Alienware Aurora R7 vs. Dell OptiPlex 7080M
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Alienware Aurora R7 and Dell OptiPlex 7080M
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 Dell OptiPlex 7080M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R7 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 7080M 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
The Alienware Aurora R7 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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.
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. 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 R7 has 15 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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. It's great that both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. But if you need maximum connectivity, go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080M as it has 4 USB3.1 ports (the Alienware Aurora R7 has 3).
Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 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 R7 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has 1 slot(s).
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 7080M 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 7080M comes with a decent 180 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
