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58 Posts
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24109
February 21st, 2010 07:00
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?
Greenwit
49 Posts
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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.
beamermt25
468 Posts
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February 21st, 2010 12:00
There both overpriced junk....
jay2010
58 Posts
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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.
jay2010
58 Posts
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February 21st, 2010 17:00
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.
Greenwit
49 Posts
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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.
Greenwit
49 Posts
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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.
jay2010
58 Posts
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February 21st, 2010 18:00
So what would you suggest? PM's or replies welcome. :)
jay2010
58 Posts
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February 21st, 2010 18:00
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.
morblore
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2.4K Posts
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February 22nd, 2010 07:00
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.
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
jay2010
58 Posts
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February 22nd, 2010 09:00
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?
Pwyur
15 Posts
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February 22nd, 2010 10:00
GTS 240 looks like a smaller card without the extra casing. That could be one reason.
I just tried configuring one and it did let me do the 240's in SLI but when I tried to bump it up to the 260's it gave me a warning.
FalconW7
42 Posts
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February 22nd, 2010 10:00
The GTS240 is a single-slot card (takes 1 slot). Most high end cards are dual-slot cards ( takes 2 slots).So the 1xPCI_E slots are free for other usage like a sound card when you use the sli GTS240's.
from the nvidia site
GTS240 OEM
GTX260
jay2010
58 Posts
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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.
SpoonFit
52 Posts
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February 23rd, 2010 14:00
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.
jay2010
58 Posts
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February 23rd, 2010 15:00
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.