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The Alienware Area-51 Threadripper Edition hands-on behind the “benchmark annihilation” headline tested a pre-production 2017 desktop with a 16-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. HotHardware reported a Cinebench R15 score of 2,905, but described its results as preliminary and said Alienware was still optimizing the system. That is evidence of strong multithreaded performance in one test—not proof that the machine dominated every workload or represents a current buying recommendation.
What HotHardware tested in 2017
Dave Altavilla’s HotHardware hands-on, published July 28, 2017, covered a pre-production configuration rather than a definitive retail specification. The system included an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X listed at 3.4/4 GHz, 16 GB of DDR4-2666 memory, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti with 11 GB of GDDR5X, a 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD, and a 1 TB 7,200 RPM hard drive. Price was still to be determined in that preview. HotHardware’s hands-on explicitly cautioned: “We should note that this is a pre-production unit from Alienware, however, so things could change a bit.”
Those details identify the tested machine, not every Area-51 Threadripper Edition sold later. Different CPU, GPU, memory, or storage choices can change both performance and value.
What “benchmark annihilation” means—and what it does not
HotHardware’s Area-51 result
HotHardware reported a final Cinebench R15 score of 2,905 for its pre-production Area-51. It said the score was about 30–32% faster than Intel’s 10-core Core i9-7900X in its comparison. The CPU peaked at about 3.5 GHz with all threads loaded, and HotHardware noted that Alienware was still optimizing the system. The article said it could show only a benchmark run or two at that stage and anticipated fuller testing later. Treat the score and comparison as HotHardware’s 2017 preview findings, not a current benchmark or an independently replicated result.
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A separate AMD launch comparison
AMD’s August 2017 launch announcement reported a different Cinebench R15 nT comparison: 3,042 for the Ryzen Threadripper 1950X versus 2,212 for the Core i9-7900X, which AMD described as 38% higher. That was a vendor-published launch comparison, not the Area-51’s 2,905 result. The figures should not be combined as though they came from the same machine or test report. AMD’s launch announcement provides the context for its numbers.
Why other review results differ
TechRadar’s 2017 review tested a different review-unit context and reported the following results. These figures are not HotHardware’s Cinebench score, and the available figures should not be merged into a single cross-review ranking without matching configurations and methods.
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| Test (TechRadar, 2017) | Reported result |
|---|---|
| 3DMark Sky Diver | 39,619 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike | 18,324 |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 9,048 |
| Cinebench CPU | 1,589 |
| GeekBench 4 single-core | 4,464 |
| GeekBench 4 multi-core | 24,163 |
| PCMark 8 Home | 4,065 |
TechRadar’s review also reported selected game results:
| Game and setting | Reported frame rate |
|---|---|
| Total War: Warhammer, 1080p Ultra | 110 fps |
| Total War: Warhammer, 1080p Low | 265 fps |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, 1080p Ultra | 28 fps |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, 1080p Low | 128 fps |
The gap between settings in those game tests is a reminder that frame rates depend on the game, resolution, graphics preset, and hardware configuration—not just the processor’s core count. TechRadar said its sample played Battlefield 1 at 4K Ultra without frame-rate hitches; in Rise of the Tomb Raider it reported about 27 fps at 4K and 58 fps at 1440p. It found Game Mode’s performance increase negligible in its tests except in real-time strategy games. These are historical observations from that review, not a promise of results in other games or systems.
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Cooling, layout, and upgrade room
Airflow and cooling
HotHardware described the chassis as retaining Alienware’s Area-51 Triad design. In its account, cool air entered from the front through intake fans mounted at the top and bottom; the power-supply fan and CPU radiator fan exhausted warm air at the rear. The 1950X used an engineered all-in-one liquid-cooling solution. The reviewer described the unit as quiet, which was a subjective observation rather than a measured sound-pressure result.
Storage and graphics expansion
The preview described rear-side storage mounting with 2.5-inch cages and room for up to three 3.5-inch drives. Its sample had a Toshiba 1 TB, 7,200 RPM SATA drive alongside the M.2 SSD. HotHardware also described a GPU cage with space for three cards, although its tested and photographed system contained one GTX 1080 Ti. The article’s period-era SLI/CrossFire discussion should not be read as confirmation of present-day game or driver support.
Rank #4
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Dell’s Area-51 R7 setup documentation identifies the AMD X399 chipset, the Threadripper CPU platform, and PCIe Gen3/Gen2 bus details. It lists approximate system weight as 28 kg (61.73 lb), with variation by configuration and manufacturing. TechRadar highlighted the angled 45-degree component arrangement and relatively tool-light access for GPU, storage, and memory. Dell’s Area-51 R7 setup and specifications guide is the more appropriate reference for platform details; confirm the exact generation and configuration before applying them to a particular machine.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Threadripper generation is in an Area-51?
The 2017 hands-on tested the first-generation 1950X. The Area-51 R7 family later included second-generation Threadripper models, so the product name alone does not identify the processor.
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| Processor listed for Area-51 R7 | Cores / threads | Maximum boost clock listed by Dell | Thermal design power listed by Dell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen Threadripper 2950X | 16 / 32 | Up to 4.4 GHz | 180 W |
| Ryzen Threadripper 2920X | 12 / 24 | Up to 4.3 GHz | 180 W |
| Ryzen Threadripper 1900X | 8 / 16 | Up to 4.0 GHz | 180 W |
Dell’s R7 documentation lists those three processors; AMD’s 2018 announcement said the Area-51 Threadripper Edition would offer the 16-core 2950X and 12-core 2920X, and added the 8-core 1900X to the Area-51 R7 portfolio. Those models are distinct from the 1950X in the 2017 preview. AMD’s 2018 announcement describes that later lineup.
Is the Area-51 Threadripper Edition worth it?
The 2017 preview establishes that a high-core-count 1950X system could post a strong multithreaded Cinebench result, while TechRadar’s separate review shows that gaming performance varied substantially with title and settings. Neither source establishes what a used Area-51 costs today, its present availability, or its condition and warranty. TechRadar’s historical entry configuration was listed at $2,999 with a GTX 1060 6 GB, 8 GB RAM, and a 2 TB hard drive; that 2017 price and its review-era value judgment are not current market guidance.
For a used system, evaluate the actual machine rather than the family name. Check the processor generation, GPU, memory, storage, cooling operation, physical condition, and seller-provided warranty or return terms. A machine that matches the 2017 test’s 1950X and GTX 1080 Ti is not interchangeable with a later R7 or a lower-spec entry configuration.
Quick Recap
- For heavily threaded creation or encoding: the 1950X’s 16 cores and HotHardware’s Cinebench result make multithreaded performance the most relevant evidence in this hands-on, but it is one preliminary 2017 result.
- For gaming: use game-specific results that match the installed GPU and intended resolution and settings; the processor benchmark alone cannot predict frame rates.
- For fit and upgrades: account for a large chassis and Dell’s approximately 28 kg R7 weight listing, then confirm the exact case generation, expansion layout, and component compatibility.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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