| Manufacturer: | Alienware | Model: | High Definition Media Server |
| Price: | Up to $7000 | Web: | http://www.alienware.com |
Thanks to Terry’s coordination and the good folks at Alienware, I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks with the Alienware High Definition Media Server (HDMS) and get a peek into this power house piece of gear.
Alienware is known for its ALX line of desktop and laptop gaming machines and has expanded that powerhouse mentality to the digital home. Just for clarification - the HDMS is not a Windows Home Server (WHS) machine. This thing runs Windows Vista Home Premium and is intended to be a data storage focal point for your digital home and life. The beauty of the HDMS is that it does run Windows Vista Home Premium and therefore can be backed up to your WHS using the connector software - although based on the configuration that I received - you would need some serious hard drive space on your WHS to back this baby up.
More on the specs and capabilities later. Lets start at the beginning and that is the unboxing:
This is a very hefty unit - easily weighs about 30 lbs as it came configured for this review. It comes with a Microsoft eHome wireless keyboard and remote control (gyroscopic) and all the cables to make a VGA, DVI or HDMI connection to your TV/Monitor. The literature that accompanied the unit was pretty basic but was likely just a shell for what would come with a full production unit.
Setup was very easy - just like setting up your home computer that comes pre-installed with Windows Vista on it - normal wizards and adding your user account, etc. You will find your Vista product key on a label on the side of the unit.
Once the machine was up and running here is what it looked like plugged into my 32 Olevia HDTV as it booted up, ran Windows Media Center setup, and when I browsed to my favorite website:
This machine is a beast when it comes to capabilities and the internal workings. Here are the Computer Properties and System Index page to give you an idea of how all the components fit together and power it up:
This system had its two lowest scores in the desktop (4.4) and gaming graphics (4.5) area while the memory (5.9) and hard disk (5.9) carried the highest scores - the processor (5.7) came in a close second to those. Windows Vista gives the lowest score as the base score which is unfortunate on this system because an average score would have been a decent 5.1 overall - this machine runs very well despite the low graphics scores.
So what powers this system to these scores?
The Computer
Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz
Speed : 3.17GHz
Cache Information
Internal Data Cache : 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size
Internal Instruction Cache : 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Back, 8-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 6MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 24-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
System
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer INC. Maximus Extreme
Bus(es) : ISA PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : 1 Processor(s)
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 8.12
Total Memory : 3.25GB DDR3
Chipset 1
Model : ASUS (Bearlake) Processor to I/O Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 333MHz (1.33GHz)
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 533MHz (1.07GHz)
Video System
Adapter : ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT
Physical Storage Devices
ST325041 0AS 250GB (SATA300, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 232.89GB (C:)
Intel Raid 5 Volume 2000GB (RAID, 27kB Flash) : 1863.02GB (E:)
MATSHITA BD-MLT UJ-225S (SCSI, 63x CD-R, 63x CD-W, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD-W, 8MB Cache) : 2.10GB (D:)
Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 232.88GB (207.34GB, 89% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST325041 0AS 250GB (SATA300, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
Storage (E:) : 1863.02GB (1862.88GB, 100% Free Space) (NTFS) @ Intel Raid 5 Volume 2000GB (RAID)
Network Services
Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller #2
Here is what the front of the unit looks like (courtesy of Alienware):
Audio/Visual Capabilities
To give you a good idea of what the back of this machine looks like and why it should be the center piece of your home multimedia center I borrowed a picture from the Alienware website so you can see all of the connections that are possible on this unit - pay attention because this is where it stops looking like a computer and looks like a serious piece of audio/visual equipment (click to enlarge):
Check out all of those connections:
- Analog Audio In
- 7.1 Surround Sound Preamp Out
- RS232 Control
- IR in/Out
- Component Video Out
- HDMI/DVI Out
- VGA Out
- S-Video
- Coaxial Digital Audio Output
- Optical Digital Audio Output
- Firewire
- eSATA
- USB 2.0
- Dual Gigabit Ethernet
- Cable Card Inputs
- Direct Cable and Over The Air Inputs
They certainly give you every possible option when it comes to plugging this beast into your home audio/visual set up.
My Observations
Well you have seen the machine and what makes it tick - now these are my observations as I used the system:
- The case is all metal so be very careful about static electricity - I got shocked a couple of times as I worked in and around the system.
