PC set to be the fourth console?

Dell has announced an addition to its Alienware series of gaming and performance PCs, the Alienware X51 desktop.
According to Dell, the X51's new chassis design "offers the flexibility to turn nearly any living space, from the living room to the dorm room, into an entertainment and gaming mecca".

The 343 x 318 x 95mm, 5.5Kg unit features a front-loading DVD (or optionally Blu-ray) drive, and resembles modern game consoles - particularly Microsoft's Xbox 360 - in its external appearance. The PC can be used upright, as pictured, or on its side.

No keyboard, mouse or other controller are supplied in the box, and Dell's press release or official product page make no suggestion of controllers or input devices for lounge use.

Internally, the X51 is built around a Mini-ITX motherboard and is available with an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU with 4-8GB of RAM. Graphics are provided by a NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 or GTX 555 GPU, depending on model. All models feature a 1TB 7200RPM hard drive.

Dell claims the base model will run Battlefield 3 at "high settings and a resolution of 1080p", at an average of 34fps.

Hard drive, RAM and GPU are all user-replaceable, allowing for future upgrades.

Prices range from US$699 to US$1,149 in the US, and start at AUD$1,299 in Australia. At the time of writing, New Zealand pricing and ETA were not available. PC World is currently waiting on an X51 review model.

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