Alienware Aurora R15 evaluate: fixing a essential flaw

Alienware Aurora R15

MSRP $1,650.00

“Upgraded cooling and next-gen parts convey the Alienware Aurora R15 as much as the extent of one of the best gaming desktops”

Professionals

• Huge configuration choices

• Cool and quiet operation

• As much as an RTX 4090 GPU

• Sooner DDR5 reminiscence choices

• Largely tool-less servicing

Cons

• Proprietary design limits upgrades

• Overreaching software program

The Alienware design has turn out to be iconic, but it surely hasn’t all the time aligned with latest developments in PC constructing, which is why it’s slowly fallen off of the record of one of the best desktops. The Aurora R15 appears to be like like the identical machine we’ve had for a number of generations, simply with up to date parts below the hood, but it surely’s a deceptively huge replace to Alienware’s storied gaming desktop.

A bigger liquid cooler helps the machine keep cooler and quieter than any earlier Alienware desktop, and the cautious tweaking of the design makes upgrades a lot simpler than they beforehand had been. Some previous habits nonetheless die arduous, however there’s no denying that the Aurora R15 is a formidable subsequent step for Dell-owned Alienware and a performant monster of a gaming PC.

Alienware Aurora R15 specs

The Alienware Aurora R15 is a machine you’ll be able to configure in nearly any method you need. The bottom configuration begins with an Intel Core i5-13400F and RTX 3050 for $1,650, however you’ll be able to go a lot additional; as much as 64GB of DDR5 reminiscence, 6TB of storage, and a Intel Core i9-13900KF or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

You’ve a variety of graphics choices, from Nvidia’s lowly RTX 3050 and AMD’s RX 6500 XT, all the way in which as much as an AMD RX 6900 XT or Nvidia RTX 4090. The costs aren’t unhealthy for last-gen GPUs, both, however I’ve a bone to select with the 2 RTX 40-series choices. So as to add one to your system, you’ll spend greater than shopping for the GPU outright. The RTX 4080 is a $1,250 upcharge ($50 over record value) and the RTX 4090 is a $1,730 upcharge ($130 over record value).

These costs are on prime of the bottom value you’re spending for an RTX 3050 as properly, so it’s arduous to see that as rather more than inflating the value (particularly given Dell’s entry to this flagship {hardware}).

The core parts aren’t the difficulty right here, although. If you would like a flagship CPU, you’ll additionally want Alienware’s Cyro-tech CPU cooling to maintain issues quiet (a $200 upcharge, plus an extra $50 with a 1,350-th energy provide). Equally, you’ll be able to configure the system with twin arduous drives, however solely with a PCIe SSD paired with a spinning arduous drive. That’s a tricky tablet to swallow for a machine that prices hundreds of {dollars} in 2023.

Acquainted design, up to date trimmings

The Aurora R15 appears to be like similar to the AMD-exclusive R14 and the Intel-based R13, but it surely options some essential modifications. Externally, it’s the aggressive, simple Alienware Legend 2.0 design language: a slanted design with hexagonal vents, alien branding across the machine, and a case obtainable in Alienware’s traditional Lunar Mild or Darkish Facet of the Moon colour choices.

You’ll discover the modifications internally, and so they’re the principle draw. Alienware overhauled the cooling resolution, and the Aurora R15 now options an non-compulsory 240mm all-in-one liquid cooler paired with three extra 120mm followers: two intakes upfront and an extra exhaust within the rear.

Mixed with heatsinks on the motherboard and extra vents within the case, the Aurora R15 runs a lot cooler and quieter than the earlier era. Even below a demanding Cinebench load or Cyberpunk 2077 run, the Aurora R15 stayed simply as quiet because the HP Omen 45L, which implies it’s barely noticeable. The CPU stayed cool, too, peaking at round 87 levels Celsius. That’s chilly for Intel’s newest flagship.

It’s an enormous enchancment. Alienware desktops have all the time struggled with thermals and noise, however the Aurora R15 seems like a revelation for the model in successfully coping with warmth. The draw back is that enhancements aren’t free. The dreaded 120mm liquid cooler is inventory on the AMD configuration, whereas the Intel construct begins with air cooling. You must improve to completely recognize the enhancements Alienware has delivered to this machine.

Problematic improve selections

Alienware desktops aren’t often pleasant to upgrades, and the Aurora R15 doesn’t change that. If you wish to tinker and improve, a {custom} desktop just like the Maingear Vybe provides much more flexibility.

Nonetheless, there’s a set of consumers who need a desktop that simply works. And on the very least, Alienware doesn’t get in the way in which of servicing the machine. With a single screw and a lever pull, you’ll be able to take off the facet panel and entry all your parts. You’ll be able to dig deeper with Dell’s detailed service guide for the desktop, however you don’t must. All the pieces is upfront.

That doesn’t imply it’s straightforward to entry. Alienware locks most of your parts down with brackets and plastic tabs which might be designed for a service technician and never a DIY PC fanatic. Easy duties like eradicating the graphics card includes a number of steps within the Aurora R15, and also you’ll usually must take away a number of parts to entry others. It’s all attainable, simply not ultimate.

