Alienware Aurora R11 Review: Style Meets Function With This Impressive Gaming Desktop
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Best known for producing futuristic cases and wealth of customizable options, Alienware stands out from the rest of the build-a-PC crowd. For more than two decades, the company has outfitted PC game enthusiasts with some of the sleekest looking, technologically advanced desktop and laptop computers available. Many gamers are willing to pay top dollar based on reputation alone.
As the latest line of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs hits the market, Alienware is offering a new desktop model to house these behemoths. Known as the Alienware Aurora R11, this computer promises to pack a punch.
Not sure which desktop should take center stage for your future gaming endeavors? In this Alienware Aurora R11 review, we'll take a look at everything the device has to offer.
Futuristic Design and Alienware Exclusives
Some PC gamers are more than happy to stick with a bare-bones case that gets the job done while looking as inconspicuous as possible. Others want to show off their rig with the most bombastic, eye-catching case and setup they can find. Gamers within the latter category will be thrilled with the new Alienware offering.
Creative Hardware Designs
Alienware has always indulged players looking for futuristic computers capable of turning heads. To that end, Aurora R11 represents the latest in a long line of impressive Alienware hardware designs. Even the case colors stand out, as do their creative names. “Dark Side of the Moon,” for example, references a light black color that matches most PC accessories and monitors. Meanwhile, the silver design known as “Lunar Light” makes a bold impression. Both configurations include a glowing neon blue front decked out with the iconic Alienware logo.
AlienFX Software
The included AlienFX software gives players the ability to choose from over 16 million different RGB colors for the system's lighting elements, with the ability to save light themes for individual games. Given all these details, it's easy to see why enthusiasts regard the Aurora R11's aesthetic as yet another sterling example of Alienware's craftsmanship.
Savvy Engineering
Experienced PC builders know all about the delicate balance between cramming as much GPU power as possible into a machine while also allowing for maximum airflow and cooling capabilities. Alienware has engineered a savvy solution to this quandary: a PSU swing-arm that maximizes space in the case and allows for the GPU to be positioned in a way that allows for peak airflow.
Ports & Key Inclusions
When designing a cutting-edge gaming PC, Alienware pulls out all the stops to make sure players have everything they need. The front of each system features three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports as well as a USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-C port. Other key inclusions: a headset and mic plug. A total 15 USB ports are available, along with Digital Audio Out for those looking to combine their Aurora R11 with a premium, 7.1 HD audio system.
Alienware Command Center
Overclocking enthusiasts will enjoy tinkering with the Alienware Command Center, which offers an easy-to-use interface that can help players get the most out of their components. This feature exemplifies Alienware's reliable blend of style and function. This mix can also be achieved by adding skins or wraps to the mix, as these protective elements also add plenty of flair to gaming devices.
Alienware R11 Price
Customizing a gaming PC is all about balancing power versus price. This may mean sacrificing one for the other — or making no sacrifices at all in exchange for a hefty price tag.
With the Aurora R11, this balancing act comes into play with the GPU. As the most expensive component, it's responsible for providing all the graphical horsepower needed to achieve the best frame rates at the highest resolutions.
Other components are less pricey and can be scaled back as needed depending on the aspects of gaming that the user prizes most. The prices listed below are based on default options chosen by the user for each model of the Aurora R11:
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Entry 1 - Intel Core i5 10400F processor as well as an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB GDDR6 graphics card. This one-two punch of power and performance is perfect for players who don't want to break the bank when purchasing a new PC. This is especially true given the price point of just over $900.
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Level 2 - Take a step up in performance with the $1,299 version of the Aurora R11, which features an Intel Core i7 10700F processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 graphics card. This model also beefs up the RAM with 16GB and offers a 256GB solid-state drive for Windows 10. Additionally, a 1TB hard drive is provided for game and media storage.
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Level 3 - Gamers with cash to spare may decide to drop $2,439 on the next model of the R11, which will get them an Intel Core i7 10700KF CPU along with the newest generation of NVIDIA graphics cards: the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDDR6X.
- Level 4 - The ultimate edition of the Aurora R11 is powered by an Intel Core i9 10900F CPU and is equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card. This makes it future-proof in the world of PC gaming. Players who demand the absolute best should have no trouble justifying this model's $3,659 price tag.
