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Best Alienware Desktop – Alienware Aurora Gaming PCs

Taking a look at the best Alienware gaming desktop

Updated: Oct 18, 2023 12:07 pm
WEPC Best Alienware desktop Featured image 01

Alienware made a name for itself for creating custom gaming PCs quite some time ago. Of course, the brand expanded into laptops and gaming monitors but it is their latest line of desktops we are going to be looking at today. Some may be quick to call an Alienware prebuilt gaming PC overpriced but they are actually quite competitive, especially when you consider the unique aesthetic they come with.

Alienware gaming PCs feature the latest components but there are also some older models that you can pick up for much less. Let’s take a look at the best Alienware desktop PC.

Our Top Picks

01
Best in Class
The Best Alienware Desktop
alienware aurora desktop 1
CUK Aurora Gaming Desktop
02
The Next Best Alienware Desktop
Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop 1
Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop (3080)
03
A solid All-Round Alienware Desktop PC
Alienware Aurora R10 1
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop

How We Choose

We usually scour popular and reputable prebuilt gaming PC manufacturers such as SkyTech, MSI, iBuyPower, CyberPowerPC, and even the latest prebuilt gaming desktop PCs from companies that specialize in upgrades and customizations such as CUK but Alienware desktops are all listed on Dell.

After an extensive search, we came up with a long list of potential candidates, we then: examined the specs, compared them, to bring you the best.

How We Test

To give you an idea of how well Alienware desktops perform, tests were made and benchmark results were recorded across a number of different games and platforms. We specifically picked popular games to give you an up-to-date reference.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, some retailers are experiencing stock issues. WePC constantly updates our pages to reflect current availability, so if the PC or part you want shows as out of stock, check back later or check out these alternatives.

Things To Consider

Regardless if you are buying an Alienware desktop computer or building your own, there are still several key areas for your consideration to ensure you don’t walk away disappointed. As these computers cost a large amount of money you need to make sure you are going to get the performance you need in your chosen games. Of course, a lot of Alienware desktops reside in the high-end bracket, leaving you less to worry about but in any case, let’s run through a few of these areas.

Why Buy An Alienware Desktop Gaming PC?

Alienware desktops are largely thought of as the ‘Apple’ of gaming PCs. This comparison is mostly down to consumers assuming they are overpriced and at first glance, it may appear that way but these are high-quality products.

Alienware desktops share the same technical capabilities as most custom-made PCs, meaning they will run any game you desire straight out of the box but it is their unique look that is most eye-catching.

Unlike their premium monitors, Alienware has a desktop to suit a variety of budgetary demands and you can customize the specs slightly when buying directly from Dell. Alienware’s warranty and general customer service are deemed as quite good too, meaning if you run into any issues there is no need to worry.

What Is Alienware Aurora?

Alienware Aurora is the brand’s latest line of desktop gaming PCs, also known as the R-series. These desktops feature the latest components, water-cooled components, and have been designed for high-end and VR gameplay. These PCs are classed as mid-tower but feature a unique aesthetic.

Alienware Aurora computers are designed to support custom upgrades, high-speed RAM, and innovative airflow to ensure you get the most out of your components.

Alienware PC Vs Other Custom PCs

The question of quality isn’t really in play here as there are many custom PC manufacturers that offer high levels. That being said, it is worth noting that Alienware excels in this department and delivers products that not only look fantastic but perform equally well. The question of are they overpriced often pops up but in all honesty, most custom manufactured gaming PCs are overpriced to cover labor costs.

Alienware desktop gaming PCs are slightly dearer than your local supplier but they come with the added bonus of looking completely unique. If aesthetics mean nothing to you, then you should probably source a gaming PC from your nearest custom PC builder as the chances are you will save a bit of money. Regardless, with Alienware, you are getting a product that will last.

Prebuilt Vs Custom

We always recommend that you build your own computer here at WePC and that is for one simple reason – value.  It is no secret that you can squeeze in better hardware for your cash when building your own system, with the markup on prebuilt computers usually costing the same amount as an entire component ($100-$300) or even more with high-end builds such as these from Alienware.

Performance

While the performance of the best gaming PCs is never in doubt, when building your own you could in theory include a better CPU or GPU into your computer for less. This means you could get even better performance for your hard-earned cash, get better in-game results, and future proof your investment for longer.

Convenience

The main selling point behind a prebuilt gaming PC is it saves you the hassle. We understand that not everyone knows how to build a computer and may not even have the time to learn this new skill, so the convenience of a prebuilt makes a lot of sense. Of course, there are many more benefits to buying a prebuilt gaming PC from manufacturers, obviously, it takes the stresses away from finding all the compatible components, while also preventing damage to said components when the time comes to build it.

With one of these gaming PCs, you are going to be able to send it back to the manufacturer if anything goes wrong. Furthermore, if you feel you need an upgrade, suppliers will often do this for you or at least insist you send it to them for an upgrade. Manufacturers will also dish out a warranty, usually covering parts and labor for around a year but some companies offer impressive warranties and you can always spend extra on insurance, giving you a lengthy/ lifetime warranty.

