Latest news with #AlienwareArea-51
Tom's Guide
10-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested Doom: The Dark Ages on an RTX 5090 PC — and I'm still in shock
For the past three and a half years, I've tested Doom Eternal on the best gaming PCs, best gaming laptops and best gaming monitors I've reviewed. It's one of the best-optimized PC games and provides me with a solid foundation when gauging a device's performance. Now that I have Doom: The Dark Ages, I've begun using that game for my anecdotal testing. I installed Doom: The Dark Ages on the Alienware Area-51 gaming PC I recently reviewed to see what its Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 could do for the game's performance. I was absolutely shocked by the results. Here is what I experienced when testing Doom: The Dark Ages on an RTX 5090 gaming PC, along with additional test numbers from some lower-end RTX 50-series GPUs. Doom: The Dark Ages is another stellar entry in the classic franchise, thanks to its engaging, grounded combat, expansive and varied locales, phenomenal graphics and hours of gameplay. Though it's not revolutionary, it delivers a fast-paced and visceral experience few games can match. Before getting to the heart of this article, I wanted to quickly detail Doom: The Dark Ages' minimum and recommended PC specs, as listed on the game's Steam store page. Minimum Recommended OS Windows 10 64-Bit / Windows 11 64-Bit Windows 10 64-Bit / Windows 11 64-Bit CPU AMD Zen 2 or Intel 10th Generation CPU @3.2Ghz with 8 cores / 16 threads or better (examples: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or better, or Intel Core i7 10700K or better) AMD Zen 3 or Intel 12th Generation CPU @3.2Ghz with 8 cores / 16 threads or better (examples: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or better, or Intel Core i7 12700K or better) RAM 16GB RAM 32GB RAM GPU NVIDIA or AMD hardware, Raytracing-capable GPU with 8GB dedicated VRAM or better (examples: NVIDIA RTX 2060 SUPER or better, AMD RX 6600 or better) NVIDIA or AMD hardware Raytracing-capable GPU with 10GB dedicated VRAM or better (examples: NVIDIA RTX 3080 or better, AMD RX 6800 or better) Storage 100 GB available space 100 GB available space Additional notes 1080p / 60 FPS / Low Quality Settings, NVME SSD storage required 1440p / 60 FPS / High Quality Settings, NVME SSD storage required As you can see above, you don't need a super beefy PC for Doom: The Dark Ages. This is a testament to how well-optimized the game is for PCs. Now that we know the game can run well on older hardware, let's see how it fares on a top-of-the-line RTX 5090 machine. The Alienware Area-51 I tested Doom: The Dark Ages on has specs as monstrous as the game's demons. This includes an RTX 5090 graphics card, an Intel Ultra Core 9 285K CPU, 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. That's about as top-tier as you can get for a gaming PC. So, how well can The Dark Ages run on this machine? On Ultra Nightmare graphical settings with 4K resolution and DLSS frame generation disabled, I got Doom: The Dark Ages to run at 155 frames per second! I've been able to get Doom Eternal to hit numbers like that on RTX 40-series PCs, but that was with DLSS on. But given this is an RTX 5090 we're dealing with, I can't say I was surprised by the results. The Alienware Area-51 is a beast of a gaming PC thanks to its high-end Intel Core Ultra CPU, Nvidia RTX 50-series and generous amount of RAM. Though it's expensive and takes up a lot of space, the Area-51 offers a truly phenomenal gaming experience. I was, however, astonished when I enabled DLSS 4 x4 and saw frame rates climb as high as 344! Those are frame rates you'd only see with graphical settings turned all the way down and only on a select few games, like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 2. Do you need Doom: The Dark Ages to run at 344 frames per second? Not really, since this is a slower-paced offline game that doesn't require insane reflexes. Having a game run at such high frames helps it perform smoother for sure, but you'd only really need fps that high for bragging rights. Still, those aren't numbers to scoff at! Doom: The Dark Ages running on an RTX 5090 PC is no joke! Our own Jason England tested Doom: The Dark Ages with various Nvidia GPUs, specifically, the RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 Ti. He placed these graphics cards inside the same tower, which packs an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. Though Jason didn't see astronomical numbers like I did on the Alienware Area-51 PC, the results were generally good to great. Naturally, the lower-end RTX 5060 Ti saw the lowest fps counts, especially at 4K resolution with no DLSS 4 enabled. However, with DLSS 4 on, this card punched above its weight class, reaching a respectable 153 fps at 4K resolution with DLSS 4 enabled. RTX 5060 Ti RTX 5070 RTX 5070 Ti 1440p no DLSS 62 78 88 1440p DLSS x4 202 266 292 4K no DLSS 38 43 52 4K DLSS 4x 153 185 212 The big winner of this group was the RTX 5070 Ti. Without DLSS, Doom: The Dark Ages ran at 52 frames per second, which is just shy of the desired 60fps gamers like myself expect. Flipping DLSS 4 on bumps the fps to 185fps, which is phenomenal. DLSS 4 is essential to experience Doom: The Dark Ages at high frame rates on these lower-end GPUs. And don't worry about experiencing latency with DLSS on, as the AI-powered Nvidia Reflex tech in these GPUs helps to virtually eliminate any latency that used to plague AI-frame generation. Turn DLSS 4 on and have yourself a good time! As expected, Doom: The Dark Ages is a finely-tuned game designed to run beautifully on most modern gaming PCs. It now replaces Doom Eternal as one of my go-to games to test, and I'm eager to see how it performs on a variety of gaming PCs and laptops. So whether you own a PC with an RTX 50-series GPU, or something a little older, Doom: The Dark Ages is a ton of fun. But if you do have a rig featuring Nvidia's RTX 5090, you're going to have one hell of a good time.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Alienware's New Area-51 Desktop PC Makes DIY Gaming Upgrades Easier
