Dell Alienware Aurora R16 with a redesigned case and better airflow

Dell has unveiled its best gaming PC ever, the Alienware Aurora R16, marking a significant leap forward in gaming PC technology. With a starting price of $1,449.99, this great gaming PC machine boasts cutting-edge components, promising an immersive gaming experience.

Breaking away from its iconic pill-shaped case, the Alienware Aurora R16 embraces a more conventional design. Although internal changes are somewhat limited due to the lack of groundbreaking releases from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, the machine’s configurations have been streamlined compared to its predecessor.

Under the hood, the Alienware Aurora R16 can be equipped with powerful processors like the Intel Core i9-13900F, Core i7-13700F, and Core i9-12900F. Graphics options are equally impressive, featuring Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, RTX 4080 Ti, RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4070, and the latest RTX 3050. Notably, at launch, only the RTX 4080 and RTX 3050 models will be available for purchase.

A significant upgrade comes in the form of DDR5 RAM support, allowing configurations up to 64 GB at 5200 MT/s (or 32 GB at 5600 MT/s). However, the Aurora R16 only offers two DIMM slots, a drawback for a 2023 machine. Storage options include a single 4TB NVMe SSD, expandable with an additional NVMe drive (up to 4TB), or replaceable with a 1TB 7200rpm mechanical hard drive. For users favoring physical media, an external DVD drive can be added.

Cooling options have been enhanced, with both air and liquid cooling available. Dell offers a choice between a transparent side panel with an extra fan or a non-transparent panel. The Alienware Command Center software allows extensive customization of RGB lighting. The machine runs on a proprietary Z690 motherboard and offers proprietary power supply options ranging from 500 Watts to 1000 Watts.

In terms of connectivity, the Alienware Aurora R16 is well-equipped. It features Killer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth for wireless connections. The front panel includes three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (two Type-A and one Type-C). On the rear, users will find a variety of ports, such as six 3.5mm audio jacks, optical audio, 2.5 Gig Ethernet, four USB 2.0 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, and two USB 3.2 Type-C ports (one at 10 Gbps and the other at 20 Gbps).

One notable improvement addresses past criticisms regarding poor airflow. Dell claims to have resolved this issue by adding vents and two extra chassis fans, making the Aurora R16 40% smaller than its predecessor.

Dell Alienware Aurora R16 price and availability

For interested buyers, the Alienware Aurora R16 is available on Amazon.com, starting at $1,449.99. This base model includes an Intel Core i7-13700F, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 Graphics.

Earlier this year, Dell also introduced the OptiPlex Micro (Plus) 7010, Small Format Factor (Plus) 7010 SFF, and MFF form factor, alongside the Dell Optiplex 7010 business desktop PC tower, all of which can be extensively configured, including options for i9 processors and RTX graphics solutions.