<!--quoteo(post=1648670:date=Sep 11 2007, 01:01 AM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Sep 11 2007, 01:01 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1648670"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Opened up an alienware notebook and found their alien head logo on the PCB, I'd assume they made it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It may surprise you to learn that putting a logo on something is substantially less difficult than fabricating something, especially if that "something" is the kind of electronic equipment that you have to pour thousands and thousands of dollars of R&D into just to keep up with the competition, and that you have to buy in large enough orders to be able to contract a factory or multiple factories to make them for you.
By "logo on PCB" I meant that there was an alien head printed on the PBB followed by the copyright line. The complete lack of other names (other than the ones printed on the ICs) led us to believe that the device was manufactured by or specially contracted for Alienware.
A quick dig on the tubes seems to show that they used to contract their mobo designs out to a company in Taiwan called Iwill (they got bought up by someoneorother, also in Taiwan.) The point is that Alienware does design their own mainboards, even if they aren't the ones who print them.
Though it is equally (if not more) likely that they have bought the rights to an existing design, made modifications as desired by them and then had Iwill print it. It still qualifies as designing your own, though it's really like saying that a ricer builds his own car.
Right, there's a difference between sticking your logo on it and starting from scratch and creating an entirely new mobo. Something like Dell could do that, but a boutique dealer like Alienware can't sink huge amounts of money into designing motherboards AND run a computer business on the side. Companies like ASUS have their hands full just desiging boards 100% of the time, imagine if they had to also manufacture, advertise, and support custom PCs too. Their budget would have to be gigantic.
<!--quoteo(post=1648982:date=Sep 12 2007, 08:46 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolfighter @ Sep 12 2007, 08:46 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1648982"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Though it is equally (if not more) likely that they have bought the rights to an existing design, made modifications as desired by them and then had Iwill print it. It still qualifies as designing your own, though it's really like saying that a ricer builds his own car.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> And, as much as I hate to admit it, that Civic driver who can't tell the difference between his muffler and a Folgers can probably goes faster than my Neon.
Also, <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=5" target="_blank">ASUS</a> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=asus&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">doesn't</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=9" target="_blank">just</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=8" target="_blank">make</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=4" target="_blank">motherboards</a>. Recall that I never said that Alienware built their systems from the ground up, I said that there's a difference between the parts in an Alienware box and the parts you can get off the shelf.
<!--quoteo(post=1649105:date=Sep 12 2007, 04:46 PM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Sep 12 2007, 04:46 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649105"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Also, <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=5" target="_blank">ASUS</a> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=asus&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">doesn't</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=9" target="_blank">just</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=8" target="_blank">make</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=4" target="_blank">motherboards</a>. Recall that I never said that Alienware built their systems from the ground up, I said that there's a difference between the parts in an Alienware box and the parts you can get off the shelf.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There's a difference, yes. However it's not like a board produced by Alienware is at some unreachable level of quality for us custom builders. If you look you can still find boards that are better then the ones they sell(and probably less expensive). I guess what Im trying to say is that if you want to, you can build a computer better then the ones Alienware sells and probably for less then they would charge. If you are totally into making your computer faster, then you could individually solder higher quality pieces onto your motherboard as well to really reach quality that isn't available on the market. High quality capacitors are cheap on the internet, same with MOSFETS and other such relays.
schkorpioI can mspaintJoin Date: 2003-05-23Member: 16635Members
the 3rd pci-e slot is for either a physX card, or a 3rd GFX card which will end up doing physics calculations apparantly <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
<!--quoteo(post=1649158:date=Sep 12 2007, 08:29 PM:name=schkorpio)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(schkorpio @ Sep 12 2007, 08:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649158"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->the 3rd pci-e slot is for either a physX card, or a 3rd GFX card which will end up doing physics calculations apparantly <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Why not just get 4 pci-e slots and get quad-sli?
