Hi. I know less about the R1-R3, then the R4. Hopefully someone will jump in and fill in whatever gaps I'm about to leave. The R4 motherboard, it may turn out, is best suited to the latest greatest cards, something to do with the bios, R1-R3 owners complained their motherboards needed a bios update to run the best cards but Alienware never gave them one, I don't know, I wish I knew, I have the R4 & so my troubles are over. If in the worst case, think about upgrading your motherboard to the R4 model (part# FPV4P / 7JNH0). Otherwise? Wait for someone to recommend good cards for you. Below is a list of video cards offered in the R4 right before it was discontinued, which means the board and psu can run them:
what is the maximum hardware can Alienware Aurora R4 support?
One of my aliens runs dual Radeon 270x's, an online review said dual-270's was a little better performance than a solo 280 and more cost effective ...
Aftermarket cards like gigabyte, xfx, asus are all fine, and you can find online reviews about the card you want, and maybe see how it stacks up to other brands. I have no opinion on Radeon vs NVidia, both are fine brands.
someone may know about that 780 you're looking at, but yes, 3Gb ddr5 is fine. whether the r1-r3 motherboard can run one or not, wait for someone else to help. a video card may have a bios that needs to be set just right to work in an r1-r3, I forget what my friend Tesla said about it all. sorry. I hope what I said gave a you nudge somehow.
I opened my Alienware Aurora ALX and checked the motherboard number. The matherboard number is E203413 DE0907, which means it is an R4 motherboard.
I am not a computer expert and the more questions I ask the more confusing it becomes.
A question about the RAM:
In terms of RAM, I am currently running 12GB (6X2GB) at 1333Mhz. As the maximum per slot is 4GB, can I run 4GB at 1600 for example or the motherboard won't recognize it. So instead of having (6X2GB @ 1333Mhz to have 6x4GB @ 1600) or for example if I install Corsair Dominator pack of 4x4GB at 1866Mhz. Will either of them run properly or no matter what they have to be 1333Mhz?
I checked on multiple websites and it states that there are different configuration each requiring different Mhz rates. I am really confused about that.
In regards to the Graphics Card
As the motherboard appears to be R4 from the serial number, then if I decide to go with a 780 for example it shouldn't be a problem?
My only concern is which of the high profile graphics card will fit and give the best performance. Money is no object. Whichever is the best card that will fit on this pc and motherboard I want it! [:D]
The forum message system has been sending me messages three days late, so I wasn't informed you made a reply post here until today, but now that I see you have follow-up concerns, let me try to help. Basically, R1 has an Intel gen1 I7 (socket 1366). R2 has Lynnfied (skt 1156), R3 has Sandy-Ivy (skt 1155), R4 has Sandy-E / Ivy-E (skt 2011); sounds like you have a gen1 i7.
R2 R3 R4 only have 4 memory slots, R1 definitely has 6 slots, ok? Use this link below to look for your Dell part# (dp/n), run your part# through eBay-google-bing, I think you'll see you have an R1.
Ok, I've been a member here two years, I've read so much I can't remember it all, and only recently got my R4. I can't 'member the memory specs, max memory R1 supports, but you can use the forum search function, it has been discussed a billion times. Search R1 memory, R1 max, Aurora upgrade etc.
If you aren't getting any replies to this thread accept from me, I suggest you make a new post, maybe memory questions in one post, graph-card question in another, or wait it out in this thread. I've helped with what I can help with, other than I do remember 1600mhz is possible, maybe 1866 on R1, but can't remember about maximum memory stick size per slot, 6 X 4Gb, etc, so good luck, you can research here, this is the place to search for an answer or wait one out from the many Aurora members here.
In terms of RAM, I am currently running 12GB (6X2GB) at 1333Mhz.
The short answer is your RAM is beyond fine. Leave it alone.
Aurora R1 (Intel x58 chipset) runs Tri-Channel memory (must be exact sets of 3). You have 2 full Banks (of 3) so, 6 total DIMMs for 12gb (exactly what I have).
As capacity gets higher than this (toward max), speed must drop-down slower. 12gb at 1333mhz is what you want. I suggest you move forward to other possible upgrades.
Download Aurora R1 (x58 chipset) Owners and/or Service Manuals for full specs and details.
My problem stems from the Graphics Card i suppose. I would like to purchase a new one. However I am clueless whether to stick with the ATI brand or switch to Nvidia as I don't know which brand is better anymore.
My question is which are the most powerful cards from these two brands compatible with the Alienware Aurora ALX that I can purchase? Are GIGABYTE graphics cards supported? Is DDR5 supported?
For example if I purchase the Gigabyte GTX780 3GB DDR 5 graphic's card, will it be compatible with this pc?
As long as you have the 875watt PowerSupply, you should be able to run just about any single (dual-slot) card you can buy. As long as you have proper available PCIe video-card power-plugs, it should work.
