Somewhat lost in all the conversation around our launch of the updated Alienware Command Center at CES this year was the news of a second generation for the distinctive Triad chassis of Alienware Area-51.

These latest Alienware Area-51 and Alienware Area-51 Threadripper Edition desktops have now launched. They bring a number of firsts that represent advancements ranging from new innovations to even higher performance capabilities.

You might not be able to see a difference in a glance, but our design philosophy is that it’s all about the customer experience. And that means, even if you don’t see it with your eyes, every detail counts — performance, upgradeability, the movement of the hinges, the temperature of a device…the list goes on.

“Our favorite addition is the Tool-less Graphics feature,” said PC World. “It’s a little door that swings out from the back of the Area-51, exposing the card slots. You can insert a card and just shut the door, no screws necessary. Now that’s progress for DIY builders.”

Now that’s progress for DIY builders.

Concurrently hitting the market is AlienFX 2.0, the second generation of Alienware’s proprietary in-game lighting system that works across Alienware PCs, mice and keyboards. And the updated Alienware Command Center provides even more customization of individual keys and key groups with more than 16.8 million colors in each lighting zone.

“Today’s product launches coincide with the new Experience Pages (Intel and AMD) within the Alienware Arena,” notes Alienware product manager Eddy Goyanes. “You will also find performance charts communicating the wide range of performance capabilities from processor perspective as well as graphics – which was a huge endeavor made possible by our planning team and performance labs in Austin.”

Here is a short list from Goyanes of the biggest contributions made possible by the second generation Triad chassis organized by two of Alienware’s key brand tenants:

• Innovations
  • 2^nd generation Triad chassis
    • Tool-less graphics, swinging PCI-E door – supports multi-GPU configurations
    • Support for U.2 NVMe SSDs – the fastest storage technology available
    • Additional front and rear perforations enabling additional airflow
  • The new Alienware Command Center
    • Enables 16.8 million colors per zone
    • Reimagined GUI and backend system
• High-Performance
  • Optional Dual Liquid Cooled NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics – an Alienware first
  • Optional Dual AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 graphics – an Alienware first
  • Standard 80 Plus Gold modular power supplies (850 or 1500W)

I’d also add something that those investing in high-end gaming systems should really appreciate: future-proof longevity. While it may not look drastically different, it’s uniquely engineered to deliver exceptional airflow, thermal management, and user ergonomics for daily use and future upgrades.

This new rig is powered for gamers running applications that are processor hungry, and Alienware Area-51 continues to deliver the best gaming experiences in 4K, 8K and in virtual reality (VR) environments.

“The powerful processor options available on Area-51 extend from 6-core through 18-core options, a perfect solution for gamers who create or creators who game,” Goyanes adds. “Also, gamers who need to stream, game, and record in HD simultaneously or other kinds of ‘megatasking’ should highly consider an Area-51 system.”