The Alienware Aurora range represents the apex of pre-built gaming machine design and for many a dream desktop. Subsequently, Alienware Aurora prices can range up to the several thousands, depending on what you're looking for. There are plenty of options however, that can help cut that asking price significantly. Specs, regions, and sales events are all considerations here, and we've put together this guide to help you find the lowest prices possible.
There are actually quite a few models in the lineup right now thanks to multiple recent additions for 2023. First up is the R16 model, which features a newly redesigned case and 14th generation Intel chips. Less new, but still very much worth considering, are the R15 and R14 models - both of which feature an older design and components but are still very capable and relatively up-to-date. As older models, they're also more partial to discounts - up to $1,000 / £1,000 off in some rare cases.
When it comes to scoring cheap Alienware Aurora deals, there are actually more options than you may think. You could opt to customize and buy directly from Dell, which is a great option when they run their seasonal sales - normally in July and November. If you're lucky you can also potentially bag discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, Currys, and other leading retailers who we've included in our price comparisons just down below. Overall, these aren't cheap gaming PC deals by any stretch of the imagination, but they do offer surprisingly good value if you can catch a particularly good discount in a seasonal sale.
The best Alienware Aurora deals and prices
New for late 2023 is the Alienware Aurora R16 - a brand new iteration of the flagship gaming desktops from the brand and one that feature's a completely new look.
Foremost, the R16 features a new minimalist case with less bling that the previous iteration, although Alienware has retained its classic styling by moving the vent RGB from the middle of the front to the side. The new case is also, crucially, 40% smaller than the previous iteration, which is a fantastic change for those with limited space. Generally speaking, it's easily upgradable with full side access to the GPU, CPU, M.2 slots, and a pre-configured HDD housing. Note, however, that the R16 uses a proprietary power supply (non-upgradable) due to it's new compact form factor.
The R16 retains the multiple configurations of the previous models, but the baseline price is actually a little cheaper now. For example, with the maxed-out RTX 4090 configuration, the R16 is $200 cheaper than the equivalent R15 spec, while the entry-level RTX 4060 config comes in at just $1,299. As always, however, you'll want to be on the lookout for further price cuts and sales at the official Dell Store, which usually take place around federal holidays, Black Friday, and mid-July.
The Alienware R15 is slightly older now but it's still a 2023 model and features a respectable range of up-to-date specs. Versus the R16, it still features the old chassis design - which is a little bulkier and flashy than the latest model, although some may prefer it's design.
As a flagship model from Alienware, the R15 is available in a wide range of configurations, from humble Core i5 / RTX 3050 load-outs to absolutely eye-watering Core i9 / RTX 4090 combos, most of which can be customized via the configurator tool. Generally speaking, this tool is a great way to wring out a little bit of extra value if you're looking for some reasonably priced upgrades. Conversely, you may want to cut down some specs for some cost-cutting measures
Now it's no longer the latest model in the range, the Aurora R15 is a strong candidate for price cuts and deals around big retailer calendar events. Black Friday, mid-July, and events like President's and Labor Day are often good options for discounts at Dell, which can sometimes range all the way up to $900 / £800 off on the pricier models. Generally speaking, discounts on the lower-specced models are a little rarer but you can still find discounts in the $100 / £100 off range.
The Aurora R14, as the name suggests, is an AMD-based system that carries the latest Ryzen processors in its configuration. Generally speaking, this often means they're a little cheaper than their Intel-based counterparts and usually you'll find a number of AMD graphics cards available in certain builds too.
The starting configuration for the Aurora R15 is a combination of a Ryzen 5-5600X and an RX 6500 XT but you'll find options that stretch all the way to a Ryzen 9-5900X and an RTX 3080 Ti on the pricier configs. As of early 2023, there are no options to bundle in one of the latest RTX 4000 series cards but we expect those to be featured on either the R14 or a freshly revised new Ryzen edition.
Again, we'd recommend really checking out the various configurations available for your Aurora R14 to get the best bang for the buck as possible. For example, you may want to focus on getting that beefy graphics card and processor now, while opting to upgrade your RAM and SSD later down the line. That's totally possible and could save you some much-needed bucks.
The Aurora R13 is the older Intel-based flagship from the brand but it's still widely available on the Dell site and other major retailers. The core feature of this series are the 12th gen Intel Core chips, which aren't the latest on the market anymore but still put out a respectable amount of performance.
It's this, alongside the usual RTX 3000 series of cards that makes the Aurora R13 the value pick right now for Aurora gaming PC deals - even though you're not getting access to the very top-end of specs. A combination of something like an i7-12700F and RTX 3080 Ti is still going to put some great performance for a good few years down the line and could be a good snag if you can get it on sale.
Again, the likeliest time for deals on this Aurora R13 is around big sales events like Black Friday or Dell's Black Friday-in-July event. In rare instances, we've seen record-breaking discounts reach all the way up to around $900 / £800 off the usual listing price, so it's often worth waiting it out for the next big sales event to see what crops up.
Read more: our Alienware Aurora R13 review.
Buying advice
Are Alienware PCs worth it?
Alienware PCs are worth it if you've got a little cash to splash and want a slick, ready-to-go gaming machine that you customize before you can buy. Whether you need a powerful machine or not is really a subjective thing depending on what games you're planning to run, but even Alienware still has plenty of options for all budgets.
If you're looking to just play the odd game of Minecraft or Fortnite then it's probably best to opt for a machine with an RTX 3050 and a Core i5 (or Ryzen 5) processor inside. It's arguable whether you'll need a full 16GB of RAM with these kinds of applications, but it's never a bad idea to spring for more RAM if you can afford it. It'll generally make everything much smoother in the day-to-day too.
If you want to future-proof your machine or get blazingly fast performance at resolutions higher than 1080p, then you'll likely want to spend at least $1,200 to secure a machine with an RTX 3060 Ti or higher. Alienware Aurora gaming PCs usually carry Core i7 and Ryzen 7 chips at this price point and you'll usually be set up for a few years down the line if you can afford to dish out a bit more cash.
For 4K gaming or VR, It's probably best to set your budget at around $1,500 at the least and try and aim for an RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 card. We're getting into enthusiast-level machines here, but you should be able to play nearly every game at 1440p and respectable graphical settings at around this level.
Is Alienware actually good?
Performance-wise, the Alienware Auroras are fantastic gaming desktops that offer the very latest components from AMD and Intel. Subsequently, you'll be getting decent performance from any of these desktops in accordance to their respective budget ranges. While in previous years, it was definitely the case that Alienware was fairly poor value (especially when compared to building your own PC), in recent times they've generally caught up with the competition. These days, they are actually relatively affordable for enthusiast-level gaming machines.
Is it cheaper to build or buy PC?
While once upon a time, it was more cost-effective to simply buy each component separately and assemble your gaming PC by yourself, nowadays, that value gap has significantly narrowed. In fact, it's often cheaper to buy a pre-made gaming desktop right now, depending on what you're after.
With these Alienware Aurora gaming desktops, you're getting an extremely well-thought-out and well-put-together machine with plenty of room to upgrade in the future. If you're not entirely confident about whether you can put together a neat and tidy machine yourself, then you can't go wrong with these Alienware Auroras, which will have top-notch cable management and cooling.
If you'd like something a little more mobile, our best Alienware gaming laptop deals page to see what this brand is offering for those on the go. Alternatively, see the best cheap gaming laptop deals to see something a little less expensive.
Check out our page on the ongoing 4th of July sales - now currently available at many retailers.
