Sean Captain

Alienware Aurora DDR

Our review unit's towering black case came stocked with a 1.4-GHz Athlon processor, 256MB of fast 266-MHz DDR SDRAM main memory, and an NVidia GeForce3-based ELSA Gladiac 920 graphics board with 64MB of DDR SDRAM. Those powerful core components propelled the system to a score of 193 on our PC WorldBench 2000 tests. With that score, the Aurora tied the 1.4-GHz Micron Millennia Max XP2 as the second-fastest Windows Me system we've tested, and it came in at just 4 points (or about 2 percent) behind the current speed champ, the almost identically configured Falcon Northwest Mach V. The Aurora DDR offers unparalleled sound performance through the brand-new Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 speaker system. Building on the stellar Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 system (recipient of a 2001 World Class award), the 5.1 system adds a fifth satellite speaker for the center channel of Dolby 5.1 sound (which is supported by most DVD movies, but not by music CDs). The system also comes with a giant subwoofer that shook the floor of the PC World Test Center. In a design move seemingly inspired by the fictional rock group Spinal Tap, the volume-control knob goes well beyond 10, all the way up to 80--but we were truly too frightened to crank it past 60. In addition to raw power, the Klipsch system delivered excellent sound fidelity, with clean bass and treble tones and clear voice quality.
At $3599, this system is a difficult purchase to justify on rational grounds (not that game fanatics worry about being rational). Compared with similarly equipped systems, the Aurora DDR's frame-rate scores were fast, but still in the middle of the pack in Quake III (151.4 frames per second at 800 by 600 resolution and 190.8 fps at 640 by 480) and Microsoft Flight Simulator (56.7 fps at 800 by 600). However, it posted the second-highest score (113 fps at 640 by 480) in Expendable.
The bundled NEC MultiSync FE 1250+ monitor (ranked number six on our June review of large monitors) provides a spacious 20-inch viewing area and generally good quality, but 12-point text appeared thin and wispy at 1280 by 1024 resolution, and our test document had a slight grayish tint. DVD playback quality was about average, though our test film appeared a little dark. An expansion card with two IEEE 1394 ports lets you import digital video from a camcorder, which you can then cut into your own cinematic masterpiece with the bundled Pinnacle Studio DV video-editing software. Alienware offers customers the option to purchase games with the PC: Our unit came with Unreal Tournament, Thief II, Deus Ex, Giants: Citizen Kabuto, and MDK2. Other bundled software included Microsoft Works Suite 2001 and Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 2000, Ghost, and Virtual Drive. Befitting the system's gaming nature, Alienware added a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2 joystick. Three of the system's four externally accessible 5.25-inch drive bays are stocked with a 16X DVD-ROM drive, a 16X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, and a Creative LiveDrive, which provides an assortment of input and output ports beyond those found on regular sound cards. Also included is a remote for controlling music playback from the comfort of your couch or recliner. All of the removable-media drives, along with the power and reset buttons, are hidden behind a black door (protected by a lock) on the front of the system. While it makes the system look neater, the door hinders access to the drives and blocks the infrared remote control sensor. Likely built with overclocking in mind, this system comes with a startling nine cooling fans. In addition to units on the power supply, processor, and chip set, the Aurora DDR provides a fan for the hard drive and four chassis fans, including one on the side panel that you must disconnect as you swing the panel off to access the cavernous interior. Nevertheless, this system runs surprisingly quietly, with only a mild whooshing sound. Expansion room is limited to one free PCI slot, one free internal bay, and two free externally accessible bays (one 5.25-inch and one 3.5-inch), though the system comes well stocked. Alienware offers no system manual; instead, it includes a custom binder (labeled "Top Secret... For Your Eyes Only") that provides configuration details, including every component's IRQ assignment. The binder lacks detailed instructions and illustrations for setup and upgrades, however. A generic setup poster is included. In place of the black color scheme, users can choose to have the entire system (tower, monitor, keyboard, and four-button optical USB mouse) coated in one of seven other colors with sci-fi names such as Cyborg Green, Martian Red, and Saucer Silver. All interior wires and cables were carefully routed and tucked out of the way, allowing easy access for upgrades.
The Aurora DDR is a well-crafted, handsome power machine for gamers and digital-media fans who are willing to foot the hefty bill.

Buying Information

Alienware Aurora DDR PC WorldBench 2000 score of 193, Athlon-1400 CPU, 256MB of DDR SDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, Windows Me, 60GB hard drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 16X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, ELSA Gladiac 920 graphics card with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, 22-inch NEC MultiSync FE 1250+ monitor, Creative Sound Blaster Live Platinum sound card, Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 speakers, V.90 modem, network adapter, tower case, Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2 joystick, Microsoft Works Suite 2001, Pinnacle Studio DV, Thief II, Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex. Three-year parts warranty, one-year labor warranty; free unlimited toll-free 24-hour tech support. $ 3599 PC WorldBench 2000 score of 193, Athlon-1400 CPU, 256MB of DDR SDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, Windows Me, 60GB hard drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 16X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, ELSA Gladiac 920 graphics card with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, 22-inch NEC MultiSync FE 1250+ monitor, Creative Sound Blaster Live Platinum sound card, Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 speakers, V.90 modem, network adapter, tower case, Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2 joystick, Microsoft Works Suite 2001, Pinnacle Studio DV, Thief II, Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex. Three-year parts warranty, one-year labor warranty; free unlimited toll-free 24-hour tech support. http://www.alienware.com 800/494-3382