Upgrades are nonetheless attainable — you’ll be able to swap out the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage simply, even when there isn’t a lot of a necessity with flagship {hardware} just like the RTX 4090.

It’s arduous to increase on the Aurora R15, although. For instance, the second NVMe SSD slot doesn’t embrace a thermal pad, even supposing it will take only some minutes to put in an extra drive. Alienware can be utilizing a proprietary motherboard design, match with proprietary connectors, making the chassis ineffective as soon as the platform has matured previous its prime. The server-style energy provide limits improve potential as properly.

The upside to Alienware’s proprietary strategy is a devoted design that limits cable mess and leaves you with precisely what you want. However as with earlier Alienware desktops, this one will finally find yourself in a recycling pile as a substitute of being carried a number of generations sooner or later.

Flagship processor efficiency

With an Intel Core i9-13900KF, 32GB of DDR5, and an RTX 4090, it’s no shock that the Aurora R15 is a monster for productiveness efficiency. In comparison with last-gen’s Core i9-12900K within the HP Omen 45L, the newer processor dominates in multi-core operations and comes with a major increase to single-core pace.

The Core i9-13900K is one of the best processor available on the market proper now, so the flagship efficiency doesn’t come as a shock. It’s additionally a way more succesful CPU than gaming chips just like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D that reveals up within the Falcon Northwest Tiki.

Your efficiency will hinge on the processor you place within the machine, however the the Aurora R15 continues to be a high-end desktop regardless. You’ve the choice between Thirteenth-gen Intel processors or AMD’s newest Ryzen 7000 CPUs, each of that are nice choices, in addition to quick DDR5 reminiscence.

Excessive-end gaming

The RTX 4090 is by far essentially the most highly effective graphics card you should buy, and it shines within the Aurora R15. In some circumstances, the Aurora R15 even beat a {custom} RTX 4090 desktop with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, as evidenced by Purple Lifeless Redemption 2.

The identical was true in Cyberpunk 2077 and Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, although to a lesser diploma. The processor contained in the Alienware Aurora R15 is probably going boosting the efficiency right here, as properly Dell’s glorious thermal administration.

In comparison with the HP Omen 45L with an RTX 3090, it isn’t shut; Nvidia’s newest GPUs blow away the earlier era. Nonetheless, the Aurora R15 isn’t flat-out higher than a {custom} RTX 4090 desktop.

In Gears Ways, I noticed vastly decrease efficiency, doubtless as a result of thermal limits Alienware has set on the processor. Forza Horizon 5 confirmed slower efficiency, too, although this recreation usually favors AMD processors.

Even with a number of variations, the Aurora R15 provides efficiency worthy of one of the best gaming desktops. The massive disgrace is that Dell isn’t providing AMD’s new RX 7900 XTX as a GPU choice. The RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are supremely highly effective GPUs, however they’re additionally a pricey improve within the Aurora R15.

Irritating software program

Though further software program is often a foul factor, Alienware isn’t too intrusive on the Aurora R15. Non-intrusive doesn’t imply useful, although, and that’s the place the Aurora R15 struggles.

If you first boot up the machine, you’re met with the My Alienware app. It’s a hub that hyperlinks out to Dell SupportAssist for assist, manuals to study your system, and the Alienware Command Heart, the place you’ll be able to customise lighting results and tweak your overclocking settings.

There are round half a dozen Dell and Alienware apps preinstalled on the machine, which is irritating, however none of them are set to run mechanically at startup. My essential difficulty is that Alienware doesn’t level you within the course that issues.

My Alienware doesn’t record the Alienware Replace app that fetches essential updates in your machine, nor Nvidia’s GeForce Expertise. My machine arrived with a GPU driver replace, in addition to a obtain for the Intel Dynamic Tuning driver. No huge deal, GPU driver updates are regular on prebuilt desktops, however nothing notified me of those updates. I needed to seek for them manually.

That was an issue, too. In Cyberpunk 2077, the choice for Nvidia’s broadly marketed Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling (DLSS) was grayed out, and Premiere Professional refused to load as a result of older, preinstalled graphics driver. When you don’t find out about driver updates or GeForce Expertise, it’s not going to really feel good to seek out essential options don’t work, with no steerage to unravel the issue.

With the My Alienware app and the slew of apps that come preinstalled on the system, it’s not arduous for Alienware to level you towards essential updates. As an alternative, they’re ignored, which may simply lead consumers into pondering their costly gaming desktop is damaged when it’s completely superb.

Must you purchase the Alienware Aurora R15?

Alienware has lengthy had an issue with proprietary parts and costly pricing, however the R15 revision of the Aurora fixes the largest difficulty that has confronted Alienware desktops: thermals and noise.

The upgraded cooler is a big bounce for the machine, providing cooler and quieter efficiency than even many custom-built gaming PCs. Constructing your individual or going with a desktop just like the MSI Aegis RS provides extra paths for upgradability, however the Aurora R15 nonetheless has a spot for a set of avid gamers who need a gaming PC that does precisely what it advertises.

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