Alienware Aurora R3 vs. Dell OptiPlex 3060M

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_Aurora_R3.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_3060M.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMid TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen2 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;
ChipsetP67H370
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333/1866SODIMM DDR4-2400/2666
RAM slots42
RAM speed1866 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(5x) USB 3.0 Type A; (8x) USB-A 2.0;(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsN/ADisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsN.A.DP1.2/HDMI2.0/VGA/Serial+PS2/Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports41
PCI slots(x2) PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe 3.0 x1;N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 2.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays(4x) 3.25in; (3x) 5.25in;2.5in;
PSU525/875 W65 W
Weight22.09 kg (48.7 lb)1.18 kg (2.60 lb)
Released20112018
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck 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 R3 and Dell OptiPlex 3060M

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3060M which was released in 2018. The Alienware Aurora R3 is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3060M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R3 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 3060M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware Aurora R3 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Alienware Aurora R3 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3060M 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 3060M is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Alienware Aurora R3 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1866 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 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 R3 has 13 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3060M is inferior in this regard and packs 6 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. None of the desktop models has a USB 3.1 port (10Gb/s), so if you need a fast connection to your peripherals, like external Solid State Drive, you will need to look elsewhere.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 3060M has a DisplayPort. The Alienware Aurora R3 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 3060M comes with an HDMI port, while the Alienware Aurora R3 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 R3 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3060M has 1 slot(s).

If you want the fastest transfer speeds for your SSD, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, if the M.2 SSD slot is a mandatory requirement for you, go with the Dell OptiPlex 3060M. Sadly, the Alienware Aurora R3 has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.

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 3060M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R3 has a more powerful one rated at 875 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

Alienware_Aurora_R3_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_3060M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout