Alienware Aurora Desktop Owner's Lounge

Here is the thread for Aurora desktop owners to discuss random topics related to their machine, show off, ask questions.

 

Had free time since professor called in sick today.

Alienware Aurora 7000
4.2GHz i7 5820K (100x42) @1.183v - 42 cache
ASUS X99 Deluxe BIOS 1305
Corsair H75 + Gentle Typhoon 1850 + lapped (NT-H1 thermal paste)
16GB 4x4 Ballistix Sport 2600MHz @1.25v 15-17-17-36 2T
Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 (1599 core / 3715 mem) with 1.31v / 300 - 400W TDP range (shows up as 1.275 on NVinspector). Repasted + repadded w/ modright ultra extreme.
EVGA G2 750W
Graphics driver 347.52
Windows 7 Ultimate N 64 bit


3DM
03: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm03/6521607
05: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm05/5527121
06: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm06/17733981
Vantage: http://www.3dmark.com/3dmv/5225226
11: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/9450747
3DMark combined: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/5945712


Metro 2033 ultra settings (open the html in your browser): https://mega.co.nz/#!y0pyyChR!DBjwK_dsdq5iXmKNo8usH70yiXLhdCqwhtfibbx2sGA

10 runs
Average Results
Average Framerate: 54.10
Max. Framerate: 99.91
Min. Framerate: 4.30

 

edit

 

so u placed x99 board on aw aurora ?

 

you wrote

Alienware Aurora 7000


this is not an alienware pc!

 

Yes.

Sorry, it's an Aurora 7500.

It's an Alienware before the brand got bought out by Dell.

 

I saw your pics: i love it!!!

 

i hope all alienware Aurora owners will post pics of their setup here! (or in a proper thread)
i ll start with mine (old pics sorry for phone quality)

- Alienware Aurora R4 ALX
- Alienware OptX aw2310
- Alienware TactX Keyboard
- Alienware TactX Mouse

 

Finally got the memory running properly at 2600 with 4.4ghz cpu/1.2v. 17-17-17-37 2T 2600MHz 1.25v

Going to bench some more later on.

 

got the titan x for the Aurora R4, it was time to replace the trusty 680

 

Have you tried to flash an unlimited TDP BIOS with Maxwell BIOS editor?

 

Look what I saw and purchased at Fry's today!

Area-51 by Blazertrek50 posted Mar 21, 2015 at 3:41 PM

 

Specs?

 

It has an Intel Core i7-5820K processor with 16GB DDR4 at 2133MHz and 128 SSD + 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6GB/s storage, Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics with8GB GDDR5 and Windows 8.1.

 

3500usd is quite steep for that specs, you should at least get the 5930K

 

i was going to buy the 5960x version, but i changed my mind

atm aw produces only cases, they dropped the production of everything else, so i m gonna change brand

 

btw, this is aw aurora thread, your is area 51

but i am glad to see your gaming pc, i like it

 

MSi is the oem for the mobo/alienfx board.

 

this is good for me, but the problem is they are only selling pc cases, not pc gaming setups, no monitor, no keyb, mouse, headphones ...

it was the main reason i loved aw gaming setups.

now u can only have a fancy case



btw, i know logitech did mouse and keyb and they were aw branded with different design. i like it this way.

when i buy alienware, i want alienware design, and i am glad logitech or roccat are in the back, but i want alienware design

 

Past Alienware also didn't have their own manufacturer. Rebrand monitor, microsoft intellimouse and keyboard, case from chieftec and assemble materials from different motherboard and gpu vendors etc.

Alienware rebrand original Chieftec dragon, for refresh they put the ribcage bodykit on it. Predator 2.0B (my chassis) also is a rebrand + bodykit on a generic Chieftec case.

Oh, and to make sure you spend money on their overpriced motherboards, AlienFX won't work on 3rd party motherboards without the Jumper trick (area51 r1, aurora), and they have software blocked 3rd party motherboards on new AlienCC drivers.

Dell wanted 600usd on new R4 Aurora motherboard (MSi X79MA original OEM is 200-250usd), and new ones on ebay cost 140-200.

Derp.

 

Sometime over the next couple of days I'll post the specs on this 'ancient' AW {& yeah, its an Aurora ALX Desktop (built September 2009)}. If I understand the terminology then this is a legacy AW as its that old the R1 was still on a drawing board...

Also when I find some reasonable photos... am not that good using a digital camera so often my photo's are a tad naff.

 

Bump.

New Alienware product, Alienware Aurora 2016.

