On Tuesday Dell officially announced the availability of its latest Alienware gaming desktop, the mighty Aurora. This performance beast comes packed with Intel's 2nd-generation Core i7-3000 series six-core CPUs (which are factory overclocked and liquid-cooled), Intel's X79 Express chipset and the latest SATA technology. It also arrives with a hefty price, starting at $2,199 for the base configuration.
"Gamers can literally 'see' all that power firsthand," the company said. "Dual graphics cards and beyond 1080p gaming with immersive multi-display and 3D HD capabilities allow gamers to experience any game at its best – as intended by the game developers. And the gaming desktops are intelligently designed for unparalleled customization. In addition to raw power, an innovative chassis design and intuitive internal component layout allows for user-friendly upgrades and optimized thermal management."
As always, Alienware desktops provide a list of options so that Dell customers can tailer-fit their rig according to their wallet. Outside the Core i7-3000 series processors, there are a handful of single and dual graphics options like a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 with 3 GB of GDDR5 memory and an AMD CrossFireX configuration using two Radeon HD 6950 (2 GB GDDR5) cards.
Other customizable options include 8 GB or 16 GB "Quad Channel" 1600 MHz DDR3 memory, 7,200 RPM hard drive options up to 2 TB, a choice of 256 GB and 512 GB solid state drives, single and dual optical drive options including a Blu-ray disc reader and burner, various audio packages including Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium and more.
On Tuesday Dell said that the new Alienware Aurora was designed from the inside out with performance, function and style in mind. "The desktop’s maintenance-free, high performance CPU Liquid Cooling replaces the standard heat sink and fan that comes with most PCs, and its Active Venting system provides additional heat dissipation during heavy gaming. This unique design increases component longevity and allows Aurora to stay nearly twice as quiet as competitors with traditional heat sink and fan layouts. Additionally, all core components inside the Aurora are purposefully compartmentalized in chambers that provide clean, clear and easy tool-less access for upgrades, maintenance or showing off."
To get your new Alienware Aurora gaming desktop, head here. The company currently offers three "starting points" to choose from: the $2199 Light Up The Sky model (Intel i7), the $2649 Graphics Powerhouse (dual Radeon 6870, 16 GB of RAM), and the $3099 Elite Gaming Bundle which includes a 22-inch UltraSharp monitor and Nvidia's GeForce GTX 590 GPU.
Take note, Santa: we expect to see this rig under the tree come Christmas morning. Or else.
