Thursday, August 3rd 2023

Alienware Launches New and Redesigned Alienware Aurora R16

Alienware launches the next evolution of its Aurora desktop. As the gaming community has come to expect from Alienware, we design each new generation of desktop with advancements that enrich the gaming experience. With the launch of the redesigned Alienware Aurora R16, we're taking the Aurora R15's model for success and making it even better, ushering in acoustic and thermal improvements and a new space-saving design, all the while achieving the elite gaming performance gamers expect from Alienware.

Here's what we've been able to accomplish with Aurora R16:
  • Optimized airflow: on average 20% quieter system, up to 10% lower CPU and 6% lower GPU temperatures.
  • Space-saving: Up to a ~40% decrease in total volume than the R15, while internal volume remains unchanged at 25.2L.
  • Versatile aesthetic: universal design that fits into more diverse environments.
All these benefits are attributed to a streamlined design language, titled Legend 3, which arrives in desktop form for the first time on Aurora R16.
Driving towards a more minimal, more efficient design
With Aurora R16, our designers and engineers chartered a plan to achieve two main objectives:
  • Create airflow efficiencies that enable a quieter and cooler system while achieving our performance goals.
  • Continue exploring the Future Minimal ethos of Legend with a design that is streamlined, optimized, and customer first.
How did we accomplish this? When you look at Aurora R16, the first thing you notice is the oval lighting loop - also known as a Stadium loop - displayed on the left side of the chassis. This is the visual center; the main attraction of the desktop designed to capture attention. The Stadium loop traces the perimeter of the primary vent. This vent provides a larger air intake than the previous generation, allowing for more efficient airflow, while the Stadium loop lighting pays homage to our Alienware Legend heritage.


With the Stadium loop and the option of a clear side panel, we've made the side of the Aurora the new focal point. Said differently: the desktop is intended to be viewed from its side. This fresh perspective helped drive simplicity throughout the rest of the design, shrink the overall volume, and channel more airflow through the front intake. This improvement, complemented by larger side and top vents plus updates to the internal cable management, created the airflow efficiencies that enable a quieter and cooler desktop.

Punching above its weight class
Thanks to all the airflow efficiencies, the Aurora R16 meets or exceeds the performance of its predecessor with equivalent configurations while boasting a significantly smaller design. And with configuration options that will appeal to a broader range of gamers, we believe R16 will not only be a compelling upgrade, but an introduction into the Aurora experience for many.

Let's take a look under the hood and see what this rig offers:
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs
  • 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core desktop processors
  • Wi-Fi 6 (or 6E[iii] and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet for both wired and wireless connections
  • Up to 64 GB of 5200 MT/s DDR5 Memory or 32 GB of 5600 MT/s DDR5 Memory
  • Up to 8 TB (2x4TB) of SSD Storage
  • 80 Plus Platinum rated Power supplies (500 W or 1000 W)
  • Optional extra 1 TB Hard Drive for expanded storage
Windows 11 Home and access to hundreds of high-quality games with the included one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Based on our stringent quality and validation process, we're rolling out new GPUs and CPUs over time. At launch, we're focused on offering the most popular configurations then expanding from there. So, if you're excited about the design, acoustic and thermal improvements of Aurora R16, but seek the enthusiast level performance offered by flagship cards, then you will be excited to learn that R16 is planned to become our most powerful desktop before end of year.

New Alienware Command Center 6.0
The Aurora R16 is Alienware's first desktop to feature the new Alienware Command Center - a centralized dashboard allowing gamers to quickly access settings such as game-specific profiles and themes, lighting, macros, audio and more - all things that are critical to your gaming experience. Gamers can choose from 16.7 million colors across three lighting zones, which they can extend and save across their Alienware ecosystem for a cohesive, personalized experience tailored to every individual's preference.

More Information
Like its popular predecessor, the Aurora R16 is designed for customers who desire a hassle-free, plug-and-play, elite gaming experience that performs out of the box and offers full warranty and support. The desktop features the highest amount of post-consumer recycled plastics (57%) - more than any Alienware desktop in history - and is made with a minimum of 11% recycled steel in the chassis. And, of course, it ships in packaging made with up to 97.2% recycled or renewable content.To learn more about the new Aurora gaming desktop, please check out our press kit here.

And at 11am ET today (August 3rd) via Twitch.tv/Alienware, I'll have the privilege of sitting alongside Alienware fan-favorite experts, Jon Pilon and Eddy Goyanes, to talk about the ins and outs of Aurora R16 and help answer any questions you may have. Make sure you tune in!

Pricing & Availability:
The Aurora R16 is available Aug 3 starting at $1749.99 (US), $2299.99 (CA) from Dell.com with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 13700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics
And if you're looking to give back this season and give children worldwide more opportunities, between July 20 and September 13, for every eligible device purchase, Alienware will donate to UNICEF to help connect schools to the Internet.

Source: Dell
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23 Comments on Alienware Launches New and Redesigned Alienware Aurora R16

#1
Chaitanya
Read review on Tomshardware, still too many propietary components(PSU and Motherboard), no option for AMD CPUs and that front panel is still too chocked along with too much plastic on inside.
Posted on Reply
#2
TheLostSwede
News Editor
I always wear armour when I play games, as you never know what will happen...
ChaitanyaRead review on Tomshardware, still too many propietary components(PSU and Motherboard) and that front panel is still too chocked along with too much plastic on inside.
You're allowed to link to other sites you know...
Posted on Reply
#4
TumbleGeorge
Hmm, different prices in USA and in California which is state in USA? What I missing? Ups just wrong Google translate!
Posted on Reply
#5
Vayra86
NostrasEagerly awaiting Steve's (GN) review.


Pretty sure it's this one.
www.tomshardware.com/reviews/alienware-aurora-r16
Gotta love their performance testing against two other prebuilts, one with a 13900 and the other with a 13400 and then saying 'this 13700 ends up in the middle'.

No shit sherlock
Posted on Reply
#6
Blueberries
Not only does this look much better cosmetically, it also looks to be much better at optimizing airflow.

They might not have addressed every issue with their Alienware desktops but I'm glad to see Dell is actually taking their brand seriously and making intelligent improvements in design.
Posted on Reply
#7
PLAfiller
Steve from GN single-handedly made Dell release a revised version :D As much as he likes bashing on Dell pre-builts and what-not, that's the brand I've had the least problems with laptops for example. At the end of the day, their stuff just works...at least for me it does.
Posted on Reply
#8
KLMR
I don't get it. They do some pretty good workstations, rather silent (recently) for 2 socket cpus, several gpus, etc. Good distribution, pro airflow, great upgradeability, lots of frontal ports (few rear), solid chasis, handles, hard drives bays from 3,5 to nvme all properly cooled. Most psu might be propietary, but can be replaced by sliding a handle and most are gold and platinum certified 230V.
Why is the consumer lineup so crappy?

this is the mid tier 5820, iterated from old 5810. Why they can simply iterate from workstatioin lineup and reduce some costs?
Posted on Reply
#9
Chomiq
Can't wait for Steve from GN to buy it and tear it a new one.
Posted on Reply
#11
claes
This whole market is just based on aesthetics. At least they’re honest.

If GN gets their hands on this it’ll be a nightmare, other than the overbuilt convenience gimmicks. 25L itx good job designed around negative pressure just brilliant
Driving towards a more minimal, more efficient design
With Aurora R16, our designers and engineers chartered a plan to achieve two main objectives:
  • Create airflow efficiencies that enable a quieter and cooler system while achieving our performance goals.
  • Continue exploring the Future Minimal ethos of Legend with a design that is streamlined, optimized, and customer first.
How did we accomplish this? When you look at Aurora R16, the first thing you notice is the oval lighting loop - also known as a Stadium loop - displayed on the left side of the chassis. This is the visual center; the main attraction of the desktop designed to capture attention. The Stadium loop traces the perimeter of the primary vent. This vent provides a larger air intake than the previous generation, allowing for more efficient airflow, while the Stadium loop lighting pays homage to our Alienware Legend heritage.

