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Aurora vs. Area-51 ...
Okay, so I ordered an Aurora unit awhile back and started reading up on the forums and noticed all the hardware delays. I decided to logon and configure an Area-51 figuring that if I had to wait, I'd at least get the slightly larger case and additional expansion. When I did, I found a note that my Aurora had shipped, but I decided to take a look at a comparable Area-51 quote anyways.
For starters, the thing is $700 more expensive out the gate. I understand premium covers the larger case, motherboard, power supply, and some prettier lights. It seems a little steep, but I chalked it up to the cost of upgrading from one family to another.
Here is what I don't understand, and maybe it is because I'm doing something wrong:
The upgrade from 6GB to 12GB DDR3 1333mhz on the Area-51 is $300 MORE for the SAME EXACT memory? What?
The warranty is also about $100 more for the same term.
I can somewhat deal with the big hit going from Aurora to Area-51, but why the nickel and dime on the same exact upgrades and options? It's like going to the store and getting charged more just because you drove up in a Porsche instead of a Honda (and, no offense to Honda owners meant here as I own and have owned several). :)
Am I missing something here? Are the parts not the same?
1184
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Posted February 21st, 2010 17:00
Well, I can tell you that I wasn't able to add a sound card after specifying the SLI config....perhaps it's because the gtx 260 takes up a couple of slots.
I read somewhere on these forums just a little bit ago that if you call the order in, they can apparently do it for you.
1224
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Posted February 21st, 2010 18:00
There both overpriced junk....
So what would you suggest? PM's or replies welcome. :)
1224
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Posted February 21st, 2010 18:00
Sheesh. Water under the bridge now anyway. Wonder if the smaller Aurora case/MB (I'm just guessing the case is smaller from the pics) makes heat dissipation an issue. In the end I prefer a single card solution......and prefer a 285 gtx over the 260 sli even though the SLI is more powerful. Don't like noise or heat.
All in all, paying a few hundred dollars more for the Area-51 seems reasonable, but the difference between two essentially identical systems is near $1000. Sure, there are some nice bonuses in the larger case and power supply, but these boards still don't support USB3 or SATA3. I just can't justify the added cost. I considered for a second to return my Aurora (not yet arrived anyways) and purchase an Area-51 but when I configured it online I was floored.
535
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Posted February 22nd, 2010 09:00
If you look at the Aurora Motherboard it has two 16X and two 1x PCI_E slots. Both the 1x PCI_E slots are under the 16X slots which means if you use 2 cards in SLI both the 1X slots are covered. I would like to know how they are adding a sound card to a SLI set up. USB sound card maybe?
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/Alw_dt_Aurora/en/sm/sm_en.pdf
I don't quite understand it either. If you look here:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19309212/19662505.aspx?PageIndex=28
You'll see that jza117 has a Dual 1GB GTS 240 w/ SLI configuration and the Soundblaster X-Fi Extreme Audio.
Could that cutsheet be wrong?
535
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Posted February 22nd, 2010 11:00
Ah, well, that makes sense then.
The pricing issue is still quite odd. I'm going to put a call in to Alex and see what he knows.
535
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Posted February 23rd, 2010 15:00
I was too looking at both systems, I could be wrong, but the Area51 only has 3 memory slots, while the Aurora has 6 memory slots.
So for the same gigs of memory the Area 51 will cost more due to size of each dimm.
I went with the Aurora due to not needing to pay extra for expansion like the Area 51. I got the 5970 graphics card which is more then enough to handle any monitor and games out there for a couple of years.
That makes sense, and is likely why the Area-51 maxes at 12GB vs 24GB for the Aurora. I wanted dual 5970's, and I just couldn't get that with the Aurora due to the power supply limitation. I ended up settling for dual 5870's. Maybe I can upgrade the PSU in the future.
1184
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Posted February 21st, 2010 10:00
I started with the Aurora and went with the Area 51.....reason: I wanted a soundboard plus a 260 gtx sli configuration. No can do on the Aurora....not enough slots. I couldn't find a single video card I liked on the Aurora. I don't like the Radeons and the next step up with Nvidia was a 295 gtx but I didn't care for the heat, energy consumption and noise. So I went Area 51 which offered a 285 gtx which oddly is not offered on the Aurora (or wasn't when I ordered). Your memory observation is interesting....had not noticed that and I too don't have an answer.
1184
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Posted February 21st, 2010 12:00
There both overpriced junk....
1184
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Posted February 21st, 2010 17:00
Well, I can tell you that I wasn't able to add a sound card after specifying the SLI config....perhaps it's because the gtx 260 takes up a couple of slots.
jay2010
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1184
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Posted February 21st, 2010 12:00
I thought the same thing about the sound card, but someone in the 'Received your system?' thread posted a configuration that included dual video cards and a soundcard as well.
I wonder why they have the pricing structured this way -- it just doesn't make sense.