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Alienware, Dell’s gaming hardware division, has announced it is reintroducing the iconic Area-51 computer back into the family. Announced during CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the 80-liter tower was unveiled alongside Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards.
Next-gen Alienware has officially landed!
Introducing the return of the Area-51 Desktop and Area-51 Laptops powered by the latest @NVIDIAGeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, a new 27" 4K 240Hz QD-OLED monitor, and more! pic.twitter.com/sy72N8N5mE
— ALIENWARE (@Alienware) January 7, 2025
If you’re not familiar with Area-51, it’s actually a gaming desktop that first hit the scene back in 1998. Fast forward to 2017, and Alienware decided to retire it. Now, it appears they felt it was the perfect moment to bring the line back, this time with some new specifications.
In a blog post, Dell’s PC gaming lead, Matt McGowan, wrote: “With this edition, we are returning to our roots with a machine that caters to the desires of PC gaming enthusiasts and longtime Alienware fans who have a deep appreciation for technology and a can-do attitude for manually customizing their build to their needs.”
Dell has been teasing their partnership with Nvidia since June 2024, when the company revealed it would release new servers, PCs, and services with the tech giant to enhance the company’s AI offerings.
Alienware Area-51 2025 key specifications
The new Area-51 desktop and laptops are getting a serious upgrade with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. They’re optimized with AI models for all sorts of tasks like language, speech, vision, and content generation. They’ve also had a bit of a makeover for gaming fans with Gorilla Glass windows, sleek compartments for liquid cooling and power supplies, and standard spots for mounting fans.
It also comes with a dedicated daughterboard that makes managing lighting, fans, I/O, and the power switch much easier. But if you’re looking to mix and match, Dell is providing a conversion kit to make it compatible with third-party motherboards.
Alienware says the device can handle over 600 watts just for graphics and up to 280 watts for processing power, with support for something as powerful as an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
The company also rolled out some new Area-51 gaming laptops, available in 16- and 18-inch models. These will pack next-gen Nvidia graphics and up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU. The anodized aluminum bodies come in a Liquid Teal color-shifting iridescent finish, and the translucent rear exhaust shelf features lighting animations designed to mimic the movements of the Aurora Borealis. McGowan adds: “They represent the next step in our ever-evolving design journey and mark a new era for Alienware.”
Area-51 price and release date
The new Alienware Area-51 desktop is set to drop sometime in the first quarter of 2025, starting with a high-end configuration priced at $4,500. Lower-end configurations are coming later in the year.
Just like the desktop, the new Area-51 laptops should arrive in the next three months. They’ll kick things off with a high-end configuration priced at $3,200. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, entry-level options will roll out later, starting at $2,000.
Featured image: Dell