 

@|Zero > tri-SLI 1080's for A-51 (= ... If you like to spend an extra $700 just to bench! You're due soon to be X-Fired 480's?, sweet, I need to sell my HD5000s, load up the whole house with 480s at that price. Here's an AlienClub R5 starter thread for anyone interested: Aurora R5 SkyLake Debut: Community Discussion ... I captured the SkyLake Cpu Prices as listed on Aliens.com. Click my link above if you'd like to see the math, rationale & basis for the estimated prices below:

_______________
Day One SkyLake CPU prices in US dollars
i5 6600k $350 6700 $400 6700k $550​

K-option cpu gets a liqwid-kooler, accounts for $100 estimated
example 6700k = 450 + 100 = 550 >< MicroCenter 6700k $290
non-K cpu is air-kooled with an old-timey heatsink

new motherboard is decidedly not an MSI gaming Z170
model IPSKL-SC (or 1PSKL) ... is it a Foxconn?

certainly a Dellienware​

From the two photos I see a weak Pentium4-type 4pin CPU power & a 6pin placed into what looks like GPU-aux 8pin power. Reduced cable-count for this 'gamer' board. Anyone think they know who makes it? Z170 chipset? Low-performance B150m?

 

That has to be a mistake. They shouldn't be offering 3way sli.

Just like mentioning 490X.

 

It seems like you can configure the Aurora with up to 16 GB of HyperX Fury RAM.
Too bad it has a big price markup.

 

I'm pretty much done with alienware. 2400mhz is a joke. Their stock 2133 overclock to 2400mhz. I bet it could go higher.

The prices aren't that good either.I see they plopped their 460w from the amplifier into the Aurora.

 

Hey,
can someone tell me the size of the fans the Aurora R4 has build in? I do not care for the one above the memory slots. I have an aurora myself, but am currently not at home to check this and would like to order matching fans.

• Radiator: 120 mm
• HDD cage: ? mm
• PCIe: ? mm

 

I got an answer from @Cass-Olé

 

So, I have replaced the stock fans mentioned earlier with Noctua ones. However, there is still a really noisy fan in the system. After unplugging all fans while the system was running and stopping the GPU fan for a bit, I came to the conclusion that the power supply in my Aurora R4 is the source of noise.

Since I now plan to swap the PSU, can anyone recommend me a good one that fits the Aurora R4? I think I will go with something at least 80 PLUS Gold starting from 700W. Is it a lot of work to swap the PSU?

EDIT: I have looked up some PSUs and the Seasonic X-Series X-850 seems to me OK. I do not plan to run SLI in the Aurora. I also searcher for a new AIO liquid cooler and came up with the Corsair Hydro Series H80i v2. Are those good choices?

 

So, now the retards have put the case LED controller on the motherboard?!?!?!?!?!?! What in the world is wrong with the idiots designing this throw-away filth? Customers deserve to know these things before they blow cash on a money pit that doesn't play nice with upgrades. Now they officially have nothing for sale that even remotely interests me. Can't be spending money on proprietary trash.

 

Brother Fox, you noticed finally, huh
... they've realized a nearly undefeatable promised land ...
swap-block
_______________​

Einstein > Another stock 875w J556T or W299G

Help & How-to: Aurora ALX (mid 2010) - PSU Replacement - Issue With HD Cages
Mod Sata Cable: Power Cable Mod

Some of the Swap Archive:

• Aurora R4 PSU upgrade
• Aurora-R4, Looking to upgrade PSU to a higher quality PSU that is not a Dell branded?
• Alienware Aurora r4 PSU change
• Aurora ALX 875 Watt Power Supply Upgrade To Area 51 1000 Watt Power Supply Upgrade
• How to install an alienware area 51 psu part 1
• How to install an alienware area 51 psu part 2
• Aurora R4 PSU upgrade.
• Alienware PSU Replacement
• The ALX-Files: A Triad of Power Supply Swaps Area-51 Aurora XPS 730x
• The ALX-Files: On a Practical Approach to A-51/Aurora Power Supply Swap

XFX Pro Series is made by Seasonic & is the same as the Seasonic X-Series (XM1 / KM3 platform). Example XFX Pro Platinum 1000 ... flat ribbon cables for dual-vid-cards recommended (example Seasonic XM2 or platinums) or round sleeved cables for solo-card configs. If you need an 8pin CPU EPS extension, try eBay. Aurora R1-R4 have a custom case harness for a reason: do your best with cable management using some-what longer aftermarket cables. Note the need in the ALX for a certain type of sata head, addressed in the 1st swap link (HDD cages), work-around is the sata cable mod I posted about. Take your time man, work like a sloth in there, it's a small, frustrating chassis at times

__________________
edit​

80i V2 & GT are 49mm wide radiators which may get in the way of your left memory bank, I wish I knew. If it wants to fit, it would only happen with a single 25mm fan 50+25 = 75mm intrusion); a 38mm kooler may be better, like standard 80i. However, some people have done push-pull with standard 80i (38 + 25 + 25 = 88mm intrusion)

example, 80i 38mm push-pull dual fans
​

The R4 premium 38mm kooler is 01YGW ... used $50 - $80, & a direct drop in: I own six of them, it's a good kooler, made by Asetek, same people that make 80i for Corsair

​

I make these 5/7pin adapters for the 80i swap, but I'm all out of material to make anymore. Find the standard install method here: Adventures in replacing the stock Alienware Aurora R4 CPU cooling pump. Dreaded CPU fan failure prompts attack my patience!!

