Alienware Aurora (Core I7-2600K, Spring 2011)

The Aurora's gaming opening is more encouraging. The two Radeon HD 6950 graphics cards give this network important scores on all of our 3D tests. Our Crysis assessment shows the effect of having usually 4GB of RAM instead of 8GB, but that mental recall coherence is moreover sincerely unique to that game, that itself is a worst-case scenario. The fact that the Aurora pennyless 60fps on the higher-resolution chronicle of that assessment should discuss it you that this is a estimable gaming system.

Our more new gaming benchmarks add Metro 2033 and 3DMark 11. On the severe Metro 2033, the Alienware network posted the second-highest measure we've seen at 2,560x1,536, that means its opening is apt for its price. Our more GPU-vendor-neutral 3DMark 11 assessment is moreover our newest benchmark, and arguably more deputy of future DirectX 11 gameplay. While you have not nonetheless amassed a extended information set for that test, you can at least say that the Aurora is faster than the Velocity Micro system, as it should be.

With two double-wide graphics cards in the Aurora, you obtain no other card enlargement options. You might not need more, but Maingear's Vybe does offer a giveaway 1x PCI Express container in add-on to its span of 3D cards. The Aurora moreover comes with all 4 RAM slots occupied, that seems a tarnish in this network given with usually 4GB of mental recall the RAM is the initial thing we'd ascent in this system. Unfortunately, you'll have to hurl divided all 4 1GB sticks to make that upgrade. At least you obtain two giveaway out-facing hard-drive bays.

The Alienware Aurora fares improved with its connectivity. On the back of the network you obtain 6 USB 2.0 jacks, two USB 3.0 ports, a FireWire output, both visual and coaxial digital audio outs, and a set of 7.1 analog audio jacks. The graphics cards moreover offer a ton of manifestation outlay options, with ports for DVI, HDMI, and Mini DisplayPort connections. The usually outlay choice you can regard to add would be an eSATA jack, but you design that for many gamers the extant ports will more than suffice.

While you were underwhelmed by the Alienware Aurora's performance, at least its power expenditure is not disproportionately high. We've been tender by the effectiveness supposing by Intel's new Core i7-2600K chips, although even higher-end gaming PCs still pull as well ample power to validate for Energy Star certification. That's not a astonishment for this cost range, and the Aurora's power pull is in gripping with its competition.

Service and encouragement
Alienware backs the Aurora with a candid one-year tools and work warranty. You obtain optional home correct service, 24-7 phone encouragement access, and remote diagnosis ability by DellConnect. That's about what you design from any boutique vendor, although you'll must be face the perils of Dell's call-center-based encouragement operation, rsther than than getting the more made to order in-house service you normally find from not as big boutique vendors.

Conclusions
We can't suggest the Alienware Aurora to those who put opening and worth on top of all other considerations in their track for a higher-end gaming desktop. It simply lacks as well many of the modernized tweaks and features you can obtain from other vendors is to same price. Alienware's design and box lighting features give it unique visual appeal, however, and if you prioritize creation a visual statement, this network is worth consideration.

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System configurations:

Alienware Aurora (Core i7-2600K, Spring 2011)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600K; 4GB 1,866MHz DDR3 SDRAM; (2) 2GB AMD Radeon HD 6950 graphics cards; 1TB SATA 300 7,200rpm hard drive; 2TB SATA 600 7,200rpm hard drive

Falcon Northwest Mach V (Core i7-2600K, Spring 2011)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 4.6GHz Intel Core i7-2600K (overclocked); 16GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; (2)1.5GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards; 128GB solid-state hard drive; 1TB 7,200rpm Western Digital hard drive

Maingear Vybe Super Stock (Core i7-2600K, Spring 2011)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-2600; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB AMD Radeon HD 5870, 250GB Intel SSD, 1TB 7,200rpm Samsung hard drive

Origin Genesis (Core i7-2600K, Spring 2011)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 4.7GHz Intel Core i7-2600K (overclocked); 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1.5GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 graphics card (overclocked); 80GB solid-state hard drive; 1TB 7,200rpm Western Digital hard drive

Velocity Micro Edge Z40 (Core i7-2500K)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 4.0GHz Intel Core i5-2500K (overclocked); 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 560Ti graphics card (overclocked); 1TB 7,200rpm Hitachi hard drive