How good is this desktop?

processor: Good, intel i7's are ussually pretty good, 8mb cache is good. 3.4ghz is good, make sure its a quad core.

8gb Ram ddr3 1600mhz is good,

i wouldnt suggest 256gb, i would suggest 750gb

video card isnt very good, i would suggest upgrading from gt to gtx.

there is no way in hell the alienware x51 could use 240watts of power, it will probably need atleast 500 watts, maybe 500-600 watts. and the operating system is good.

It would run most anything you can think of, however the Alienware name normally cost more than buying just a dell with the same specs. They are both made by dell, so you should save yourself some money and just buy a dell.

What a terrible system. Anyway, if I had to rate it:

CPU - OK (Could get better for cheaper if you were building your own, but you are not.)

Memory - Good

Video - Bad

HD - You don't need a 256 GB SSD - SSD's are very expensive and really people use them for gaming or applications that they want to perform much faster with.

PSU - Good lord that is asking to destroy your system. You need at least a 700W PSU.

Its good but you could find better for cheaper, alienware is overpriced plastic, if your afraid of building your own buy custom made from componys like from pc specilist, chillblast, and vibox. Building your own is not hard though.

Good luck on your new pc, be it alienware or custom!

Really bad. The CPU, the RAM and SSD is good but the GPU is weak. 240W PSU?? I never knew they still make those...