GVX said:This sounds like BS to me.
I've never owned an Alienware PC before, but I've owned many other OEM machines and I can tell you that they are NOT upgradeable. Most OEMs use proprietary motheboards that not only make OC'ing impossible (due to a bastardized BIOS) but they often use integrated CPUs that can't be removed. Furthermore, back up discs provided by OEMs are not compatible with any motherboard other than the one provided with the PC. So because upgrading anything usually also involves buying a new mobo, you will have no choice but to purchase a new OS as well as whatever stupid software package that came with the system.
From what I've seen Alienware is crap. I would never waste my hard earned money on such trash.
Name me a major OEM in the past 6 years that has used a soldered on CPU in a desktop system. I know for a fact it wasn't HP, Compaq, Dell, or eMachines. The only exception would be if it were a specialized ultra SFF PC.
Want to transfer your OS Licence to newer hardware in your OEM system? Get ahold of a retail version of that OS's disk and install using your product key. I beleive Microsoft doesn't give a rat's ass if you're having to use a backup CD or someone else's CD so long as the machine has a licence for the OS (Especially so with WinXP.