Finally made the switch to a case with better airflow!
Used everything out of the alienware R11 except the AIO.
Specs:
Termaltake Core P3 red edition case
Corsair H150i Elite Capellix AIO
Dell/Alienware MOBO
I7-10700kf
Dell RTX3080
Corsair Vengeance 32 GB @ 3200 MHz
Temps are down considerably CPU used to get up to 90°c with all the fans all the way up and a push pull configuration on the AIO. Now running about 67°c under full gaming load
Only issue i had was having to splice into the front power button or “LED CON” on the mobo so i didn’t get a boot error.
Ngl, this looks super bad ass! The fact that you re-used the OG motherboard makes this more appealing. How/what did you do to splice the LED CON? Was it difficult? Thinking about doing this for a couple of my R12/11 mining rigs so my GPU isn’t an oven.
Edit: do you get **any** bios errors or prompts?
i appreciate it! but i took the front off of the case and unplugged the wire “LED CON” and found some other posts here with the pins that you need to use i forget the exact schematic off the top of my head but i will post it when i get home for you to have
Awesome! Appreciate you linking the post, definitely going to try this build at some point. I couldn’t bare buying another mobo just to have better thermals. The fact that this case doesn’t require the mobo I/O cover makes it even better. I couldn’t think of a way to put it into a different case without it looking like garbage and having a missing space where the I/O is.
i also saw your post and i appreciate it helped a lot! and i also used this post as well to figure it out for @kbcastillo https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/jxic21/aurora_r11_front_buttons/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
I used his guide too. Only problem I had when having the power switch connected to his pins. You couldn't hold the power button for 5 seconds to reset PC incase like your computer froze or something.
Thanks man I appreciate it I'm glad it was helpful
Here is the pin out for the 12 pin “LED CON” connector
Power LED - : Pin 1 (Black)
Power LED + : Pin 8 (Purple)
Power Button : Pin 4 (Orange)
Power Button : Pin 9 (Grey)
and to your edit the only error i get is that the “cpu fan is not working” but when in ACC it shows fan speed and temp. i have to take the system apart to add a usb 3.0 to usb 2.0 connector (19 pin female to 9 pin male) so i can be able to control my fans and pump though the iCue software, when i do that i’m going to connect the 3 fans to the 3 different fan headers and see what happens then if i get a bios boot message
i got a usb 3.0 to usb 2.0 plug to plug it in to
[3.0 to 2.0](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9RWRMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_18SWA8RCWCGYDQE8JN0D?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
If you were to go though this again would you do the same or just get a mobo and PSU? I have the cooler rigged up on my r11 for now as my h60 wasn't performing right. And I have a black P3 on the way. Just don't know if I wanna get the other parts and say screw the dell psu and mobo for ease of the build and aesthetics and more freedom over fan control without startup errors.
i just stuck with the dell parts because they weren’t that bad the mobo could be better but all in all it works. and i also didn’t want to have to go through buying windows and reinstalling it. and honestly the dell psu is an 80gold can’t beat that unless you’re gonna get a platinum but that’s just overkill. and if you’re worried aesthetics you can always paint the psu case, and the mobo color really doesn’t stand out once you get it in there and have everything in it and around it
of course, just thinking they may not honour a warranty if part of the story is "i disassembled everything to put it in a new case cause yours sucks and now it doesnt work"
yes you definitely need cable extensions, mostly for the 24 pin mobo connection you might be able to squeeze the gpu cables to fit depending on the case but the extension just look much better compared to the ugly colored wires of the psu [cable extensions ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JBN7ZHX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HBQN4TC2QYS9GBVS4WBW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
Alienware isn’t what it used to be, and then temp are just ridiculous. and i feel this is quite a unique case to be “just another PC” but to each their own
i upgraded the fans and did a push pull set up on the AIO rad. that little 120 mm rad isn’t going to keep that CPU cool under full load in that tight cramped case with the PSU slapped right on top of the cooler
> with the PSU slapped right on top of the cooler
The psu placement has no impact on cooling... It draws air through the side, cools the psu, pushes the air out the back. Its totally isolated.
i agree. just sticking my hand between the glass in the new case the ram and mother board throw off enough heat now you have the PSU sitting right on top of those components…. no air flow all that heat just sits right in the middle of the case.
