Case Mod Alienware Aurora ALX-XL

[KayinBlack]

He got the whole setup for free. Give him a break. If you want to gripe at someone, I paid (a lot) for my case and electronics, and they're Alienware too. PC internals might not be, but I have a full ESA setup in mine from the Area51 it used to be. But if you want a challenge, getting that to play with non Dell components and expanding its capabilities is enough of one that you ought to be busy for a little while.

Kier is one of the best of the best, and Dell recognized it by giving him this setup. Why not put your bias aside, give the case itself another look (who else has motorized venting that's controlled by software?) and let the man work? Modding is doing with whatever you're given sometimes. By that definition, this is definitely modding.

[Mosquito]

Originally Posted by KayinBlack

(who else has motorized venting that's controlled by software?)

I first saw it on Fangame's project Fury last year
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthrea...+vents&page=10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9oBDD1wpR4

But I agree, I haven't seen any other manufactured PCs with it. I agree, though, let the man get on with it.

[kier]

Originally Posted by Owndapwn

Horrible price to performance, a record of parts failing, a very significant overheating rate, a rather poor case internally, the stigma associated with owning an Alienware, and the part where it's a $600 dell with LED's, a $40 presealed watercooler prone to pump failures and leaks, and an outdated $200 graphics card that they charge upwards of $1100 for.

Ahh...ok, that's your opinion and I respect that. But what has this to do with me modding one?

[Attila]

Originally Posted by Owndapwn

This forum seems to love horribly unbalanced builds so much,

That's what we do here. We build ridiculous mods for fun, because we can. If you don't like what's going on here then stop punishing yourself. Find something else more to your taste. There are lots of interesting things happening here and you can just ignore the ones you don't like. I do it all the time.

Originally Posted by Owndapwn

they're willing to insult their betters over something that can't be debated.

OK, well, that statement is just sad.

[sixfootsideburns]

Originally Posted by Owndapwn

This forum seems to love horribly unbalanced builds so much, they're willing to insult their betters over something that can't be debated.

By all means, don't let us hold back your arogance. Come one! Come all! Massive ego on display!

You have to relax man, if your a well respected member on other forums then I'm surprised you would have that kind of attitude on this one. And with that I'm all done hijacking Kier's thread.

Kier... my apologies

[Lance]

Thats really impressive. I like the way that you've changed the lower side pannels rather than reuse the old one.

I've always liked the Alienware design, I saw one at the I-series a few years ago, and I am very interested in whats going into it next.


PS NOTE:

Could a mod not just delete the argument above? It doesn't add much to the topic, or could just be moved to the rant section?

[Shirty]

Or just ban the user for being a stinking troll?

Looking forward to the mod by the way kier, and that's something because I don't often venture into this section (I get too jealous )

[kier]

Thanks you guys but please relax
Owndapwn is free to give his opinion, I don't mind.

This forum, his community and there builds are great, no matter what some individuals say.

[xxxsonic1971]

Looks fantastic, great job!!

[Owndapwn]

Sorry guys. I was just having a bad day yesterday. Just the straw that broke the camel's back, but that's still no excuse to take it out on you blokes.
I have nothing against the OP, his modding skills, or case modding.
Just Alienware, as they, iBUYPOWER and CyberPowerPC manage to simultaneously cut myself and other small-time IT's out of a sale and rip off the customer.
If no other computer brands existed, and custom building was illegal, I'd breadboard myself a PC.

Originally Posted by kier

Ahh...ok, that's your opinion and I respect that. But what has this to do with me modding one?

Nothing.
They make decent desk ornaments (Albeit large).
But as a computer, they're good. As a gaming computer (As they advertise it), they're well below sub-par. An Alienware would make a better video / 3D modeling computer than gaming.
For gaming, an i7 is useless (Most games only use one or two cores. Quad-cores are only recommended for gaming builds so you can run a recording program, Teamspeak, music, etc in the background).
Then they put a GTX 555 (OEM 550ti) in a ~$1500 gaming PC. The 550ti is a ~$130 GPU, and the 6850 is a better ~$130 GPU. (Source)
Unless you have triple or quad GPU's, LGA 2011/LGA 1366 quad cores just raise mobo prices.
If they didn't throw out "extreme gaming" so many times and they lowered the price ~30%, they'd be great prebuilts.


Also, can that first 680 even breathe? ._.
I thought my board had a tight fit for Crossfire, with it's one PCI gap...

