Alienware facts for kids
 |
|
Headquarters in 2008
|
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | October 24, 1996 (as Saikai of Miami, Inc.) |
| Founders | Nelson Gonzalez, Alex Aguila |
| Headquarters | The Hammocks,
,
United States
|
|
Key people
|
Michael Dell (CEO) |
| Products | Desktops Notebooks Peripherals Monitors |
|
Number of employees
|
490 |
| Parent | Dell |
Alienware Corporation is an American company that makes awesome gaming computers and accessories. It's a special brand owned by Dell. You can easily spot Alienware products because they have cool designs inspired by aliens!
Alienware was started in 1996 by two friends, Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila. Their main office is in Miami, Florida, in a place called The Hammocks.
Contents
How Alienware Started and Grew
The Beginning of Alienware
Alienware first began in 1996. It was called Saikai of Miami, Inc. back then. Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila, who were friends since childhood, created it. They built desktop computers, laptops, and even special computers for gaming.
The company's name, "Alienware," was chosen because the founders really liked the TV show The X-Files. This show was all about science fiction and aliens! That's why many of their product lines have cool, sci-fi names like Area-51 and Aurora. In 1997, the company officially changed its name to Alienware.
Joining Forces with Dell
The big computer company Dell thought about buying Alienware as early as 2002. But the actual purchase didn't happen until March 2006.
Even though Alienware became part of Dell, it still gets to decide how its products look and how they are advertised. Being part of Dell helps Alienware a lot! It means Alienware can buy parts more easily and at better prices. This helps them save money on making their awesome gaming computers.
At first, Dell had its own gaming computer line called XPS. This meant Dell and Alienware were selling similar computers. But in 2008, Dell decided to focus more on Alienware for gaming. Alienware became Dell's main brand for gaming computers.
On June 2, 2009, the M17x was launched. This was the first computer that had both the Alienware and Dell names on it. This launch also helped Alienware sell its products in many more countries around the world.
Cool Alienware Products
Gaming Consoles with Windows
Alienware announced in 2014 that it would start making its own video game consoles. These consoles were designed to compete with popular ones like Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One.
The first console was called the Alpha. It ran on Windows 8.1. What made the Alpha special was that it used a Windows operating system. This meant it could play many PC games, which was different from other consoles at the time.
In 2016, Alienware released the Alpha R2. This newer version had faster Intel processors and better graphics cards from AMD or Nvidia. It also worked with Alienware's special Graphics Amplifier. The Alpha R2 came with Windows 10.
Graphics Amplifier: Boost Your Laptop's Power
The Graphics Amplifier is a cool device that lets an Alienware laptop use powerful desktop graphics cards. This means your laptop can handle even more demanding games! It connects using a special cable.
Alienware Laptops for Gaming
Alienware makes many different gaming laptops. They come in various sizes, from smaller 13-inch models to huge 18-inch ones. Each model is designed for serious gamers.
- 18-inch Laptops: These are some of Alienware's biggest laptops. Models like the M18x and Alienware 18 were known for their large screens and powerful parts, often with two graphics cards. The newest one is the Alienware m18 (released in 2023), which has the latest Intel or AMD processors and Nvidia RTX 40 Series graphics. The Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) brings back the Area-51 name with a super high-resolution screen and NVIDIA RTX 50 Series graphics.
- 17-inch Laptops: The M17x was the first laptop Alienware released after joining Dell in 2009. Over the years, many versions of the 17-inch laptop have been made, like the Alienware 17 R5 and the thinner Alienware M17. The Alienware Area-51m (2019) was special because it was one of the first gaming laptops where you could upgrade the desktop-level CPU and GPU! Newer models like the Alienware M17 R5 (2022) and Alienware X17 R2 (2022) offer powerful AMD or Intel CPUs and Nvidia RTX 30 series graphics.
- 16-inch Laptops: The Alienware m16 (2023) is a newer addition, offering a 16-inch screen with the latest Intel or AMD CPUs and Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs.
- 15-inch Laptops: The M15x was an early 15-inch model. Later versions like the Alienware 15 R4 and the thinner Alienware M15 R4 (2021) offered powerful graphics and high-refresh-rate screens. The Alienware M15 R7 (2022) and Alienware X15 R2 (2022) continue to offer strong performance with Intel 12th-gen CPUs and Nvidia RTX 30 series GPUs.
- 14-inch Laptops: The M14x (2011) was a popular smaller gaming laptop. The Alienware X14 (2022) is a newer, thinner 14-inch model with Intel 12th-gen processors and Nvidia RTX 30 series graphics.
.jpg)
- 13-inch Laptops: The Alienware 13 (2014) was Alienware's thinnest gaming laptop at the time. The Alienware 13 R3 (2016) was updated with powerful Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics and faster CPUs.
- 11.6-inch Laptops: The M11x (2010) was Alienware's smallest gaming laptop. It was very portable for gaming on the go. However, Alienware stopped making the M11x in 2012 because fewer people were interested in such small gaming laptops.
Alienware Desktop Computers
Alienware also builds powerful desktop computers for gaming.
- Aurora Desktops: The Aurora series is known for its strong performance and cool designs. Over the years, many versions have been released, from the Aurora R1 to the latest Aurora R15 (released November 2022). The R15 features the newest 13th-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards. It also has improved airflow to keep things cool. There's also an Aurora R14 version that uses AMD Ryzen processors.
- Area-51 Desktops: The Area-51 line is Alienware's most powerful desktop series. These computers are designed for extreme performance. The Area-51 R2 (2014) introduced a unique "Triad chassis" design. Later models like the Area-51 R4 (2017) offered very high-end Intel or AMD Threadripper processors and multiple graphics cards.
- X51 Desktops: The X51 series was a more compact desktop option. These models were smaller but still offered good gaming performance. The R3 version even added a port for the Graphics Amplifier.
Gaming Headsets
Alienware makes headsets so gamers can hear everything clearly and talk to their teammates.
- Alienware AW988 (2017): This wireless headset offered 7.1 virtual surround sound and cool RGB lighting.
- Alienware AW510H (2019): A wired headset designed for comfort with memory foam ear pads.
- Alienware AW310H (2019): A more affordable wired headset with good sound.
- AW920H (2022): This lightweight headset features Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound and touch controls.
- AW720H (2023): A wireless headset similar to the AW920H but with buttons instead of touch controls.
- AW520H (2023): A wired headset that offers many features of the AW720H but without wireless capability.
Gaming Monitors
Alienware also produces high-performance monitors for gaming. Their monitors have a special naming system:
- The first two letters are usually "AW" for Alienware.
- The next two numbers tell you the screen size (like "38" for 38 inches).
- The next two numbers show the release year (like "21" for 2021).
- The last letters tell you about special features:
* H = 1080p resolution * D = 1440p resolution * Q = 4K resolution * W = Ultrawide screen * G = NVIDIA G-Sync support (for smooth gaming) * F = AMD FreeSync support (for smooth gaming)
Some examples of Alienware monitors include the AW3821DW, AW3423DW, AW2721D, and the newer AW3225QF.
See also
In Spanish: Alienware para niños
- List of computer system manufacturers
- Dell
