Area-51 R4, motherboard replacement

@MessyHarbor3 

So a r3 threadripper motherboard wouldn't work in it

With a little bit of research and elbow grease, you can make just about anything work. The question is, would you want to?

In a nutshell, if the TR motherboard uses the same standoff pattern and can physically fit into your Area 51 case, then sure... you could most likely get it to work with some trade offs.  If there are any proprietary case lights, then you may not be able to control them properly. Same thing with active thermal zones or motorized vents. You may also need to upgrade your power supply depending on what's in there now.

If you really want to go AMD TR, then I'd suggest buying one pre-built or assemble or own.  Personally, I'd go the assemble-my-own route and sell the Area 51 afterwards.

Sure, you can put an R3/R6/R7 alienboard in your R4/R5 case, it would need a wider radiator-cooler though + TR4 retention ring. Below are some part#'s found on eBay. The R3 R6 boards are Gen1 only, R7 is Gen1 & Gen2. We don't know yet if the R7 will get a Bios update soon for Trip Gen3 (due November)

I've seen two part #'s for the R3 TRip socket TR4 alienboard: 8FN1W | XF4NJ  (there may or may not be a 3rd part# associated with the R6). The boards above, & any R6 board are Gen1 (1950x etc) only --> there is no Bios update for them to allow upgrade to 2nd Gen chips, so these are dead-end boards

The ThreadRip R7 - part# unknown to me - houses the board that can run 2nd Gen 2950x etc, which makes it the board of choice, today. If R7s do not get a Bios update for TRip Gen3 (between Novemeber 2019 - April 2020) then this will be a dead-end board soon as well

These boards were priced from Dell new at like $800

So u may want a less expensive eBay one ...

With the brand new Cascade Lake X & Trip Gen 3 chips both launching soon, Area-51 Triad design will go end-of-life & a brand new 'Legend' case design will debut as the R8 R9 before the end of this year. When that happens, when Triad R3-R7 parts go end-of-life we will soon see a bunch of Dell new & used surplus parts hit the eBay new-used market, especially from the Texas vendors (Dell HQ is in Texas) where we'll find motherboards, coolers & parted out cases for sale, all excess Triad parts Dell has will slowly be liquidated to local & national vendors who'll resale on Amazon-eBay etc. at exceptional prices. Parts like new R7 Gen2 mthrbrd, for instance, 48mm coolers for instance --> you could start your TRip build using Gen1 mthrbrds available now, & later track down a Gen2 (sell off Gen1 etc). If you get a TRip board make sure it comes with the rear I/O shield trim plate, &, whether you need a new Windows 10 license is a consideration

Yes, you can put in an aftermarket board, but AlienF/X may not install, case lights may or may not operate without CC installed (dunno) & you may need to buy different &/or longer connecting cables for front panel/USB

As for cooling it, where the Intel R4 R5 come with a 27mm wide budget cooler + socket 2066 retention ring, below is the TRip 48mm wide cooler + TR4 ring, part#'s TFGHM | HR6V4 (R7 may or may not have a 3rd part#), rarely seen on eBay but available from Dell, list price was $205. You'll want a 48mm cooler, not re-use the 27mm. Other option might be Corsair 80i V2 + TR4 ring if it's included (see Asetek store for TR4 rings