Area-51 R5, i9 13900ks upgrade and LGA1700 motherboard options

Any ATX format should work. MPG Z790 EDGE WIFI looks nice . . . there is a DDR4 version if you are carrying over your RAM.

Nice...found a few worthy comments from other threads - will require an additional FIO board 2.54mm Flat Ribbon Cable plus USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 header extensions.

Onboard JARGB_V2 Mystic Lighting connections should power the AlienFX Case LED i believe.

At the old AlienOwners forum (which just vanished one day / no longer there), a post was created (a 'data base') to document what were then all current known boards that did / did not work w/the exterior case lights, and while no one seems to have saved or re-created that post, by memory it seemed like most of the newest (Z290-590 X99/299 etc) MSI boards worked, that seemed logical since the alien board is by MSI (who also makes or made a 'Command Center' software), but there's no sure way to know what board will or won't or only half-works,; in fact if we started a new database here, whatever u buy & try would be #1 on the list (other than any old post found here) & that'd be especially true since no one I've seen or heard of has done a 13900k-type swap yet

I can say the MSI MysticLight header won't be of help, the FIO AlienF/X board is a USB device as its interface, therefore an MSI USB2.0 header is all the help u need to try this experiment out, but your factory front panel & USB2.0 cables are 'proprietary' & need replaced, as u saw, & while that ribbon cable type is ok, u can also look for typical cables online by doing a simple 'internal USB cable' 'internal front panel cable' google search

As it happens, I've just purchased the R5 mthrbrd, it will be going into my older A51 R1 case & I have both cables (part# 27J7M & 0NX92, plus a full R5 FIO board factory cable assortment) being sent to me as we speak, until I have them here (Saturday) I can't know their lengths but I assume 20"-24" long, YOU CAN MEASURE your two factory cables there & start looking for the industry standard FP/USB cables u need, as a suggestion. Otherwise your USB3.0 cable will or slightly won't reach, it depends on the mthrbrd u try ... if it won't reach, buy the shortest / cheapest adaptor u can find

***Note: if you don't post your FACTORY cable lengths, I will post mine Friday/Saturday after delivery

***Note, the 'ribbon cable' u saw in another post is a suggestion, & should work fine as both a front panel + usb2.0 cable, but u can look for an industry standard front panel cable also (it's basically identical to a USB2.0 cable, but their harder to find)

***Note: you CAN substitute a USB2.0 cable for a Front Panel cable IF you poke a hole through the blocked plastic pin/slot at both cable/connector ends

Above: seller's pic of my new/used FIO board that's on the way. Hook your new USB & Front Panel cables up to these headers shown

I have the R5 mthrbrd here, over the weekend I was able to install the older R1 Command Center software onto it using a simple Registry Trick, you can try this w/the new MSI, see below

__________________________

Install CmndCntr on non-Alien Mthrbrd

1) In Windows search box, type REG, see then open Registry Editor

2) In RegEdit, navigate to HKEY LOCAL MACHINE/HARDWARE/DESCRIPTION/SYSTEM/BIOS

3) In BaseBoardProduct (TEMPORARILY) modify the value as N4R4N & in SystemProduct modify as Alienware Area-51 R5 (***for other A51 versions, R1/2/3 etc, type your mthrbrd part# in)

4) Launch & install Command Center --> restart PC --> this simple trick should work to get the AlienF/X software installed on a non-alien mthrbrd (if not, report back for a more involved Registry Hack)

Note to readers: below I found a simplified work-around to help get AWCC CmndCntr software installed

The A51 R1 CmndCntr software was 'not compatible' w/ the R5 mthrbrd, so I opened RegEdit & modified the base (mthrbrd part#) + system (type R1 R2 R3-R7 etc) product values ... no other values were changed (& these two temporary changes in the registry disappear after a restart)

***Note, at the time, the R1 was simply known as Area-51 until the R2 was launched, which we now look back & call the R1 ... R2-R7 owners will modify their system product value as Alienware Area-51 R2/3/4/5/6/7 etc ALONG WITH the appropriate mthrbrd part# in base product (ex. A51 R2, part# value can = 0XJKKD) (A51 R3, part# value can = 08FN1W)

Above, Area-51 R1 values are added to Registry to help get R1 CmndCntr Software installed

Below, if I want R5 CmndCntr installed on my non-Alien MSI X99 board, I add / modify two values (to by-pass the software install block)  - now install CmndCntr - then restart PC

Above, a typical owner wanting to install CmndCntr software on a non-Alien board will (temporarily) modify the Registry with their 'factory mthrbrd' values -launch CmndCntr & install it- then restart PC

Example: Right click on BaseBoardProduct > click Modify > enter new value (mthrbrd part# 0xxxxx) > click ok ... right click SystemProduct > Modify > enter new value (A51 version) > click ok

To find your mthrbrd values, open REGEDIT, navigate to the folders shown & copy them now or for later use

Front Panel Cable 0NX92 = 24.5" 620mm | USB2.0 Cable W4J5H or 27J7M = 27" 690mm

Typically it depends on where the new mthrbrd USB2.0 headers are located relative to the oem alien mthrboard headers, & you'd get a feel for the lengths of the factory cables (is there any slack?) in order to decide whether new replacements can have lengths less or more than 24"-27" 

Appreciate the feedback and tips ProfessorW00d and Cass-Ole... i had a looksee at wayback machine and theres some decent info archived!

Ok, so SpaceBornKiller has an MSI Carbon installed and indicated he had to extend the USB2.0 and Front Panel Cable, as well as the older Molex cable with a converter. I've commented for details.

Meanwhile Ive tried to map the current AW 0N4R4N cable mapping with the MSI Z790 Edge connectors.