- Since this is your standard Windows Vista Home Premium machine you can load any of your favorite PC based games onto it for big screen gaming. I am a PC gamer and I installed my copy of Madden 2008 and installed my Logitech USB Wireless controller and enjoyed some terrific Madden on the big screen. It was very responsive and played much like a console would. By the way , please see my comment at the end of this review about customer service relating to my Madden 2008 - a great story.
- It is LOUD. It is so loud that my wife came into the living room at one point and asked “is that going to stay there with that noise?” It might be more subdued if it is tucked inside a cabinet but the fans inside the system are efficient and let you know they are running. This could be a problem for some who want it in their living room which is where it needs to be to integrate into a audio/visual setup.
- The rackmount brackets that are on the front of the unit can be removed for astethics.
- I get clear QAM signals and easily tune them in on my HDTV’s digital tuner but for some reason I could not get Windows Media Center to grab those same signals via a coaxial input on the back of the unit although that same connection easily grabbed the analog channels.
- It had 2GB worth of hard drive space in a RAID configuration which allows you to protect your valuable data and swap out a hard drive if one should fail. This unit had a 225GB C drive for program files and the other 1.8TB was set up for system storage.
- As I mentioned earlier, I was able to install the WHS Connector software and back up the unit (I did selective backups to save space). To make this really work you would need serious storage on your WHS. The RAID configuration should work well for backing up and protecting your data files on the HDMS and therefore the WHS backup could be used to just store the C drive image.
- I noticed I did not have to answer UAC prompts as I started using the system. Turns out they had it turned off by default - I guess to save a step or two as you used your eHome mouse. It can easily be turned back on if you want it protecting your system.
- The slot in the front of the machine for inserting and retrieving optical disks is not cushioned or protected at all from the metal of the case. I was a bit concerned about scratching discs.
- Since this is a Windows based system and will be accessing your home network as well as the Internet you want to make sure to install anti-virus software to protect the system. I guess you could also use your own preferred programs for spyware and intrusion detection but the Windows Vista versions should do you just fine.
Final Thoughts
Despite the issues I identified above this is a powerhouse machine that I would love to have in my house. However, the sticker price of between $5,000 and $7,000 (depending on the configuration) will keep many day to day enthusiasts away from it. Alienware has however released a system called Hangar18 which starts at $2,092 and provides a good subset of the functionality of this unit. I guess it all depends on what you have to spend!
I mentioned trying this system out as a gaming platform using my Madden 2008 and I want to close out with a story as to why this company would be a good one to do business with at any level. After I wrapped up using the system I packaged it up and handed it back over to FEDEX for its return trip to Alienware. About 10 days after it was gone I went looking for my Madden 2008 disc and could not find it. As I traced myself backwards with it I realized I left it inside of the HDMS unit as I shipped it back to Alienware. I immediately contacted my POC for the review unit and within just a few hours he had shipped me back a brand new copy of Madden 2008 to replace my lost disc. It arrived two days later.
What impressed me about this level of customer service is that they were under no obligation to replace my game due to my leaving it in the machine however they never hesitated to make that an option to do so. I was impressed and appreciative of that kind of attention. if I was going to do business with a company based on its customer service then I would do business with them in a heart beat.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I am unaware of any need to by something this outdated for this price. ANYONE can build a system for 1/16th the price that will SMOKE this machine in every catagory. The only plus to this machine is that it is prebuilt and says “alienware” on it. What a waste. Oh and mixing intel with ATI? tisk tisk.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Very nice machine. One thing I’m very disappointed about in Media Center is that it will not process Clear QAM, which is what my provider uses for digital cable.
Other than that I love Media Center, and I find it is easier to run it with the UAC turned off despite being a big advocate of always leaving the UAC on! Oh, and I know that the WHS connecter automatically excludes media center storage by default. On my custom built media center, it doesn’t back up recorded TV by default which is really a good idea. And with that raid 5, isn’t a bad idea because it shouldn’t be needed.
