Can you upgrade the GPU of Dell Alienware Aurora R5 to play games?

Yes, the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 is a dedicated gaming machine. It comes equipped with a dedicated GPU (up to GeForce RTX 2070 Super) and supports full-sized graphics card upgrades, provided your power supply handles the specific wattage requirements.

Does the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 support Windows 11?

No, the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 does not officially support Windows 11 because it uses a 6th Gen Intel CPU (8th Gen or newer is required). However, you can still install Windows 11 manually using the official ISO.

What is the maximum RAM for Dell Alienware Aurora R5?

The Dell Alienware Aurora R5 supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2133/2400 memory. It typically features four DIMM slots for expansion.

Does the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 have an M.2 SSD slot?

Yes, the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 comes with 1 M.2 slot(s) for high-speed SSDs. It also includes SATA ports for additional hard drives or 2.5-inch SSDs.

What processors does the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 support?

The Dell Alienware Aurora R5 supports Gen 6 Intel Core processors using the Z170 chipset.

Does the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 have a USB-C port?

Yes, the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 features 1 USB-C port(s) for high-speed data transfer and modern peripheral connectivity.

What video ports does the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 have?

The Dell Alienware Aurora R5 comes equipped with the following on-board video ports: no standard video ports.

How many monitors can Dell Alienware Aurora R5 support?

The Dell Alienware Aurora R5 can support up to 0 monitor(s) simultaneously via its on-board motherboard ports. Please note that using these ports requires a processor with integrated graphics (iGPU). If you install a dedicated graphics card, the number of supported monitors will depend on the card's specifications.

When was the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 released?

The Dell Alienware Aurora R5 was first released in 2015.

Does the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 have a slot for a Wi-Fi card?

Yes, the Dell Alienware Aurora R5 features a dedicated M.2 2230 slot for a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo card. While the unit may not always ship with the card installed, the slot allows for easy wireless connectivity upgrades.

Alienware Aurora R5

Specification and Upgrade Options

The Alienware Aurora R5 is a scalable gaming desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2015, it is built on the Z170 chipset and supports 6th gen Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DIMM DDR4-2133/2400 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 R5 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.

Specification

Model
Form factor	Mid Tower
CPU options	Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;
Chipset	Z170
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce RTX 2070 Super
RAM	DIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots	4
RAM speed	2400 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB
USB ports	(5x) USB 3.0 Type A; (6x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A;
Video ports	N/A
Other ports	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog; Front, side, center, rare outputs;
Optional ports	DisplayPort
SATA ports	4
PCI slots	(x2) PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe 3.0 x4;
M.2 slots	M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2280/2260/2240 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe);
Drive bays	(2x) 2.5in; 3.25in;
PSU	460/850 W
Weight	14.62 kg (32.23 lb)
Released	2015
Manual	link
Price**	Check Price

* 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.
** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Can you upgrade Alienware Aurora R5 to play games?

Yes, Alienware Aurora R5 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 R5 support Windows 11?

No, Alienware Aurora R5 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 R5 supports Gen6 Intel Core technology on a Z170 chipset. 6th generation Intel Core CPUs (Skylake) represent a more modern baseline for productivity and development workloads. Lower-end CPUs are suitable for office use and programming, while higher-end i7 models can handle home lab setups, multiple virtual machines, and more demanding emulation. Gaming performance is acceptable with appropriate GPUs, though modern titles may expose CPU limitations.

Best CPUs for Alienware Aurora R5 upgrade:

Model	Cores (Threads)	Base frequency	Turbo
Core i5 6500	4(4)	3.2 GHz	3.6 GHz
Core i5 6600	4(4)	3.3 GHz	3.9 GHz
Core i7 6700	4(8)	3.4 GHz	4.0 GHz

GPU upgrade

Alienware Aurora R5 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 RTX 2070 Super. You can upgrade Alienware Aurora R5 graphics card, but you should select a model that requires 850 W or less.

GPU upgrade options for Alienware Aurora R5 with the stock 850W 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

* Typically, the stock power supply in a OEM gaming PCs have the necessary 6 or 8 pin connectors and you don't need any adapters to power the GPU. However, if this is not the case, you may need to use a low-power GPU or a SATA to PCIe power adapter. Alternatively, you can change the entire PSU.

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 R5 supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2133/2400 RAM across four DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2400 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 R5 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.

Wi-Fi Support

Alienware Aurora R5 supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card with the on-board M.2 2230 (Wi-Fi/BT) slot. The card contains a Wi-Fi module that supports various Wi-Fi standards, as well as a Bluetooth module. It is small circuit board that is designed to fit into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.

Keep in mind that the card is not always included and you have to install one yourself.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Alienware Aurora R5:

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 R5 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 R5 includes thirteen USB ports in total in the following configuration - (5x) USB 3.0 Type A; (6x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A;The model include two USB 3.1 ports supporting up to 10 Gb/s transfer speeds.

Video ports

Alienware Aurora R5 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 R5 comes with four SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.

Alienware Aurora R5 has also one M.2 socket(s) that supports PCIe NVMe or SATA M.2 drives. However, this socket is limited to PCIe 3.0 x2, thus lowering the NVMe speed to 2 GB/s. This configuration is good for both gaming and work related tasks.

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.

Best PCIe NVMe drives for Alienware Aurora R5 storage upgrade:

Model	Form factor / Interface	NAND type	DRAM
Samsung 980 PRO SSD	M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe	TLC	Yes
CORSAIR MP600 PRO	M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe	TLC	Yes
SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus	M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe	TLC	Yes
Western Digital Black SN770	M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe	TLC	Yes
Kingston A2000	M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe	TLC	Yes

Power Supply

The Alienware Aurora R5 comes with a 850 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 850 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.