Alienware X51 vs. Dell Vostro 5090

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_X51.jpg case front and back pannelDell_Vostro_5090.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmall GamingMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen2&3 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen9 i3/i5/i7/i9; Pentium; Celeron;
ChipsetH61B360
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce RTX 2070 Super
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots22
RAM speed1333 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max8 GB32 GB
USB ports(2x) USB 3.0 Type A; (6x) USB-A 2.0;(4x)USB-A 2.0; (3x)USB-A 3.0; USB 3.0 Type C;
Video portsHDMIHDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog;RJ45; Hdph; Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsN.A.SD card reader
SATA ports44
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16;PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays3.25in; 5.25in;3.5in;
PSU240/330 W260/460W
Weight5.49 kg (12.10 lbs)7.90 kg (17.42 lbs)
Released20112019
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
* Dedicated GPU warning: Check if your particular power supply model has enough power. Additionally some PSUs don't come with an auxiliary PCIe power connector and you may need to buy a SATA to PCIe power adapter.

Differences between Alienware X51 and Dell Vostro 5090

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell Vostro 5090 which was released in 2019. The Alienware X51 is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Alienware X51 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 5090 and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

Usually the newer the generation of the CPU, the better the performance and efficiency is. If your budget allows it, you should go with the Dell Vostro 5090 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware X51 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 RAM). Usually two RAM slots are more than enough for most cases. However, the count should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need for your system.

The Dell Vostro 5090 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Alienware X51 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell Vostro 5090 as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Alienware X51 can do a bit less at max 8 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell Vostro 5090 has 9 USB ports. The Alienware X51 is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. None of the desktop models has a USB 3.1 port (10Gb/s), so if you need a fast connection to your peripherals, like external Solid State Drive, you will need to look elsewhere.

Unfortunately, only the Dell Vostro 5090 has a DisplayPort. The Alienware X51 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

SATA slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 4 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

If you want the fastest transfer speeds for your SSD, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, if the M.2 SSD slot is a mandatory requirement for you, go with the Dell Vostro 5090. Sadly, the Alienware X51 has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.

Make sure that the available M.2 slot supports the PCIe (also called NVMe) interface. This is important as there are M.2 slots which support only the inferior SATA III interface. For comparison, the SATA III interface has max speeds of 6Gb/s, while the PCIe 3.0 x4 will support speeds up to 32Gb/s!

Power Supply

Having a Power Supply Unit with high power rating is important, if you are going to use components which require extra power. The Alienware X51 comes with a decent 330 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 5090 has a more powerful one rated at 460 Watts. Choosing either one depends on your specific requirements and use case. Also don't forget that some models might have more than one PSU option - try to always get the most powerful one, especially if you plan to upgrade to a powerful GPU.

Motherboard

Alienware_X51_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_Vostro_5090_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout