Computers

Dell launches Alienware Aurora gaming rig

Dell launches Alienware Aurora gaming rig
Alienware has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with Alienware Aurora R4, featuring liquid-cooled Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs and active venting
Alienware has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with Alienware Aurora R4, featuring liquid-cooled Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs and active venting
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Alienware Aurora comes with hard drives placed in specifically designed bays allowing quick and easy access. You can choose SSDs, or RAID technology
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Alienware Aurora comes with hard drives placed in specifically designed bays allowing quick and easy access. You can choose SSDs, or RAID technology
Alienware Aurora features user-customizable outer lighting composed of eight different "alien effect" zones around the chassis
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Alienware Aurora features user-customizable outer lighting composed of eight different "alien effect" zones around the chassis
Alienware Aurora features user-customizable outer lighting composed of eight different "alien effect" zones around the chassis
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Alienware Aurora features user-customizable outer lighting composed of eight different "alien effect" zones around the chassis
Alienware Aurora is powered by a choice of Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs
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Alienware Aurora is powered by a choice of Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs
Alienware Aurora offers active venting utilizing fins that open and closed depending on thermal conditions
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Alienware Aurora offers active venting utilizing fins that open and closed depending on thermal conditions
Alienware Aurora comes with single or dual DVD/Blu-ray burnes covered by a drop-down lid
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Alienware Aurora comes with single or dual DVD/Blu-ray burnes covered by a drop-down lid
Alienware has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with Alienware Aurora R4, featuring liquid-cooled Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs and active venting
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Alienware has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with Alienware Aurora R4, featuring liquid-cooled Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs and active venting
Alienware has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with Alienware Aurora R4, featuring liquid-cooled Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs and active venting
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Alienware has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with Alienware Aurora R4, featuring liquid-cooled Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs and active venting
Alienware Aurora's side of chassis can be removed easily without any tools
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Alienware Aurora's side of chassis can be removed easily without any tools
Alienware Aurora's lighting works with over 20 different games to offer synchronization with in-game events
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Alienware Aurora's lighting works with over 20 different games to offer synchronization with in-game events
Alienware Aurora R4 is currently listed at Dell's website, for the price US$2199 for the base model
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Alienware Aurora R4 is currently listed at Dell's website, for the price US$2199 for the base model
Alienware Aurora can be configured with a choice of powerful GPUs including AMD Radeon HD 6870, HD 6950, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti, GTX 580, or GTX 590
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Alienware Aurora can be configured with a choice of powerful GPUs including AMD Radeon HD 6870, HD 6950, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti, GTX 580, or GTX 590
Alienware Aurora is powered by a 875-Watt power supply which should be sufficient also for upgrades in the future
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Alienware Aurora is powered by a 875-Watt power supply which should be sufficient also for upgrades in the future
View gallery - 13 images

Alienware, Dell's subsidiary responsible for designing gamer-centric PCs, has updated its lineup of desktop PCs with the Alienware Aurora R4. Like all Alienware offerings, the specs are customizable with the Aurora R4 offering a choice of Intel Core i7 3000-series six-core CPUs, dual high-end GPUs from AMD or NVIDIA and up to four HDDs or SSDs. It's also equipped with liquid CPU cooling, active venting and an easily openable micro ATX chassis with external and internal lighting, while the famous alien head logo serves as a power button.

Poetically touted as "a serenade to raw gaming power," the new arrival is the successor of a couple of units unveiled back in 2009. At the heart of the new offering are Intel's factory overclocked high-end i7 CPUs running at 3.9 - 4.2 GHz, up to 16 GB of Quad Channel DDR3 memory, as well as a choice of powerful GPUs which can be configured with AMD Radeon HD 6870, HD 6950, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti, GTX 580, or GTX 590. Up to four hard drives are placed in specifically designed bays allowing quick and easy access. You can choose SSDs, or RAID technology.

Single or dual DVD/Blu-ray burners are located on the front and covered by a drop-down lid. The internal cooling is enhanced via active venting that utilizes fins on the top of the chassis that open and close automatically depending on thermal conditions inside. The rig is powered by a 875-Watt power supply designed to accommodate future upgrades.

Alienware Aurora comes with hard drives placed in specifically designed bays allowing quick and easy access. You can choose SSDs, or RAID technology
Alienware Aurora comes with hard drives placed in specifically designed bays allowing quick and easy access. You can choose SSDs, or RAID technology

According to Alienware, the upgrading of the Aurora R4 and its maintenance is user-friendly and hassle-free with toolless entry to the case thanks to the use of clips instead of screws. The Alienware designers have assumed that Aurora's owners may wish to open the case often not only to upgrade its components, but simply to show off the rig's insides to their fellow geeks. Thus, there's some automatic lighting powered by a separate rechargeable battery that turns on when you take off the side of the chassis even when the PC isn't connected to mains power. This is also designed to allow users to upgrade or service the unit without having to wedge a torch in between their teeth.

The outer lighting is composed of eight different "alien effect" zones around the chassis and it's user-customizable via special software. What's more, the company says the lighting works with over 20 different games to offer synchronization with in-game events.

The new Alienware Aurora R4 is currently listed on Dell's website, starting at US$2199 for the base model.

View gallery - 13 images
4 comments
4 comments
Matthew Rowston
http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-aurora-r4/pd http://www.dell.com/au/p/alienware-aurora-r4/pd Wow fantastic price gouging to Australian customers from Dell here, AUD $3999 US $2199 same kit The currency exchange rate is basically 1 to 1 They obviously don\'t want to sell to Aussies ;-)
Develocon
I agree, Australian's are paying way too much for their computers, It's not just Dell, HP, Asus, Acer and Sony are all nearly half price in the US compared to Australia. I have been told that it is not just a case of price gouging, but also that the Australian government charges such a large amount of import duty and taxes on these kinds of items.
We call ourselves the clever country, but the cost of "high end" computers is out of reach for the average Australian consumer because of government greed.
Paul Harris
It is nothing to do with the goverment, its our market size that dictates the pricing. And its just not computers and electronics its just about all products...
Alec Gallimore
To be honest the import tax cannot be that bad on this sort of thing as you could build your own to similar specs for a massively reduced price from australian shops. Its more they think they can drive higher profit margins here.
The only thing you cannot get wholesale is the case and the custom software.
Its a real shame that there is an $1800 difference for the australian versions. I cannot see how they can justify it.