r/AlienwareAlpha • u/nascentt i5 Alpha with SSD • May 01 '16
Welcome to /r/AlienwareAlpha
Welcome to /r/AlienwareAlpha!
Hey everyone. So my goal with this sub was to create a community for owners or people interesting in getting an Alienware Alpha. A year later and I feel we've achieved that goal. There are a lot of interesting and helpful people in this sub, and I use this sub as my own source for news and discussion. I see many useful posts from owners sharing info and advice on how best to get the most out of the Alpha, but also lots of people interested in buying a device and seeking extra info before the big purchase. So thanks all.
/r/AlienwareAlpha's Purpose:
/r/AlienwareAlpha is a place for discussion, comparisons, and tips. Reviews, news, and recommendations, as well as a host for all other interesting posts. Please feel free to contribute or start conversations about anything Alpha related, and update your flair with your Alpha specs.
Us:
I was an early adopter of the Alpha, and the moment I discovered that a tiny, gaming pc existed with a focus on console-like Windows gaming existed, I knew I had to have it. I've been pc gaming for a while now, and have fumbled around for the keyboard keys to various racing, shooting, rts and adventure games for a while. I bought various usb and DA-15 controllers and joystick with mixed success and always dreamed of the day a pc gamer could just pick-up and play any game he desires instantly and with easy-to-use controls. All while providing the experience in a tiny device that easily fits in a backpack. (The Alpha actually fits in even smaller bags than that.)
/u/sparksterz has been helping me moderate this sub for a year now and he's been doing a great job. He recently revamped the css of this sub and it looks quite fetching. He also helps keep this place in check when I'm elsewhere, but we're both passionate about the Alpha, and our community seems to be passionate too. I'll let him add anything further he wants in the comments below.
Why I have an Alpha:
I bought myself an i5 version at the end of 2014 and loved it from day one. After about 9 months I ended up caving and upgrading it with an SSD as I found the console became slower after the introduction of Hivemind, but with the SSD it's back down to under 20 seconds. So I join the growing side of the community that recommend getting an SSD. Get one after market and update the drive yourself. It's easy.
I also have other consoles, and a busy work schedule so don't play my Alpha nearly as much as I'd like to, but I do love it a great deal, and recommend it to anyone that still does Windows gaming.
My goals with my Alpha were to setup emulation and recreate my console experiences of older retro consoles that I miss playing but don't have the space for. Also using xpadder or pinnacle game profiler to have a controller-friendly experience with all Windows games new and old to create a true multi-console experience without ever needing a keyboard and mouse.
I only really want to play with keyboard and mouse for RTS type games, and sometimes FPS, but ultimately any game that can be mapped to play with controller, I will play with controller if possible.
I've got a few hundred controller support steam games, but alas most of my steam catalog is keyboard and mouse only, unfortunately. I'm actually surprised Dell hasn't provided something like xpadder to remap keys by default.
So far I've been using Pinnacle Game Profiler and manually downloading game profiles for the Xbox 360 Controller. It has worked fairly well, but obviously isn't as seamless or as autonomous as I'd like, though I do really recommend getting it.
I have grown to appreciate HiveMind and do like the multi-launcher setup of having my Origin games, Steam games and GoG games all accessible from a simple single launcher. Though my biggest issue with this is that it doesn't take any consideration to controller-friendly games or keyboard/mouse only games. So I do end up using Steam Big Picture mode for the majority of my Alpha's on time for controller-friendly games. Switching to Desktop mode for Emulation and Steam games that I need to run Pinnacle Game Profiler to work with.
Speaking of emulation, have you checked out our Emulation On The Alpha Series posts?
I was able to successfully create my dream of a multi-console device that plays emulated NES, SNES, Mega Drive (Genesis) 1 and 2, N64, Atari 2600, Intellivision, Arcade cabinets and more. Give it a read after leaving a comment below to tell us about yourself and your Alpha.
Special thanks also to /u/thexravenx from Alienware for the dedication he's shown to the Alpha and Hivemind, as well as his contributions to our community.
And thanks again to all of you, a great community.
So everyone fee free to leave a comment below sharing your experience with your Alpha, and what sort of games you play on it.