The Best Alienware Desktop

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alienware aurora desktop 1
CUK Aurora Gaming Desktop
02
Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop 1
Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop (3080)
03
Alienware Aurora R10 1
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop
04
Alienware R11 Gaming Desktop 1650 1
Alienware R11 Gaming Desktop (1650)

In-depth Review

Best in Class
01
The Best Alienware Desktop
CUK Aurora Gaming Desktop
alienware aurora desktop 1
CPU Intel Core i9 10900F
GPU RTX 3080
RAM 64GB
Storage 1TB NVMe SSD & 3TB HDD
PROS
  • Fantastic components for gaming
  • A total of 4TB stoarge
  • Wi-Fi
CONS
  • Very expensive

We have a CUK branded Alienware desktop here but it is essentially an Aurora R11 desktop and isn’t just one of the best from Alienware, its performance makes this one of the best prebuilts, full stop.

Powering the system, we see an Intel 10th-gen Core i9-10900K, a CPU that is still considered one of the best for gaming. This processor features strong single-core performance and ships with 10 cores and 20 threads running at a base speed of 3.7GHz and a boost potential of up to 5.3GHz. The CPU combines with the Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU, a graphics card that is extremely powerful, providing you with all the FPS you could need, no matter the settings or resolution.

This build comes with an abundance of RAM, 64GB in fact, which is going to bolster the overall performance and continue to help make this PC feel responsive for years to come. There is also a dual-storage solution installed with this one, which includes a 1TB NVME SSD and 3TB of HDD space, giving you more than enough room to play with.

The Aurora line of gaming PCs all look similar, with a unique design that is going to look superb on the desk.

02
The Next Best Alienware Desktop
Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop (3080)
Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop 1
CPU Intel Core i7 10700KF
GPU RTX 3080
RAM 16GB
Storage 1TB HDD + 512GB SSD
PROS
CONS

The Alienware Aurora R11 is one of the best on offer from the brand. The specifications can vary, accomodating for a variety of budgets and needs but they all offer a high level of quality.

At the heart of this gaming PC sits one of Intel’s most popular processors – the i7-10700KF. The i7-10700KF is an excellent all-round CPU, showing some excellent results in gaming benchmarks and, of course, features great multitasking ability. This CPU ships with 8 cores and 16 threads running at a base clock speed of 3.8GHz that can be boosted up to 5.1Ghz. Backing up the CPU is the highly regarded RTX 3080, a powerful GPU that can smash any game in any resolution at max settings.

Aside from the main components, we see 16GB of fast RAM and a dual-storage solution, with 512GB of SSD space and a 1TB HDD.

Another top-spec gaming PC from Alienware here that won’t set you back quite as much as our top pick.

03
A solid All-Round Alienware Desktop PC
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop
Alienware Aurora R10 1
CPU AMD Ryzen 9 3900
GPU RTX 3060 Ti
RAM 16GB
Storage 512GB SSD
PROS
  • Great for gaming
  • Powerful multitasking CPU
  • Wi-Fi
CONS
  • Would prefer a bigger SSD

The Alienware Aurora R10 is yet another high-quality gaming PC. Like most Alienware desktops, this is constructed with care and brings fantastic gaming performance into this roundup for much less.

Powering this system is the impressive AMD Ryzen 9 3900 CPU, one of the best processors from the incredible Ryzen 3000 series. This CPU comes with proven ability for both gaming and CPU-intensive tasks, with the 12 cores and 24 threads running at a base clock speed of 3.1GHz and a max boost clock of up to 4.3GHz. Behind the processor is one of Nvidia’s latest affordable GPUs – The RTX 3060 Ti. This card may not compete with the RTX 3080 but it is a winner for gaming and will handle any game in max settings when playing in a 1440p resolution or lower.

With Wi-Fi, Windows 10 pre-installed, 16GB of RAM, and a dual-storage solution, you can’t really go wrong, however, we feel the SSD is on the small side.

04
The Best Budget Alienware Desktop
Alienware R11 Gaming Desktop (1650)
Alienware R11 Gaming Desktop 1650 1
CPU Intel Core i5-10400F
GPU GTX 1650
RAM 16GB
Storage 256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD
PROS
  • Great for 1080p gaming
  • More affordable
  • Dual-storage solution
  • Comes with webcam
CONS
  • Least powerful model

Last on our list is the budget option –  The Alienware Aurora R11, with lower specs than the options above. The overall aesthetics are once again sublime and while this isn’t as powerful as the others, it still offers a great gaming experience for those with 1080p monitors.

The CPU featured is the Intel i5-10400F, which offers great price to performance. The single-core performance on this processor is decent and it features a base clock speed of 2.9GHz which can be boosted to 4.3GHz. The CPU is backed up by the GTX 1650 Super graphics card from Nvidia, a somewhat low-end GPU but still highly capable in 1080p.

Like the others, we have a dual storage solution here but a 256GB PCIe SSD and 1TB HDD is a bit underwhelming.

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Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Brands

Every recommended prebuilt gaming PC in this article is from a reputable manufacturer. You are probably wondering how we know what the best gaming PC brands are? Well, we have done our research and purchased PCs from these brands.

Most notable brands:

Alienware
Corsair
CyberPowerPC
SkyTech
iBUYPOWER
Thermaltake
MSI
Scan 3XS
Overclockers UK

Final Word

When looking at an Alienware desktop, quality is never in question. These computers are specially designed to give you a top-level gaming experience. They may cost a little more than competitors but you are getting something that will last, has been constructed with care, and features a beautiful aesthetic. Alienware gaming computers often feature the latest and greatest components and are ready to plug and play, getting you in the games you love quick time.

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