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To measure idle temperatures, a reading was taken after having Windows open on the desktop for 30 minutes. A CPU reading under load was taken with Prime 95’s SmallFFt test running while a GPU-load reading was taken with 3DMark Fire Strike running.
Noise levels were tested using a decibel meter held 30cm from the front and centre of the desktop.
Being such a compact system, there isn't a huge amount of space for cooling the Alienware Aurora R7, and yet it does a fine job. Both its CPU and GPU temperatures are comfortable below that of the Corsair One Elite, at both idle and under load. In fact, it even competes with larger systems such as the PC Specialist Vulcan Pro.
As for noise, the large fan at the top that draws air through the CPU cooler's radiator was a little louder than we'd hope for at idle. It just didn't want to drop lower than about 1200rpm, despite there being no need to spin that fast. This resulted in a noticeable, steady low thrum that registered as 35.5dB in our testing. Quieter machines will drop below the ambient 34dB of our test area.
When under load, the whole system put out 41dB of noise. This is about on par with most air-cooled systems once the graphics card is being hit hard – they pump out so much heat that, without custom water cooling, the fans are always going to be audible.
