Alienware R13 - Review
Alienware are pushing further and further with each new generation of desktops and laptops. The Alienware R13 is their behemoth of a gaming desktop, and looks to be innovative in every aspect, from its design and hardware, to how it runs and operates.
Straight out of the box there is a lot to notice about the Aurora R13. The case looks like it’s straight out of an alien ship. It’s slick design with angled body is instantly appealing, the frosted look front makes the RGB effects stand out, without being too straining on the eye. The side window is large enough to see everything going on inside, and to marvel at the variety of colours that explode from it. Visually, the body is incredibly appealing. There is both a light and dark option, with the Lunar Light white body actually standing out a little bit more.
Problematically, the unit is large. Really large, and heavy. There is a lot going on under the hood, and this requires the space. The full-size GeForce RTX 30XX series GPUs are large, and the neat cable management allows for a lot of free space. There is plenty of upgrade room due to the larger case size, but it is something to be aware of. You are going to want a decent size space to put this tower and may need a second person to help you get it there. The R13 is very heavy, anywhere from 12 to 16kg. Once you’re set up, you aren’t going to want to move it again. There are reasons for this weight though, and it all comes down to the specs and performance.
The Aurora R13 uses the Legend 2.0 design that increases the internal volume by approximately 50%. With this much space, you’re going to add some body weight in allowing for the volume. The upside is there is completely tool-less accessibility, as well as better cable management and acoustics. There is also upgraded thermals, and if you’re wanting optimal cooling, you’re likely going to want to go with the Alienware Cryo-Tech™ liquid cooler, which is available for the first time on a desktop. The liquid cooler is going have your temps much lower and allow for far longer gaming sessions. The cooler itself is heavier and increases the overall body weight, but the trade-offs are far worth the extra kilos.
There is an issue to be noted here, and this isn’t something that is exclusive to these units but may occur. I was unfortunately met with a reboot problem, that appears to be either a BIOS issue and/or a GPU crash issue that is rectified by changing delay times in restart with the registry edit. For a lot of people, messing with the BIOS to update it, or working the regedit feature is not something they’d feel comfortable doing. Any windows system can suffer from this reboot issue and the R13 isn’t immune. There is plenty of information available about solutions, if you aren’t too bothered by having to do some work, but it is something to keep in mind.
The Aurora R13 all and all, is a behemoth of a gaming desktop. You’re looking at 12th generation Intel CPUs, a minimum start of 12GB DDR5 RAM, 512 GB PCIe SSD and 1TB SATA HDD options, as well as a choice of GPU starting from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3060 12GB model, up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090™ 10GB model that I got to have a play with. There is some serious gaming power available here across a variety of price ranges. All units are Windows 11 enabled, so you don’t have to worry about upgrading. The Motherboard contains internal Wi-Fi capability as well as Bluetooth 5.2 options, allowing for easy Bluetooth connection of controllers and headphones.
For those with many peripherals and accessories, USB and port accessibility is a big deal. There is so much accessibility here it borders on the ridiculous. On the high-end models you’ve got, just on the rear access alone:
1 SPDIF Digital Output (TOSLINK)
1 SPDIF Digital Output (Coax)
1 Rear Surround Output
1 Side Surround Output
1 Center/Subwoofer Output
1 Microphone In
1 Line In
1 Line Out
1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® (10Gbps)
1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C® (20Gbps)
2 USB 2.0 Type A
2 USB 2.0 Type A with Smart Power
2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5Gbps)
1 RJ-45 Killer™ E3100 Gigabit Ethernet
Plus, an additional 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and another Type-C port with Powershare technology. You’ve got amble USB space here. Perfectly designed for someone who wants to be streaming with multiple cameras and inputs, as well as for anyone in the creative field who finds themselves needing to plug 10 different things in simultaneously. There is plenty of accessory accessibility here, and the rear and front ports are well positioned that they are easily accessed without being in the way. The sheer amount of accessibility is truly amazing.
There is a big emphasis on the optimised airflow with this unit. Intake through the front, expelled through the rear. This is meant to result in less airflow obstruction and better performance. Whilst my unit remained relatively low temps across the board, even during the longer sessions I was able to do, this seemed to come at cost. Whether this was due to poor placement of the tower, or poor air circulation in general, the fan seemed to get very loud. So loud in fact, that other members of the household noted that they could hear it in the other room. This may have been a result of the reboot issue that was occurring, making the system run inefficiently or far beyond what it needed to. Final Fantasy XIV was the game of choice for pushing the system. Whilst not particularly graphically intensive, with all the effects on screen it can really push some systems.
During longer periods the unit got progressively louder then quietened. Perhaps this is a smart methodology of rapid cooling with high bursts of airflow, followed by maintenance cooling once they are sufficiently cooled. It is something to note that there will be periods of quiet loud fan-flow. If you are running sensitive microphone equipment it would be a good idea to keep an eye on this, as you may have to invest in noise suppression technology to help. The Aurora R13 however is going to be able to run any newer game at high specs and is going to have a long-term life cycle due to high end specs across all configurations of the system.
The Aurora R13 is an incredibly interestingly designed gaming desktop, with some very neat features. Tool-less accessibility and large chassis for upgradeability. A huge number of rear ports for USB, Surround Sound and SPDIF Digital Outputs. A sturdy body that isn’t going to topple or move anytime soon, as well some incredibly cool liquid cooling options. You’ll be set for the next decade at least before you need to upgrade, and with the easy access you’ll be able to upgrade pretty easily if you need. Huge amount of storage with the SSD and HDD, you’ll never run out of space. Whilst there is a rebooting issue that could occur, there is ample information out there on solutions, and it is not something unique to this system. Gaming will be your gem, as you will be able to play games as they were intended, with up to 4K compatibility and VR ready systems. The Aurora R13 is an incredibly impressive gaming desktop and is a great advancement in this space for Alienware themselves.
The Score
8.0
Review unit provided by Alienware
The Pros
+Huge amount of ports
+Tool-less accessibility
+Easy upgradeability
+Slick and cool design
The Cons
-Known reboot issue
-Very heavy
-Can get very noisy in less-than-optimal conditions