@danman2tan: A couple things, for a media center, I will always choose intel processor and ATi Video. Intel cores do better at compression/decompression (which includes codec processing), multitasking, and multimedia in general (amd for gaming any day though). And ATI has much more powerful cards, but 99.9% of games are not optimized from them in any way, and they work much better in a media center than nVidia but I’ll use nVidia for a gaming box any day without question. And honestly, specing out that machine would cost you probably $2000 and that is just the hardware (lots of HDDs and high end mobo/cpu/ram). Not to mention, if something goes wrong or if there is a problem, you have customer service instead of being stuck servicing it yourself. It really is a nice box, and I honestly believe it is worth the money.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
It looks like an awesome setup but I think I would 75% agree with Dan and 25% agree with Drashna, if that makes any sense? I think that for the hardware specs you COULD build a better machine yourself. In fact since i was interested I actually went to Newegg.com to build a comparable or BETTER system (speaking only hardware specs) and here is what i came up with:
Intel E8500 $270.00
4 GB DDR3 $230.00
SATA II 250 GB HDD $70.00
4 x SATA II 500 GB HDD $400.00
BFG Tech $380.00
GeForce 8800 GTX
768MB GDDR3
PCI Express x16
GIGABYTE GA-X48T-DQ6 $350.00
LGA 775 DDR3 Intel X48
ATX Intel Motherboard
HD Audio Card $60.00
2 x LG BluRay Burner/ROM $540.00
ATX Case $100.00
Vista Ultimate $180.00
Hardware Raid $250.00
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse $60.00
Shipping? $100.00
TV Tuner Card $100.00
Total Hardware Cost $3,090.00
Comparing roughly $3,000.00 USD to $7,000.00 USD for the same hardware specs would make me build the machine myself. I mean, that IS a difference of $4,000 dollars. Heck, I could build 2 awesome machines for the price of a maxed out one of those things!
This is not a diss on the alienware at all!! just stating that 90% of the people on here google their problems almost 100% of the time and find a fix their self for about everything.
It does come in a smaller package though.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:47 am
They really put a graphics card worth 39,- € (!) in a 7.000,- $ system?! That is sheer unbelievable.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Mr. Hay,
Thank you for the review! I’m glad to hear that these systems are finally starting to make the rounds, though I’d like to clear up a few things that seem to be muddling up the article and comments.
In the article you state that they need to quiet down this unit, as it is intended to be in your living room… Actually, it isn’t intended to be in your living room. It’s intended to be in a rack, usually located elsewhere.
This system is not available from Alienware directly. They are selling it through custom installer channels, which is part of where the higher-than-usual price comes from. Combine the custom install nature with the premium price tag, and you usually have a formula for high end rack gear. Earlier on you did note that the rear panel looks more like a serious piece of audio/visual gear, and for good reason. That’s what Alienware is marketing this as!
To Danman in the comments:
It isn’t outdated. The price may be a bit high, but this machine isn’t intended to be a competitive gaming rig - it’s intended to be a high definition capable, centrally-located whole house media server. And no, you can’t simply go out and build one.
This machine has a 7.1 Channel pre-out that’s paired with high end DACs that aren’t available to consumers. Custom audio/video hardware, just like a A/V receiver. It also ships with RS-232, and the LifeWare software necessary for LifeWare’s high-end whole-house automation capabilities. Again, not available for consumer purchase outside of purpose built hardware purchased through a custom installer. The build quality is second to none, nor is it available for general consumer purchase.
To Drashna:
Processing QAM isn’t a function of Media Center, it’s a function of the tuners. I agree that the tuners in here should be ClearQAM enabled.
To Kyle:
The system reviewed didn’t come with a $7,000 price tag. He described a base configuration that runs $5,000. $7,000 would buy a system with twice the storage and a total of four tuners.
You could certainly build two awesome machines for that price! Just to be clear though, this isn’t intended to be a run-of-the-mill computer. It’s intended to be a set-and-forget whole-house media center, used to serve LARGE homes with many clients. The hardware has to stand up to 24/7/365 usage and has to be able to accommodate the needs of discerning clients.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Mr. Hay,
I assume you mean “terabyte” when referring to the large, total storage amount?
May 30th, 2008 at 2:58 am
What does the product word “Server” stand for ?!?
…just that there is more hard drive space !?
May 30th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Prime - your right - that should be TB vice GB on the amount of storage.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Hi.
This unit seems to be competing in an already crowding pool of over priced units for people with more money than sense.
As, yes it is rack mounting, so are Denon and Yamaha multi room amps/receivers. There are also about 5 bespoke’s you will find if you look hard enough. All of which fall into the sub £2k bracket, this is a pc trying to be an amp!! for £3.5K I think not.
Let Amps be Amps and PC be PC.
Dave
May 31st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Looks a great machine but with a massive price tag which makes it out of reach for most people! However it does give the average person who’s looking for a media centre something to target, perhaps making a few compromises.
