Dell’s lineup for Black Friday is packed with deals on laptops, monitors, accessories, and PCs, but if you’re a gamer, your eyes are probably glued to those Alienware desktops. Their latest refresh, the Aurora R16, seems like it was built for folks who crave power and style but would rather skip the hassle of building a PC from scratch.
The entire range of Alienware R16 models is currently discounted at Dell, with prices starting at a reasonable $1,199.99 after a nifty $400 price cut. At this price point, you’re getting an Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, an NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That’s a solid setup.
On the higher end, the most decked-out model is going for $3,699.99, slashed down by $995. It features a Core i9-14900KF CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a whopping 4TB SSD. There are nine other models in between, and I’ve got a few thoughts to help you pick the one that best fits your needs.
### What to Know Before You Buy the Alienware Aurora R16
If nothing else, Dell’s pre-built gaming rigs boast some pretty striking designs. The latest case from Alienware definitely makes a statement, thanks to its eye-catching RGB lighting, whisper-quiet cooling, and a neat little window to peek at the hardware inside.
The Aurora R16 offers ample connectivity options, with USB-C ports both on the front and back, and it’s user-friendly if you ever need to get inside. Just pop off the side panel. It’s a looker from the outside, but things get a bit quirky on the inside.
Dell throws in a proprietary motherboard and PSU, leading to a non-standard layout. If you’re planning to upgrade beyond the RAM and storage down the line, you might find alternatives like the iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh more accommodating, as they use standard parts making future upgrades a breeze.
However, the Aurora R16 shines for those PC gamers who want a powerful system that’s ready to roll right out of the box without much hassle. If tinkering isn’t your thing, and you’re after raw power and design, this is likely the right setup for you.
### Which Aurora R16 Configuration Should You Go For?
With all these Aurora R16 configurations on offer, it’s understandable if you’re after a bit of guidance.
For most gamers looking for solid performance, even at 1440p, I’d recommend the version priced at $1,199.99 after a $400 discount. It includes a Core i7-14700F CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, all backed by liquid cooling and a 500W Platinum PSU.
For a sweet spot between price and performance, consider the mid-tier option available for $1,799.99, down $400 from its original price. You get an overclockable Core i7-14700KF CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, also with liquid cooling but boasting a beefy 1,000W Platinum PSU.
Feeling flush? Then the model featuring a Core i9-14900KF CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD should catch your eye, especially now that it’s down to $2,499 after a $700 cut. Liquid cooling and a 1,000W Platinum PSU complete this powerhouse.
Dell has a total of 11 Aurora R16 models on sale this Black Friday. These three configurations are just my top picks. If you don’t spot exactly what you need here, head over to Dell’s site to check out other options and any extra special deals they might have for a limited time.
