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Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Two-minute review
When the rebooted Alienware Aurora R16 launched some years ago, we praised it as a capable pre-built gaming desktop that balanced a unique design with capable performance.
Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40, the Aurora delivers solid performance across the configuration stack, though higher-spec configurations will obviously see the best performance. It also features some really clever ventilation alongside easy access to its internals, though the interior is rather uninspiring.
For many, the proprietary motherboard and limited upgradability, once configured, are also slightly problematic.
All that said, one thing that just might make this the best gaming PC around is the wide variety of configurations on offer, split between RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080 GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 CPUs, with lots of options for storage and memory.
My $2,049.99 / £2,148.98 / AU$3,699.30 review build came packed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Nvidia RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. That’s just enough for 1440p gaming at respectable frame rates, though our benchmarks showed that there hasn’t been much of a framerate gain in many games over the Aurora R16 from 2023.
However, the latest models can play more recently released games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Black Myth: Wukong at good frame rates if settings expectations are managed.
On the other hand, a game like Cyberpunk 2077, which was already fairly old back in 2023, doesn’t gain significant FPS with the 50-series GPU either, unless you use multi-frame generation, which can sometimes introduce a distracting input latency under heavy load.
That said, the new RTX GPUs do feature better AI upscaling through DLSS 4, and the Alienware Command Center app does help a bit when attempting to fine-tune performance.
Other customization options, such as the various RGB lighting settings for the power button, light ring, and other lights, can be managed through the app, too.
Right now, the Aurora R16 remains a striking desktop that blends futuristic design with solid performance, but its limited, post-purchase upgradability and plain interior may disappoint enthusiasts. And while the new 50-series GPUs bring improved AI upscaling and reliable 1440p gameplay, raw framerate gains over the previous generation are modest.
However, for gamers who prioritize style, customization, and dependable out-of-the-box performance, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) still stands as one of the best pre-built options on the market.
Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Price & availability
- How much does it cost? Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40
- When is it available? It is on sale now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) gaming PC is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40.
My review configuration costs $2,099.99 / £2,198.98 / AU$3,749.30, and is built for solid 1440p performance, though there are cheaper and more expensive builds available that target 1080p and 4K gaming.
The cheapest option for US buyers is a rig featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD for some quality 1080p gaming, while those looking for a more maxed-out gaming desktop can get an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Nvidia RTX 5080, 64GB, and up to 8TB (2x4TB) SSD storage.
My review configuration is actually cheaper than the 2023 Aurora gaming desktop that featured the mid-tiered 40-series of Nvidia’s GPU by around $100, so the price of the Aurora desktop hasn’t really gone up.
Despite the new CPU and GPU, though, benchmarks aren’t necessarily better, which means users could find a mid-tier 40-series version of the gaming desktop somewhere for cheaper and get roughly the same native performance, so the biggest draw here is the multi-frame generation.
Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Base configuration |
Review configuration |
Max configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40 |
$2,099.99 / £2048.99 / AU$3,498 |
$4,009.99 / £4,410.19 / AU$5,663.90 |
|
OS |
Windows 11 Home |
Windows 11 Home |
Windows 11 Pro |
|
CPU |
Intel Core Ultra 7 265F |
Intel Core Ultra 7 265F |
Intel Core Ultra 9 285F |
|
GPU |
Nvidia RTX 5060 |
Nvidia RTX 5070 |
Nvidia RTX 5080 |
|
Memory |
16GB DDR5-5200 |
32GB DDR5-5200 (16GB in Australia) |
64GB DDR5-6400 (32GB DDR5-5200 in Australia) |
|
SSD |
1TB SSD |
1TB SSD |
2 x 4TB SSD (8TB total, 1TB in Australia) |
|
PSU |
500W |
1000W |
1000W |
|
CPU Cooling |
Air Cooler |
240mm AIO Liquid Cooler |
240mm AIO Liquid Cooler |
|
Chassis |
Solid side panel |
Clear side panel |
Clear side panel |
With a wide array of configuration options on offer with the latest Nvidia RTX 50-series and Intel Core Ultra 200-series chips, you won’t have any trouble configuring a system to your specific performance needs.
The lack of easy upgradability once you have the system in hand, though, does take away from the overall package, but for a prebuilt system, it’s hard to beat.
Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Design
- No major design changes from last year’s model
- Plenty of ventilation and easy access to internals
- Rather boring internals make the glass panel less appealing
The 2025 refresh of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop carries forward the Alienware Aurora R16’s familiar strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for its enhanced cooling and port design.
This includes the extensive cooling and ventilation system, which combines a side hexagonal array, top exhaust, and front stadium intake. According to Alienware, this makes the desktop around 20 percent quieter and about seven percent cooler than the Alienware Aurora R15.
Beyond the looks is a rig that also offers plenty of ports in both the front and rear, which should serve users of all kinds, from content curators to the most serious gaming enthusiasts.
The front ports include a global 3.5mm headset jack, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) with PowerShare technology. In the rear, there’s a line-in and line-out port, optical audio port, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, and a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Unfortunately, there’s no six-channel 3.5mm audio connection for those who want surround sound set-ups.
It doesn’t help that the cramped space inside will make it difficult for anyone who wants to add something like a sound card into the mix. That extends to how hard it’ll be to upgrade to bigger GPUs in the future as well. At least access to the inside is made easy through one simple screw and latch.
