So you‘ve decided to invest in a high-performance gaming desktop. And only the best of the best will do – an Alienware rig to take your PC gaming to the next level.
Smart thinking.
Ever since debuting way back in 1996, Alienware has built some of the most drool-worthy machines that combine showstopping design with top-end components tuned for gaming glory.
But reviews can only tell you so much. As someone knee-deep in the gaming desktop space, let me walk you through exactly how Alienware‘s latest flagship models, the Aurora R13 and Area 51, compare from the perspective of a hardware enthusiast.
After analyzing their head-to-head benchmarks, upgrade differences, cooling performance and overall value, you‘ll know exactly which Alienware solution perfectly fits your needs and budget – whether that‘s silky smooth 4K gaming or crushing AAA titles at 400fps.
Let‘s dive in…
A Brief History of Alienware Gaming Desktop Dominance
First, a quick trip down memory lane to better understand Alienware‘s heritage delivering uncompromising gaming experiences:
Alienware Timeline
1996 – Alienware founded in Miami, FL focused on high-end gaming PCs
2006 – Acquired by Dell to ramp up production and distribution
2013 – Next-gen Alienware designs debut led by giant Area 51 triangluar case
2018 – Area 51 updated to support new 9th Gen Intel and NVIDIA RTX cards
2022 – Alienware reveals radically redesigned Aurora R13 model
Today – Continues legacy of building the world‘s most powerful, visually stunning gaming PCs
While many gaming-focused PC builders have come and gone, Alienware has stood the test of time. They‘ve managed to stay at the cutting edge of performance components through decades of change in technology. All while retaining their iconic sci-fi inspirited case designs that are simply gorgeous in person.
In 2022, the company unveiled its next-generation flagship – the Alienware Aurora 13 – representing its first clean-sheet redesign in years. Dubbed "Legend 3.0", does this newest entry unseat the long-revered Area 51 model?
I‘ll dig into the question in depth. But first, let‘s recap at a high-level how the Aurora R13 and Area 51 desktops compare when it comes to their core components and gaming prowess right out of the box:
Alienware Aurora R13 vs Area 51 – High-Level Specs Face-off
Alienware Aurora R13
- 13th Gen Intel Core i7/i9 CPUs (Raptor Lake)
- NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti – 4090 GPU options
- Up to 128GB DDR5-5600 RAM
- PCIe Gen 5.0 support
- 1440p/4K gaming up to 240Hz
Alienware Area 51
- 10th Gen Intel Core i7/i9 CPUs
- NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti/3090 GPU options
- Up to 128GB DDR4-2933 RAM
- PCIe Gen 3.0 support
- 1440p/4K gaming over 60Hz+
At first glance, the bleeding-edge specs of the Aurora R13 do appear one step ahead – on paper at least. The question is, how do these configurations translate into actual FPS, game loads times and all those performance metrics that matter most?
To find out, we‘ll analyze independent benchmark results across CPU, GPU, memory and storage speeds momentarily.
But for those still weighing these two models, you likely want to know how they differ across the full spec sheet. Let‘s explore the tech details gaming enthusiasts care about most:
Alienware Aurora R13 vs Area 51 Gaming Desktop Spec Comparison
| Component | Aurora R13 | Area 51 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Q4 2022 | 2018 |
| Dimensions | 8.8 x 9.0 x 18.9 inches | 8.8 x 9.0 x 18.9 inches |
| CPU | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700K/i9-13900K | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700K/i9-10980XE |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 | Intel X299 |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti – RTX 4090 | NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti – RTX 3090 |
| RAM | Up to 128GB DDR5-5600 | Up to 128GB DDR4-2933MHz |
| RAM Slots | 4x | 8x |
| Max RAM Speed | 5600 MT/s | 2933 MT/s |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD | 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD |
| Power Supply | 750W 80 Plus Platinum | 1500W Multi-GPU Approved |
| Starting Price | $1,299 | $1,949 |
With the vital specs compared side-by-side, let‘s break things down category-by-category to reveal the hardware advantages of each gaming beast.
CPU and GPU Performance Benchmarks
The Aurora R13 enjoys a CPU generation advantage with Intel‘s brand new Raptor Lake architecture beating out the Area 51‘s now previous-gen 10th generation chips. But how much of a performance difference does that new silicon deliver for gaming?
CPU Frames Per Second (FPS) While Gaming
Source: PC Gamer CPU Benchmark Database
As you can see from testing by publications like PC Gamer, upgrading to the latest 13th Gen Intel chips nets around a 15% FPS increase in most modern titles. Is that worth it? Given you‘ll be keeping this machine for 3+ years, I‘d argue absolutely.
That said, don‘t underestimate the 10th Gen firepower concealed within the Area 51 just yet. It still drives 100+ FPS smooth at 1440p resolution.
Now onto perhaps the most crucial spec for buttery smooth gaming – the graphics card.
GPU Average Frame Rates (FPS) in 1440p
Source: Tom‘s Hardware GPU Benchmark Leaderboards
Here the Aurora pulls far ahead, thanks namely to NVIDIA‘s brand new GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards which unlock considerable performance gains through their upgraded Ada Lovelace architecture.
Real-World Takeaway – With an RTX 4090 GPU, the Aurora R13 affords you up to 68% higher frame rates even against the Area 51‘s top-spec RTX 3090 card. That translates to buttery smooth 4K gaming at over 120 FPS.
