Dell has revitalized the iconic Alienware Area-51 lineup of prebuilt gaming PCs earlier this year, initially offering only the RTX 5080 as a graphics card option. However, that's changed recently. You can now configure your Alienware Area-51 with the powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU and the highly anticipated Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, starting at $5,499.99. What's more, you won't have to wait long for your new gaming rig; Dell anticipates shipping these systems as early as April.
1$5,499.99 at Alienware
The $5,500 configuration might seem steep for a "base" model, but rest assured, this Alienware Area-51 gaming PC with an RTX 5090 GPU is well worth it. It features an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, 32GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 2TB NVMe SSD. The Core Ultra 9 285K is Intel's latest flagship processor, delivering exceptional performance for both gaming and workstation tasks. While it doesn't quite match the performance leap we saw with the i9-14900K, it's the best Intel currently offers. The CPU is cooled by a robust 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler, and the system is powered by a 1,500W 80Plus Platinum-rated power supply.
Dell introduced the latest Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The new chassis retains the design ethos of the 2024 R16 model but features aesthetic and cooling upgrades along with updated components. The I/O panel is now at the top of the case rather than the front, and the tempered glass window extends the full length of the side panel. This design eliminates the side panel vents, with air intakes now at the bottom and front of the case. Alienware has adopted a positive airflow system, which helps keep the interior less dusty. The internal components have been updated with a new motherboard, faster RAM, and a more powerful power supply to support the latest generation of CPUs and GPUs.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 stands out as the most powerful consumer GPU currently available. Nvidia has focused on enhancing software, AI capabilities, and DLSS 4 technology to boost gameplay performance. Despite these advancements, the RTX 5090 still offers a significant 25%-30% performance increase over the RTX 4090 in terms of raw raster performance. Additionally, it features more (32GB vs 24GB) and faster (GDDR7 vs GDDR6) VRAM. Due to its high demand, the RTX 5090 is scarce at retail prices and often sells for $3,500-$4,000 on eBay.
"The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has officially surpassed the RTX 4090 in performance, though the generational leap is less pronounced than in previous releases. In traditional gaming, the RTX 5090's performance improvement is modest. However, when games utilize DLSS 4, the performance gains are substantial – though you must be comfortable with 75% of the frames being AI-generated."
Explore more of the top Dell and Alienware gaming deals of 2025.
Amazon offers a couple of Skytech-branded RTX 5090 gaming PCs at a more appealing price of $4,799.99, though they do not ship immediately. These systems come with the capable AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, which offers excellent gaming performance, although it lags slightly behind in workstation tasks.
3$4,799.99 at Amazon
3$4,799.99 at Amazon
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