All together, the latest Aurora gaming desktop keeps the sleek, futuristic look of its predecessor while delivering improved cooling, quieter operation, and a wide range of ports. However, limited internal space and upgrade challenges remain its biggest drawbacks, making it best suited for gamers who prioritize style and ready-made performance over long-term expandability.
Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Performance
- 1440p performance doesn’t significantly improve over the 40-series edition
- Alienware Command Center can help fine-tune performance
- Higher-spec or base-spec configurations provide a better value
When looking at the performance of the latest iteration of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop, the 1440p performance of my review unit looks and feels very impressive, but if you look back to the 2023 benchmarks on this system’s predecessor, the refreshed CPU and GPU pairing doesn’t translate into a dramatic leap in raw power.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Alienware Aurora ACT1250 |
NZXT Player PC |
Lenovo Legion Tower 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Single) |
3,071 |
3,081 |
2,594 |
|
Geekbench 6 (Multi) |
20,010 |
18,984 |
13,554 |
|
Cinebench R23 (Single) |
2,257 |
2,263 |
1,693 |
|
Cinebench R23 (Multi) |
35,446 |
35,226 |
17,376 |
|
Cinebench R24 (Single) |
136 |
137 |
104 |
|
Cinebench R24 (Multi) |
1,979 |
1,923 |
934 |
|
Crossmark Overall |
2,301 |
2,298 |
1,846 |
|
Crossmark Productivity |
2,152 |
2,159 |
1,734 |
|
Crossmark Creativity |
2,548 |
2,495 |
2,127 |
|
Crossmark Responsiveness |
2,069 |
2,166 |
1,454 |
For instance, Cyberpunk 2077, which remains one of the most demanding titles despite its 2020 release, manages only about 16fps at native 4K on the older build, and with the new Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 combo, performance nudges only slightly higher to 17fps. That makes DLSS upscaling essential, though even then, don’t expect substantial gains in titles from the past couple of years.
In more recent tests, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II averaged below 30fps at 1440p max settings (rising to roughly 40-50fps with DLSS), while Doom: The Dark Ages delivered 40-50fps with path tracing enabled.
Meanwhile, Forza Motorsport (2023) held a steady 60fps at 1440p with ray tracing on, maintaining the same level with DLSS active. One great thing about the 50-series is that DLSS 4 does a much better job at preventing (or at least greatly reducing) the ghosting effect that has plagued upscaling tech since the beginning.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Alienware Aurora ACT1250 |
NZXT Player PC |
Lenovo Legion Tower 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3DMark Fire Strike |
44,913 |
45,049 |
43,845 |
|
3DMark Steel Nomad |
5,224 |
4,967 |
5,495 |
|
3DMark Speed Way |
5,741 |
5,855 |
5,960 |
|
3DMark Port Royal |
14,062 |
14,139 |
14,302 |
One factor that can boost CPU performance is the option to choose between air or liquid cooling, which not only supports higher frame rates but also helps extend the overall lifespan of the components.
Another way to boost frame rates is through the Alienware Command Center app that comes pre-installed. Here, users can customize settings for games, change performance settings, and customize the RGB lighting too.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Alienware Aurora ACT1250 |
NZXT Player PC |
Lenovo Legion Tower 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra preset) |
69 |
70 |
72 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, Highest) |
202 |
201 |
207 |
|
F1 2024 (1080p, Very High, DLSS Quality) |
104 |
97 |
119 |
|
Total War: Warhammer III: Mirrors of Madness (1080p, Ultra) |
181 |
182 |
172 |
Outside of gaming, the Aurora R16 handles creative tasks with ease. It smoothly manages Adobe Photoshop projects with multiple high-resolution layers with no slowdown, while 10-minute 1080p videos in Premiere Pro render and export in seconds, and 4K projects finish within just a few minutes.
This makes it a reliable option not only for gamers but also for content creators who need a system that balances performance across both worlds.
Though the Alienware Aurora ACT1250 may not deliver a massive performance leap over past generations, it refines the experience with smarter cooling, better DLSS support, and versatile software controls.
For gamers and creators alike, it remains a sleek, capable desktop that balances style with reliable all-around performance.
Should I buy the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250)?
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
The Alienware Aurora ACT1250 balances style and power across a wide range of price points. For gamers who value design and performance over long-term upgrades, it’s an easy recommendation. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Specs |
With a lot of configuration options available and the most up-to-date hardware, you have a wide range of specs available with this PC. The proprietary motherboard and limited expandability isn’t great though. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
Though there haven’t been any tweaks to the Aurora Desktop over the past couple of years, it still stands out as something futuristic despite issues with the proprietary motherboard, which limits upgradability in areas. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Don’t expect max settings at 1440p resolution without using DLSS upscaling, as native performance is good but not great compared to other mid-tier offerings. Those who want 1080p and 4K performance will be satisfied on that end of the spectrum for sure. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Final Score |
The refreshed Alienware Aurora ACT1250 gaming desktopremains a futuristic-looking gaming desktop that delivers solid 1080p and 4K performance across price points, even if its mid-tier value and limited upgradability hold it back. |
4.38 / 5 |
Buy the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) if…
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Also Consider
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How I tested the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250)
- I tested it using games like Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- I ran TechRadar’s standard suite of PC benchmarks
- I used creative software like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro for long stretches
built-inOutside of the standard PC benchmarks I run for my reviews, including builkt-in gaming benchmarks in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I also tested modern games including Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II for its real-world gaming performance.
For day-to-day tasks, I used it as my day-to-day work PC for about two weeks, including extensive creative work through Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
Read more about how we test
- First reviewed October 2025
Read the full article here
