Alienware Aurora R3
Specification and Upgrade Options
The Alienware Aurora R3 is a scalable gaming desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2011, it is built on the P67 chipset and supports 2th gen Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of DIMM DDR3-1333/1866 memory. Thanks to its larger chassis, it accommodates dedicated graphics cards, making it an excellent candidate for a gaming PC conversion or a high-performance workstation.
The Mid Tower form factor is usually used in gaming and workstations configurations. If you are looking for a system with maximum upgradability, Alienware Aurora R3 is a very good option. Models in this category usually have 4x PCIe slots, several drive bays and space for liquid and large size air cooling.
Can you upgrade Alienware Aurora R3 to play games?
Yes, Alienware Aurora R3 is a gaming machine pre-assembled with dictated graphics card. You can easily play games and upgrade it with better hardware components. Processors, memory modules, and storage devices are easy to install. However, these PCs sometime have proprietary elements like the power supply unit, the chassis or the power connector, which can make it difficult for users to install aftermarket PSUs to support better GPUs.
Does Alienware Aurora R3 support Windows 11?
No, Alienware Aurora R3 does not meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements. According to Windows 11 specification, all models with Intel 7th Gen CPU or older are not officially supported. Processor with TPM 2.0 and a UEFI Secure boot BIOS is also required in order to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.
However, anyone with PC that does not pass the upgrade test can download the official Windows 11 ISO, make a bootable flash drive, and install the OS manually.
Processor
The Alienware Aurora R3 supports Gen2 Intel Core technology on a P67 chipset. 2nd generation Intel Core CPUs (Sandy Bridge) vary widely in performance depending on the specific model. Lower-end CPUs are best suited for office productivity, basic computer programming, and lightweight home lab use. Higher-end quad-core i7 models can handle basic virtualization, small homelab setups, and entry-level emulation, while gaming is limited to older or less demanding titles even when paired with a modern GPU.
Best CPUs for Alienware Aurora R3 upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 2500 | 4(8) | 3.3 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Core i7 2600 | 4(8) | 3.4 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Core i7 2700K | 4(8) | 3.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
GPU upgrade
Alienware Aurora R3 is a gaming computer and comes assembled with a dedicated graphics card. According to the specification the best possible GPU you can use with it is GeForce GTX 1650 Super. You can upgrade Alienware Aurora R3 graphics card, but you should select a model that requires 875 W or less.
GPU upgrade options for Alienware Aurora R3 with the stock 875W power supply:
| GPU | Power consumption | Memory | Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD RX 6600 | 160 W | 8 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
| NVIDIA RTX 2060 | 170 W | 6 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
| AMD RX 6600 XT | 165 W | 8 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
| NVIDIA RTX 2070 | 175 W | 8 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
| NVIDIA RTX 3060 | 170 W | 8 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
| NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super | 215 W | 8 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
| NVIDIA RTX 2080 | 220 W | 8 GB DDR6 | *Dual SATA to PCIe adapter |
Please note that upgrading to a more power-hungry GPU requires a better PSU. However, in most cases, this may not be possible because most OEM pre-built PCs have motherboards that use a proprietary power connector. Nevertheless, this problem can be solved by using a power adapter. The more challenging problem arises when the model has a non-standard chassis or power supply, in which case upgrading the PSU becomes much harder.
Memory
Alienware Aurora R3 supports up to 32 GB of DIMM DDR3-1333/1866 RAM across four DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 1866 MT/s and dual-channel support depending on the installed configuration.
Actual supported memory capacity and memory channels may vary depending on the installed CPU and chipset.
Typical Alienware Aurora R3 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.
Wi-Fi Support
Alienware Aurora R3 doesn't come with any on-board Wi-Fi support. In that case, you have two options to upgrade this model with Wi-Fi. You either use an external USB Wi-Fi adapter (wireless network dongle) or a PCIe-based wireless adapter.
The USB dongle is much more convenient and easy to install, but has less space for a decent antenna and can have thermal problems. On the other hand, the PCIe based adapter is much more powerful, more reliable, and has better antenna, but it is harder to install.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Alienware Aurora R3:
| Model | Speed | Frequency | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 6E (Gig+) Kit | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Rekong AX210 | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Gigabyte GC-Wbax200 | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer TX50E | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer T9UH | 1300 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | USB 3.0 |
Ports
Alienware Aurora R3 provides a fixed set of external I/O ports for connecting peripherals and displays. Port availability and versions determine supported data transfer speeds and display capabilities.
USB ports
Alienware Aurora R3 includes thirteen USB ports in total in the following configuration - (5x) USB 3.0 Type A; (8x) USB-A 2.0; with no USB 3.1 ports available.
Video ports
Alienware Aurora R3 does not include a DisplayPort output.
No HDMI output is available on the motherboard.
Motherboard video outputs require a CPU with integrated graphics. Systems equipped with a dedicated GPU must use the video ports on the graphics card instead.
SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports
The Alienware Aurora R3 comes with four SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.
Unfortunately, the Alienware Aurora R3 has no M.2 PCIe soket and you have to rely on the available SATA ports to connect your drives.
The M.2 PCIe SSD connector in combination with an NVMe drive allows for higher transfer rates, compared to the old SATA interface. In some situations, NVMe device connected to the M.2 PCIe socket can be more than 5 times faster.
*Keep in mind that some M.2 connectors may not support SATA SSDs. Check the motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.
Power Supply
The Alienware Aurora R3 comes with a 875 Watt PSU. Having a power supply with high power rating is important, especially if you are doing upgrade with addtional components, like dedicated GPU and more HDDs. Will this 875 W be enough, it all depends on your specific use. Please keep in mind that some models might have more than one PSU option. Whenever possible get the most powerful one, as it might make future upgrades easier.
Motherboard
