If you’re in the market for a high-performance gaming PC, Alienware has some great, configurable machines that deliver power, speed, and responsiveness straight out of the box. New to their offering is the Aurora R16, a compact desktop machine that utilises their sleek Legend 3.0 silhouette to provide efficient airflow and a smooth gaming experience, whatever your title of choice.
By prioritising airflow, the R16 runs 8% cooler than the previous R15 model. Despite being 40% smaller overall compared to its predecessor (helping it fit more readily under your desk), Alienware have increased the R16’s total surface area when it comes to ventilation. The side hexagonal array, top surface exhaust, and front stadium intake provide significantly larger pathways for ambient air to enter and for heat to be exhausted, so your machine can stay cool while you’re in the heat of battle. Optimised cable management means internal passageways are wider too, and you can also add a liquid cooling system to further heighten the thermal resistance, so your PC can keep the temperature low throughout longer gaming sessions.
As well as staying cooler, the Aurora R16 Desktop enables you to play with less audio intrusion thanks to its improved acoustics. It runs 20% quieter than the R15 system, allowing you to enjoy longer gaming sessions without having to crank up the volume to compensate for machine processing noise.
Speaking of interference, Alienware have ensured that it’s something R16 owners need not worry about when gaming online or streaming. Wi-Fi 6 (or 6E) and 2.5Gbps Ethernet, plus an external antenna that increases reach, have been designed to provide smooth and stable connectivity for an uninterrupted playing experience.
Aside from the functional upgrades, the tech and aesthetics of the Aurora R16 Desktop are also solid. It comes with Windows 11, graphics options from NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 40 series, and is equipped with 12-phase voltage regulation that ensures clean energy is consistently available. This enables up to 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors to run at the highest levels for hours upon end, so you can embrace the grind in Diablo IV, plough through sweaty lobbies in Warzone, or throw everything at an Elden Ring boss fight without interruption. 5600 MT/s DDR5 RAM is paired with SSD storage, which comes in the form of two PCIe NVMe M.2 slots that can hold up to 8TB total, with the option of an extra 1TB of hard drive storage. This provides plenty of room for a medium-sized game library, and allows for rapid, stutter-free loading.
Externally, the R16 comes with a smart, matte ‘Basalt Black’ chassis, the option of a clear side panel, and a Stadium Loop – a single, understated LED ring that runs around the case’s primary vent. It has four USB Type-A ports and two USB Type-C ports, with video-out connections determined by your choice of graphics card. Its dashboard is the revamped Alienware Command Center software, which enables you to edit the appearance of this LED loop and other AlienFX lighting across the ecosystem. This means you can match your RGB to your mood, your faction colours, or switch up the ambience between gritty dungeon runs and technicolor battle royale maps. You can also choose and monitor your performance mode across distinct power states, and create custom gaming profiles for your whole library.
Streamlined and understated, the Aurora R16 Desktop is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for plug-and-play gaming power at a competitive price point. Starting at £1,349, it is available now at dell.com.