The Alienware Area-51 namesake is one I've known since I was a young gamer. Ever since my early years playing the Myst series and Fury 3 on my father's computer, the importance of understanding the components within your machine has been a part of my life. As such, when I consider a new desktop PC, I focus on products that will power my daily lifestyle. I need fast connections to my local DIY networking rack, and a platform I can rely on as a 4K content creator. My trusted machine also has to deliver while gaming, which means being able to handle graphics-intensive AAA titles with ease. The latest Alienware Area-51 Desktop PC delivers on all these requirements and more, and is well-suited for gaming enthusiasts and prolific content creators alike. Each configuration is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU, which means gamers will have access to NVIDIA Blackwell, which powers new graphics innovations like neural rendering and upgraded ray tracing. NVIDIA DLSS 4 boosts frame rates and offers cleaner details to games, while NVIDIA Studio and the newest NVIDIA NIM (Inference Microservices) offer upgrades for creators and developers. Purchasing a gaming desktop PC is an investment, so users should consider both performance and upgradeability when making their decision. The Alienware Area-51 Desktop offers both to serious gamers who don't want to build a new PC from scratch, but also want to own a desktop that makes future upgrades possible for many years. In a year of powerful new GPUs and components requiring more processing power, how is Alienware differentiating itself from the pack? There are three main answers to this: future proofing, upgradeability and accessibility. The Area-51 Desktop still includes bold design choices, with rounded corners and a futuristic, streamlined look that helps the machine stand out in a sea of rectangular sameness. After feedback from the gaming community and many years of development, Alienware has introduced a new, upgraded Area-51. The Alienware Area-51 has a noticeably clean and spacious interior, with a new Alienware-branded motherboard designed specifically for this desktop PC. The included Alienware motherboard supports a dual-channel RAM configuration, with up to 64GB (in a 2 x 32 GB configuration) of DDR5 XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) memory at a fast data transfer speed of 6400 MT/s. (Third-party motherboards can be installed with the purchase of an AlienFX board conversion kit.) At 80L, this is a full-size PC tower, which allows for compatibility with even the largest components and better thermals. Alienware is offering multiple configurations of the Area-51 Desktop, so serious gamers have many options depending on their needs, including the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU. At launch, the desktop features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The company sells up to 8TB using the M.2 PCIe NVMe slots on the motherboard. In addition, Area-51 includes a 3.5" HDD bay and two 2.5" SSD bays for additional storage expansion beyond the three M.2 PCIe slots. The Area-51 may support more than 36TBs of storage depending on drive availability. Keeping your desktop cool is crucial for longevity, and keeping its noise low is crucial for your sanity. To address both these needs, the Area-51 doesn't have any exhaust fans. Instead, its new positive pressure airflow system uses three different fan sizes (dual 140mm fans, dual 180mm fans and dual or triple 120mm fans, built with compatibility for both liquid and air-cooled options) and a gasket architecture to better enable air intake and keep components cool during intensive gaming sessions. Once that cool air enters the system, it is then naturally heated by the components. Gaskets located inside the chassis prevent air leakage and build positive pressure, pushing the hot air out through a passive exhaust, while also reducing air circulation and noise. According to Alienware, this translates to 25% more air, a 13% cooler temperature, a 45% quieter experience and 50% more processing power. While you have the option of upgrading the fans to a 420mm liquid-cooled option, the tower includes either 360mm LC or 240mm LC. Dust is another common problem for desktop PCs because it can decrease airflow and efficiency over time. The Area-51 introduces three removable and cleanable filters found on the front, top and bottom of the system. Each of these filters can catch dust to help airflow stay unrestricted and reduce the accumulation on your internal components. In my experience building computers, many towers integrate filters, but don't make them easily accessible. The Area-51 allows you to access these filters without having to take apart the chassis, allowing for easier routine maintenance. Alienware designed the Area-51 Desktop with environmentally friendly components. A tempered-glass door protects your tower from heat and scratches, the side panel is constructed from steel and the chassis includes water-based paints that have low toxicity and low flammability. Learning how to replace or upgrade your power supply unit (PSU) can be a complicated task if you've never done it. If you've never switched out components before, how do you educate yourself on the process without potentially damaging your investment? By scanning QR codes located on or near the Area-51 PSU, you'll be redirected to one of several video tutorials showing you exactly how to replace the unit. The videos explain everything from where the screws are located on the tower to how to remove and plug in modular cables. In addition to clear audio and visible directions, captions and transcripts ensure accessibility. Even for a gamer like myself who has invested decades into my library of PC games and hundreds of hours in playtime, the task of upgrading and maintaining can sometimes feel like a chore. I am a true visual learner – it's why I enjoy making videos – so I understand the struggle of trying to learn from a printed guide. Unless you already know where to look or what a component is called, building and maintaining a personal computer can be a daunting task. At the time of this writing, Alienware has produced video tutorials explaining how to install a PSU, a solid state drive, a graphics card, memory modules and maintain your fan filters. The chassis includes grooves or indentations located on the bottom front of the bezel and the top of the rear that are designed for grabbing. This design allows gamers to easily access both sides of the tower to keep cables organized and switch out components as needed. The Alienware Area-51 Desktop includes your choice of either a 1500W Platinum- or an 850W Gold-rated PSU, either of which ensure proper wattage and power efficiency for the included components. And if you get stuck at any point, Alienware Elite Care makes it easy to get help on-demand. While the Alienware Area-51 has been an iconic brand for gamers since 1998, this newest version provides guidance for those who want it, while also letting serious gamers customize their experience. I'm confident my younger self would've been completely blown away by everything this PC has to offer.
