Alienware x51 Upgrade (Questions)

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zachdamvp

Commendable
Jun 2, 2016
10
0
1,510
Hello everyone, I was wondering if I could remove the components out of the alienware x51 and put them in a new case like the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146085&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-VigLink2-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3821802&SID=ioxsg0w3o60035wt00053? If this is possible I would get an arctic liquid freezer 240 and include that with the case including all of my other components from the alienware x51, also, would I need a new Power Supply because i've heard that the x51's power supply is like an external power supply in the form of an AC adapter (like a laptop) and also would I need a new motherboard with it because i heard that the mobo of the x51 is a m-ITx (or something like that). Please don't be rude I am not that smart when it comes to building computers. Here are my specs:

(I use two monitors using a j5 create (usb-to-hdmi)

Graphics Card (It says I have 2 im so confused) - AMD Radeon (TM) R9 270 and the Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600

Processor - Intel(R) Core (TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz

RAM - 16 GB

System Type - 64-bit

Ports -
Chassis Dimensions & Weight
Front-Height: 13.504” (343mm)
Rear-Height: 12.54” (318.5mm)
Depth: 12.52” (318mm)
Width: 3.74” (95mm)
Starting at Weight” 12.1lbs (5.49 Kg.)

External Chassis Connections
Front
(2x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0
(1x) Microphone In
(1x) Headphone/Speaker Out

Rear
(1x) On-board HDMI 1.4 Output
(1x) RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
(2x) Hi-Speed USB 2.0
(4x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0
(1x) Front Left/Right Speakers
(1x) Center Speaker
(1x) Rear Left/Right Speakers
(1x) Side Left/Right Speakers
(1x) SPDIF Digital Output (TOSLINK) (1x) SPDIF Digital Output (Coax)

Internal Chassis Connections
(3x) SATA 6.0Gb/s Ports

Chassis -
Chipset
Intel® H87 Express Chipset (Standard)

Color Options
Matte Stealth Black with Dark Chrome Accents (Standard)

Dimensions & Weight
Height: Front: 13.504" (343mm) Rear: 12.54" (318.5mm)
Depth: 12.52" (318mm)
Width: 3.74" (95mm)
Starting Weight: 12.1 lbs. (5.49 kg.)

Motherboard Class
Mini-ITX Motherboard

Processor Cooling
Alienware™ High-Performance Air Cooling

Software

Alienware Command Center
AlienFX™
AlienFusion
AlienAdrenaline









 
Solution
Darkbreeze
Yes, much better. No offense, but the quality of hardware used in the Alienware, or just about any other prebuilt gaming system, leaves much to be desired. So yes, that motherboard is a good choice.

As far as your confusion on the graphics, the HD 4600 is the integrated (iGPU) graphics that are part of the 4790k CPU, and the R9 270 is your discreet PCI graphics card. Honestly, that graphics card is fairly low on the performance scale, but if it does what you need it to do, then it's fine. For any serious gaming, I'd really consider upgrading to a newer and higher tiered card. You'll be lucky to get medium settings on most modern titles and any really demanding ones will probably be limited to low settings, depending on what resolution...
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Z

zachdamvp

Commendable
Jun 2, 2016
10
0
1,510


So, I decided on getting the http://www.corsair.com/en-us/carbide-series-air-540-high-airflow-atx-cube-case and I'm gonna get a new PSU (Do you have any PSU suggestions that would be good for gaming?) and i would also upgrade the motherboard to http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Z170-A-ATX-DDR4-Motherboards/dp/B012NH05UW?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER. and im also adding the corsair 115i cooling - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/hydro-series-h115i-280mm-extreme-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler. Do you think this would be a better build than to get a Mini-ITX case and leave the motherboard from the alienware x51 and just get a new PSU and get the corsair 115i cooling - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/hydro-series-h115i-280mm-extreme-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler?
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
80,412
7,631
176,790
Yes, much better. No offense, but the quality of hardware used in the Alienware, or just about any other prebuilt gaming system, leaves much to be desired. So yes, that motherboard is a good choice.

As far as your confusion on the graphics, the HD 4600 is the integrated (iGPU) graphics that are part of the 4790k CPU, and the R9 270 is your discreet PCI graphics card. Honestly, that graphics card is fairly low on the performance scale, but if it does what you need it to do, then it's fine. For any serious gaming, I'd really consider upgrading to a newer and higher tiered card. You'll be lucky to get medium settings on most modern titles and any really demanding ones will probably be limited to low settings, depending on what resolution you are gaming at.

The PSU I would recommend will be completely based off what your choice of GPU card will be, or whether you'll continue to use what you currently have? If you are GOING to upgrade the GPU card anytime in the foreseeable future, then I'd recommend getting a PSU that will be capable of accomodating THAT GPU card, rather than your current one, so you won't have to again upgrade the PSU when the time comes. If you have NO plans to change graphics cards, then any Tier 1 or 2 unit of 450w or more would be fine. Are you wanting to go with a semi or fully modular unit, or are you not concerned with it being modular at all?

Are you familiar with what constitutes a modular power supply?

 
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Solution
Z

zachdamvp

Commendable
Jun 2, 2016
10
0
1,510


Well im not that sure how the PSU's are really organized, but I heard that the http://www.anandtech.com/show/10389/amd-teases-radeon-rx-480-launching-june-29th-for-199 is coming out and im deciding on getting that so what PSU do you think would be appropriate for that graphics card, also one question, can I go dual graphics cards with my AMD radeon R9 270 and that one that i talked about above, would this make my gaming performance better and faster?

 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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No. They cannot be crossfired together. I really don't recommend crossfire or sli configurations anyhow, unless it's absolutely necessary for something like a 4k gaming rig where previously, before the new GTX 1080 cards, no single card would really be enough by itself for 60+ FPS gaming at that resolution.


For that, or just about any other current gen cards, this PSU would be a good choice.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $64.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-03 00:52 EDT-0400


And as far as the R9 480 is concerned, it would be a pretty significant performance increase from what you currently have, all by itself anyhow.
 
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Z

zachdamvp

Commendable
Jun 2, 2016
10
0
1,510


Thanks! So you think that PSU you listed that motherboard I listed and the case would all work together (Oh and also Im getting a cooling unit do you recommend any??)
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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Yes, all three of those will work together fine with your current CPU and RAM. As for cooling, are you wanting to overclock or will you be running a stock configuration? Are you wanting/leaning towards a liquid all in one cooler or prefer an air cooler. I prefer air myself, but have done many builds for clients using water cooled all in one coolers. I tend to prefer not having even a slight chance of a leak that could take out my system, however small the chance of that might be. But that's just me. Plenty of people that run water cooled systems without any catastrophes.
 
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Z

zachdamvp

Commendable
Jun 2, 2016
10
0
1,510


First off I just noticed your profile picture and I love twd :D anyways I would like to overclock I dont really get what it does but a lot of people use it and I guess its good but yeah and I would also want water cooling, I can take the chance.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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In that case, I think this is a very good choice.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181842957385?rmvSB=true

As reviewed here by our own Crashman:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/id-cooling-frostflow-240l-closed-loop-liquid-cpu-cooler,4371.html


who had this to say about it:

Our test results speak for themselves. ID-Cooling's Frostflow 240L offers the best full-speed temperature ever achieved on this test system, the best low-speed acoustic efficiency of any closed-loop cooler tested on this system, and the lowest price of any 2x 120mm cooler ever tested on our system. However, while some users prefer integrated fan and pump control, the Frostflow 240L uses motherboard-based controls.

ID-Cooling pushes the value envelope by selling its product directly to customers at the lowest-possible price, undercutting competitors by an average of 22 percent. Fan blades designed to operate efficiently at a fairly low RPM are paired with a medium RPM fan motor, so users are best to leave fan control up to their motherboard. Better performance at a better price make the Frostflow 240L this editor's choice among 2x 120mm closed-loop CPU coolers.
Click to expand...



I think this would be a good choice as well:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU Cooler: Corsair H110i GTX 104.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $99.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-03 10:14 EDT-0400
 
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