Alienware Aurora R12 vs. Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_Aurora_R12.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7080_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMid TowerSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen11 i3/i5/i7/i9;Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7/i9;
ChipsetZ490Q470
Dedicated GPU *GeForce RTX 3090GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-3200/3400DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots44
RAM speed3400 MT/s2933 MT/s
RAM max128 GB128 GB
USB ports(6x) USB 3.0 Type A; USB 3.0 Type C; (6x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A;USB 3.1 Type C; (2x) USB-A 3.1; (3x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsN/A(2x) Display Port 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog; Front, side, center, rare outputs;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsDisplayPortHDMI2.0b/DP1.4/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); SD4.0; 2xWiFi antenna;
SATA ports43
PCI slots(x2) PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe 3.0 x4;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4 (open ended);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays(2x) 2.5in; 3.25in;3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU550/1000 W200 W
Weight17.80 kg (39.24 lb)5.28 Kg (11.63 lb)
Released20212020
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

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* 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 R12 and Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Alienware Aurora R12 which was released in 2021. The Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF is older and entered production in 2020.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R12 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 Alienware Aurora R12 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF 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.

The Alienware Aurora R12 is using the faster 3400 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2933 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 128 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 R12 has 15 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF 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 SFF has a DisplayPort. The Alienware Aurora R12 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 R12 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF has 3 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 7080 SFF has 1 M.2 slots while the Alienware Aurora R12 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 SFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R12 has a more powerful one rated at 1000 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_R12_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7080_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout