Alienware Aurora with 7900 GTX

Final thoughts

We're really in two minds when it comes to this Alienware system. On the one hand, it has the same build quality, performance and great package that the previous two Alienware systems we've reviewed have. Indeed, Alienware has taken things a step further in some ways - a new PSU has been fitted that has really reduced the system noise. Having a ridiculously fast system drive and a ridiculously capacious data drive is a great idea and it's good to see Alienware catching on. It has the same useful support package included, with a three year warranty - and the company has even listened to our previous grumble and installed XP Pro as standard, rather than XP Home.

These are all very good things.

But despite all that, we can't help thinking that it's just a little too, well, little. In a system that costs almost four grand, there's just more that we expect at this stage. Alienware has not really changed it's system for the past year, and frankly, it's starting to lag behind a little. The PC we're looking at today is basically the same system we looked at last July, but with faster graphics and a new CPU.

What more could Alienware be doing? Well, for starters - why is it still shipping a gaming PC that lacks front mounted audio ports? There are a few USB ports at the front, but why not audio or firewire? Having to fiddle around at the back of the machine to plug in headphones is inexcusable, especially when the motherboard has a header for front-mounted audio and the X-Fi card also supports a front bay.

This brings us onto the case itself. The system is still in the same plastic-covered steel chassis that it always has been. It's time for a change guys! System builders the world over are updating and improving their cases with specific reference to improving things for gamers. Heck, even Dell is speccing up new systems that are pushing the right design buttons. Alienware isn't even making DVD fascias that match the colour of their case. The whole thing needs an overhaul, in our opinion.

For this kind of money, you expect outrageously high-end components and spot-on configuration, too - which isn't quite there. Alienware is still shipping 2GB of RAM as four sticks, meaning that the 1T command rate isn't enabled - meaning you aren't getting the best performance. Shipping the low-end X-Fi is silly on a gaming PC of this price. It might also be nice to see pre-overclocked NVIDIA graphics cards, such as from XFX or BFG.

So overall, the Alienware is clearly a fast system with great build quality at a high price. But a year on from the first system we saw from these guys, we rather feel they should be pushing the boundaries a little bit and doing something more to deliver the ultimate gaming experience. Guys like Scan are creating awesome little systems like the Isotope, and we would like to see Alienware do a little more to raise its game.