It features the Intel Pentium 4 3.4GHz EE Socket 775.
And yes, it is more expensive than the Aurora ALX.
The only improvements I can find is that it uses PCI Express and it can have twice the amount of RAM (4GB). Yet the RAM is DDR2 and 533MHz. (DDR MHz > DDR2 MHz AND 550MHz > 533MHz)
Also, you cannot choose the Pentium 4 E 3.6GHz Socket 775 for this model, even though it is faster than the Pentium 4 3.4GHz EE Socket 775 CPU in games.
More here.
I do have to say that Alienware has done a great job here. I do believe in keeping a balance between AMD and Intel products. It keeps the price down.
Athlon XP 3200 3DMark05 Score: 3460
GeForce 6600 GT 3DMark05 Score: 3132
14304 SETI Results:
Athlon 64 2800
Athlon XP 3200
Athlon XP 2100
Athlon XP 1800
Pentium 3 Celeron 667MHz
If you haven't played Descent 3, you aren't a gamer.
