A little cooler

R2 uses a 120 x 38mm radiator fan with a 25 / 27mm radiator = ~65mm intrusion

the reverse effect is to try a 25mm rad-fan with a 38mm radiator

Motherboard Swapped on Area 51 R2! Very Easy!

here, Matt is using Corsair H80i GT with Noctua fan, probably a 25mm 4pin pwm type

• 80i GT is a wider 49mm radiator, 'better' cooling potential than standard H80i (38mm rad)
• if 25mm fan + 49mm rad = 74mm intrusion
• note he is not using the stock motherboard, so the memory slots may orient different

the size / height of your memory cards may dictate if you can use a 49mm or need a 38mm

--> based on intrusion in the area of the left memory slots <--

• note: 80i requires an open USB header to run Corsair Link software

I believe Asetek makes the standard A51 Alien cooler, part # K31VH; Asetek also makes Corsair's coolers (H80i is a rebranded Asetek, many companies ask for Asetek to design their coolers for them)

the height of my HyperX T1 memory, I can't install a 49mm radiator, I'd need 'shorter memory'

Like others, I do not have the original motherboard in my R2 case. I'm using the Aurora R4 (Asetek) Premium Cooler 01YGW, 38mm wide with a 25mm wide 4pin pwm fan

38mm will be an upgrade over your whimpy stock cooler, 49mm is better but only if your left memory bank can support the extra 11mm intrusion, while using a slimmer 25mm radiator fan may help accommodate these wider coolers. The good part is that most nw coolers come with their own 25mm fan

• some coolers come with dual 25mm fans for push-pull
• push-pull means one fan on each side of radiator, see uTube vid later below
• push-pull only works if left memory bank allows clearance

typically for push-pull dual-fans we'd like identical fans, not a 'mix' of sizes as above

identical blue fans would be best here

a y-splitter fan cable may help run push-pull off of one rad-fan header

(the shorter the better)

The stock motherboard is an Intel socket LGA 2011-3 or socket 2011-v3; make sure your cooler comes with the correct mounting hardware - if not? - try to re-use the stock retention ring that keeps your cooler held-down right now, since it might work. Socket 2011 & socket 2011-v3 may be compatible / idential, inquire before you buy. Socket 2011 does NOT need a new backplate, simply screw the retention ring to its front mounts

Always buy from a source that accepts easy returns, in the event the cooler is to wide etc, as in 49mm

I recently installed a Corsair Mag-Lev 120mm x 25mm blue led as a case fan, they are cool & quiet

The stock case fans are 120 x 38mm Delta or Nidec 1.4amp - 1.5amp

• to reduce case fan noise, try a 25mm or 32mm 4pin PWM fan of 1amps or less

IMPORTANT

*** 1.5amps may be the MOST you want to draw from a fan header; if you wish to run two case fans off of one header (see later below, adding the 'missing fan'), you can try a y-split 4pin pwm adapter also from earlier:

• if so, I advise you run / buy .75amp rated case fans MAX
• .75 + .75 = 1.5amps
  
• when running two fans off of one fan header in a y-split scenario, .75amp fans or less only
  
• typically, 25mm 4pin pwm fans are rated at 0.1 - .75amps, so try 25mm types
  

Consult Alienware Services videos on Alientube & your PDF Service Manual for case fan removal

Missing $28 Case Fan

When available from Dell, you can buy part# VNPD3 (~$28), which is a 120 x 38mm Delta case fan attached to the fan bracket: remove the cover plate & install the 'missing fan'

Sept 2016 update: VNPD3 DISCONTINUED

@Marctronixx and I chatted with Dell, VNPD3 'missing case fan' (bracket) is discontinued:

• at my behest, Dell Sales claims they will ask Alienware factory to release back stock
• if back stock exists, it will be made available again as spare parts inventory to buy
• prepare for permanent discontinued status however

I advised Dell Sales that Area-51 is still being built, that the factory has to have stock of these, since VNPD3 is in reality just the top fan that every desktop is built with; our goal is to buy a spare parts top fan & place it at the missing fan spot

7T3N3 IS JUST A FAN

'When available', VNPD3 is the bracket + fan ... 7T3N3 'fan' does you no good, since you will have no case wall bracket to attach it with (VNPD3). Dell Sales will offer you 7T3N3 as a substitute, do not buy it, ask them to ask Alienware to release stock of VNPD3 ... it's just a plastic bracket for an active status computer, why is this so difficult ...

MSI Raider Swap

"Alienware stock CPU cooler is okay. I added Corsair H55 and made 5-7 degree difference and way quieter  (doesn't have that rattle noise) + Noctua fan"

Area 51 R2-Upgrades, Mods, Clarifications

I assume the cooler-logo was straightened out later

51-R2 1080 SLI FE Hybrid, i7-6850K, ASUS Sabertooth X99 Performance Build

Liquid-cooled Hybrid GRFX cards are another area to improve heat: here we see new fans in push-pull, & hopefully the CPU cooler will be replaced as well

• new motherboard
• 25mm fan + 25mm cooler + 25mm cooler = 75mm intrusion
• left memory bank & memory card height needs to be accounted for
• We might imagine a 25mm fan with double-wide 49mm cooler = 75mm intrusion

got it?

stock cooler needs an eviction notice: abandon push-pull for the 49mm cooler

AlienAndy: My Aliens

[View:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psHda1bhCmU:550:0]