Memory and Storage Speed Advantages
Gaming desktops live and die by their CPU and GPU. But without speedy supporting components, performance can still suffer during data-intensive tasks like game asset loading.
Let‘s see how Aurora R13 and Area 51 compare when it comes to RAM speeds and storage throughput:
Memory Bandwidth Benchmarks (GB/s)
Source: Puget Systems
Here the switch to blistering fast DDR5 memory modules gives the Aurora R13 a dominant 2X bandwidth advantage – vital for feeding graphics-intensive games.
NVME SSD Storage Speeds
In terms of storage, both support speedy NVME solid state drives. But again, PCIe 4.0 supported models used in the Aurora R13 test over 5X quicker than SATA-based options still found in many Area 51 configurations.
That means game installs, level loads and texture popping as you play all happen more instantly compared to if relying on mechanical hard drives.
Real-World Takeaway – The Aurora R13‘s bleeding-edge DDR5 RAM and PCIe 4.0 storage unlocks measurable real-world speed gains during actual gameplay.
Power Supply and Upgradeability
Beyond sheer performance, future upgrade headroom and ease of maintenance also determine a gaming desktop‘s long-term value.
Here‘s how the power supplies and component access compare between models:
Power Supply
- Aurora R13 – 750W 80 Plus Platinum
- Area 51 – 1500W Multi-GPU Approved
Clearly the Area 51 massively overpowers with its beastly 1500 watt PSU able to support multiple power-hungry graphics cards. The Aurora tops out at 750 watts, still plenty for even top-end RTX 4000 cards, but less future expansion room.
Upgradeability
- Aurora R13 – Tool-less thumb screws for quick access and part swaps
- Area 51- Removable side panel via traditional screws
Alienware purpose-built the Aurora 13 for painless DIY upgrades. No tools needed to add more RAM, an extra SSD or replace the GPU. The Area 51 side panels require a screwdriver though – much more inconvenient.
Real-World Takeaway – Go with the Area 51 if running complex multi-GPU compute setups. The Aurora R13 if you simply want the smoothest path to tossing in more RAM or a speedier graphics card.
Price and Value Comparison
Let‘s shift gears and explore what really matters – how much lighter these beasts will leave your wallet:
| Config | Aurora R13 | Area 51 |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline Price | $1,299 | $1,949 |
| Our Recommended Build | i9-13900K, RTX 3080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD | i9-10980XE, RTX 3070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD |
| Price After Upgrades ($) | 2,499 | 2,749 |
Given identical core components like the GPU and RAM, the Aurora R13 actually rings up over $250 cheaper than a comparable Area 51 build once configured.
Factoring in its faster performance across gaming and content creation workloads, the latest Aurora ends up being better value than its forbearer.
The only reason to pay extra for the Area 51 lies with users needing maximum power headroom and expansion capabilities as highlighted previously.
For virtually all other buyers valuing price-to-performance, I suggest saving your hard-earned dollars and springing for the Aurora R13.
Key Takeaways – Aurora R13 vs Area 51
Before picking an ultimate winner, let‘s quickly recap the standout facts between the Aurora R13 and Area 51:
Reasons to Choose the Aurora R13
✓ Faster 13th Gen Intel CPU performance
✓ Next-gen RTX 40 series card options
✓ Speedier DDR5 and PCIe 4.0 components
✓ Easier tool-less upgrades
✓ Often lower cost for equivalent build
Reasons to Choose the Area 51
✓ Higher 1500W power supply
✓ Support for additional legacy hardware
✓ Proven reliable over years of gaming
Now to bottom line it…
My Final Verdict – The Aurora 13 Is the New Gaming Desktop to Beat
The Aurora 13 represents a triumphant achievement by Alienware – blending boundary pushing speed backed by Intel and NVIDIA‘s latest computing advancements…all while honoring the company‘s heritage of mouthwatering industrial designs.
After poring through the numbers and specs, I wholeheartedly endorse the Alienware Aurora R13 as today‘s definitive choice for a high-end gaming desktop.
For virtually all buyers, its potent combination of strong single-threaded performance, upgraded memory architecture and easy access for future upgrades make this the wiser long-term investment.
That said, power users planning complex multi-GPU rendering farms or those still reliant on older generation hardware may be better served by the tried-and-true Area 51 model.
But for the majority seeking a gorgeous Alienware gaming machine that can smoothly handle AAA titles in 1440p and 4K for years to come, look no further than the mighty Aurora R13.
To summarize, my top suggestions for prospective Alienware buyers:
If your budget is under $2,000 – Aurora R13 no question. The next-gen performance far exceeds any rig you could build on your own without spending way more.
If your budget is above ~$3,000 – Consider the Area 51 for future SLI support and more PCIe expansion room. But still assess if the single GPU muscle of the Aurora R13 in fact suits your needs just fine.
If you currently own a last-gen system – The considerable CPU and GPU gains since 2018/2020 warrant investing in new tech. The Aurora 13 makes that attainable without breaking the bank.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Whether you‘re new to the thrill (and frustration) of choosing gaming components or an ardent DIY system builder like myself, I‘m always happy to offer my insights around extracting max frames per dollar.
Game on friends!
– Shane aka @PCGameBenchmarks
