Attempting to fix the Alienware Aurora R3
Attempting to fix the Alienware Aurora R3
I'm working on restoring an R3 for my kids, but the case is very fixed, making it hard to rearrange components. I suspect I'm missing some cables, though I'm not sure which ones. I'm hoping someone can either share interior photos or assist based on the details you provided.
I still have the two original GTX 600 series cards that came with the PC. I'd prefer to use them if possible. I have a SATA link cable that connects them, but I'm unsure how to attach them to the PSU or MB1. As an alternative, I own a GTX 780Ti, though I'm considering selling it instead.
The PWR2 port on the motherboard should have something connected there. I don't remember what it is. The brown and black 4-pin plug from the PSU doesn't seem to reach anything on MB1 or MB2.
I'm ready to send photos if that would be useful.
I believe I might be missing some cables, though I'm not certain which ones. I'm hoping someone can either share pictures of the interior or assist based on the details provided below. Could you send a photo of the case and its internal components so we can identify what's missing in your setup? Please upload them to a platform like Imgur and share a link for our review.
I have the SLA documentation that should connect them, but I'm having trouble finding the cable that links them together and then to the PSU or MB1. As a backup, I own a GTX 780Ti, which I could sell instead.
SLI doesn't seem useful right now, and I doubt it will offer any real-world advantages by trying it again. Instead, use the most powerful GPU you have available. This way, you'll draw less power from the PSU/wall.
Regarding the PSU, could you tell me the make and model, as well as its age? While searching for a prebuilt unit, I noticed it should be based on the SandyBridge platform. You won't find much support for it in 2024.
Images:
https://imgur.com/a/alienware
See the pictures where the GPUs are connected, but the cable end doesn't fit into PWR2. Therefore, the GPU cable needs to be changed.
For the power supply, I looked up "CN-0FPWDW-47985 Power supply" and found a 305W NH493 model. As far as I recall, this is the original from 2011 when I purchased the PC.
I had a difficult time upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 due to compatibility issues with MB. I’m fine keeping it as a Windows 7 system.
Yeah, those cables are designed for an EVGA PSU, so avoid connecting them to your own PSU unless you're certain about the pinout. You'll still need a PSU to support the SLI configuration, though it would be more efficient to match the power requirements by using the GTX780Ti instead of the SLI GTX600. Speaking of that, which cards are from the GTX600 series? These could be interesting to read:
https://www.dell.com/community/en/c...po...a8dea523be
There are no labels on the card, which means I had to investigate further. They resemble the card shown on that page: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/ge...x-460.c265. It seems they might be 460 models; I'm not sure if NVIDIA applied the same design across different versions. I plan to try linking the 780TI to the board, since it appears the remaining connections on the PSU may not function properly.
Top left section indicates the CPU power; without it, the system won’t function properly.
I’m not familiar with this setup.
Using an older AIO CPU cooler might lead to failure or leaks if it stops working.
Running an outdated operating system isn’t recommended—some games won’t install.
The PSU is also not ideal.
A high-power GPU in a system that’s likely capable of handling it, but probably not when it was new.
Missing OEM cables is frustrating.
Finding the right parts can cost you a few hundred dollars for a better build with updated used components.
You could even involve the kids and make it a project.
Based on the time frame and images I’ve seen, a 400 or 500 series GPU seems reasonable—maybe a GTX560.
There’s also a lot of talk about dual 545 cards, which might have been exclusive to OEM.
A single six-pin power connector helps narrow things down (the GTX 545 used a 105W card and would work with a six-pin cable).
All the new components listed:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor – $83.56 @ Newegg
Motherboard: ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0 Micro ATX AM4 – $59.99 @ Amazon
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 – $24.97 @ Amazon
Storage: TEAMGROUP MP33 512 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD – $33.99 @ Amazon
Video Card: Asus Phoenix OC GeForce GTX 1650 G6 4 GB – $135.00 @ Amazon
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L MicroATX Mini Tower – $37.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply: MSI MAG A550BN 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX – $49.99 @ Amazon
Total: $425.49 (includes shipping, taxes, and discounts)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2024-11-14 16:23 EST-0500
In the second picture I believe I can identify it. It seems to be a sharp downward angle right through the hard drive cage at the base. It resembles an 8-wire cable. The label is missing, though.
I improved the clarity of the imgur post with a better image showing all available cables. The setup includes a 6-pin peripheral cable, a 6-pin SATA cable, a 4-pin brown/black cable, and the older peripheral cable. I noticed no additional cables from the PSU that would power the CPU.
From various image searches I observe several R3 motherboards. The connector can appear white at times, sometimes connected via a daisy chain to another cable, and other times it may be wrapped but with exposed black and white wires. It's also possible it is hidden quite far in the corner and not immediately noticeable. Check behind the water cooling radiator.