The best Alienware gaming PCs are some of our favourite PCs for gaming. So much so, many of them appear on our best gaming PC list for their stellar performance and reliability. Alienware has long been one of the big names in the PC market, and that isn't without good reason.
From the Aurora desktop range to the brand's solid line of laptops, Alienware is a great pick if you're looking to take the next step in your gaming computer journey. We're going to concentrate on the Aurora prebuilds in this article, but you'll find more about the best gaming laptops elsewhere.
You've certainly picked an exciting time to look for an Alienware gaming PC. November can only mean one thing, and that's Black Friday gaming PC deals. We're expecting big things from this year's peak trading season, especially since the chip shortage issue that has plagued the gaming hardware market in recent years is finally at an end. In particular, the best SSDs for gaming have experienced a shift this year, with many models getting extremely cheap. Elsewhere, the best graphics cards are also overdue a shake-up. With a new 40 Series releasing over the current few months, prebuilt gaming PCs like Alienware's Auroras that contain the famously elusive 30 series might start to get cheaper.
What's clear to us is that no matter which way you look at it, Black Friday gaming deals are going to be very exciting this year. If you're looking to score big with an Alienware gaming PC deal this month, it might be a good idea to read up on which machine is for you by checking out our list below.
Best Alienware gaming PC
(opens in new tab)The Alienware Aurora R13 is the latest in the long line of Dell's machines and it also happens to be the best in our opinion. Featuring a fresh new look, highly configurable components, and support for the latest PCIe 5.0 bandwidth, this is one space-age rig that's truly ready for the future of PC gaming.
Gaming on the Alienware Aurora R13 was a very pleasant experience
Alienware Aurora R13 review
Regardless of how you configure your device, one constant is the design of the Alienware Aurora R13 itself, with its new see-through window panel revealing more of the brand's impressive lighting and AIO cooler. Transparency is always appreciated in our book, as you get to physically see the components at work, making it easier to swap things out when needed, too, so it's a welcome addition.
The main weakness of the Alienware Aurora R13 is the same issue that's plagued many of the systems in our roundup, and that's the cooling. Dell has opted for a 120mm AIO water cooler in this machine this time around, and while a marginal improvement given the hardware here, the small size radiator/pump combo does struggle to cool the demanding components sometimes. It's loud, too. Still, the performance on display certainly speaks for itself and is easily the best Alienware you can get in 2022.
- Read more: Alienware Aurora R13 review
(opens in new tab)While carrying an MSRP of $1,400, you can commonly find the entry-level Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition selling around the $1,275 mark, which nets you a system that's more than capable of 1080p60 and 1440p with few compromises to speak of. It should be said that Alienware machines are far from the cheapest on the market, however, you do benefit from the brand's exceptional build quality and manufacturer's guarantee.
There's no doubting the machine's performance, so you can't really go wrong with this gaming PC from a capability perspective Aurora Ryzen R10 review
Deep diving into what's possible with the hardware inside this budget-built Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition machine, and this model certainly has enough grunt under the hood to keep up. This is because the GTX 1660 Ti is equipped with 6GB GDDR6 memory, and can deliver more-than-playable frame rates in titles such as Godfall, Resident Evil Village, Far Cry 6, and Doom Eternal well above a consistent 60 FPS in 1440p. Full HD performance is even stronger, with the same titles pushing upwards of the 100 FPS mark in some instances. You're lacking ray tracing and DLSS support, however, given the native prowess of the card in these resolutions, it isn't a feature that's essential for the price point.
- Read more: Alienware Aurora R10 review
The Aurora R12 gaming pc is still a solid option in 2022. Basically, in short, this is the model to go for if you want to build your own Alienware gaming PC and ensure it has the latest gear inside it, even with the R13 now technically taking its place. The two systems live side-by-side.
Sporting the latest in Nvidia's 30-series graphics cards to offer best-in-class performance as well as the benefits of the latest in ray-tracing tech, DLSS, and more, these beasts will present your games to you in their best possible light (no pun intended.) Combined with the latest Intel processors, you can be sure that the power and capability of the PCs will be nothing short of impressive, and be able to handle anything thrown at it.
You'll have a great pick for supporting components too with up to a ridiculous amount of storage and RAM on offer too. The R12 really is one of the best Alienware gaming PCs that money can buy, and while they are a sizeable investment, there'll be no regrets about what you'll get out of it.
Best Alienware gaming PCs - Frequently asked questions
Is Alienware good for gaming?
Alienware is one of the best gaming PC brands with hardware and software geared specifically around gaming. Programmes such as Alienware Command Centre gives users good control over how their system operates in everything from the fan speeds to the RGB colors, too. In our testing, we've found Alienware machines to work incredibly well depending on their overall configuration.
Is Alienware worth it?
We think that Alienware is worth the price of investment despite the premium price tag these machines usually carry. All Alienware machines that we've had our hands on have been very well built and able to be pushed to their limits. One thing we can tell you, though, is that Alienware PCs do get quite loud and warm under stress, but that's ultimately par the course depending on how high-end you go for.
How much does an Alienware gaming PC cost?
Alienware gaming PCs generally start from around the $1,100 mark depending on what hardware you opt for in your machine. It's entirely possible to find Alienware gaming PC deals all year round, but you can also find deep discounts often, too, with frequent special events.
Is Alienware just Dell?
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Almost! Alienware is a subsidiary of Dell, which means they're a company that is directly owned, and will be influenced by Dell, but they aren't Dell directly. Alienware focuses directly on the gaming PC and gaming laptop market, and a lot of their products tend to take on a lot more flashy design work that isn't typically found in Dell's product ranges.
Will Alienware gaming PCs go on sale for Black Friday?
Last year, we saw some pretty great deals on the Aurora R10 and Aurora R12 from Dell directly. This year, given the state of the GPU and SSD markets, we'd hope to see these, as well as some of our other favourite gaming PCs go on sale for Black Friday and potentially Cyber Monday, if stock levels hold.
Black Friday this year will fall on Friday 25th of November, with deals starting anywhere in the week or two before the day itself.
You'll also find guides to the best gaming mouse, best gaming keyboard, and best gaming monitor if you're refreshing your whole setup as well.