Alienware Aurora R7 vs. Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Alienware Aurora R7 and Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT which was released in 2020. The Alienware Aurora R7 is older and entered production in 2018.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Alienware Aurora R7 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT 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 7080 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware Aurora R7 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 2933. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Alienware Aurora R7 can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.
Ports
In total the Alienware Aurora R7 has 15 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT 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 7080 MT has a DisplayPort. The Alienware Aurora R7 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 4 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 7080 MT has 1 M.2 slots while the Alienware Aurora R7 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 7080 MT comes with a decent 500 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R7 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.
Motherboard
