Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra vs Alienware Aurora DACT1250-9338BLK-PUS
Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra 2025, 96GB, 1TB SSD, Silver
Alienware Aurora DACT1250-9338BLK-PUS 2025, Core Ultra 9 285K, 32GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5080, Black
What Buyers Say
Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra 2025, 96GB, 1TB SSD, Silver
Users are overwhelmingly positive about this Mac, calling it a powerhouse and the best value for power users. They praise its multicore performance, GPU capabilities, and ability to handle demanding tasks like video editing and development without issues. The M3 Ultra is seen as a better value than the M4 Max, especially when configured with more memory.
Pros
- Powerful multicore performance
- Great GPU value
- Handles demanding tasks
- Fast exports
- Reliable and stable
Cons
- Single-core performance not noticeably fast
- Potential competition from M4 Max
Alienware Aurora DACT1250-9338BLK-PUS 2025, Core Ultra 9 285K, 32GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5080, Black
The Alienware Aurora gaming desktop delivers strong gaming performance, especially with the RTX 5080 and liquid cooling, making it a great deal when found on sale. However, users note significant drawbacks: a proprietary build that limits upgrades, missing PCI-e x4 slots, and mediocre RGB customization via AlienFX. While it excels in out-of-the-box gaming and productivity, the high full retail price and expansion limitations make it a mixed recommendation.
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance with RTX 5080
- Great value when on sale
- Effective liquid cooling and quiet operation
- Wi-Fi 7 support with clean setup
- Sleek design with customizable RGB
Cons
- Proprietary build limits upgrades
- Missing PCI-e x4 slots for expansion
- Mediocre RGB customization via AlienFX
- High full retail price
- Alienware Command Center software issues
Scores
Specifications
| Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra | Alienware Aurora DACT1250-9338BLK-PUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Apple M3 Ultra★ | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 28★ | 24 |
| Frequency | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz★ |
| L3 Cache | — | 36 MB★ |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated★ | discrete |
| VRAM | — | 16 GB★ |
| VRAM Type | System Shared | GDDR7 |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 96 GB★ | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | — | DDR5★ |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB | 2 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | SSD | SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | sff | mid-tower |
| PSU | — | 1000W★ |
| Weight | 3.64 kg | 15.37 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 6★ | 3 |
| USB Ports | 2 | 7★ |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 5 x 6 | USB-C 4 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI | 1 x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 0 | 3 x DisplayPort 2.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7★ |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | 2.5GbE |
| System | ||
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
Pros & Cons
Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra 2025, 96GB, 1TB SSD, Silver
- Strong cpu (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong reliability (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong ram (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (95th percentile)95th %ile
Alienware Aurora DACT1250-9338BLK-PUS 2025, Core Ultra 9 285K, 32GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5080, Black
- Strong cpu (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong port selection (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong gpu (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Below average reliability (12th percentile)12th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (35th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 6 of 8 usage categories and 6 of 26 specs.