Aurora X58 Motherboard PCI Inquiry

Question

I am excitedly awaiting delivery of my new Aurora X58 desktop this coming Monday. I haven't even received it yet and I am already looking at upgrades

I ordered it through the Outlet to save money, but I want to change the configuration a little once it arrives. It is coming with two ATI video cards in Crossfire and a 1525 802.11n WIFI card. According to the tech specs on the Alienware site, the X58 mobo the following PCIE layout:

1: PCI-E 16x
2: PCI-E 1x
3: PCI-E 16x
4: PCI-E 1x

I assume that the two video cards block the number 2 port, so the wireless N card must be in slot 4. I want to upgrade the single 1TB drive to a RAID with two 1TB drives. I guess I need to put a RAID controller in slot 4. Does anyone know for sure about slot 2? Frankly, I don't NEED the 802.11n card as the router will be a couple feet from the computer, but I want to make sure that there is a slot for a RAID.

Also, does anyone know the model number of the 1TB 7.2K drive that Alienware uses? I would prefer to match the second drive.

Obviously, I will know on Monday, but the local computer store has a sale this weekend and it looks like I can pick up the RAID controller, an internal media card reader, and a blu-ray drive for less than $200 together. Depending on the hard drive, I might get out the door for around $300.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Tesla1856 · Answer

The easiest way to do it ... is to wait until you actually have the machine, see what slots are in-use or blocked, and then start buying parts.

You didn't say what model of ATI video cards you are getting, but most modern (fast) ones are dual slot. Video cards can only be installed in the x16 slots. If you run 2 CrossFire in an Aurora, you have no more slots available (the other two 1x slots would be blocked). A single newer card like a 5870 or 5970 is easily faster than most any Crossfire setup and only takes one half of the slots.

My Aurora's 1gb 7200rpm is a Western Digital. However, there are several different WD drives with those specs (blue/black, etc). To exactly match, to will need to wait to read the exact model model number.

The Aurora X58 has on-board Intel chipset RAID (ich10r).

Welcome to the club ... I like mine.

spaceengineer · Answer

Tesla,

Thanks for the advice. The machine has two 5670 cards, but I will likely upgrade to 57xx or 58xx before long. Like you said, visual confirmation is the most telling, but where do you suppose they would have put the wireless card if the 1x slots are blocked? It will be interesting to find out in a couple days.

Also, thanks for info on the RAID controller. I have been a Dell customer for several years and have owned 4 different machines. As much as I have always enjoyed quality computers and awesome tech support, they have never really provided good online manuals.

Anyway, thanks again.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Looks like XFX makes a single slot 5670 ... so it is possible.

The BlueTooth module has a special internal USB connector. I've never seen a 1525 card in real life but the pic shows it as a real PCIe 1x card. Plus, the sales config throws an error with dual 5870's installed (same as with a PCIe X-Fi card).

Get the Service Manual, in addition to the Operators manual.

Chiller3333 · Answer

A RAID Controller is On-Board. Yes, a dual slot graphicscard will block the following PCI-E x1 Slot.

spaceengineer · Answer

So, I wonder how it could possibly have another PCI Card for wireless?&#xa0; Guess we will know on Monday, at least that is what FEDEX says!&#xa0; I will post what I find.

spaceengineer · Answer

I think I figured it out. The M206 (1GB ATI 5670) cards are not as deep as I thought. They only take up one slot each leaving the PCI 1x slots open. That is how they get 2 videod cards, a soundblaster card, and a WIFI card in there.

This now gets unrelated, but can anyone tell me the quality of the on-board sound? To upgrade to 5770 or 5880 dual setup I will have to pull out the sound card.

Build sheet per Dell:

1	G810M	BASE,DEIMOS,ANW-DT,AURORA
1	2J4FR	Module,Software,Certificate Of Authenticity,W7HP64,Alienware
1	45XY6	Module,Label,Intel,Desktop CI7,Rebranding
1	5V1HN	Module,Keyboard,United States,KG100,T1
1	65KF8	Module,Card,Network,DW1525,Alienware,Full Height,Rest Of World
1	7WF65	Module,Processor,I7-930,2.8,Bloomfield,ANW DT
1	CP1VF	Module,Software,W7HP64 Consumer Desktop,English Dao/bcc
1	F85CG	Module,Accessory,Aurora English,Dell Americas Organization
1	FXJ4F	Module,Software,Quick Fix Engineering,Windows Seven,Consumer Desktop
1	H145T	MOD,CHAS,STD,BLK,875,AUR
1	J510R	Module,Hard Drive,1TB,7.2K PHAR-XLOB
1	JHGCP	MOD,DVD+/-RW,24X,HH,AW,PLDS
1	JY579	Module,Information,Software, Alienware,ALIENFX,Blue
1	JY634	Module,Software,Alienware,AVATAR4
1	K236J	Module,Card,Audio,SBX2,XP/VSTA
1	K611M	MOD,THRM,LIQD-CLG,CPU,AUR
1	K8035	Information,SCRATCH/DENT EQUIPMENT
1	KP779	Module,Software,Alienware,WALLPAPER,AW6
1	M017R	Module,Software,Powerdvd,8.3,Digital Video Disk Drive,True Theatre High Definition,Factory Install
1	N533M	Module,Software,Mcafee SAPPHIRE,30DAY,Multiple User Interface
1	N971H	Module,Cord,Power,125V,2M,C13 United States
1	NT799	Module,Information,Alienware,AUTO-UPDATES,ON
1	P398P	Module,Software,NERO,9 Alienware
1	P96WV	Module,Card,Graphics,M206,DUAL
1	PH77Y	MOD,MEDIA,DVD,RDVD,ANW,AUR
1	T013C	Module,Software,Works,9 English
1	W332N	Module,Mouse,Universal Serial Bus,MG900,Ship In Box
1	W427N	Module,Dual In-Line Memory Module,12G,6X2GB,1333,ANW DT
1	W871N	Module,Software,WINDOWS-LIVE Consumer
1	W929K	SHIP,ANW-DT,FXCN,AUR
1	XM544	Module,Software,PC-RESTORE Transactional Line Of Business
1	Y2FYM	Module,Software,W7HP64,Digital Video Disk Drive,Multi-Language,Alienware
1	Y373R	Module,Kit,Software,Powerdvd,8.3,True Theatre High Definition
1	988-7347	No Warranty beyond 1 year
1	905-6137	Dell Limited Hardware Warranty Plus In-Home Service [after Remote Diagnosis], Initial Year
1	990-8029	1 Year Limited Warranty and Next Business Day,Desktop
1	906-6980	In-home Service after Remote Diagnosis, Initial Year
1	421-1721	Soft Contracts,Banktec Care,Alienware
1	906-5260	Dell Limited Hardware Warranty 7X24 Technical Support, Initial Year
1	3E476	Information,Equipment
1	375-6061	Thank you, Dell Outlet

spaceengineer · Answer

Follow-up.  My assumption was correct, the cards are only one slot thick so they do not block the 1x slots. Thanks.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

Thanks for the update.

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Aurora X58 Motherboard PCI Inquiry

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