Aurora R11, overheating i7-10700F?

The i7=10700F has a Tjunction max of 100 C.  Tjunction max is the maximum thermal junction temperature that a processor will allow prior to using internal thermal control mechanisms to reduce power and limit temperature.

So you are running that CPU at its maximum operating temperature where it begins to throttle down to protect itself.  Is it prudent...I wouldn't say so, it's like running your car's engine at full speed all the time up and down the autobahn;  it will run, but you are aging the components prematurely.

Sounds like liquid cooling is in your future. 

I suggest you read through the post on this web site...folks have documented their adventures in adding Corsair AIO (all in one) liquid coolers to their Alienware Desktops. 

How much trouble depends on your level of expertise...if you are good at following directions you should be OK.

Just for comparison...my i9 9900KS runs around 60 Celsius when gaming with a Alienware liquid cooler.

Its Tjunction is 100 Celsius also.

Thanks for this. I had no idea that liquid cooling was needed to be able to run this system properly to take advantage of a 3080 card. 

Can liquid cooling be added relatively easily even now, or is it too complex/not-feasible, and thus make more sense to simply return and re-buy?

You can add a corsair h60 and recycle the dell fan, or buy a corsair ml120 pro to go with it.  

If you return the R11 and there is nothing wrong or defective (aside from the design generates a lot of heat) Dell will probably charge you a restocking fee that far exceeds the cost of a new corsair h60.

You can also buy the oem liquid cooler from Dell for $109 and install yourself.

I'm surprised they sold you that build without CPU liquid cooling. That chip and the 3080 should be the 1000W PSU, which I thought they were selling only liquid cooled.

Anyway, you very much should have liquid cooling on the CPU.

If you just got the machine, you might want to consider simply returning it and trying again from scratch.

Anyway, you very much should have liquid cooling on the CPU.

If you just got the machine, you might want to consider simply returning it and trying again from scratch.

Maybe not. I have my R11 with CPU liquid cooling from the factory, and now I don't think that ordering an air-cooled one and then DIY-install a Corsair H60 is a bad idea anymore.

This is because the factory liquid cooler fan (aka top case fan) is a ball bearing one and is too loud. I tried to take out the fan without removing the liquid cooler assembly with no avail. (I have precision screwdrivers, vice grip, drill, and bits.) I will have to take out the whole liquid cooler assembly, re-paste, and replace the fan with Corsair ML120 Pro anyway.

In summary, the air-cooled Aurora R11 owner would have to:

1. Order Corsair H60, Corsair ML120 Pro, and thermal paste.
2. Remove VR heat sink from the mobo (which is blocking liquid cooler installation).
3. Remove top case fan, and CPU heat sink and fan.
4. Replace the cheap fan on Corsair H60 with Corsair ML120 Pro.
5. Re-paste and install the Corsair H60 with ML120 Pro.

The liquid-cooled Aurora R11 owner would have to:

1. Order Corsair ML120 Pro and thermal paste.
2. Remove VR heat sink from the mobo (which is blocking liquid cooler installation).
3. Remove factory CPU liquid cooler assembly.
4. Replace the loud fan on the assembly with Corsair ML120 Pro.
5. Re-paste and install the assembly.

So it's pretty much the same cost and the same amount of work, lol.

folks have documented their adventures [...]

"Adventures" is the right word. My Aurora R11 has taught me how to install aftermarket XMP RAM, how to install SATA SSDs, how to migrate OS from HDD to SSD, and how to replace the front case fan (with Corsair ML120 Pro).

I just ordered a 2nd ML120 Pro and a Thermalright TF8 paste. I'm going to follow the Dell's Service Manual to take out the factory CPU liquid cooler, re-paste, and replace the loud ball-bearing fan with the magnetic levitation fan.