There's no mistaking the newly updated Alienware Area-51 ($3,599 direct) for a mass-produced PC. The over-the-top chassis features glowing, retro-futuristic side vents and a Roswell-inspired alien head. Inside, the high-end components are all about performance for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts.

Based on Intel's 3.0-GHz Pentium 4 processor and 875 chipset (code-named Canterwood), the Area-51 is loaded with enough hardware to satisfy the most demanding fanatics. Our test system was configured with dual 160GB SATA hard drives (set to RAID Level 0), 1GB of 400-MHz Corsair XMS dual-channel memory, and dual optical drives (CD-RW and Pioneer DVD-RW).

The Area-51 is the first system we've seen that uses the new 256MB nVidia GeForce FX 5900 Ultra graphics card (First Looks, June 30). The nVidia card provides the 3-D muscle required by today's graphics-intensive games. According to our test results, the Area-51 holds its own when compared with similarly configured systems from Dell, Gateway, and VoodooPC (First Looks, June 17)—which is to say, it's the fastest thing this side of a workstation.

We like the Atech Flash Technology Pro V multiple-slot card reader. Installed in the front-accessible drive bay and connected to an internal USB 2.0 port, the Pro V delivers four independent card slots (for CompactFlash, IBM Microdrive, Memory Stick, MultiMedia, Secure Digital, and SmartMedia storage cards) for easy transfer of digi-tal files to and from other devices. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 panel, from Creative Technology, offers easy front access to optical audio, MIDI, FireWire, and SPDIF ports.

The 5.1-channel Logitech Z680 speaker system is loud, with lots of bone-rattling bottom end. It includes a desktop control station for adjusting volume and effects settings. An NEC MultiSync FE 991SB 19-inch flat-screen CRT monitor rounded out our test configuration, providing a bright, sharp image.

The software bundle on our test system was very complete, featuring Roxio's Easy CD Creator 5, Ahead Software's Nero 5, and Ulead's Video Studio 4. There's also Hitman 2 and Soldier of Fortune II, so you can start playing right out of the box.

If you want a high-end system and don't mind paying for it, the Area-51 should be on your short list. But you should also compare systems from Falcon Northwest and VoodooPC to be sure you're getting the most bang for your buck.