Alienware Aurora R5 vs. Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_Aurora_R5.jpg case front and back pannel

Dell_OptiPlex_3080_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Mid Tower	Small
CPU options	Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;	Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;
Chipset	Z170	B460
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce RTX 2070 Super	GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAM	DIMM DDR4-2133/2400	DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots	4	2
RAM speed	2400 MT/s	2666 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB	64 GB
USB ports	(5x) USB 3.0 Type A; (6x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A;	(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	N/A	Display Port 1.4; HDMI 1.4b;
Other ports	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog; Front, side, center, rare outputs;	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional ports	DisplayPort	Serial/PS2; DP1.4/HDMI2.0b/VGA; (2x)WiFi antenna;
SATA ports	4	2
PCI slots	(x2) PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe 3.0 x4;	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x1;
M.2 slots	M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2280/2260/2240 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe);	M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	(2x) 2.5in; 3.25in;	3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU	460/850 W	200 W
Weight	14.62 kg (32.23 lb)	5.02 kg (11.07 lb)
Released	2015	2020
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 R5 and Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF which was released in 2020. The Alienware Aurora R5 is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R5 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 3080 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware Aurora R5 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Alienware Aurora R5 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF has only 2 slot(s). This is not something to worry about. Just make sure you take it into consideration when planning how much RAM you are going to use.

The Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Alienware Aurora R5 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2400 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 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 R5 has 13 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Alienware Aurora R5, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF has a DisplayPort. The Alienware Aurora R5 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

The Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Alienware Aurora R5 does not support the interface. Of course missing HDMI port is something that can be easily fixed with a good adapter (e.g. DisplayPort to HDMI).

SATA ports are placed on the system board and it is where you connect your HDD, SSD and Optical Disk Drives. More SATA slots will allow you to have more drives running at the same time. In this regard the Alienware Aurora R5 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3080 SFF has 2 slot(s).

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 3080 SFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R5 has a more powerful one rated at 850 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.