Earlier this year, Dell revitalized the iconic Alienware Area-51 lineup of prebuilt gaming PCs. Initially, the configuration was limited to a single graphics card option, the RTX 5080. However, that has changed. Now, you have the opportunity to customize your Alienware Area-51 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU and the much-anticipated Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, starting at $5,499.99. The best part? You won't have to wait long; Dell anticipates shipping your system as early as April.
1$5,499.99 at Alienware
The $5,500 base configuration for an Alienware Area-51 equipped with the RTX 5090 GPU is anything but basic. It boasts impressive specs, including 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 CPU, delivering exceptional performance for both gaming and workstation tasks. While it doesn't surpass the performance of the i9-14900K as hoped, it's currently the best Intel has to offer. The system is cooled efficiently by a 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler and powered by a robust 1,500W 80Plus Platinum-rated power supply.
Dell unveiled the refreshed Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The new chassis retains a similar look to the 2024 R16 model but features aesthetic and cooling redesigns along with updated components. The I/O panel has been relocated to the top of the case, and the tempered glass now covers the entire side panel, eliminating the need for side vents. Instead, air intakes are positioned at the bottom and front, promoting a positive airflow design that reduces dust accumulation inside. The internals have been updated with a new motherboard, faster RAM, and a more powerful power supply to support the latest CPUs and GPUs.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 stands as the most powerful consumer GPU available. While Nvidia has focused on software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to enhance gameplay, the RTX 5090 still offers a significant 25%-30% performance increase over the RTX 4090 in terms of raw hardware raster performance. It also features more (32GB vs 24GB) and faster (GDDR7 vs GDDR6) VRAM. However, finding this GPU at its retail price is challenging, with units on eBay selling for between $3,500 and $4,000.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 FE Review by Jackie Thomas
"The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has officially surpassed the RTX 4090 in performance, though the improvement is less dramatic than in previous generations. In terms of traditional non-AI gaming, the RTX 5090's generational uplift is one of the smallest we've seen recently. However, in games that support it, DLSS 4 significantly boosts performance, though it's worth noting that 75% of the frames are generated by AI."
Check out more of the best 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 with shipping. Keep in mind, these won't ship immediately. They come with capable AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processors, which provide excellent gaming performance, though they lag slightly behind in workstation tasks.
3$4,799.99 at Amazon
3$4,799.99 at Amazon
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