Dell announced today that it intends to phase out its XPS desktop systems in order to prop up Alienware sales. Dell acquired the much-smaller boutique computer manufacturer in March, 2006, but initially believed that the its own XPS products would complement Alienware's custom-built systems rather than compete with them for sales.

Dell's Alienware unit is slated to put AMD-ATI front and center. The Dell subsidiary will bring out a relatively low-cost game PC with dual ATI graphics chips within the next two weeks. This comes in the wake of a report that Dell will phase out its XPS game PC line in favor of Alienware systems.

Just as it seems that Dell is exiting the high-end gaming PC market by ditching the XPS line, Alienware announced its entry into the “not so high end†gaming market. Is this a good move for Alienware or could it dilute a brand considered to represent extreme gaming?