If you’re looking to jump into high-end PC gaming without torching your wallet, the Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop (Model ACT1250) is an easy pick right now. Dell just knocked $400 off the top-spec build, bringing it down to $2,499.99 from its original $2,899.99. At that price, this is hands-down the most balanced and performance-packed version of the Aurora lineup. It comes loaded with serious firepower that’ll keep you gaming, streaming, and multitasking for years without breaking a sweat thanks to the packed in RTX 5080.
Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop (Best Value) – Model: ACT1250
This isn’t just about raw specs either, it’s about value. While there’s a lower-priced $2,399.99 configuration floating around, spending just $100 more gets you a significantly stronger setup across the board. If you care about future-proofing and performance-per-dollar, that small jump in price makes a big difference.
Let’s start with the processor. The $2,499.99 build features the Intel Core Ultra 9 285, a 24-core chip with a max clock of 5.6GHz and 76MB of cache. Compare that to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F in the cheaper build, which has only 20 cores, tops out at 5.3GHz, and comes with a smaller 66MB cache. It’s not just about numbers—the Ultra 9 delivers better multitasking, faster game performance, and more headroom for demanding workloads.
- Price: $2,499.99 (Save $400 from $2,899.99)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285 (24-Core, 76MB Cache, 1.9GHz to 5.6GHz)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 16GB GDDR7
- Memory: 32GB DDR5 (2x 16GB) 5200 MT/s
- Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD
- Power Supply: 1000W Platinum Rated PSU
- Cooling: 240mm Liquid-Cooled CPU
- Chassis: Clear Side Panel
- Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2×2) 802.11ax & Bluetooth
- Keyboard: Dell Wired Keyboard – KB216 (Black)
- Mouse: Dell Wired Mouse – MS116 (Black)
- Model: ACT1250
RAM is another major upgrade. The best value model includes 32GB of DDR5 memory, while the lower-priced version only has 16GB. That means the cheaper build is already halfway to a necessary future upgrade. Modern titles like Starfield, Cyberpunk 2077, and most current-gen games thrive on 32GB, especially when you’ve got background apps running or you’re streaming content. For an extra $100, you’re essentially doubling your system’s responsiveness and shelf life.
Graphics-wise, both builds are rocking the same NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB GDDR7), so you’re getting equal visual horsepower either way. But pairing a high-end GPU with a mid-tier CPU and limited RAM just bottlenecks your performance. With the cheaper model, you’ll be leaving frames and smoothness on the table, especially in CPU-heavy games or when running ray tracing at high resolutions.
Then there’s the power and cooling setup. The best value model includes a 1000W platinum-rated PSU and 240mm liquid cooling, perfect for keeping temperatures down while overclocking or pushing performance limits. The cheaper version uses the same chassis in this case, but downgrading any other component under that hood undercuts the system’s overall potential. It’s like buying a sports car and putting economy tires on it.
So when you break it down, that extra $100 buys you better processing power, double the memory, and a more balanced rig overall. You’re not just getting a deal—you’re getting a machine that actually lives up to the GPU it’s paired with. If you’re already spending over $2,000 on a gaming PC, don’t shortchange yourself on the core components. This is the sweet spot, and it’s on sale now.
Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop (Cheaper Model) – Model: ACT1250
- Price: $2,399.99
- Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 265F (20-Core, 66MB Cache, 1.8GHz to 5.3GHz)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 16GB GDDR7
- Memory: 16GB DDR5 (2x 8GB) 5200 MT/s
- Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD
- Power Supply: 1000W Platinum Rated PSU
- Cooling: 240mm Liquid-Cooled CPU
- Chassis: Clear Side Panel
- Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2×2) 802.11ax & Bluetooth
- Keyboard: Dell Wired Keyboard – KB216 (Black)
- Mouse: Dell Wired Mouse – MS116 (Black)
- Model: ACT1250
