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Aurora R6, case options
Hello everyone!
I got a hand-me-down Aurora R6 from my buddy. I've been looking on these forums for a little bit, but I can't find anything that specifically targets what I'm trying to do. Lots of close things, but not exactly. Sticking with the Alienware motherboards, which ones will fit perfectly or at least almost perfectly into my R6 case? Several of the case designs look completely identical. Like from the outside, I couldn't tell the R6 from the r7 or 8. Even looking at photos of the raw motherboards themselves outside of a case, they look identical, unless there's some really minute subtle differences that aren't evident from a picture. Does anyone know specifically if the R7, R8, or even R9 mobos will pop in my R6 case with little to no issue?
redxps630
9 Legend
9 Legend
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12.7K Posts
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October 7th, 2022 09:00
R6 and R7, 8, 9 oem motherboard proprietary LED controller header may use different pinout for the power switch. Dell is notorious of this surreptitious change of multi pinout from model to model.
e.g., Front panel pwr sw connector on white 12 pin motherboard header pins 4 and 5 on the R8, pins 3 and 4 on the R7
R6 user reported pin 3 and 4 of led controller white connector are the pwr sw.
R9 user reports pin 3 and 4.
R10 user reports pins 4 and 5 (from the left) on the led controller header enabled the case power switch
R11 pin 4 and 8.
Although some Aurora models use same power button or led cable, it is the motherboard LED controller pinout that could vary among models.
DP/N 29F15 = R5 and R6 power button
Dell part 0JNP2 = power button cable Aurora R9/R10/R11/R12
if one believes these user reports, R6 and R7 use pin 3-4, R8 and R10 use pin 4-5.
another issue: R5-7 do not have a rear I/O shield that's removable.
you need to make sure R7-9 board back IO aligns with R6.
below are back panel of R6 vs R8.
and R9
ProfessorW00d
4 Operator
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2.2K Posts
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October 7th, 2022 08:00
I think you should be able to drop a R8 mobo into your R6 with "minimal" issues. This would support 9th gen Intel up to i9-9900K. On the rear I/O panel, the R6 appears to have 4 USB ports, where the R8 appears to have 3 USB ports . . . so there may be some fitment issues there.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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October 7th, 2022 20:00
Yeah, well I'm using a loaded Aurora-R6 to type this message ... and I certainly would not keep the case (or try to find another Dell motherboard for it) if the motherboard blew-up.
I think you will be much happier, either:
a. Using the Aurora-R6 the way it is (or with minor upgrades if you must). I would not buy anything for it that would not work in a custom-build (or next machine).
b. Do a custom-build and scavenge whatever parts you can from the Aurora-R6.
R.Walker
8 Posts
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October 8th, 2022 08:00
Very good info. Seems very anti-consumer to make subtle changes that probably don't make a difference that end up making one mobo not fit in to an otherwise identical case from a previous model.
R.Walker
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October 8th, 2022 08:00
So basically you're saying that the only mobo that will match up to the R6 case, is the one that came in it.
R.Walker
8 Posts
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October 8th, 2022 08:00
No, fortunately it hasn't blown up, just wanted to swap mobos for more upgradability.
redxps630
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October 8th, 2022 10:00
you can swap in some other Aurora model motherboards with some limitation.
based on user report, R6,7,9 use pin 3,4 of 12 pin white led connector for Pwr sw.
Before you swap board, you may want to have a second verification of pinout to confirm.
R8,10 use pin 4,5. Why would dell go back n forth in this proprietary pinout, no one outside Dell knows.
R.Walker
8 Posts
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October 8th, 2022 11:00
So let's say I get the R9 mobo, and put the max possible CPU on it. Will my R6 stock liquid cooler still work??
redxps630
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12.7K Posts
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October 8th, 2022 12:00
Yes R6 through R12 Dell oem AIO cooler are interchangeable.
Dell mod: MH0HN = 95W CPU liquid cooler (Aurora R6/R7/R8/R9/R10/R11/R12)
R6 and R9 are reported to use pin 3 and 4 for power switch.
beware that the rest of the 12 pin led controller is not mapped. We do not know what would happen to connect R6 case led cable to R9 motherboard (other than Pwr sw pins are the same). Since R6 and R9 chassis led designs are totally different, it is more than likely that R6 chassis led would not light up if there is an R9 motherboard in it.
R.Walker
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October 8th, 2022 14:00
Ok, gotcha. Thanks so much!