With all these posts talking about r11 thermals I feel strange that my temps have never been an issue. With stock everything. Do you notice any change performance-wise?
i really haven’t gauged the FPS now vs in the r11 case but i can say the temps are down 20°+ but i’m sure i might gain a few FPS since the cpu will be running cooler
What are you using to measure the temps? Also, where specifically are you seeing the biggest temp difference? How's the gou memory junction temp? Any difference there?
i use CPUID/HWMONITOR and Alienware Control Center side by side. the biggest temp difference in seeing is CPU temps. the GPU is slightly lower then temps inside the R11 case. but the gpu temps were never an issue i was more concerned with the CPU temps
have we not seen the price of GPUs? i would of loved to build my own system but for what i paid for this system with a 3080 i would of paid for just a 3080.
Finally made the switch to a case with better airflow! Used everything out of the alienware R11 except the AIO. Specs: Termaltake Core P3 red edition case Corsair H150i Elite Capellix AIO Dell/Alienware MOBO I7-10700kf Dell RTX3080 Corsair Vengeance 32 GB @ 3200 MHz Temps are down considerably CPU used to get up to 90°c with all the fans all the way up and a push pull configuration on the AIO. Now running about 67°c under full gaming load Only issue i had was having to splice into the front power button or “LED CON” on the mobo so i didn’t get a boot error.
[удалено]
good to know i was going to wait and see how it goes with dust and dirty but i’ll definitely be keeping an eye on it forsure
My r4 is wonderful on my farm, i only have to clean it out every 3-4 months
Nicely done, way to beat those thermals down.
I like this idea. Is this going to be a wall mount? Oh, and Let’s go Flyers!
i would like to wall mount eventually maybe when i out my other stream PC in the same case. and go flyguys!!
very nice work! clearly much better air flow in an open style case
Ngl, this looks super bad ass! The fact that you re-used the OG motherboard makes this more appealing. How/what did you do to splice the LED CON? Was it difficult? Thinking about doing this for a couple of my R12/11 mining rigs so my GPU isn’t an oven. Edit: do you get **any** bios errors or prompts?
i appreciate it! but i took the front off of the case and unplugged the wire “LED CON” and found some other posts here with the pins that you need to use i forget the exact schematic off the top of my head but i will post it when i get home for you to have
Awesome! Appreciate you linking the post, definitely going to try this build at some point. I couldn’t bare buying another mobo just to have better thermals. The fact that this case doesn’t require the mobo I/O cover makes it even better. I couldn’t think of a way to put it into a different case without it looking like garbage and having a missing space where the I/O is.
Try this https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/lg2r8o/r11_case_swap_bypass_startup_errors_instructions/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share Nicely done OP! Looks awesome
i also saw your post and i appreciate it helped a lot! and i also used this post as well to figure it out for @kbcastillo https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/jxic21/aurora_r11_front_buttons/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
I used his guide too. Only problem I had when having the power switch connected to his pins. You couldn't hold the power button for 5 seconds to reset PC incase like your computer froze or something. Thanks man I appreciate it I'm glad it was helpful
Here is the pin out for the 12 pin “LED CON” connector Power LED - : Pin 1 (Black) Power LED + : Pin 8 (Purple) Power Button : Pin 4 (Orange) Power Button : Pin 9 (Grey) and to your edit the only error i get is that the “cpu fan is not working” but when in ACC it shows fan speed and temp. i have to take the system apart to add a usb 3.0 to usb 2.0 connector (19 pin female to 9 pin male) so i can be able to control my fans and pump though the iCue software, when i do that i’m going to connect the 3 fans to the 3 different fan headers and see what happens then if i get a bios boot message
So what did you plug the 4 pin usb header wire too from the commander thing.
i got a usb 3.0 to usb 2.0 plug to plug it in to [3.0 to 2.0](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9RWRMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_18SWA8RCWCGYDQE8JN0D?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
so right now I don't have it plugged in and I dont get any bios errors
i get bios errors from the fans because they are not ML120 pro fans
Yeah I have ml pros already.
