What just happened? Alienware has launched the new Aurora R16 gaming desktop with the latest Intel processors and Nvidia graphics cards. The most striking aspect of the new machine is the relatively subdued look compared to its predecessor. The case is noticeably sleeker and smaller, and has a more mainstream desktop look than the R15 that bore the company’s signature over-the-top styling.

The redesign allowed Alienware to cut down the overall size of the tower by around 40 percent while still keeping the internal volume at 25.5 liters like its predecessor. The company calls this the ‘Legend 3’ design language and it should be much less divisive than the traditional Alienware styling. The only notable design flare in the new model is an oval RGB loop that highlights the hexagonal side vents on the left side of the chassis.

The R16 also has more efficient airflow than the outgoing model, thanks to a larger intake vent and bigger top vents. Alienware also says it tweaked the internal cable management for better cooling. Thanks to the focus on thermals, the company was able to lower the CPU and GPU temperatures by 10 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The R16 is also said to be up to 20 percent quieter than the R15, thanks to the redesign.

In terms of tech specs, the Aurora R16 is powered by Intel’s 12th- and 13th-gen Core CPUs, going up to the Core i9-13900F. On the GPU side, it offers Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards, going up to an RTX 4070 Ti. The R16 can also be configured with up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 memory and a whopping 8TB of total storage.

The base model, however, only ships with the older Core i9-12900F CPU alongside 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4070. In some Asian and European markets, Dell is also offering a lower-end model with the RTX 3050 and a 512GB SSD option to reduce costs. The PSU on offer could either be a 500W or 1000W unit, and users can choose whether they want air or liquid cooling. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, an Ethernet port, 4x USB Type-A ports, and 2x USB-C ports.

The Aurora R16 runs Windows 11 and is the first desktop to come with the company’s new Alienware Command Center 6 with access to options like game profiles, lighting, macros, and audio settings. It also lets users customize the internal thermal profiles. Pricing starts at $1,749 for the base model, which is keeping in line with the brand’s premium positioning.