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Area 51 r2 - swap to a new motherboard, is it possible?
Hi,
does anyone know if it is possible to change the default motherboard to a 3th party one?
I would like to have 64gb ram on the Area51 R2, but on the default motherboard there are only 4 DIMM slots... with another motherboard I could have 64gb (8x8gb).
GarthMan4
24 Posts
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May 20th, 2015 23:00
Hi,
I can say the answer is you can. I know, since I did :-)
I think Dell does a really nice job with cases. I've owned a Dell XPS 730x which served me reliably for many years. I upgraded the 730x to ivy bridge which kept me going for a few more years. When the Area 51 came out - I knew it was a worthy successor.
My goal was to have the latest and greatest, which included new M.2 storage which the Dell motherboard didn't support. Since Dell desktop motherboards are typically made by MSI - I purchased a new MSI motherboard hoping it would be a "drop in" type arrangement (like the 730x). Alas this wasn't the case and needed some longer internal USB cables and power cables to get everything hooked up.
I installed the new motherboard and then carried over my CPU and memory from the original motherboard and installed a shiny new Samsung SM951 M.2 based drive. For the most part - everything works and it SCREAMS. The only nit is I need to replace the chassis fans as new motherboards typically run system fans at 50%, which makes quite the ruckus with the Dell fans (CPU pump and fan work fine though). Even the cool signature Alienware lights work (I even managed to get Alienware Command Center to run) - but the side panels won't stay lit for some reason (I need to pop off a door and pop back on the get them going again).
Enjoy!
-GMan
GarthMan4
24 Posts
0
July 14th, 2015 23:00
It can be done; behold:
I purposely bought a low end build knowing I would likely make some updates. Here are the changes:
The CPU (5820K), cooler, chassis, etc. is the same. The CPU has a mild overclock to 4Ghz.
The video cards, PSU, etc. came from my other PC so I was in for the motherboard, M.2 drive, and RAM. The surprise was the system fans. The Dell stock fans ran at 50% on the new MSI mobo which made a terrible racket - so I bought quieter versions.
I managed to get Alien Command Center mostly working. I'm able to change the lights - but the temperature and overclock functionality no longer works. There are other tools for that though. The funky thing are the side panels - they don't light consistently (but they've always been a bit persnickety).
The work did take some time though - so plan accordingly and be prepared for a few surprises. For example, the Dell internal USB cables are sized to fit the original motherboard, so I had to pick up some longer ones (link).
Hope that helps. Good luck!
-GMan
Cass-Ole
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July 27th, 2015 10:00
By the way: Internet Photo Find
MSI Corsair Lepa 1600w
Lower Mid Case Fan Bracket, Dell Part# = VNPD3 ~$32
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That's great news Gaudio. I think I can help, but you're welcome to wait for Gman to 2nd the opinion. Here we have an ax1200i & R2 Delta front panel pinout:
any yellow/grey port 1-8 is suitable to run Cpu & Pcie_pwr1 & Grfx Cables
the red row R7 - R9 eqwates to two Cpu 8pin ports >< black row R1 - R6 does Grfx-duty
ax1200i has eight Cpu/Grfx 8pin ports, Delta has a triple-row of 'red' 6pin connex for Cpu/MB; note they're both comprised of pure 12volts / grounds, therefore the ax1200i 8pin ports are what you'll use, they're all pinned-out identical so find any pair of open 8pin ports & plug your cables in. In your new cable pouch they gave you a pair of cpu 8pins, use them, they're keyed right (your 6 pairs of grfx cables wear 8pin / 6+2 ends on them & won't fit into the Cpu / Pcie_pwr1 port anyway).
your cpu 8pin cables wear a 4+4 end / that end pops into your mthrbrd. Sound good? Look good?
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AlienOwners: Russian Sputnik Sighting
-Donovan-
62 Posts
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May 15th, 2015 08:00
Yes, you can change the default Alienware's ATX motherboard to a 3th party one. Here's the video that confirms that you can swap to another ATX motherboard and a ATX PSU.
Go to 10:30/13:10 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-urlcdzvgA
IgnisGelidus
4 Posts
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May 22nd, 2015 01:00
Thank you guys for your answers :)
gaudio.ps
20 Posts
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July 8th, 2015 09:00
Hi there,
I own an Area 51 R2 myself and I am thinking of changing the motherboard too... Have you indeed already done this? And if so, does it work? :-)
IgnisGelidus
4 Posts
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July 10th, 2015 10:00
Sorry I didn't... Still didnt buy the the product
Cass-Ole
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July 10th, 2015 14:00
A seller on eBay had an original R2 mthrbrd for sale, I asked if he did a swap-out, this is all he said:
I wrote back, asked for more info (bottom) but the answer he gave me makes zero sense (top), lol:
Found on another forum, possibly related to the liquid-kooler radiator on the left & something worth paying attention to:
'I recall back at Prime when they were talking about the case, you need to mod the case a bit to get it to work with a standard ATX motherboard. The case was designed for their ATX motherboard, which did end up having a proprietary shape (hence the lack of 4 RAM slots). The motherboard is basically a hybrid of mATX and ATX'
-Donovan-
62 Posts
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July 10th, 2015 15:00
Cass-Olé, that's an awesome news!!
gaudio.ps
20 Posts
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July 13th, 2015 13:00
gaudio.ps
20 Posts
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July 15th, 2015 01:00
or best option (Dell are you listening??) UPDATE THE BIOS SO THAT THE OC WILL STICK!! [:@] ;-)
gaudio.ps
20 Posts
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July 15th, 2015 02:00
Great! I'm looking to change the PSU for sure, because I want SLI 980ti, the AX1500i you are using fits without a problem? You using the powercables that came with the 1500i I think?
GarthMan4
24 Posts
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July 16th, 2015 00:00
The Area 51 fits standard ATX PSU's just fine - so no problem installing the AX1200i (1200 watt version). You *do* have to use the cables that come with the 1200i - the Dell OEM PSU cables have different pin-outs and won't work (I know, I tried )
In practice the 5820K and 2x 980 Ti's use approx. 500-600 watts power @ full load - which was a pleasant surprise (those Maxwells are really efficient). Hence if you are planning on a 2 card SLI system (there are declining returns for each additional GPU you add) - then a 1,000 watt PSU would probably be sufficient (like the newer HX1000i).
-GMan
gaudio.ps
20 Posts
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July 16th, 2015 01:00
Ok thanks for your reply! I'm looking for the HX1200i for a little more headroom. That one should be good right?? Saves me about 100 euros compared to your AX1200i in my country.
gaudio.ps
20 Posts
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July 27th, 2015 09:00
Hi, I've bought the same PSU as you :) the AX1200i. But I seriously have NO clue which cables I have to use in the PCIE_PWR1 and CPU_PWR slots in the MOBO and where they go in the PSU.... could you maybe help :-) I' ve got the GPU and 24-pin in(obviously)...