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New Alienware PC lands tonight

Alienware set to announce a new desktop gaming computer tonight at 11 p.m. ET.

Rich Brown Former Senior Editorial Director - Home and Wellness

Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.

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Rich Brown

Jan. 17, 2012 1:17 p.m. PT

2 min read

Alienware hints at a new PC, unveiled tonight. — Alienware hints at a new PC, to be unveiled tonight. Alienware

Alienware looks poised to launch an affordable gaming desktop.

The PC maker itself has been promoting the reveal on its Alienware Arena Web site. You may also have seen a promotional video around the Web.

Digging further, if you head over to Alienware's Facebook page, you'll find a reference to an Alienware Andromeda system in the comments of this post. Googling "Alienware Andromeda" turns up preorder listings at various online retailers for a system with a 3.8GHz Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive for just over $1,000. Sounds like a fair price for the specs, although I'd want to know the graphics card before placing an order.

Online retailer Techonweb has a preorder listing for an Alienware Andromeda PC. Techonweb

Along similar lines, if you go to the forums at Desktop Reviews, you'll find a discussion about an as-yet-unannounced Alienware X51, along with the image below, from forum member Seyumi.

A DesktopReviews forum member tracked down this image. Seyumi/Desktop Reviews

Searching Alienware X51 turns up an Amazon listing, for $999. Amazon has few spec details, except for the product dimensions: 19.2 inches by 20.6 inches by 8.4 inches; and weight, which Amazon says is 19 pounds. It also has the following description: "Alienware X51 fits in any living space where you want more flexibility, online connectedness, gaming, and HD entertainment. It can stand up or lay on its side."

No full tower system I know of can stand up straight or lay down horizontally. I'm guessing slim tower. I would also guess, given the overlap in price and timing, as well as the appropriateness of those specs for a slim-tower case, that Andromeda and X51 refer to the same product.

In summary, Alienware will be announcing the X51/Andromeda tonight. It's a $1,000 or so slim tower, with fair components for its price. Alienware has rarely, if ever, dabbled in the $1,000 space, making this a new product class for the Dell-owned boutique PC maker. Keep an eye on Alienware's Arena site tonight, at 11 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Pacific.