Customization Options
Much of the appeal of PC gaming involves adding desired components and tinkering with the guts of the rig while trying to get the most out of every piece of hardware. Picking and choosing the right processor, GPU, RAM, and other options is paramount. Those who prefer this DIY approach will be happy to find that Alienware makes it possible to customize every aspect of the Aurora R11.
Several offerings from Intel's 10th generation of processors are available in each Aurora R11, ranging from the workmanlike Core i5 10400F to the ultrafast Core i9 10900KF, which can be boosted to 5.3 GHz.
The more affordable versions of the Aurora R11 feature NVIDIA's GeForce 1600 series of graphics cards. This allows players to choose from the 1650 SUPER 4GB, 1660 SUPER 6GB, or 1660 Ti 6GB cards. The next tier offers a wide range of cards in the 2000 series, from the default GeForce RTX 2060 6GB all the way up to dual GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB cards.
AMD GPUs are also available in the entry-level versions of the Aurora R11. The Radeon RX 5000 series boasts four different cards suited to every budget and play style, with the RX 5300 3GB and 5600 6GB offering solid performance. Meanwhile, the RX 5700 and 5700 XT take another step towards enthusiast territory.
NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3080 and 3090 cards are available if players want to achieve PC gaming supremacy. These cards will ensure that players get the maximum amount of frames while running at resolutions ranging from 1440K to 8K.
Each Alienware Aurora R11 outfitted with a GeForce RTX 3000 series card comes with a digital download of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. As the newest iteration of the blockbuster franchise, this inclusion provides a great demonstration of the power pumped out by these new graphics cards.
Performance and Productivity
Gamers opt for an Alienware desktop because they demand the absolute best in performance. That's exactly what they can expect with an Aurora R11 setup, as these machines include the latest and greatest in components from Intel.
Intel's Core i7-10700K has become a popular processor in the PC gaming world, and for good reason; at less than $400, it provides impressive overclocking potential at a price that leaves users with cash left over to throw at other components.
When compared to a typical three-year-old PC, Intel boasts that the Core i7-10700K is capable of reaching up to 44 percent more frames per second in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Another impressive stat: 23 percent faster 4K video editing when using Adobe Premiere Pro. These numbers can be bumped up a bit if players opt for the more expensive Core i9-10900KF CPU. This no-compromises CPU supports three display devices at a time — perfect for hardcore gamers with tri-monitor setups.
Gaming & Graphics
Alienware computers are meant for gaming, so it should come as no surprise that the Aurora R11 offers the latest and greatest GPUs from NVIDIA. The GeForce RTX 3000 series cards, in particular, consistently blow players away with incredible framerates and enhanced Ray Tracing abilities.
The king of the mountain right now is the GeForce RTX 3090 — a 24GB card that will slay every game thrown at it. Gone are the days of turning down the resolution just so the game will run at 60 frames per second. After all, the GeForce GTX 3090 achieves 60 fps or better at 3840x2160 resolution in top games such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Borderlands 3, and Final Fantasy XIV.
NVIDIA's new DLSS AI rendering allows for the card to boost frame rates thanks to dedicated AI processing cores. In layman's terms, the GeForce RTX 3900 has some serious technology under the hood that will power games well into the future.
Of course, frame rate isn't everything. The GeForce RTX 3090 is packed with a vast suite of other features and abilities that make it worth the price of admission. A top example of this reality: ray tracing. Touted by NVIDIA as the "holy grail of gaming graphics," this advanced option has become one of the most exciting visual technologies to hit gaming in years.
Put simply, ray tracing involves rendering light and shadows in games in real-time. It's an exciting technology that must be seen to be believed. It also represents a noteworthy feature that the GeForce RTX 3090 will be able to take full advantage of once more games utilizing the technology become available.
Alienware PCs powered by the GeForce RTX 3090 allow 8K to move from fantasy to reality. Using a single HDMI 2.1 cable, players can play and capture video in 8K with HDR by making the most of the GeForce Experience ShadowPlay software included with every GeForce RTX 3090 card.
Consumers with a little less money to spend on graphical fidelity won't have to sacrifice much when opting for a GeForce RTX 2000 series card. Thankfully, these GPUs strike the perfect balance between price and performance. While 8K gaming may not be attainable with the GeForce RTX 2060, the card still boasts support for ray tracing. It also features built-in hardware encoding that makes it the ideal card for streamers looking to broadcast their exploits to the world. Players certainly won't feel like they are sacrificing much when they see their RTX 2060 pulling 60 frames per second at 1440K in most modern games.