New 25th anniversary Alienware Aurora PC will turn heads while offering better performance

Alienware’s Aurora desktop gaming PC has been redesigned to have fun the gaming model’s 25th anniversary.

Yes, Alienware actually has been round because the days when Quake was launched (1996), and to have fun, the Aurora – the agency’s gaming PC which was first launched a little bit more not too long ago, in 2004 – has been graced with an (elective) clear panel on one facet that permits you to see via and admire the innards of the mid-tower case.

Accompanying this window to the internals is more customizable lighting, because the PC now has eight lighting zones (twice as many), to make the view inside prettier now that you may truly see in there.

The {shape} of the case has been modified considerably, so it’s now curvier, and angled upwards – plus it has that elective see-via panel – however it nonetheless retains the identical fundamental design themes as the present Aurora. It additionally nonetheless is available in white and black shade choices (or Lunar Light and Dark Side of the Moon, as Alienware payments them).

Another large design change comes not with the exterior look, however with the interior structure and what Alienware describes as a brand new ‘open air’ design.

Essentially, we're speaking about better airflow (and neater cable administration), with enhancements in thermal performance therein. Alienware reckons that the revamped Aurora has 50% extra space inside to permit for more room to breathe, with out growing the precise chassis measurement by a lot. Cooling is facilitated by as much as 4 120mm followers, and the bottom configurations of the Aurora will have two of those, with larger-finish fashions upping the ante (with liquid cooling choices additionally).

There’s a claimed noise discount, too, with the brand new Aurora managing to be 16% quieter than the outdated model when idling (and 15% much less noisy when overclocked).

Alienware Aurora 25th anniversary PC showing rear cover

(Image credit score: Alienware (Dell))

A last design contact value noting is that there’s now an elective (magnetically-hooked up) cowl that slips over the rear of the case to cover all these ports and cables, for a wiser look round again.

Analysis: Alder Lake inside, possibly – plus ideas on that redesign

While Alienware waxed enthusiastic at nice size in regards to the new case design, nothing concerning the precise spec of the following-gen Aurora was talked about. The sensible cash is on Alder Lake processors, although, on condition that these are imminent from Intel (and theoretically will be right here in only a few weeks). If operating with Intel’s twelfth-gen CPUs, then we are able to count on DDR5 RAM too (identical to the Predator gaming PC which Acer simply revealed – it looks like the time is ripe for Alder Lake-toting machines to be introduced).

As for the brand new design, it’s a particular enchancment in our books. We nonetheless aren’t absolutely offered on the general aesthetic of the Aurora, even with this new incarnation, however it definitely appears a step up from the present model, which is, nicely, okay, however we’ve at all times felt it’s a little bit yawn-inducing. (Although we’re conscious that others have a distinct tackle that, discovering the present Aurora trendy and distinctive, which is truthful sufficient; it’s definitely the latter). As ever, look is a subjective factor, however we really feel this new design is a constructive growth for positive.

The clear facet panel is a plus level to be within the combine as an possibility, though that mentioned, hardly an innovation, as gaming PCs have had these endlessly. It’s the obvious steps ahead with thermal performance that’ll actually matter, in fact, and if the brand new Aurora does certainly have Alder Lake chips, it’ll be very fascinating to see how that cooling works in tandem with Intel’s purportedly promising twelfth-gen silicon.