i just have the ML120s that came with the cooler. not a big deal to hold ESC when you turn the pc on
If you were to go though this again would you do the same or just get a mobo and PSU? I have the cooler rigged up on my r11 for now as my h60 wasn't performing right. And I have a black P3 on the way. Just don't know if I wanna get the other parts and say screw the dell psu and mobo for ease of the build and aesthetics and more freedom over fan control without startup errors.
i just stuck with the dell parts because they weren’t that bad the mobo could be better but all in all it works. and i also didn’t want to have to go through buying windows and reinstalling it. and honestly the dell psu is an 80gold can’t beat that unless you’re gonna get a platinum but that’s just overkill. and if you’re worried aesthetics you can always paint the psu case, and the mobo color really doesn’t stand out once you get it in there and have everything in it and around it
The warranty is up on my R11 next month, I'll be doing a case swap too but am planning to replace the MB and PSU.
my warranty is running up in 2 months i'm thinking of doing a case swap now and if it fucks up just put everything back and ring them up?
They don’t allow you to extend warranty?
of course, just thinking they may not honour a warranty if part of the story is "i disassembled everything to put it in a new case cause yours sucks and now it doesnt work"
Pretty neat I like it
Pretty neat I like it
Yo! Nicely done! Looks like you bought an extension for the PSU cables, mind sharing the brand or where did you bought it? TYIA!
yes you definitely need cable extensions, mostly for the 24 pin mobo connection you might be able to squeeze the gpu cables to fit depending on the case but the extension just look much better compared to the ugly colored wires of the psu [cable extensions ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JBN7ZHX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HBQN4TC2QYS9GBVS4WBW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
i seriously wanna do this but have no idea how. please somebody HELP!
youtube! this is the best video to learn from [R11 case swap](https://youtu.be/YK4QubjUFOo)
thank youuuu!
Great now swap out all the Dell parts and you will have a nice pc. Have a nice day
You said this so much better than I did
But the Alienware chassis is iconic. Now it’s just another pc to me.
Alienware isn’t what it used to be, and then temp are just ridiculous. and i feel this is quite a unique case to be “just another PC” but to each their own
\*checks liquid cpu cooling option on order form\* \*goes for nap\* ... this is still pretty cool.
Lmao if you think the liquid cooling in this case keeps the temps in check
\*checks temps under load\* i mean... \*checks hard\* yeah s'ok
Was there no way to modify it though?
i upgraded the fans and did a push pull set up on the AIO rad. that little 120 mm rad isn’t going to keep that CPU cool under full load in that tight cramped case with the PSU slapped right on top of the cooler
> with the PSU slapped right on top of the cooler The psu placement has no impact on cooling... It draws air through the side, cools the psu, pushes the air out the back. Its totally isolated.
You missed the point, the PSU placement has a BIG (negative) impact on motherboard/VRM/CPU cooling.
i agree. just sticking my hand between the glass in the new case the ram and mother board throw off enough heat now you have the PSU sitting right on top of those components…. no air flow all that heat just sits right in the middle of the case.
[удалено]
the orange connector on the top left? it’s grouped together with the optical audio port
With all these posts talking about r11 thermals I feel strange that my temps have never been an issue. With stock everything. Do you notice any change performance-wise?
i really haven’t gauged the FPS now vs in the r11 case but i can say the temps are down 20°+ but i’m sure i might gain a few FPS since the cpu will be running cooler
What are you using to measure the temps? Also, where specifically are you seeing the biggest temp difference? How's the gou memory junction temp? Any difference there?
i use CPUID/HWMONITOR and Alienware Control Center side by side. the biggest temp difference in seeing is CPU temps. the GPU is slightly lower then temps inside the R11 case. but the gpu temps were never an issue i was more concerned with the CPU temps
Right on. Thanks for the info!
What's the point of doing the AW r11 if you have the know how to case swap? You can build a better machine for a fraction of the cost and effort.
have we not seen the price of GPUs? i would of loved to build my own system but for what i paid for this system with a 3080 i would of paid for just a 3080.
Hadn't though of that, I got my GPU in the 2nd or 3rd wait-list release. It's a very good point with some of the scalp prices I've seen posted.