There are more cost-effective alternatives, and building your own - or having it built for you, tailoring it from a starter spec - can make it more affordable. Doing a Google search on media centres I found a company in the UK called PCOption (I live in France but get back on visits a couple of times a year). I’m not connected with them at all and this is not for advertising so I won’t give their website address, but if you’re interested you can Google them!)
Anyway I checked out their site for media centres, ran a few options on different specs from a basic model (you can select from drop-down boxes, including some nice cases suitable for your living room!) and came to an optimum spec.
After talking to them and getting some sound advice (actually taking the cost down a bit as I went over the top in one area), I got the following:
* Media Center Edition PC & Intel® Pentium® Core Duo Processor. (Q9300 (2.5GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB) - this was a compromise as a faster CPU would have been so-ooooh much more expensive (I would have liked over 3GHz/12MB but my choice works just fine).
* Vista Premium 64 Bit & Disc - again for speed in games and video/TV - but the 64bit OS can bring compatibility issues (as I found!)
* Case 8 - Zalman HD135 Case Silver , Zalman 500W Heatpipe Cooled Power Supply Upgrade - lovely metal case, very solid, and the heatpipe cooling helps reduce the need for fan cooling and hence noise, another criteria for the living room. This one is a full-sized box that will take more cards if wanted, but smaller boxes are also selectable.
* Pinnacle PCI Express Dual Tuner for DVB-S, DVB-T, Analogue TV and FM Radio Tuner - herein an issue, and the only grouse I would take with PCOption, though minor. The Pinnacle TVCenter software doesn’t work with 64bit - they should have known and advised me of this. The card driver is OK so I get TV channels with a quality picture using the Windows media player from the card’s aerial input. But to get the full flexibility (including use of the card’s video input) I need the Pinnacle software.
* EN9800GTX/HTDP/512M - a decent graphics card with HDMI output. On my Sony Bravia 40X3500 the picture quality is superb, excellent HD.
* 750GB Sata 2 Hard Drive - I actually ordered a 1TB drive, but the batch they had were all faulty (causing a day’s delay in my picking it up as the fault wasn’t obvious it seems). This is actualy more than enough right now, as I use a home server to store a lot media, and I’m network connected to that.
* 1 X 2GB OCZ 1333MHz OCZ3P13332GK (2048) - expensive but fast. I’ll get another 2GB later when prices come down as they always do (months rather than years).
* 1 X LG Lightscribe 20 X DVDRW DL) - I thought hard about getting a Blu-Ray writer but again too expensive right now. It came with this DVDRW as standard.
* Media Center Remote Keyboard - You need a bluetooth/wireless keyboard for the living room, and as I wanted to avoid a separate mouse I opted for a Trust MediaCenter KB with trackerball built in. Mistake! I’ve used a trackerball before and they’re OK, but this one is hopeless. Coupled with poor/intermittent wireless connection to the PC it can’t be recommended.
* Media Center Remote Controller - no issue - it comes with the package.
* 54Mbps Wireless Network Card - The system comes with 2 x Gigabit (actually 10/100/1000) connections, but I wanted wireless until I could run a hard-wired cable through to my home server. For the moment the wireless is working fine though.
Overall I’m very happy with it the current spec, and it’s expandable as the needs will inevitably demand over time. PCOption (Tom in particular, who’s the owner) have been helpful and flexible, and Tom even through in a couple of freebies in addition to compensation for the minor issues. You don’t get that with the big suppliers!
FD
May 31st, 2008 at 8:36 am
Re. my posting just above I forgot to mention the price came to 1280 GBpounds - about 1600 euros at today’s rates!
FD
June 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
WHS server comes at 800euro with 4 terrabyte in it and can expand endlessly thru USB hubs, Gigabit LAN on it and wireless N which all is enough for Full HD datastreams. Attach a Squeezebox Duet on it and you can stream music in your hand thru the remote, no TV screen required and that all for the price of 360euro, with only 149euro for extra transporters. Attach a TViX / DVico HD M-7000A voor 449euro and you got more for a lower price more and flexabillity. True, Alienware delivers quality products but comes with a too high pricecard and does not has really outstanding features. I expect at least a good remote controller with a LCD in it, like the Squueze and the SONOS systems. For the non literate with a large money pocket it is a nice device but for the more advanced users, they can create even more with less money. Even HP gives more bang for your buck with their new product with their new touchsmart products, a 22″ touchscreen with a PC build in for only 1400euro. And we all know what we are waiting for, wireless HDMI that is allready in developement to give total and free capabillity’s for audi/video. “Do we need to say more” ?