Acer Veriton M6640g vs. Alienware X51 R3

Comparison and Differences

Acer_Veriton_M6640g.jpg case front and back pannelAlienware_X51_R3.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerSmall Gaming
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; PentiumIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetB150Z170
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMUDIMM DDR4-2133DIMM DDR3-2133
RAM slots42
RAM speed2133 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0(4x) USB 3.0 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB 3.1 Type A
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; DVi; VGAHDMI 1.4b;
Other portsRJ45; (2x) Mic, Speaker; Line in; Line out; PS/2 ports; SerialRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog;
Optional portsCard reader; USB-A 3.0; Parallel; SerialN.A.
SATA ports53
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIPCIe 3.0 x16;
M.2 slotsM.2 2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)N.A.
Drive bays(5x) 2.5/3.5in; 5.25 inch(2x) 2.5in; 3.25in; 5.25in;
PSU300 W180/240/330 W
Weight9.00 kg (19.84 lb)5.49 kg (12.10 lbs
Released20162015
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 Acer Veriton M6640g and Alienware X51 R3

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Acer Veriton M6640g which was released in 2016. The Alienware X51 R3 is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Alienware X51 R3 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Acer Veriton M6640g and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 6 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

Memory

The Acer Veriton M6640g has 4 RAM slots while the Alienware X51 R3 has only 2 slot(s). This is not something to worry about. Just make sure you take it into consideration when planning how much RAM you are going to use.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 2133. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.

Ports

In total the Alienware X51 R3 has 8 USB ports. The Acer Veriton M6640g is inferior in this regard and packs 0 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Alienware X51 R3, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Acer Veriton M6640g has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Acer Veriton M6640g comes with 2 ports, while the Alienware X51 R3 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Acer Veriton M6640g is the better choice.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

SATA ports are placed on the system board and it is where you connect your HDD, SSD and Optical Disk Drives. More SATA slots will allow you to have more drives running at the same time. In this regard the Acer Veriton M6640g is better equipped as it comes with 5 SATA slot(s), while the Alienware X51 R3 has 3 slot(s).

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 Acer Veriton M6640g. Sadly, the Alienware X51 R3 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 Acer Veriton M6640g comes with a decent 300 Watt PSU, but the Alienware X51 R3 has a more powerful one rated at 330 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

Acer_Veriton_M6640g_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutAlienware_X51_R3_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout