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Can I move my Alienware x51 Components to a new case?

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  • Systems
  • Components
  • Alienware
Last response: in Systems
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April 7, 2014 8:36:44 PM

Ok, so don't call me an alienware fan boy, because I'm not. When I was in the market for a PC i wanted to build one, but my mother didn't allow it so I had to buy an alienware. As many people know alienwares have terrible cooling and no space between the motherboard and video card, so I wanted to move my components into a new case. I already know that I will need a new motherboard and probably a new windows install disk. I just wanted to make sure this is correct, so please feel free to tell me the information i need to know before doing this. Thanks, Steak Jake

More about : move alienware x51 components case

April 7, 2014 8:46:40 PM

Your motherboard is a standard m-ITX board so you can get any m-ITS case without changing motherboard and reinstalling windows. You will need a new PSU.

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April 7, 2014 9:04:15 PM

So I should be able to put this is something like a Corsair 450D? I believe it supports m-ITX boards.

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Best solution

April 7, 2014 9:18:45 PM

Yes it fits mini-itx boards.

You will need a new PSU. Antec, XFX, Corsair (not CX, CS, RM), Seasonic only.
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April 7, 2014 9:23:22 PM

Thanks for the help guys, ill be moving my parts in about a month. Also any wattage recommendations for the PSU. (i7 3770 @3.4 ghz, and GTX 660)
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April 7, 2014 9:24:47 PM

500w is plenty, and you cannot overclock that CPU because it is locked. (3770 NOT 3770K), you need the K model for overclocking. Your motherboard would not allow for overclocking anyway.
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April 14, 2014 3:12:57 PM

tiny voices said:
Yes it fits mini-itx boards.

You will need a new PSU. Antec, XFX, Corsair (not CX, CS, RM), Seasonic only.


Sorry its been a while, but why exactly do you say "not CX, CS, RM" just wanted to know?
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April 14, 2014 3:14:02 PM

They use poor quality capacitors that are known to fail easily when under any real heat.
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April 14, 2014 3:15:31 PM

tiny voices said:
They use poor quality capacitors that are known to fail easily when under any real heat.


Ok thanks for the info :wahoo: 
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April 14, 2014 3:17:39 PM

No problem!
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April 14, 2014 3:29:46 PM

Also, you have any heat sink recommendations ,cause the one in here doesn't look to good(i opened it up)? Im still not sure if ill switch to water cooling or stay with normal cooling.
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April 14, 2014 3:32:55 PM

Don't bother with a closed loop water cooler. Air performs the same but costs less and makes less noise.

You cannot overclock you CPU so the stock cooler is all you need.
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April 14, 2014 3:34:38 PM

tiny voices said:
Don't bother with a closed loop water cooler. Air performs the same but costs less and makes less noise.

You cannot overclock you CPU so the stock cooler is all you need.


Ok, I think thats all my questions answered, I'm waiting on my birthday to approach to actually do this so wish me luck. :D 
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April 14, 2014 4:14:50 PM

I have a case set, Corsair 450D Mid Tower, and a PSU Antek BP550 Plus.
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April 14, 2014 4:20:56 PM

I would change the PSU to the XFX550. Better quality for basically the same money. That Antec is good too though.

Also, that case is pretty large for your Mini-ITX motherboard.

This is what a mini-itx board will look like in a mid-tower case:
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April 15, 2014 3:29:04 PM

tiny voices said:
I would change the PSU to the XFX550. Better quality for basically the same money. That Antec is good too though.

Also, that case is pretty large for your Mini-ITX motherboard.

This is what a mini-itx board will look like in a mid-tower case:


I think ill go with the XFX550 it seems that its reviews are better and it's relatively the same price.
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April 15, 2014 3:30:10 PM

The XFX is a very good unit for sure.
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April 17, 2014 8:50:24 PM

tiny voices said:
The XFX is a very good unit for sure.


