Loud Overdrive mode on the Alienware 16X Aurora is not worth the small gains in performance

Dell's latest midrange gaming laptop has three distinct power modes for gaming: Balanced mode, Performance, and Overdrive mode. Unfortunately, the system provides no other details about the modes such as their fan noise levels or any performance or temperature tradeoffs they may entail. After testing each mode, we can confirm that there are indeed some noteworthy differences that 16X Aurora owners should be aware of.

According to the 3DMark Fire Strike results table below, running on Overdrive mode provides minimal performance benefits at best over Performance mode. It's not until you drop down to Balanced that graphics performance begins to drop more significantly. Even then, an 8 percent deficit is still relatively small.

Arguably the most important difference between the three modes is the target fan noise level. Fan noise when running Cyberpunk 2077 on Performance mode stabilizes at just under 52 dB(A) compared to 58 dB(A) if on Overdrive mode. The 6 dB(A) difference is quite extreme relative to any marginal gains as mentioned above especially once you consider that the dB(A) scale is logarithmic. In our personal tests, gaming on Performance mode is more tolerable and more enjoyable than Overdrive mode where the system can sound like a jet engine.

The louder fan noise levels on Performance or Overdrive modes do not even result in cooler core temperatures, either. Users can select between the different modes via the pre-installed Alienware Command Center software. Readers can check out our full review on the Alienware 16X Aurora to learn more about its performance and features.