Alienware releases small form factor PC

Chicago (IL) - PC manufacturer Alienware has added the new Area-51 5300 model to its lineup, a model that fits all components into a shoebox-sized package.

The new PC comes in a black mesh-grilled black and is marketed to users who usually work in tight spaces such as cubicles or dorm rooms. The casing is equipped with an optical drive slot on the front as well as a panel USB and Firewire ports or an optional 8-in-1 card reader.

The Area-51 5300 is based on Intel’s 915G PCI Express chipset and can be equipped with Socket 775 Intel processors ranging from a 2.53 GHz Celeron D up to a 3.8 GHz Pentium 4 570 chip. Standard graphics are based on Intel’s Media Accelerator 900, but can be substituted through a range of ATI or Nvidia PCI Express or AGP products. The device supports up to two GByte of PC 3200 DDR memory and SATA drives with RAID 0 or 1.

Alienware said it integrated a copper-based heatsink solution using a series of heatpipes and a large radiator, so even the hottest processors can be used in this design. A "nearly" silent 92mm fan can be throttled to control temperatures, the firm said.

Prices start at around $950 for Celeron computers, options however can inflate the price of the 5300 to more than $3300.