This is completely off topic, but its hard to get a 100x100 avatar...
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April 18, 2014 6:29:36 AM

Use paint to shrink the one you want down. Resize it to small.
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April 19, 2014 4:41:12 AM

Most programs downsample very poorly making the image blurry or down right choppy. I recommend using gimp. Make sure the image is as tall as it is wide to avoid extending in an unusual manner. You better off cropping to make constraint than taking an image that is not proportionate and extending it.
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April 19, 2014 10:17:47 PM

I literally just thought of this, do you think I would be better off selling the parts and just building a new PC?
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April 20, 2014 12:02:37 AM

You will not get anything close to what you paid for it and no one will want to buy alienware parts, so I'm going to say no, that is not a great idea.
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April 20, 2014 8:38:08 PM

I took apart an old windows XP computer today and restored it. Thank fully it was a success so I think I'll be good for this build.
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April 21, 2014 8:51:57 PM

tiny voices said:
I would change the PSU to the XFX550. Better quality for basically the same money. That Antec is good too though.

Also, that case is pretty large for your Mini-ITX motherboard.

This is what a mini-itx board will look like in a mid-tower case:


I might go with a fractal design define r4, it looks like a pretty nice case and seems to be about the same price.
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April 21, 2014 8:53:57 PM

The R4 is definitely a good case.
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April 21, 2014 9:16:26 PM

What's also great is its in stock on amazon for $90-$110 new.
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April 22, 2014 8:30:26 PM

I think I want to go with a modular PSU, just cause this is my first build and it will make cables much easier to route. Any recommendations?
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April 23, 2014 5:36:20 AM

He won't need anything like 620w. He has a locked 3770 and a gtx660. 500w is more than enough.

OP, look at XFX. They have a VERY high quality 550w unit which is always REALLY well priced.
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May 7, 2014 8:14:47 PM

I've heard that the alienware mobo is not a standard m-itx board and would be very difficult to put in with different PSUs because of certian required connectors not on the main mobo, if this is true, what should I do? Just keep this current setup? Try to do it? Or buy a new motherboard? Any help is appreciated.
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May 31, 2014 4:16:43 AM

Just thought I'd put a quick post in here as I have done this! Mine is an R1 model with some upgrades, an AMD R9 270x and i7 3770K.

I put all the needed components into a Fractal Design Node 605 HTPC case and it works great! No more jet engine sound when gaming!!

As you probably know there are two extra boards connected to the main board, the front panel one is basically an extension of it (with a few extra connectors for the front lights etc) and the board in between is just some PSU stuff.

All the connections for power switch, hdd light etc are all on the itx board, it's a yellow connector with multi coloured parts. They aren't labelled though, but on the front panel board they are, make note of these (I took a photo) as they configuration is the same on the mainboard.

Oh of course you will need a new PSU too, I went for a corsair 750w modular one because I plan to change the motherboard to a crossfire compatible one at some point in the future.

Hope this is helpful!
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June 1, 2014 7:44:05 PM

bhindi_bhaji said:
Just thought I'd put a quick post in here as I have done this! Mine is an R1 model with some upgrades, an AMD R9 270x and i7 3770K.

I put all the needed components into a Fractal Design Node 605 HTPC case and it works great! No more jet engine sound when gaming!!

As you probably know there are two extra boards connected to the main board, the front panel one is basically an extension of it (with a few extra connectors for the front lights etc) and the board in between is just some PSU stuff.

All the connections for power switch, hdd light etc are all on the itx board, it's a yellow connector with multi coloured parts. They aren't labelled though, but on the front panel board they are, make note of these (I took a photo) as they configuration is the same on the mainboard.

Oh of course you will need a new PSU too, I went for a corsair 750w modular one because I plan to change the motherboard to a crossfire compatible one at some point in the future.

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks! I wasn't sure about a few things and you answered them, now I have to do some work to get my money for the case and PSU
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June 1, 2014 7:48:09 PM

I'm planning on upgrading stuff soon should I go to a 750W PSU pr just get the 550W for now?
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June 3, 2014 6:18:58 PM

550w is plenty for pretty much any single GPU computer build.
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September 9, 2014 7:42:51 AM

I have done this as well, if you have not done it yet you will have a power sensor error that i have not found a way around other then setting halt on all errors in bios to off, if you have found a way around this let me know please, other then that this thing is rock solid now what a good little performer, why dell alienware decided to under power this awesome little mainboard and video card off is beyond me.
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