy another x850xt since according to the salesperson "it just arrived" but I didnt want to have to fork over that much $$ for something that I was pretty sure at this point...would not fix my pc...so I get back to my place
a picture of the x850xt pe vs the x700pro
ok, so back again, w/ hope fading I might add...installed the gpu...plug everything in....and the verdict is...is....
So, for the past hour I've been w/ technical support getting an RMA, where fed ex will send me an e-mail, and I'll need to stick some printout of the serial number in order for them to pick up my beloved DOA beast back to depot...
Now, I've been transferred over to CS w/ some hope of compensation, since my pc was DOA...so i'll keep everyone posted on that as well...sigh...people talk about their laptops being a big "paper weight"...I guess my beast is a huge door stopper =(
*UPDATED 3-21-05*
Well Got an e-mail today
"Richard Cary
to me
More options 12:01pm (29 minutes ago)
Hey Eric,
Your system was received.
I had it set up for diagnostics immediately…..It works? Not sure where the problem is, but it booted and went into windows on the first power up.
Couple questions:
What monitor are you using?
Do you have a UPS or a surge protector hooked up or are you straight to the wall?"
So um, yeah well, I did have it connected to a powerstrip, but not sure if that's the problem, I called them to talk to CS directly and they said they found nothing wrong w/ it and depot is going to run further tests and my system should be shipped out in the next couple of days...argh!!!
*UPDATED 3-21-05 later in the afternoon*
"Richard Cary
to me
More options 3:12pm (27 minutes ago)
Yes it will ship out to you today.
We had to replace your case, it was damaged in shipping. (The accessory
box was not sent back, allowing the case to move around in shipping.)
I'll send you racking once they are available.
Richard Cary
Vice President of Manufacturing
Alienware Corporation"
whoo hhoo so I hope to have my system Wed. I hope
*UPDATED 3-21-05 Early Evening*
well it's being shipped back to me, so I'll probably get back this week, whoo hoo
*UPDATED 3-21-05 Later Evening*
UPDATED 3-24-05
Ok, so as many of you know, there was nothing wrong w/ my pc.
1. I thought the PC was DOA
2. Got it back, and the samething happenned <no video signal> so thought the culpret was the DVI cable
3. Purchased a new DVI cable...nothing's wrong w/ the DVI cable
4. Concluded it was the CRT, nothing's wrong w/ the CRT
5. Plugged my PC to my 46" Samsung DLP, works like "butta" baby
6. Plugged my Lappie into the CRT, works like "butta" baby
7. Tried the PC into the CRT, no workie
So at this point I have no idea why my CRT does not work w/ my PC, but it works fine w/ my lappie, it worked fiine w/ {IDC} j0ker's pc (amd 3400+ w/ x800pro)
well ran some benches and took some pics of the pc in action w/ my samsung DLP...enjoy
The Benches have been done w/ no OCing also, b/c frankly I've never really OCed an ATI or an Intel before...so if anyone has any good ati OCing tools similar to coolbits that would be great, and I'll probably mess w/ CPU FSB later when my g/f has left =P
3dmark03
3dmark05
Some kool new game
I'm really sorry about that 850XT PE 
bearing their burning brands and pitchforks turned on... redphyve. 