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A minor detail I may have passed over. Well done, Jasp! You've solved the mystery!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well just thought i'd point it out while i was here hehe.
schkorpioI can mspaintJoin Date: 2003-05-23Member: 16635Members
<!--quoteo(post=1649160:date=Sep 13 2007, 10:48 AM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Sep 13 2007, 10:48 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649160"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Why not just get 4 pci-e slots and get quad-sli?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> dunno, thats HP for ya :S
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1649160:date=Sep 12 2007, 05:48 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Sep 12 2007, 05:48 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649160"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Why not just get 4 pci-e slots and get quad-sli?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Does that really exist? I ask 'cause I've never seen it.
<!--quoteo(post=1649231:date=Sep 13 2007, 04:43 AM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Sep 13 2007, 04:43 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649231"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Does that really exist? I ask 'cause I've never seen it.
my dad just recently went to a place called solidway and had them put together a computer for him.. costed him ~$1500 and he got some intel quad core proc, 2g ram, 500gb sata, sli 76(9?)00's, sata dvd rw, (mobodontknow), 500w+ psu, all in a very sleek antec case...
but he has also been working like, 30 years as a pharmacist and is bloody rich
not to mention he built his last computer on his own... and helped me with my first..
<!--quoteo(post=1648582:date=Sep 10 2007, 06:49 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Sep 10 2007, 06:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1648582"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Until you do something to really earn what you paid for (modify it, build it yourself<!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->, just get plain rich and are able to buy expensive stuff like that<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->) you don't truly own it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Comments
It may surprise you to learn that putting a logo on something is substantially less difficult than fabricating something, especially if that "something" is the kind of electronic equipment that you have to pour thousands and thousands of dollars of R&D into just to keep up with the competition, and that you have to buy in large enough orders to be able to contract a factory or multiple factories to make them for you.
A quick dig on the tubes seems to show that they used to contract their mobo designs out to a company in Taiwan called Iwill (they got bought up by someoneorother, also in Taiwan.) The point is that Alienware does design their own mainboards, even if they aren't the ones who print them.
And, as much as I hate to admit it, that Civic driver who can't tell the difference between his muffler and a Folgers can probably goes faster than my Neon.
Also, <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=5" target="_blank">ASUS</a> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=asus&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">doesn't</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=9" target="_blank">just</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=8" target="_blank">make</a> <a href="http://usa.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=4" target="_blank">motherboards</a>. Recall that I never said that Alienware built their systems from the ground up, I said that there's a difference between the parts in an Alienware box and the parts you can get off the shelf.
There's a difference, yes. However it's not like a board produced by Alienware is at some unreachable level of quality for us custom builders. If you look you can still find boards that are better then the ones they sell(and probably less expensive).
I guess what Im trying to say is that if you want to, you can build a computer better then the ones Alienware sells and probably for less then they would charge. If you are totally into making your computer faster, then you could individually solder higher quality pieces onto your motherboard as well to really reach quality that isn't available on the market. High quality capacitors are cheap on the internet, same with MOSFETS and other such relays.
Why not just get 4 pci-e slots and get quad-sli?
Well just thought i'd point it out while i was here hehe.
dunno, thats HP for ya :S
Does that really exist? I ask 'cause I've never seen it.
o.o
o.o<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<img src="http://www.pcper.com/images/reviews/195/specs_2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Quad 7900 gtx perform worse then crossfire x1950s though in alot of categories.
wait...
its not for finger exercise is it?
jesus christ -_-...
my dad just recently went to a place called solidway and had them put together a computer for him.. costed him ~$1500 and he got some intel quad core proc, 2g ram, 500gb sata, sli 76(9?)00's, sata dvd rw, (mobodontknow), 500w+ psu, all in a very sleek antec case...
but he has also been working like, 30 years as a pharmacist and is bloody rich
not to mention he built his last computer on his own... and helped me with my first..
<!--quoteo(post=1648582:date=Sep 10 2007, 06:49 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Sep 10 2007, 06:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1648582"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Until you do something to really earn what you paid for (modify it, build it yourself<!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->, just get plain rich and are able to buy expensive stuff like that<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->) you don't truly own it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->