Plenty of sites out there comparing latest from AMD and NVidia.
If you want speed, a good SSD will do wonders for system. Install Windows and main programs and main games on it.
Cass-Ole
6 Professor
•
1.9K Posts
0
March 15th, 2015 12:00
Hi. I know less about the R1-R3, then the R4. Hopefully someone will jump in and fill in whatever gaps I'm about to leave. The R4 motherboard, it may turn out, is best suited to the latest greatest cards, something to do with the bios, R1-R3 owners complained their motherboards needed a bios update to run the best cards but Alienware never gave them one, I don't know, I wish I knew, I have the R4 & so my troubles are over. If in the worst case, think about upgrading your motherboard to the R4 model (part# FPV4P / 7JNH0). Otherwise? Wait for someone to recommend good cards for you. Below is a list of video cards offered in the R4 right before it was discontinued, which means the board and psu can run them:
This is an acceptable video-card hierarchy chart:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html
One of my aliens runs dual Radeon 270x's, an online review said dual-270's was a little better performance than a solo 280 and more cost effective ...
Aftermarket cards like gigabyte, xfx, asus are all fine, and you can find online reviews about the card you want, and maybe see how it stacks up to other brands. I have no opinion on Radeon vs NVidia, both are fine brands.
someone may know about that 780 you're looking at, but yes, 3Gb ddr5 is fine. whether the r1-r3 motherboard can run one or not, wait for someone else to help. a video card may have a bios that needs to be set just right to work in an r1-r3, I forget what my friend Tesla said about it all. sorry. I hope what I said gave a you nudge somehow.
Guest89
2 Posts
0
March 15th, 2015 14:00
Hi,
Thank you for responding this quickly.
I opened my Alienware Aurora ALX and checked the motherboard number. The matherboard number is E203413 DE0907, which means it is an R4 motherboard.
I am not a computer expert and the more questions I ask the more confusing it becomes.
A question about the RAM:
In terms of RAM, I am currently running 12GB (6X2GB) at 1333Mhz. As the maximum per slot is 4GB, can I run 4GB at 1600 for example or the motherboard won't recognize it. So instead of having (6X2GB @ 1333Mhz to have 6x4GB @ 1600) or for example if I install Corsair Dominator pack of 4x4GB at 1866Mhz. Will either of them run properly or no matter what they have to be 1333Mhz?
I checked on multiple websites and it states that there are different configuration each requiring different Mhz rates. I am really confused about that.
In regards to the Graphics Card
As the motherboard appears to be R4 from the serial number, then if I decide to go with a 780 for example it shouldn't be a problem?
My only concern is which of the high profile graphics card will fit and give the best performance. Money is no object. Whichever is the best card that will fit on this pc and motherboard I want it! [:D]
Cass-Ole
6 Professor
•
1.9K Posts
0
March 18th, 2015 16:00
The forum message system has been sending me messages three days late, so I wasn't informed you made a reply post here until today, but now that I see you have follow-up concerns, let me try to help.
Basically, R1 has an Intel gen1 I7 (socket 1366). R2 has Lynnfied (skt 1156), R3 has Sandy-Ivy (skt 1155), R4 has Sandy-E / Ivy-E (skt 2011); sounds like you have a gen1 i7.
R2 R3 R4 only have 4 memory slots, R1 definitely has 6 slots, ok? Use this link below to look for your Dell part# (dp/n), run your part# through eBay-google-bing, I think you'll see you have an R1.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
March 18th, 2015 17:00
The short answer is your RAM is beyond fine. Leave it alone.
Aurora R1 (Intel x58 chipset) runs Tri-Channel memory (must be exact sets of 3). You have 2 full Banks (of 3) so, 6 total DIMMs for 12gb (exactly what I have).
As capacity gets higher than this (toward max), speed must drop-down slower. 12gb at 1333mhz is what you want. I suggest you move forward to other possible upgrades.
Download Aurora R1 (x58 chipset) Owners and/or Service Manuals for full specs and details.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
March 18th, 2015 19:00
As long as you have the 875watt PowerSupply, you should be able to run just about any single (dual-slot) card you can buy. As long as you have proper available PCIe video-card power-plugs, it should work.
Plenty of sites out there comparing latest from AMD and NVidia.
If you want speed, a good SSD will do wonders for system. Install Windows and main programs and main games on it.
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19568143
Edited: It USED TO BE a nice video card until it started failing. [:)]
Cass-Ole
6 Professor
•
1.9K Posts
0
March 19th, 2015 00:00
this is the thread Tesla joined in that I'd read recently, and it was the 1st time I'd come across his info:
aimeehuang
7 Posts
0
September 6th, 2015 01:00
I think after you change the hardare, you may need some drivers to compatible your system. And you can download all the drivers from here. www.driverdr.com/.../dell-alienware-aurora-alx-drivers-free-download