XPS, preliminary information, I ask the experts for help

Question

Good morning everyone, I write from Italy via Google translate, sorry for the mistakes...
I also wrote in the Alienware section because I've come to a crossroads for my next purchase: Alienware R15 or XPS.
I read some reviews on the internet, but then on the Dell website I find different info.
Some examples: I read that the RAM can be expanded up to 128GB, but on the Dell website it is written that it is expandable up to 64GB.
I read on other reviews that you can choose the 1000W power supply, but on the Dell website I don't see more than 750W.
Which of this information is correct please?
Finally: is the XPS more expandable and upgradeable in the future than the Alienware?
What do you think of this XPS compared to the Alienware (apart from obviously the aesthetics, where the difference is evident to everyone).
Thank you very much for your valuable input and help.
Greetings from Rome

RoHe · Accepted Answer

Alienware Aurora R15-Intel has 13th Gen Intel CPU (specs). The only XPS model with a 13th Gen Intel CPU is XPS 8960 (specs). So if you want the latest Intel CPU, that's the comparison to make. If a 12th Gen Intel CPU is ok, the XPS 8950 (specs) would be one to compare with the R15. Note: Some users on this forum with professional audio experience have mentioned that AMD CPUs have more latency in audio recording than Intel CPUs, so that might exclude the Aurora R15-AMD from your consideration. Only you can make the decision...

MastiffX · Answer

Saluto!I don't think of myself as an expert, but if that's okay with you ...The XPS desktop is transitioning from model 8950 to model 8960, which can cause some confusion.The 8950 had 4 slots for RAM and could use up to 4 DIMMs for a maximum of 128 GB. The 8960 has two slots for RAM and can use up to 2 DIMMs for a maximum of 64 GB.The 8950 was offered with two power supplies: a 460 watt PSU and a 750 watt PSU. The 8960 offers a third power supply of 1,000 watts.Whether a computer is sufficiently expandable for you depends on how you were thinking of expanding it.XPS and Alienware were designed for different users. While you can certainly do office work, content creation and coding with an Alienware PC, the Alienware was created for gamers; and while you can do serious gaming with an XPS, the XPS was created for other workloads.Comunita Dell - https://www.dell.com/community/Comunit%C3%A0-Dell/ct-p/Italia?profile.language=it

Ignazio-Dell · Answer

Thank you very much. How expandability is it ahead of Alienware? And how about stability and reliability in comparison to Alienware?

RoHe · Answer

It also depends on exactly which XPS model you're looking at. The XPS 8960 is relatively new, so harder to judge than the XPS 8950 which is still available but ~2 years old.

Expandability depends on number and type of PCI-e slots (and latest version of PCI-e supported), number of M.2 slots for NVME SSDs, drive bays etc etc.

It might be helpful if you mentioned your intended use of the new system, eg, gaming, video streaming, office work etc.

RoHe · Answer

@Ignazio-Dell - What's sold in USA (or elsewhere) may not be sold in Italy. So you have to be cautious about what's said anywhere other than on the official Dell Italian sales page.

Forum in Italiano qui

Ignazio-Dell · Answer

Good morning. I really thank you so much. I would like to understand how upgradeable it is, if more or less the Alienware I've read is not very upgradeable. My use would be for important workloads with music software and then if it were possible I would like to be able to run games at an excellent level.

RoHe · Answer

Keep in mind that laptops, in general, are not upgradeable. So what you buy is all you have.

Laptops don't have PCI-e slots for add-in cards. Things like the video card, and possibly the CPU, are permanently mounted on the motherboard, etc. USB ports are limited and you may not be able to connect an external monitor or an Ethernet cable. If you use external speakers with your audio software, make sure the PC has a suitable port to connect them, unless you use Bluetooth speakers.

The Alienware x15 R2 has internal slots for 2 NVME SSDs, so that about the only thing that can be added or upgraded. There's no Ethernet port (only internal WiFi card for network connections), not even a place to attach a security cable.

Have you looked at the PC specifications recommended by your audio software to see what's a suitable PC?

Would you be better off looking at desktops, which are typically upgradeable?

Ignazio-Dell · Answer

Yes thank you. I only mean XPS and Alienware R15 desktop PCs. I don't even consider laptops. So the recommendations that interest me only concern the desktop PC versions of XPS and Alienware

Ignazio-Dell · Answer

Thanks Ron. I accepted as a solution. Last question please: between the XPS 8960 and Alienware, which PC is the easiest to upgrade and replace as much hardware as possible? I'm not just talking about expandability, but about hardware replacement. Surely RAM and hard disk are both replaced, but the GPU, processor, etc. on which of the two models is it replaceable?

RoHe · Answer

No hands-on experience with either model, so you should compare the service manuals for them. Both can be found by entering the model number on the Support page and then clicking the Document tab.

I've heard that 3-slot-wide GPUs in XPS 8960 block access to the PCI-e slots so if you need to install a PCI-e card, you probably won't want a 3-slot GPU.

XPS Desktops

XPS, preliminary information, I ask the experts for help

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