Alienware Aurora is the world’s first liquid cooled, commercially available gaming desktop. It’s also the first system that you can build and customize to your liking. The power of the Aurora comes together with a sleek, modern design to create a one-of-a-kind machine that delivers on both performance and style.
Aurora is built with anodized aluminum for maximum durability and strength, along with an attractive brushed finish that looks like it belongs in a high-end luxury car.
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Alienware Aurora Design
The power of Aurora can be seen in every aspect of its design, including its thermal management system. Its dual chamber design keeps components separated, so they stay cool even under pressure plus, it’s whisper quiet. The top chamber has four large fans capable of moving up to 300 cubic feet of air per minute while remaining virtually silent at just 26 dBA (measured from 1 ft).
The Aurora has an all-new design with a large side panel window that lets you show off your custom PC build. The case features two 120 mm front intake fans, one 120 mm rear exhaust fan and two 140 mm top exhaust fans for optimal airflow. While looking great on the outside, the chassis is even better on the inside, with tool-less access to components for easy upgrades down the road.
Alienware Aurora is a desktop-replacement gaming PC with a full-sized tower that’s built for 4K gaming. It offers an AMD Radeon graphics card, up to 64 GB of RAM, and up to 2 TB of storage.
Alienware Aurora Specifications
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB GDDR5X)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (Base/Turbo)
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD + 2TB HDD
- Display: 17.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz NVIDIA G-Sync Display with Tobii Eye Tracking Technology
- Keyboard: Backlit Alienware TactX Keyboard with Alienware Lightsync RGB Per Key Lighting
- Audio: 2 x 2W Speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro Audio Processing Software, Integrated Microphone, 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jacks
- Power Supply: 460W 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply w/ Active PFC
Alienware Aurora Models
The Aurora comes in three models: the base-level Aurora R8 features a 7th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU; the mid-range Aurora R9 has an 8th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and GTX 1080 GPU; and the high-end Aurora R11 has an 8th-gen Intel Core i9 CPU with RTX 2080 graphics.
It is available as an Intel Core i7-4930K processor, with up to 32 GB of DDR3 memory (upgradable) and two Nvidia GeForce GTX TITAN graphics cards. The case has been designed with air vents on each side of the chassis to improve airflow, while a large fan at the rear exhausts heat out of the computer.
Alienware offers two configurations for the Aurora R7: The base model ($1,249) has an Intel Core i3-8100 CPU, 8 GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive; for $1,449 you get an Intel Core i5-8400 CPU, 8 GB of RAM and 1 TB hard drive plus an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB graphics card.
Now that Alienware has announced the Aurora R8, we can take a look at how it stacks up against the original Aurora. The new model is a bit more powerful than the old one, but there are also some big differences in design and features.
The main difference between the two models is that the new one uses an RTX 2080 GPU, while the older model uses an RTX 2070 GPU. The R8 also has a faster CPU, a 2.7GHz Intel Core i9-9900K and more memory 32 GB of DDR4 RAM than its predecessor.
But that’s not all. The R8 has a completely redesigned chassis with a new cooling system and custom lighting effects. It’s also available with a 4K 60Hz display or an Ultrawide monitor with up to 7680 x 3240 resolution, or 5120 x 1440 resolution at 120Hz with Gsync support (but no HDR).
Alienware Aurora Future
The Alienware Aurora can support up to four hard drives, but only one optical drive. It has a 2 TB hard drive and comes with Windows 8 Professional pre-installed. With an Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card, 32 GB DDR4 memory and 1 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD storage options, this powerful machine delivers the performance you need for both gaming and productivity applications.
Alienware’s website states that the Aurora can be customized in various ways including RAM capacity, processor speed, graphics card options and storage configurations (including RAID setups).
Alienware offers several preconfigured configurations based on these specs, but you can also build your own from scratch using the company’s website. You’ll have to add a monitor separately if you don’t already have one.
Conclusion
Overall, the Alienware Aurora offers outstanding performance in a unique and modern case with large features that are sure to catch the eye of any avid gamer. Its combination of cutting edge technology and a stunning design come together to make it a system that is worthy of the Alienware name. With its liquid cooling system, large and quiet case fans, and relatively low heat emissions, this gaming desktop is also one of the most efficient solutions for those who want to game for long hours without sacrificing their hearing or cooling. And it’s not just for hardcore gaming; its ultra-fast SSD makes it perfect for home theater PCs as well. If you are looking for a powerful machine that is also easy on your ears, then this machine may be for you.
What Alienware has created with the Aurora is a future-proofed, powerful machine that leaves you room to grow. For example, with liquid cooling, you don’t have to worry about swapping out the CPU or GPU in two years when it’s time for an upgrade. With the addition of M.2 SSD compatibility, you don’t have to worry about upgrading your storage space. The Aurora is ready for whatever tomorrow brings, and it’s ready today because of the options that make it customizable.
