Of course not.  INTEL changes sockets and microcode and and and so that you have to start over with each new generation.

Earlier models do not have X299 chipset

https://www.cnet.com/products/alienware-area-51-r4-tower-core-i7-7800x-x-series-3-5-ghz-16-gb-2-256-tb/specs/

Skylake-X 7800X FCLGA2066

i7-7800X     
Cores/Threads 6/12     
Base Clock     3.5GHz     
Max Turbo     4.0GHz     
All Core     4.0GHz     
Cache    8.25 MB     
TDP     140 W

This time around the new Skylakes are compatible with the same socket.....

That doesn't mean they're compatible with the same mainboard, though.  Odds are overwheming they are not.

People will read that the wrong way and think a new bios update will allow older R1 R2 R3 versions to use the new chips.  This is not the case.

The New R4 can use the new chips.

 Fitting into the socket is not the same as working.

Classic Example of this is Optiplex GX620 LGA 755  vs Optiplex GX755.

The GX 620 is limited to Pentium D 960 whereas the 755 Tower can use Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad Processors.

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@Zellio wrote:

Is the Area-51 R4 going to receive a bios update for supporting the newest Skylake-X processors?

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I waited for someone to chime into this thread with a 'no', before I chimed in with a 'probably' concerning X299 Skylake-X Basin Falls Refresh. One encouraging point is how they handled the 51 R2 X99 chipset, which started with Haswell-E & those boards were given a Bios update to run Broadwell-E. Almost all of the aftermarket companies issued a timely (March - May) Bios update, chips hit retail May 30, Aliens held off on their (A08) update til July 27 = a 2 month wait

I suspect the same will be true: soon, aftermarket boards will get their Bios update / chips hit retail / new 51 R7 launch, then dole out a Bios update for older boards in 2-3 months. One wonders over their entry-level (budget) 27mm-wide liquid cooler paired atop a 165w TDP chip before overclocking (note the Threadripper cooler is ~49mm wide), I'd recommend a better wider 38mil-50mil radiator (hold your old skinny one back as a known good spare or sell it). A bios update from these people isn't a guarantee (ask Aurora R5-R7 owners), but the X99 R2s got one (51 R1 got one for newer Westmere, Aurora R4 got one for newer IvyBridge), a 'history' of newer CPU support for some past products (where chipset didn't change x58 x79 x99) is the only piece of info a member of the public has to go by; most Alien employees won't know the answer unless / until the update is published on the R4/R5 support page (they'll know it when we know it) 

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@Zellio wrote:
Also it's not like the R4 is vastly different from the R5. 

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Agreed (but I don't have one ... it's just what I read).

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/3RD-time-for-thermal-controls-to-stop-working/m-p/6133750/highlight/true#M4964

Double post

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@Tesla1856 wrote:

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@Zellio wrote:
Well I have one with a 7820x that I got as a pretty big discount with like 12% back and some other stuff (It was like the weekend before the r5 launched). I was reading about the r5 when mine was being made, and the only differences was an extra fan and u.2 support from what I remember. It could even be less of a difference because mine came with an extra fan slot that was unused (And I've since added a fan)

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Nice.

Right ... instant-discounts on high-configs are real. So are Dell Advantage Rewards Cash-Back.

Yeah, I had high-hopes for U.2 SSD, but still it's rare and expensive. I was hoping it would catch-on, go mainstream, and become cheaper.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-buying-guide,5602.html

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Just drop a m.2 drive in a usb c gen 2 enclosure and you never need to worry about u.2