________________
Seasonic​

I linked you to my R4's Seasonic X-1250 XM1, which is 7.5" / 190mm long, and things fit for me in there. The X-850 is a KM3 platform, 6.3" / 160mm, so you'll gain an inch. Looks like you get a mix of ribbons & a round sleeved 24pin, sounds good. Anything coming from Seasonic / XFX in 700-1250w gold/platinum XM1/XM2 XP2/KM3 trim is a winner in R4

I own x3 XFX Pro, they're bad a$$ ...
they & SSonic have a track record of making things right in Aurora


my 1250 came out recently, new Seasonic 1000w platinum now in​

 

Hey @Cass-Olé, thank you very much for your answer The link to ebay with the premium 38mm cooler does not work for me and none of the images appear. I just get . Nevertheless, big thanks!

It seems I have some work order to swap the PSU, hopefully it is worth it. Since I like to work on PCs as a hobby I should enjoy the challenge I have read the one Thread at Dell Community about the XFX Pro 1200, but that is way too much for my needs, ~800W are fine.

I do not know if I need the SATA power cable mod, since I do not neet to plug in the cables for HDD/SSD. See a picture here. However, I need to connect the HDD/SSD cage backplate somehow.

Regarding the original PSUs, do you think it is worth buying them over a new one? I do not want to get another noisy unit.

My first upgrade is the PSU, if the CPU cooler has to go is not certain yet. I will keep the space limitation in mind.

 

plug 01YGW into an eBay search, you'll see it, they pop up for sale from time to time. I wasn't trying to get you to buy something over 1000watts, just letting you know the longer chassis works so it implies the shorter ones do too. The links may describe what efforts were needed to stuff a new one in, where XFX & Seasonic are a brother / sister chassis, same basic internals ...

​

some Aurora get front Sata power / data cables which makes for an easy cable swap; ALX chassis has rear data / power cables which need attention, both to full case harness removal & having the correct type of Sata heads (pass-through caps), as Sampatel discovered & needed help with

​

to be up & running, do 'member a hard disk can stow in the DVD blank tray til the rest of the lower Sata power cables get installed, & your case buttoned up

For the little bit of time I had my W299G running, it wasn't particularly noisy. You can take an air mattress pump or similar & blow yours free of dust, perhaps take it apart & clean the fan. When you see J556T go for $36/shipped, yeah, it might be worth it to give one another try, it's a coin flip. For looks, a new warranty, larger fan & better chassis / internals I could just as easily say: toss that 40 into a new power supply

 

Thanks again!
I know you were not pushing me to >1000 W, I was simply pointing out that I do not need it That Seasonic produces for other brands was new to me.

Removing the drive cage is noted. Since I live in Germany ordering from the US ebay will leave me with ~60$ for shipping, thus a new power supply could be cheaper ^^. The german ebay has currently only J556T PSUs for >100€, which is way too expansive. If I find as PSU with affordable shipping I will go for it.
Cleaning the PSU is up next, I already go a DATAVAC electric duster and will put that to use

TBC

 

@Cass-Olé
I have managed to replace the R4's PSU with a Corsair RM 750x. This unit is a bit longer than the original PSU,
but not as high -> the new PSU does not make contact with the bottom of the case (maybe I need something to support it).

Removing the HDD/SSD cages was relay fiddly and I did not manage to put the two right most screws of the right cage back in.

Since the 24 pin cable of the new PSU is bundled in a tube it does not fit in the cable management things below the GPU (or on top the blade separating
the storage space from the main compartment).

My general procedure was:

1. remove the graphics card and PCI/HDD fan, fans need to be unplugged from the controller board
1.1 removing the cover containing the LED batteries and the air shroud from the GPU area is helpful, CARE: do not to brake anything!
2. remove the blade separating the storage area from the main compartment (secured with 3 screws)
3. remove the HDD/SSD cages (each cage is secured with 6 screws, 2 from the bottom and 4 in the rear case wall)
4. unscrew the PSU from the back and unplug the cables, remove the PSU
5. unplug PSU cables from the mainbaord, controller board, HDD/SSD cages, CARE: do not brake anything!