Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Dell has a sizable lineup of gaming desktops, and each of them has a range of different pros and cons. With gaming desktops, power, price, and style are what matter the most. For that reason, the Alienware Aurora 11 is the overall best Dell gaming desktop that you can get your hands on due to its outstanding balance of power and price, and also its incredibly unique-looking aesthetic.
Best Overall: Alienware Aurora R11
The Alienware Aurora R11 is the best of the best when it comes to Dell's gaming desktop. It has supreme processing power with configurations up to Intel's latest 9th Gen i5, i,7, and i9 10th Gen processors. It also offers incredible graphics hardware, with up to dual RTX 2080 Tis available (this is overkill). Additionally, up to 64GB of RAM and up to a 2TB SSD can be added to the mix, making this PC an absolute beast at its highest specs. If you prefer something closer to the mid-range, don't worry, as the Alienware Aurora R11 comes with plenty of lower-spec configuration options.
In terms of aesthetics, the Alienware Aurora R11 is quite bold. Whereas most PC cases are angular, the Aurora R11 is distinctly rounded and curvaceous, making it stand out from the competition. Additionally, the white color scheme and prominent RGB lights give it an other-worldly feel, no doubt what Dell was going for stylistically. It's not a look everyone will enjoy, but I think many gamers will nonetheless appreciate the unique appearance.
Pros:
- Immense power
- Striking, bold aesthetic
- Tons of RAM and storage space
- Very configurable
- Best for top-end range
Cons:
- Can get expensive fast
Best Overall
Alienware Aurora R11
The best of the best
The Alienware Aurora R11's top-notch power and style make it our favorite.
Ryzen Alternative: Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition
If you like the sound of the Alienware Aurora R11, but you're not a fan of Intel hardware, then the Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition is for you. Whereas the Aurora R11 comes with Intel CPUs, the Aurora R10 features a wide selection of Ryzen chips. Everything from the modest Ryzen 5 3500 to the beastly Ryzen 9 3950X is available to choose from. These processors are paired with all the same GPU, RAM, and storage options that come with the Aurora R11, so you don't have to make sacrifices in other areas to go with Team Red. Lastly, the Aurora R10 comes with the same case design as its Intel-powered cousin, albeit with a darker gray color scheme.
If you're planning on putting together a rig that blurs the lines between the mid and high tiers instead of going for max power, we recommend going with the Alienware Aurora R10. This is because, generally, Ryzen processors beat out Intel's at the mid-range level, while Intel reigns supreme towards the top of the power scale.
Pros:
- Immense power
- Striking, bold aesthetic
- Tons of RAM and storage space
- Very configurable
- Best for mid-to-high range
Cons:
- Can get expensive fast
Ryzen Alternative
Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition
Team Red fans, rejoice!
The Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition is the Team Red variant of the Alienware Aurora R11.
Best Mid-Range: Dell G5 Gaming Desktop (2070S)
The Dell G5 Gaming Desktop is ideal for folks who want something on the more affordable side but still want to enjoy great performance in-game. This is currently Dell's budget gaming PC, but they make a special version of it that comes with an RTX 2070 Super, which we recommend for mid-range players. You can pair that GPU with a selection of strong i7 and i9 10th Gen Intel CPUs, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD space (plus additional non-SSD storage) for an overall great price.
In terms of aesthetics, Dell went with a less aggressive and more traditional PC tower design with the G5 desktop. However, there are still RGB accents and decorate angular design elements, meaning that your rig will come off as a gaming system to friends and family who take a peek.
Pros:
- Great power
- Traditional design with "gamer" accents
- Plenty of RAM and storage
- Best for mid-range
Cons:
- Not as powerful as Alienware options
- Not as configurable
Best Mid-Range
Dell G5 Gaming Desktop (2070S)
Balanced offering
Dell's G5 Gaming Desktop with an RTX 2070 Super is an excellent option for mid-range buyers.
Best Budget: Dell G5 Gaming Desktop
If you're looking for something that can perform well for a more affordable cost, the standard variant of the Dell G5 Gaming Desktop will be right up your alley. There's a strong variety of NVIDIA's budget-friendly graphics cards that you can choose for it, ranging from the humble GTX 1650 Super to the capable and reliable RTX 2060 Super. Additionally, i3, i5, i7, and i9 10th Gen Intel CPUs are all available to pick from, and you can get up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage for the PC as well. It's not as powerful as other options, but it's also more affordable, making it our favorite budget options.
Pros:
- Solid power
- Traditional design with "gamer" accents
- Good RAM and storage
- Best for people on budgets
Cons:
- Least powerful option on this list
- Not as configurable
Best Budget
Dell G5 Gaming Desktop
Go low, ride high
The standard Dell G5 Gaming Desktop is a superb option for budget buyers, offering good performance at a fair price.
Bottom line
When it comes to the top gaming desktops, a good balance between power, price, and style is essential. When picking a gaming rig to purchase, you need to make sure that your system has a strong GPU. You'll also need are a reliable processor, 8GB of RAM minimum (16GB is recommended, 32GB is good for prosumer systems, and 64GB is overkill), and enough storage to support your game library. Using an SSD for storage is preferred since their faster speeds will allow you to get through loading screens quicker.
Dell's gaming desktops are among some of the absolute best on the market. Among them, our favorite is the Alienware Aurora R11. It offers a phenomenal amount of power, storage, RAM, and style. Additionally, the many different configurations available mean that you can get the exact specs that you want with it.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's relatively new to the writing scene, but he counters that lack of experience with a rock-solid work ethic and a desire to improve at every opportunity. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.
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