Alienware launches 'world's most advanced gaming PC'

Six-core Intel CPU and dual graphics

Alienware has launched a new desktop PC which it claims is the 'most advanced gaming desktop ever made' on Planet Earth.

The Alienware Aurora's pulsating power comes courtesy of Intel's brand new Core i7-3000 series six-core CPUs and a choice of high-end single or dual graphics cards.

Dell claims that "gamers can literally see all that power firsthand" with the ability to run any PC game on maximum settings, though it's unclear whether this claim would stretch to running Doom 2 with all cheats activated.

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The Intel chip comes factory overclocked and liquid cooled, and is backed up by up to 16GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory and Intel's fancy-pants X79 Express motherboard chipset.

The starting price for this monstrous PC is £1,999 though you can expect to pay a lot more than that depending on which configuration you go for.

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It's also slightly questionable whether this machine will truly be the best gaming machine ever built. While the Core i7-3000 series of CPUs are indeed the best consumer processors on the market, they're not optimised for gaming and offer little (or nothing) for gamers the Core i7 2700K doesn't deliver for less money.

Indeed, it's unlikely that this machine would be able to beat the YOYOTech XDNA Platinum machine we reviewed last month on a purely gaming basis, thanks to that machine's faster twin Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 graphics array.

Detailed specs:

• 2nd Generation 3000 series Intel Core i7 Six Core Processor
• New Intel X79 Express Chipset with Unlocked BIOS for Overclocking
• 8GB or 16GB Quad Channel 1600MHz DDR3 Memory Options
• Fast 7,200RPM Hard Drive Options up to 2TB; 256GB and 512GB SSD Options
• Single and Dual Optical Drive Options; Including Blu-ray Disc Reader and Burner
• System Dimensions: height: 16.77" (426mm), depth: 25.39" (645mm), width: 9.85" (250mm); weight: starting at 45lbs (20.41kg)

Single and Dual Graphics Options:

• 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6870
• 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6950
• 1.25GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti
• 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580
• Dual 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6870 - AMD CrossFireX
• Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6950 - AMD CrossFireX

High Quality Audio Options:

• Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software (Standard)
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (Optional)
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium (Optional)