Then to work out fitting the Corsair AIO (2x 140 mm Fans, 280mm Rad), and the AW CmndCntr hack you described above.

Last to work out the placement of the remaining fan/airflow system and the ideal fan curves.

Thanks for the input & feedback - I'll keep progress posted, expecting component delivery any minute now.. it probably won't be an overnight build.

MSI MPG Z790 Edge WIFI DDR4AW AREA51 R5 0N4R4N

I see that you have the EPS 8-pin CPU_PWR2 connector marked with strike-through. I am not 100% sure what that means, but note that the standard cabling for your 1500 watt PSU includes two EPS 8-pin connectors; one connects to #31 CPU PWR1 and the other connects to #15 PCIE_PWR1. Of course the one that connects to #15 PCIE_PWR1 is really short, since that connector is immediately adjacent to the PSU. Will you be getting a new set of PSU cables made?

Well this map was my idea to clarify all the new required cabling/extensions etc. - Going through the process of elimination as im still a bit green behind the ears with these current ATX layouts.

Ive ordered these so far:
- 3x pack of SATA 15 Pin Male to Molex LP4 Female Power Cables (8-inch)
- Motherboard Extension Wire Set (POWE LED, HDD LED, POWER SW, RESET SW, HD AUDIO, Front USB Extension cord) (11-inch)

Anyway, with regards to the PSU connectors, I'm not sure

- CPU_PWR1(1st EPS 8pin) is indicated on both AW and MSI boards but CPU_PWR2 is only on the MSI board.

Does that mean the AW 1500W PSU's 2nd 8pin EPS connector goes to CPU_PWR2? Whast the MSI substitue for #15 PCIE_PWR1?

MSI does not have an equivalent to #15 PCIE_PWR1. For Alienware, that is auxiliary power for the PCIe slots, which might be necessary if you were going to install multiple graphics cards (as many as 4), as some used to do. The #15 PCIE_PWR connector is EPS 8-pin (NOT PCIe 8-pin) so it is the same connector and pin-out as the CPU power connector (just really short). It could be use for the MSI CPU_PWR2, which provides more power to the CPU, if you were able to find a long extension.

'MSI Carbon installed' ... 'extend USB2.0 + Front Panel cable, as well as Molex cable w/ converter' ... sounds like he had an R2, if yours is an R4 R5 you need industry standard USB2 + FP cables 24"-27" long, the Molex we can discuss why u need it (as opposed to why an R2 needed it)

I wasn't aware 51 R5 could accept a 140mm / 280mm cooler, I thought it was 120x240 or 120x360 with mods, let us know if u need to trade it in for a 120x240 /360mil rad if the 140/280 is too fat / has no holes to align etc

When a mthrbrd has x2 CPU 8pins up top (as this MSI in the schematic) it's normally for liquid nitrogen overclocking, otherwise a single 8pin is always ok & ok to leave that 2nd CPU 8pin unoccupied ... but as Wood said, you COULD buy an extension, ie
⦁ 51 R5 has a GPU 8pin (PCIE_PWR1 augment) connector-end the MSI won't need
⦁ the MSI has a CPU 8pin #2 it wants, or u want
⦁ you can power the MSI 8pin CPU #2 through the 51 R5 case harness connector #15 PCIE_PWR1 with an 8pin EPS/CPU extension of suitable size

'I've ordered these so far:
- 3x pack of SATA 15 Pin Male to Molex LP4 Female Power Cables (8-inch)
- Motherboard Extension Wire Set (POWE LED, HDD LED, POWER SW, RESET SW, HD AUDIO, Front USB Extension cord) (11-inch)'

'Mthrbrd extension wires', u may not / won't need, seek a return for refund later if so ... as for SATA TO MOLEX ... why? ... seek return if u don't need ...

Some swap advice out there is tailored for the older R2 case/board, the R3-R7 boards got a (connector header) revision, so when those cases swap they need industry standard cables as mentioned 24"-27"

I spent all day fitting the N4R4N R5 X299 mthrbrd into my 51 R1, it works, great, but it won't talk to my Alien F/X MIO board. SO NO CASE LIGHTS HERE TONIGHT ...

This is exactly what I plan to do with the AW-AREA 51-R4, I'm still doing research and thinking about how to build it as best as possible with the latest components on the market. I am glad that there is another member of the community who took it on. I would welcome it if you would gradually publish the progress of the work and of course photos would be nice.

I have also never seen an Area-51 triad case with a 140mm liquid cooling solution. Below is I believe an R2 with the cutout for a 240mm radiator. That is about as wide as you can get without running into that little controller board.

Yes the 280 was in error, replacing the order with the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240; Hopefully will not have to go too drasic to get it to fit.

For sure Real_Boy85 - will post photos when i start fitting the new gear. Hasnt arrived yet;

Cass_ole: yeah that was my mistake - hadnt realised the R2 had some notable differences with the R5. It'll be a 240 instead. 
I'll be pulling this thing apart soon after i get the delivery, so will know and confirm what i need when i measure up the available cabling. As an original R5 I hope will have some advantages.

For you, case lights would be nice - is there some way to get your R1 to work with the AlienFX MIO Board?

I'm good dawg ... Alien F/X up & running in R1 w/R5 x299 N4R4N mthrbrd, will post how-to soon

Was there a way? Yes, one & only one way ... USB2.0 MIO board through the mthrbrd USB3.0 ports ... the R5 USB2.0 ports failed everytime .. odd ... mystery solved (=

I am considering doing the same thing but using older model z590 MEG ACE

There is a discussion here you might want to read. Note my question at the bottom.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/uu8qjt/got_the_3090_ti_today_and_it_fits_like_a_glove_in/

Wiring is discussed here

I have not decided what to do yet.  If you dispose of your r5 and cpu on eBay please PM me.