Dell today launches the Alienware Aurora R16, a new desktop PC that breaks with the codes of previous Alienware Aurora machines. This new Aurora PC boasts a new, more sober design, square this time, but still with an internal configuration very similar to the Aurora R15 range.
Dell Alienware Aurora R16, a new, more sober chassis
The Dell Alienware Aurora R16 makes a complete break with the previous distinctive designs of the Alienware Aurora range. Here, we switch to a more compact, sober square format. The rear features the motherboard’s IO shield, 3 PCI slots and a 120mm fan slot. On the front, we have a smooth surface with connectors, with air intakes on the sides. On top, there’s a large ventilation grille for a 240mm AIO.
A redesigned cooling system
Dell announces the following figures: 40% smaller, 20% quieter, 7% cooler. Here, although the case format is more compact, the cooling has been redesigned to be more efficient in terms of noise and performance. Air is drawn in from the sides of the front panel, and from the side panel for the GPU. It is then expelled via the AIO at the top and the 120 mm fan at the rear.
The first uses a ridiculously small CPU cooler. One wonders why Dell didn’t bother to install a single- or dual-tower cooler instead. The second configuration is that with a 240mm AIO placed at the top of the case, a configuration that should be preferred to the cooler.
The internal layout seems to have been well thought out to encourage air flow.
A slightly evolving configuration
The Dell Alienware Aurora R16 is based on an Intel LGA 1700 configuration. We still find the same Z690 2 DIMM motherboard supporting up to 64 Gb RAM and its 12 VRMs for CPU power supply. CPUs are upgraded from 13th to 14th generation Intel processors, with a BIOS option to push CPU Ks to 6.1 GHz.
CPUs available are the i7 13700F and i9 13900F, as well as the i7 14700KF and i9 14900KF
RAM can be configured from 16 to 64 Gb at 5600 Mt/s in XMP.
For graphics cards, we can count on a wide range of NVIDIA cards, including the entire RTX 40 range, with the 4060 and 4060 Ti in 8 Gb versions, and the 4070 to 4090. A configuration is also possible with an RTX 3050.
A multitude of configurations
The Dell Alienware Aurora R16 is available in a multitude of configurations. We start with the storage, which can vary from 512 Gb NVMe single SSD to 2x 4 Tb dual SSD to 1 Tb HDD SSD configurations.
Moving on to the power supply, this can be configured as either 500W 80 Platinium or 1000W 80 Platinium.
Then we have the CPU, RAM and graphics card, all configurable as explained above.
And finally, the Wi-Fi, which is configurable as either Intel AX210 or Killer AX1675, both of which support Wi-Fi 6E.
The rest of the components are common to the various configurations, such as the motherboard, case and front and rear IOs.
On the rear, we have 2 USB type A 2.0 ports, 2 USB type A 3.2 gen 1 ports and 2 USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 2×2 ports. Then a surround-sound audio section and finally a 2.5 GbE Killer E3100G ethernet socket.
On the front, we have a headphone jack, 2 USB type A 3.2 gen 1 ports and 2 USB type C ports in 3.2 Gen 1 and 3.2 Gen 2.
A perfect match for the latest Alienware displays
The arrival of this Aurora R16 is somewhat belated, since it would have been nice to have this kind of configuration with an RTX 4090 when the AW3423DWF was released. Now it’s here, and can easily accompany the brand’s high-resolution, 500Hz screens on the latest games.
Expect prices from €1,779 and availability from October 16, 2023.
