Alienware Area-51 ALX (2009) Revive

Re: For the daughterboard, I need to make a custom power cord for it correct? And it is just connected to the motherboard via a usb 2.0 port?

It is a special 10 pin power connector from psu.

yes USB 2.0

Cassole makes professional looking custom 10 pin cable for 35-50 USD to work with your new specific brand of psu (modular).  not sure he sells ASUS psu cable but you can contact cass to discuss.

Hi, & welcome aboard the Mothership

MIO Board PSU swap cables I've made for R1 owners the past 12yrs won't stay listed much longer due to a lack of demand, but those interested can view the eBay listing while it's still up & running

From your pic & mthrbrd PDF manual, here are some tips

Mthrbrd x2 SATA Ports: The right side door panel opens to x6 HDD bays, they're numbered 1-3 btm, 4-6 top & their corresponding SATA DATA cables are inside the case & each are labeled 1-6. You could run a SATA HDD or two in your bay's bottom row so they'll be closest to the HDD cooling fans, so if in btm middle bay #2, find & use the SATA2 DATA cable inside & plug it in etc

Front Panel Header: The Asus 850 is plug & play w/ the R1's MSI-style connector & wiring. When installing a new aftermarket retail motherboard, the owner should check the new board's FP header diagram vs the JFP1 diagram from the original alien x58 board seen below

USB2.0 Cables / Connex (MIO = USB3 | Top I/O = USB2 USB1): R1 has an external top I/O for audio etc + x3 top USB2.0 ports. Since the mthrbrd you have has x2 USB2.0 headers, you WON'T insert or use the green 1394 connector, you WILL insert the MIO Board's USB3 connector. You'll then insert the USB2 (9-wire) connector. You will not install the USB1 (5-wire + empty row). The result is the MIO Board will work, & TWO of the top three USB ports will work, while one top port will not work (since there's nowhere to plug it in at)

To get it back in action, shop for a USB2.0 to 3.0 adaptor (USB 3.0 20-Pin Header Female to USB 2.0 9-Pin Male Adapter Converter Cable) & install into a 3.0 header

Others have tried a USB hub; ex. NZXT (IU01 & AC-IUSBH-M1 / M3)

For USB3.0, try a 3.25" or 5.25" front ODD area expansion bay enclosure, or, try a rear PCI add-in card, like the original 2HH3F; however, many similar types exist & may be cheaper

R1 has a rather dated black e-SATA cable (SATA #7), discontinue use & hide it (& the 1394) somewhere

Black Snap-Lok Tip: If your clip broke, if u search say eBay for the original mthrbd J560M or XDJ4C, sometimes u find them mounted on the motherboard tray along w/ the black snap-lok cable tidy organizer. Message those sellers, see if they'll sell it separate

AWCC CmndCntr Software: 2.8.11

Non-Alien Board 2.8.11 Install: see 1m55s YouTube

If you didn't save a copy of the R1 mthrbrd Reg Data, your new Asus Reg values can be temporarily changed (edited-in) manually in those few places you see the words Alienware, Area 51, 0XDJ4C from above to compel the 2.8.11 install, or save attached .TXT file & IMPORT IT into your Registry (File > Import > Area 51 BIOS key.txt) (shown in ALL FILES), per video instructions

Browse Owner Swap PDFs

240x27mm or 240x38mm CPU Cooler Upgrade: likely replace the 15yr old entry-level 120x27 alien cooler for something better, esp. for 170watt AMD 9950. The R15 AMD Aurora CN5XT kryo-kooler might work

92mm Rear Case Fan = good idea

while cass is on, I have a question too.

Is the lunar shadow chassis "silver" color the same paint as area 51 r2 which has only one color.

I have a cosmic black (non-alx).  I am trying to decide whether it is worth getting a lunar shadow case (empty) near me (not exactly near but 4 hrs of driving distance).  It is more affordable than eBay.

I have never had a space black.  The cosmic black is not bad.  but I am not sure if the lunar shadow is a more attractive color.  this may be subjective but the shadow was a base color offer for non-ALX and the cosmic black seemed to be offered later.  not sure if the black is better or not better than lunar shadow.

one thing I am thinking is I used to like the 6 x 3.5 hdd bay of R1 but in the era of M.2 ssd that seems to be a wasted space for upgrade.

cass may own the highest number of R1.  if there can be a side by side comparison of cosmic black and lunar shadow, is it really one is far better than the other?  or put in another way, is it worth collecting a silver one at all?  

@redxps630​ I personally have no idea what the color scheme of this 2009 r1 alx I have is, it was so long ago I have since forgotten. I have just finished repainting the chasis however and she is looking HOT!

Hey Red. I have six here, two in each color. Three are working systems I use & three are safely boxed in their cryo-chambers ... but I know a guy - The Alien Collector - who has like 15 or more R1 cases (in various degrees of condition)

Though she's been boxed up eversince delivery from ShopGoodwill in 2023, judge her listing photo for yourself

I think they're worth owning & buying so long as the condition is acceptable, given new good spare parts & case panels are nearly extinct these days. Have to be worth a 4hr drive. A new lunar front panel may go for $300 or more, if still available. As for which is better looking, it's subjective as u said. Below, a guy in Canada messaged me a few weeks back that he found a case for sale on FB MarketPlace & was it an ALX or not before he buys it. I mean pow, the panels are near-mint & that Space Black looks killer. When the price & condition are right, hard not to wanna try one of each someday

Aftermarket motherboard was swapped-in, lights working

I just saw this cosmic black one.  looks so so on the outside with some small chips of lower front panel, but inside the side panel looks very dusty and probably been ignored and un-loved for some long time.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/205538053878?

my concern is to deep clean and restore an ignored unit is too much pain and sometimes costly when just a small thing does not work.  the R1 is far more intricate than XPS 730X.

just had a XPS 730X user who made a custom 5/10 pin connector based on 5 pin male sata, which I think will work for Area 51 R1 too at least for LED.  not sure of the top air vent motor.

Update!!

Began painting all of the aluminum surfaces, may paint the plastic parts later on.

@redxps630​ 

RE: my concern is to deep clean and restore an ignored unit is too much pain and sometimes costly when just a small thing does not work. 

Air compressor?

it seems the lunar shadow has a dull gunmetal sheen.  the pic posted by cass appears more silver bright.  could be difference in lighting.

another user pic

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383776202430

pic shows green IEEE1394 header to the left of USB 3.0(MIO) header.  

On that Lunar case, people need to hold onto their top vent trim when it mysteriously falls off, those normally can easily be put back on (various methods), instead you'll see several that've changed hands & the trim's just gone. Maybe someone will 3-D print & sell spares one day. But yes, the lighting does seem to affect the appearance, the one below looks lighter in that setting

not so good condition seller asks 600 and claims it had a motorized front door that does not work now.  ? Did Dell make some motorized silver front panel for non-ALX too.   

@redxps630​ I dont think that's an ALX model, I am not sure. @Cass-Ole would be the professional here. But I was under the impression that the door insides are painted on ALX's