Alienware Aurora R9 vs. Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Alienware Aurora R9 and Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 which was released in 2023. The Alienware Aurora R9 is older and entered production in 2018.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R9 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 7010 2023 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware Aurora R9 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
The Alienware Aurora R9 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 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 SFF 7010 2023 is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Alienware Aurora R9 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 3000 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 R9 has 14 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 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 R9, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 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.
DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 comes with 2 ports, while the Alienware Aurora R9 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 is the better choice.
The Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 comes with an HDMI port, while the Alienware Aurora R9 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 R9 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7010 2023 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 SFF 7010 2023 comes with a decent 300 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R9 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
