Alienware Aurora R13 vs. Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_Aurora_R13.jpg case front and back pannel

Dell_OptiPlex_SFF_Plus_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Mid Tower	Small
CPU options	Intel Gen12 i3/i5/i7/i9;	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5/i7/i9;
Chipset	Z690	Q670
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce RTX 3090	AMD Radeon RX6400 Low Profile
RAM	DIMM DDR4-4400	DIMM DDR5-4400
RAM slots	4	4
RAM speed	4400 MT/s	4400 MT/s
RAM max	128 GB	128 GB
USB ports	(5x) USB 3.0 Type A; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.2 Type C;	(4x) USB-A 2.0; (3x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 3.1; USB-C 3.2;
Video ports	N/A	(3x) Display Port 1.4a;
Other ports	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog; Front, side, center, rare outputs;	RJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;
Optional ports	N.A.	HDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C; SD-card slot
SATA ports	3	3
PCI slots	(x2) PCIe 5.0 x16; (x2) PCIe 3.0 x4;	PCIe 4.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;
M.2 slots	M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);	M.2 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); (2x) M.2 2230; M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	3.25in;	3.5in
PSU	460/750 W	260/300 W
Weight	16.05 kg (35.38 lb)	5.62 kg (12.38 lb)
Released	2021	2024
Manual	link	link
Price**	Check Price	Check Price

** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
* Dedicated GPU warning: Check if your particular power supply model has enough power. Additionally some PSUs don't come with an auxiliary PCIe power connector and you may need to buy a SATA to PCIe power adapter.

Differences between Alienware Aurora R13 and Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 which was released in 2024. The Alienware Aurora R13 is older and entered production in 2021.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R13 and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

Usually the newer the generation of the CPU, the better the performance and efficiency is. If your budget allows it, you should go with the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware Aurora R13 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (4 RAM). Usually two RAM slots are more than enough for most cases. However, the count should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need for your system.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 4400. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 128 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.

Ports

In total the Alienware Aurora R13 has 12 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 is inferior in this regard and packs 10 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. Both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. This is especially crucial if you are using external drives on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 has a DisplayPort. The Alienware Aurora R13 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

SATA slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

An M.2 SSD can be several times faster than a SATA one. Thus, we are happy to see that both models support the M.2 interface. However, the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 has 1 M.2 slots while the Alienware Aurora R13 comes with just 1.

Make sure that the available M.2 slot supports the PCIe (also called NVMe) interface. This is important as there are M.2 slots which support only the inferior SATA III interface. For comparison, the SATA III interface has max speeds of 6Gb/s, while the PCIe 3.0 x4 will support speeds up to 32Gb/s!

Power Supply

Having a Power Supply Unit with high power rating is important, if you are going to use components which require extra power. The Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 comes with a decent 300 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R13 has a more powerful one rated at 750 Watts. Choosing either one depends on your specific requirements and use case. Also don't forget that some models might have more than one PSU option - try to always get the most powerful one, especially if you plan to upgrade to a powerful GPU.