Someone's recent swap, I don't have time to ID the motherboard or CPU, but I think the case lights turn on with it, you can chime into this thread to ask the person
https://na.alienwarearena.com/ucf/s...ea-51-r2-240mm-radiator-placement-suggestions
Hi. The FIO AlienF/X board in the hard drives side of the case seems to have a special 'wake-up' protocol with the original X99 MSI motherboard. In the days after X99 aftermarket boards were released, some X99 types would allow the case lights to come on, others found out along the way that their case lights would either not come on or just the side panels would not light up. No one knows why other than a digital incompatibility of some sort with some aftermarket boards. Because the factory X99/X299 alienboards are by MSI, this user tried MSI X299 Gaming Pro in the hopes it would be a good match, but lost case lights.
https://www.dell.com/community/Alie...rade-to-Area-51-R2-No-case-lights/m-p/5539565
R4 x299 motherboard part# is HJ5Y7. On page3 of this post, I outline the design change of the 'new' USB2.0 type headers; they're smaller than your R2 standard headers
https://www.dell.com/community/Alie...-the-Alienware-Area-51-R2/td-p/5557515/page/3
The Front Panel & USB2.0 headers are both affected. I suspect the Aliens sabotaged this board in order to discourage X299 swaps for reasons I won't go into. To try to integrate this board into your R2 case means you must purchase the newer USB & Front Panel cables, both of which plug into the FIO board. I don't have the part#'s for those cables, it is possible Dell Support / Sales can find them. You would obtain someone's service tag to purchase parts of necessary, usually by finding an online photo of the rear of a case to get the # off it
The R2 case can take an ATX form factor & E-ATX (if you move some of the black adhesive clips out of the way). All motherboards (Asus, MSI, AsRock etc) will fit in there. Naturally all motherboards can be wired up to the case, but whether case lights work is in question
This post link describes swaps from the past. Most users had to buy new longer USB2.0-type cables to help reach, front panel wiring may or may not need to be rewired for the new mthrbrd; when browsing this thread below, the Dell forum changed over recently & all of the links to other forum posts are broken probably, but a post 'title' search can be performed to possibly find the original:
https://www.dell.com/community/Alie...-motherboard-is-it-possible/m-p/5503073#M5049
For example, my post on page4 of the link above tried to collect user swap links by title (links are broken); a title search like 'Area 51 R2-Upgrades, Mods, Clarifications' would take u to the original post after a search for it:
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General/Area-51-R2-Upgrades-Mods-Clarifications/m-p/5609043
Here's a good place to start checking their archive:
https://www.dell.com/community/foru...n=category:English&q=area 51 motherboard swap
I have an R2 case but haven't swapped an X99/299 board into it, R2 motherboard swapping is something I do not consult on anymore. The best advice would be to sell your R2 & buy a new/used R4/R5 to get what u want, or take your chances on an aftermarket board. If the case lights do not light up afterwards u can live with it, or return the board & try a new one. Since I don't know which boards are proven to give case lights back I do not consult on which one to buy, especially after the MSI Gaming Pro x299 was a bust, it shouldn't have been but it was ... ... ...
Good luck ok
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News edit 3.14.18 is courtesy of my friend AndrewSi from Down Under:
"I've upgraded two Area 51 R2's to R4's in the last month. The motherboards are a direct swap, most of the cable from the R2 will fit the R4, there are a couple of exceptions. The R2 has 6 SATA HDD cables (well both mine did anyway) only two of these cables are long enough for the R4 upgrade as the motherboard sockets are in a slightly different position.
*The USB1 and PANEL1 cables on the R2 motherboard have 9 pin female (motherboard) to 10 pin female (I/O daughterboard) plugs on the end of the cable - One pin in each motherboard socket for USB1 and PANEL1 are missing, so female plugs have one slot blanked out.
*The USB1 and PANEL1 cables on the R4 motherboard have 10 pin female (motherboard) to 10 pin female (I/O daughterboard) plugs on the end of the cable - No pins are missing on the mobo or I/O board
Not only are the R2 cables not long enough (not even close, need almost 3 times the length, the location has been moved from right side of mobo to very bottom) They are don't have enough slots in the female plug on the end of the cable, so you have to purchase R4 cables or buy aftermarket extension cables to suit
R4 USB1 and PANEL1 cable part numbers: 027J7M 00NX92
A51 R4 Motherboard part number: 0HJ5Y7"
These are the new R3-R6 'mini' JST-type headers / cables / connectors in question:
