Partial case replacement for performance improvement - Alienware R10

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
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Kinda want to do a forum poll here on an idea I’ve been toying around with a bit - partial case replacement. I’ll provide background, options and ask for response if anyone would care to participate. Don’t know if there’s a poll option so just asking for response.

Options:

  • Don’t change a thing until warranty expires
  • Do the partial case swap, warranty isn’t worth the performance increase

Background: I have an Alienware R10. I ordered a 5900x/3080 in Jan. Due to that major winter storm, shipping issues, further delays, chicanery and screwups with support, when I ultimately received a working computer in May (third try in five months), they had upgraded the components to top of the line.

As such, I now have a 5950x/3090 with other upgraded components (power supply, nvme drive, backup drive, higher speed ram which I sold bc I had already bought new ram, better spec WiFi and Bluetooth, the works - everything but the garbage motherboard is better, larger or both). They also upgraded and extended the pro support warranty.

I am positive that they would have continued to ignore me except that I filed a complaint with the BBB and I got a call real quick from an L3 support tech who worked with me for about two months or so in resolution.

I don’t particularly like the Alienware case, and the motherboard is a genuine POS that doesn’t have room for expansion and has weird voltage issues requiring workarounds for things like my G2 headset (you can’t just plug the G2 into the R10, you have to use an intermediate usb hub - nabd but still the mobo is garbage).

Dell/AW calls their pcie lanes x8 and x4 etc but immediately cuts it in half if you actually use them. Also, you cannot install an nvme ssd on a pcie expansion card without some crazy workaround (documented issue with the AMD mobo from Dell). Using an external enclosure cuts the speed by over 50%. I purchased an extra nvme drive just for addons and this is also a driving force behind considering this move.

The R10 is packed very tight inside and runs 75-80C under FS load. Can approach 95 if I put on high performance and try NiceHash.

So, I’m wondering what sort of performance benefits I could gain from a partial case replacement. I would keep the cpu, gpu, ram and storage, buy a new motherboard that functions properly, a case that isn’t jam packed, and cooling for the entire system and not just the cpu. I’d also ensure compatibility between the new mobo and the extra nvme so It can be board mounted and stupid fast for my community folder.

Is there enough performance to be gained that it would be worth breaking Dell’s warranty? I feel fortunate I have a computer finally, and that it’s top of the line for now is great too. But, I do see it not performing up to spec in almost every benchmark, under a few diff config and profiles.

Just an idea in search of conversation. I’m personally disinclined to do the case swap, even though I would be comfortable performing the task. I think the on site support and warranty is that valuable. But so is a blackout free, smooth landing at JFK, soooooo….

Thanks.

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This topic has a variety of posts on the Alienware sub-Reddit so maybe check in there on folks who have done exactly as you describe…from what I have read the cost is substantial due to new MOBO, power supply potentially unless you want to deal with extensions, new fans, new AIO cooler, etc. it’s like $600-$900 to do the swap. Results are better cooling for sure and better future upgradability, but in terms of immediate impact to the MSFS sim or other games it is very debatable. Unless you are getting thermal throttled in the current R10 case due to heat, you won’t see any performance change at all. I have an R11, i9, 3090 and yes the thermals are mediocre at best and there is not much upgrade path but I have stopped short of spending a fair amount of money to case swap because I don’t think it will actually change anything about how the machine performs today. Do it for the longer term upgrade options if that’s worth spending the money now, but I just didn’t see any immediate gains to be had from the expense. You mention benchmark testing, but if that’s the usual stress testing websites I think that is dubious as a few points on a score like that doesn’t really mean that if you case swap you would see any difference at all in real life gaming performance on MSFS or other games. I haven’t had any throttling or CTDs due to heat, and I run at 5ghz OC’d all the time on the CPU and the fans are set to run aggressively…yes temps are like 70C or maybe 72C for CPU and GPU, but I am not seeing the 85-90C of some users with AMD chips that do run a bit warmer than the Intel CPUs.

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Tough one… For me the end goal would be to 100.% raid the components (But not right now). Buy a new x570s motherboard when it comes out, 850 watt PSU a decent AIO and Nice Airflow case then to hell with Dell and their craptastic motherboard. I would also know full well i would no longer be calling Dell for any warranty or service after the deed is done. The big question would be when. I would wait a few months and during that time ensure that the components im getting will play nice with the components im raiding out of the dell pc. It also gives more time for the sim settle down performance wise so you can do an honest assessment.

In the mean time set up your parts list to see whats transferable and compatible and work on pricing it out.

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Waiting a bit also gives time for component prices to hopefully get back towards some normality. I’m guessing the prices of everything are jacked up a bit right now.

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Depends on what you are buying. GPUs are the center of the craziness but CPUs, MOBO,RAM ,PSU was able to get all that @MSRP a few months ago but this was Intel. Probably differ tent for AMD. Prices are normal right now for most PC components at least where I am.

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moral of the story; don’t buy dell.

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Are you using ACC for your OC’ing?

Benchmarks are done with a few utilities I pulled and I am comparing them to identical systems as well as their own performance in Cinebench, Heaven, 3dmark blender and Port Royal. For a week I was flipping things back and forth and RE-running different benchmarks, so I wasn’t comparing to the tin so much as other people’s systems. That doesn’t account for variables, but it was lagging some systems it shouldn’t have been in some cases.

I do intend to render video and crunch live Excel sheets with this machine as my second and third purpose, so those points were important to me.

I understand there is a cost involved in this, like everything. But, I saved about $2000 on parts already.

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I’ll look at the new mobo as this is a top three issue for me. It’s just garbage and has no expandability. Maybe I’ll try the hoop jumping trick to try to get the nvme mounted via pcie in the interim.

But 100% when this warranty runs (or whenever I decide enough of that), she’s getting parted out into something more forgiving.

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I don’t think we are seeing the big pricing issues with the parts I’d require (mobo, psu, case, cooling).

I’ve already got the cpu, gpu, storage and ram. I’ve seen the rest in MicroCenter. They go quick. But they’re available at msrp mostly and there are some good eBay deals from people forced to buy bundles to get a gpu.

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So true, but they were the only place to actually get a computer with these parts at a reasonable price. Going through this, never again.

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Yep, I’m using ACC for the OC of the CPU. I have left the GPU at the stock settings and the ram is on the XMP profile to run at 3200 (I’m using aftermarket crucial ballistic).

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We use Dell at work, and as far as office machines go they are fine. ProSupport is worth getting also.

But I wouldn’t have one as a gaming rig if you paid me.

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I’ve had two Alienware PC’s (an R6 and now an R8), both bought strictly for running flight sims. I’m really a Mac guy and didn’t want to delve deeply into the magical mystical world of Windows and so on and so on. Both have been a pretty good experience. The first one did have an issue (can’t remember what it was exactly). After some time with tech support, they sent a guy over to my home and replaced the motherboard (good warranty service IMHO)! The second one has been fine for the last two years or so (9900K/2080ti) with no issues.

The pluses (at least for a Mac guy):
SupportAssist software is included that runs an analysis of the system, points out any problems and directs you to any updates required to drivers, BIOS etc.

Alienware Command Center that lets you play around with everything from changing the color of the lcd lights on the case to dicking around with overclocking cpu, gpu, memory etc. Most importantly (for a Mac guy), they provide a couple of overclocking profiles that they have tested and that will run in a stable manner and maintain the power and temp limits. You are free to change all of this stuff and test it out on your own if you want.

The downsides:

If you are a tinkerer or a PC builder, you will hate this thing. They went for style over efficiency when it comes to cooling. It’s adequate as it comes to you, but there is no real headroom to push the hardware to the limit and no real way to increase the cooling. The R6 with a 7700K wasn’t too noisy, but the R8 with the 9900K is Hoover-level if you are pushing it (both with AIO water cooling).

It’s very picky on what memory you can add and where you can add it. For some reason, they ship it with XMP turned off??? But this can be changed in the BIOS (Mac guys hate dicking around in the BIOS)!

Upgrading…well it depends what you want to upgrade. I was hoping to upgrade the 7700K, but Intel decided to change the pinout and you can’t just upgrade the motherboard on these things. Dell/Alienware build their own version of the gpu’s that will fit in the case and meet cooling standards. More research required, but I doubt any of the 3-series cards will fit in the R-series cases. Kinda not important for now since you can’t buy one!

Anyway, I guess back to the original thread. I came to fly, and I can, just fine in MSFS with the Alienware R8. 9900K@4.7/2080ti boosts to 1850/hyperx 32GB @ 3200. 2 TB spinner for backup/2x1TB ssd’s in raid 0/1x 2TB Nvme SSD on an addon Pcie card.

The bottom line…I get to fly MSFS every day so far without CTD’s and pretty good performance. So, if you just came to fly (and you’re a Mac guy), don’t necessarily discount an Alieware PC! Where else are you going to get a 3-series gpu?