Alienware Aurora R7
Specification and Upgrade Options
The Alienware Aurora R7 is a scalable gaming desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2018, it is built on the Z370 chipset and supports 8th gen Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DIMM DDR4-2666/2933 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 R7 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 R7 to play games?
Yes, Alienware Aurora R7 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 R7 support Windows 11?
Yes, Alienware Aurora R7 is compatible with Windows 11. According to Windows 11 specification, all models that have Intel 8th Gen processors (or newer) with TPM 2.0 support and a UEFI BIOS with Secure boot, are eligible to upgrade form Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.
Processor
The Alienware Aurora R7 supports Gen8 Intel Core technology on a Z370 chipset. 8th generation Intel Core CPUs (Coffee Lake) significantly increased core counts, improving multitasking and parallel workloads. Higher-end models perform well in software development, virtualization, and gaming scenarios.
Best CPUs for Alienware Aurora R7 upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 8500 | 6(6) | 3.0 GHz | 4.1 GHz |
| Core i5 8600 | 6(6) | 3.1 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| Core i7 8700 | 6(12) | 3.2 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
GPU upgrade
Alienware Aurora R7 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 R7 graphics card, but you should select a model that requires 850 W or less.
GPU upgrade options for Alienware Aurora R7 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 |
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 R7 supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2666/2933 RAM across four DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2933 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 R7 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.
Wi-Fi Support
Alienware Aurora R7 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 R7:
| 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 R7 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 R7 includes fifteen USB ports in total in the following configuration - (6x) USB 3.0 Type A; (6x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A; USB 3.0 Type C;The model include three USB 3.1 ports supporting up to 10 Gb/s transfer speeds.
Video ports
Alienware Aurora R7 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 R7 comes with four SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.
Alienware Aurora R7 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 R7 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 R7 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.
