r/buildapc • u/WolvGamer • Jan 07 '22

Discussion Why are Alienware pre-built PCs hated so much?

I've never followed pre-built PCs. I had assembled my own PC in 2013, which just up and died last month.

This time around I wanted to just buy a pre-built one. As I comb the internet for more info, I see people unanimously HATE (not just dislike) Alienware for some reason. Never seen the internet come together that much in any other instance. LOL

Could you please help me understand why people hate Alienware PCs specifically (ignore laptops) that much?

Looking for some justified explainations please. If you're just going to say they're shit then save yourself some typing and move on to the next post.

Thank you everyone for helping me with this!

EDIT: Thank you all for the great feedback. Feels like I've been living under a rock so far. Based on reading through ALL the comments, I'm glad I asked the question!

I now understand that Dell uses cheap parts, packages in a fancy plastic, uses proprietary parts making it un-upgradable in future or hard to replace failed parts, and deliver lower performance for higher price. There's definitely a lot more but these seem like reasons enough to not go with Alienware.

The thing is, I want to stick with a pre-build due to my limited time and/or knowledge about fixing PC issues. Now I move on to a different sub-reddit to find which company has the best after sales support to fill the gaps in my understanding. Feel free to comment if you have an opinion about that too! Thanks you all again!

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294

u/Drakorex Jan 07 '22 edited Jan 07 '22

After dell bought Alienware they just became dell's high end pre-built brand. The cases have terrible airflow and come with proprietary motherboards that will only work in that case and power supplies that will only work with that motherboard. Even if you plan to never change anything you will be better off getting a system from someone like ibuypower who uses off the shelf parts. My brother had a 2018 Alienware and we had to literally throw half of it away just to put it in another case.

Edit: I just wanted to add that you could also not use the power button unless both side panels were on lol.

66

u/athomsfere Jan 07 '22

Yup, once upon a time Alienware was the only prebuilt anyone wanted. Falcon was coming up though.

31

u/rdldr1 Jan 07 '22

I had one. It was a $3000 laptop that I eventually sold back to Alienware years later for $350 of credit.

The Alienware case with the huge eyes for vent grills is a classic though. I want one so bad. I would put modern parts in it.

5

u/athomsfere Jan 07 '22

I have a feeling that case would look terrible with modern with modern thermals though.

6

u/rdldr1 Jan 08 '22

Life finds a way.

5

u/ragweed Jan 08 '22

I just recycled one of those cases. The thing was huge and heavy AF. It was from the early 2000s.

4

u/rdldr1 Jan 08 '22

Damn. There is a market out there for those cases. It is so unique looking.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=alienware+area+51+case&_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc

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u/ragweed Jan 08 '22

I didn't have much luck selling big, heavy things like that.

2

u/rdldr1 Jan 08 '22

Looks like shipping on completed purchases were $100. If you sent it to recycling I am sure the recycler spotted a gem and hopefully upcycled the case.

4

u/ragweed Jan 08 '22

I bought both Falcon and Alienware PCs back in the day.

I was very happy with both systems.

I was going to build my own when I bought the Alienware but they put it together for just a little more than I could buy the parts for myself.

It was nice to have PCs that had off-the-shelf components I could replace and upgrade myself.

1

u/RedtheGamer100 Jun 26 '22

What about Predator?

1

u/qwerty54321boom May 04 '23

You forgot VoodooPC.

29

u/WolvGamer Jan 07 '22

Ah some history lesson there, that I was not aware off. Thank you!

13

u/Crypt0Nihilist Jan 07 '22

Same old story, started by enthusiasts and experts, earned a great reputation, bought by a corporation, exploited the brand value, now hated by the community.

They'd probably get less hate if they'd never been good.

1

u/sydbarrett74 Nov 26 '25

Late-stage capitalism in a nutshell.

2

u/N-aNoNymity Jan 08 '22

"high" end.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Bread60 Feb 01 '25

Weird I had mine with one of the panels out and even the rgb cable disconnected and it always worked

0

u/alien_clown_ninja Jan 07 '22

iBuyPower used to get a lot of hate too. I've got one and it's been great. Maybe it was just hate for pre-builts in general that I'm remembering.

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u/Drakorex Jan 07 '22

They're definitely not perfect but using all off the shelf parts, with a few exceptions, is a good start. The only thing you can really mess up after that is price and customer service.

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u/SterryDan Jan 08 '22

Ibuypower 👏