Alienware Aurora R16 Airflow Animation



With the Stadium loop and the option of a clear side panel, we've made the side of the Aurora the new focal point. Said differently: the desktop is intended to be viewed from its side. This fresh perspective helped drive simplicity throughout the rest of the design, shrink the overall volume, and channel more airflow through the front intake. This improvement, complemented by larger side and top vents plus updates to the internal cable management, created the airflow efficiencies that enable a quieter and cooler desktop.
Posted on Reply
#12
Chrispy_
It's a step in the right direction but it's only one step of the many hundreds Dell need to make.
People will still buy this e-waste though, and when the cheap motherboard corrodes in a few years of completely normal room humidity, the whole thing needs to be scrapped.
Posted on Reply
#13
Fungi
One 120mm intake is insane, why do they keep getting this wrong? Even with the suffocated slits for intakes 2x120mm would be leaps and bounds better. Push the top rad back a little and there's more than enough space.
Posted on Reply
#14
claes
Please do not get me started on pressure in contemporary pc cases — there are still people around here advocating to “fill ever fan slot” or, as you’re referring to, for negative pressure (without even realizing it!)
Posted on Reply
#15
PLAfiller
FungiOne 120mm intake is insane, why do they keep getting this wrong? Even with the suffocated slits for intakes 2x120mm would be leaps and bounds better. Push the top rad back a little and there's more than enough space.
Debatable. Getting hot air out very fast seems to be more important in general (conclusion no.2). If I am a manufacturer that is going to include limited amount of fans (as they cost money you know), then I'd start with rear exhaust, roof A/B positions and only then include anything in the front. I wouldn't hold this against Dell to be honest.
Posted on Reply
#16
claes
Omg that article is so bad did you even read SPCR
Posted on Reply
#17
katzi
They just changed the shade of lipstick on that pig, it's still the same pig yall...
Posted on Reply
#18
Wye
Looks like the GPU space is dangerously tight: on length you can be pretty sure the next gen gpu will be a bit bigger and it will not fit in this case. The GPU power connectors have like no space at all for the cable turning, forcing a rough twist of the cable - smells like cable issues waiting to happen.
What's with the 1 TB spinning rust "expanded storage", is this 2010?
Posted on Reply
#19
QuietBob
TheLostSwedeI always wear armour when I play games, as you never know what will happen...
Yeah, and I always put my cat head on when I game :rockout:
Cuz I cans be anybody on da interwebz!
Posted on Reply
#20
Luke357
claesPlease do not get me started on pressure in contemporary pc cases — there are still people around here advocating to “fill ever fan slot” or, as you’re referring to, for negative pressure (without even realizing it!)
What's wrong with negative pressure? I usually default to it as it (to me atleast) usually has lower temps than positive pressure with the same amount of fans (as long as you keep the dust in check).
Posted on Reply
#21
Chrispy_
Luke357What's wrong with negative pressure? I usually default to it as it (to me atleast) usually has lower temps than positive pressure with the same amount of fans (as long as you keep the dust in check).
There's nothing wrong with negative pressure from a cooling perspective, but in a machine with intake dust filters, you need the only air coming in to the case to be doing so through the filters. Negative pressure sucks in air through all the panel gaps, nooks, and crevices - accumulating dust in hard-to-clean places.

Positive pressure just means that filtered, dust-free air is forced out through those gaps, nooks, and crevices in the case, so the dust collects on the filters and nowhere else.

For a proprietary, filter-lacking Dell shitbox that's disposable after the 3 year warranty expires, it doesn't matter. The thing is ewaste before dust buildup kills it either way. I'm getting off-topic now but of all the home PCs staff bring in when I've offered to upgrade or fix them, why are Dell motherboards always rusty? The solder corrodes, the pins corrode. I've seen it more than enough times for me to consider it just coincidence or small sample size!

I'm sure Dell just use horrible low-quality junk components and skip any kind of lacquer or treatment that requires them to keep it running beyond their support lifetime. Truly garbage-tier hardware with built-in obsolescence beyond the horror show of proprietary parts.
Posted on Reply
#22
claes
Luke357What's wrong with negative pressure? I usually default to it as it (to me atleast) usually has lower temps than positive pressure with the same amount of fans (as long as you keep the dust in check).
It depends on the case and the components. In this small case with no ventilation and very hot components it’d need a few more exhaust fans to work well imo
Posted on Reply
#23
TheinsanegamerN
That's literally jsut the metal chassis from the decade old optiplex line. The same one dell has been using for year sin the aurora, just without as much gaudy plastic.

Absolute trash tier PC.

alienware COUD make something good. Since they use proprietary BS anyway, they could make a more BTX style approach that allows for superior cooling with minimal fans and take up less space.

But no, we need to make a 25 liter "ITX" case and cover it with cheap RGB. Brilliant.
Posted on Reply
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