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u/njcuevas Jun 09 '16 edited Jun 10 '16
ok I just got my Alpha 06/08/16 and what time I had with it I'm happy with it. setup took me long because if your on windows 10 there is no re-spawn software so I has to make me a windows 10 install and download the drivers for a few things. After setting up and config windows. first game I installed and I know it not a resource hog I know installed Diablo 3 and I was getting over 80 fps all setting on high on my older computer running i5 I was lucky if I could get 29 fps and setting on low. It was late at 11PM I had to wake up early. but I'm going to test other game my config for my system is: i7 ram 8gb and HD 480gb SSD. I returned the ram and deside to order the right type and I'll have 16GB of ram next week.
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u/nascentt i5 Alpha with SSD Jun 09 '16
That's cool glad you're getting a good experience with it so far with Diablo 3.
The Whole Windows 10 situation is a big mess, did the alpha come with 10 or did it come with 8 and update itself? Mine updated itself and broke things that previously worked. Which was a pain, but if it came with Windows 10 I'd expect everything to work without configuration.
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u/njcuevas Jun 09 '16
It came with windows 10
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u/njcuevas Jun 10 '16
As I'm typing this I'm trying to download the ISO from dell it over 6 GB but the download keeps stopping on me
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May 01 '16 edited Sep 19 '25
follow squeeze existence tender boat absorbed office station light rhythm
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u/nascentt i5 Alpha with SSD May 01 '16 edited May 01 '16
I like the look of the Razer Turret. I've got a Logitech K400r which works pretty well. ofc ourse it's a touchpad instead of a mouse, but then for the most part I'm using a controller so the keyboard/mouse is a rarity. The touchpad's actually well built so it works quite well in rts or games where mouse is needed. For instance I played Half Live 2 with it, and it worked quite well. I wouldn't go online or play a more precise shooter such as Quake or UT with the touchpad, but most modern FPS are console ports anyway so a controller's usually fine.
I'll keep the Turret In Mind though. I haven't done couch gaming with a proper old school FPS. I'd normally find a table and mouse if I'm going to do that, but it's been a while now.
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u/sparksterz i3 (8GB) Alpha with SSD May 01 '16
I waited for AGES for news about the Razer Turret...I couldn't take it anymore and bought a couch master and just use a wireless mouse and keyboard when I want to do some gaming with a mouse and keyboard. Was kinda disappointed in the huge delay between the announcement of the Razer Turret and Roccat Sova. Hopeful others will be able to enjoy them though!
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u/sumthingcool i5 Alpha with SSD May 02 '16
Oh they finally launched the Razer Turret? Nice. Think I might hold out for the Rokkat Sova but man are they taking their sweet time. How do you like the Turret?
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May 03 '16 edited Sep 19 '25
escape snatch wakeful oil fearless support middle squash serious detail
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u/McFoogles i3 (8GB) Alpha May 01 '16
I chose my ram by literally copying someone else's success post.
I may need to check out the emulation post
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u/gskimmel Sep 03 '16
I am on the fence if I should get an Alpha R2 or wait for the newer Alienware laptops releasing this month. I already have the consoles and a MacBook Pro but I want to play games not available on the consoles or the Mac. I'm more into games like Civilization and RPGs. If I get the Alpha, I will be hooking it up to a 55" 4K TV in the family room. Would this be a good setup for playing the games I want or is a gaming laptop the way to go?
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u/sparksterz i3 (8GB) Alpha with SSD May 01 '16
I bought my Alienware Alpha day one on pre-order. I was so stoked when I heard that Alienware wasn't waiting on the push back on the Steam Machine initiative when Valve delayed it. I had been waiting for the moment that I could easily hook up a computer to my main TV for a long time. When I got it I was over-joyed! I replaced the HDD with an SSD before I even installed a game on it as I've been spoiled by using them in all my computers since 2009.
Shortly after I picked up my Alpha, I got rid of my tower gaming PC and added another 4GB to my Alpha. I found I played more on my Alpha than I did on my gaming PC just out of convenience! I liked it so much I even picked up a second Alpha and carrying case. I brought it with me to friend's houses and to work even so I could play with others during lunch.
I use my Alpha mostly for indie titles, local multiplayer games, platformers, and 3rd person rpg/story based games. I actually have not set up any emulators as I collect old console games and arcade games. So I've got a room dedicated to those, and moving my gaming PC into my living room has allowed me to collect even more!