[kier]

Originally Posted by Owndapwn

Sorry guys. I was just having a bad day yesterday. Just the straw that broke the camel's back, but that's still no excuse to take it out on you blokes.
I have nothing against the OP, his modding skills, or case modding.
Just Alienware, as they, iBUYPOWER and CyberPowerPC manage to simultaneously cut myself and other small-time IT's out of a sale and rip off the customer.
If no other computer brands existed, and custom building was illegal, I'd breadboard myself a PC.

No problem

Originally Posted by Owndapwn

Nothing.
They make decent desk ornaments (Albeit large).
But as a computer, they're good. As a gaming computer (As they advertise it), they're well below sub-par. An Alienware would make a better video / 3D modeling computer than gaming.
For gaming, an i7 is useless (Most games only use one or two cores. Quad-cores are only recommended for gaming builds so you can run a recording program, Teamspeak, music, etc in the background).
Then they put a GTX 555 (OEM 550ti) in a ~$1500 gaming PC. The 550ti is a ~$130 GPU, and the 6850 is a better ~$130 GPU. (Source)
Unless you have triple or quad GPU's, LGA 2011/LGA 1366 quad cores just raise mobo prices.
If they didn't throw out "extreme gaming" so many times and they lowered the price ~30%, they'd be great prebuilts.


Also, can that first 680 even breathe? ._.
I thought my board had a tight fit for Crossfire, with it's one PCI gap...

Actually I dont care what kind of hardware they put in. They give me this system to mod with and i am very happy they give me this opportunity.

It is tight yes, but the GPU's will be watercooled

[Gtek]

I want to believe..., that you will remove this funny X-files era alien head from the top Nice progress so far, of course

[kier]

Update!!!

Hi Y'all,

I had a nice update in mind about the internal and the beautiful water blocks. Unfortunately GLS did it again... destroyed my package and send it back to Slovenie.... Thanks again GLS!

So this time only an update about the internal parts.

First I have some RAM coolers mounted on the Dell RAMs





I also changed the CPU cooler.

Before:



Shorten the tubes, turn the cover, turn the alien and re-route the cable





Internal: First cut and bent a custom cover



What hides the 5.25 bay



Made it black



Placed it





Next cut a piece of green acrylic to the right size with two small pieces for mounting the midplate and side cover









Which will be like this



The midplate. Later on there will be holes in it and a vinyl cover with the brand names which will be illuminated from below









The side cover is also made ​​of aluminum with recess for the power for the side panel











And last... made a cover next to the motherboard tray,which will hide all cables















Next week after the waterblocks are in, the case will go to the coater and turns completely black.

[siliconfanatic]

with all the epicness going on around here chuck norris will need a new boot

[Pranja]

Looks great Kier,hoping that next update will be soon.

[kier]

Originally Posted by siliconfanatic

with all the epicness going on around here chuck norris will need a new boot

Thank you and thanks Chuck

Originally Posted by Pranja

Looks great Kier,hoping that next update will be soon.

Me too...thanks

[kier]

Update!!!

Received a beautiful package today. This time GLS did a good job



Early christmas





EKWB your the best



Unpacking can begin

First some EK-PSC Fitting 10mm - G1/4 Black





No build without EK-PSC Adapter 90° G1/4 Black





And offcourse the EK-PSC Adapter 45° G1/4 Black





Two beautiful EK-CoolStream RAD XT (360)











And for the great Nvidia GTX680 GPUs 2x EK-FC680 GTX - Acetal + Nickel CSQ





















Linked with a EK-FC Bridge DUAL Serial CSQ











And don't forget the EK-FC680 GTX Backplate - Black CSQ (QClass2)







This time I will use the new EK-BAY DCP 2.2 Combo Reservoir - Acetal















With this the EK-DCP 2.2 (12V DC Pump)













Filled with EK-Ekoolant CLEAR (premix 1000mL)





Thanks Gregor and everyone from EKWB who made ​​this possible.

Don't forget to look at the great new site from EKWB CooledPC and show your system to win great prizes

[S1KO85]

I love that res!

Didn't know they did combo to hold a dcp 2.2... It's one of my all time favourite pumps for a silent build (I have one running at 5v 24/7 on my xb360, you just can't hear it at all!).

Thanks for showing!

[[ZiiP] NaloaC]

Hah, I've been waiting on a delivery from GLS for almost a week now. Bloody courier didn't find my house so decided to leave a gun sight in my local pub and claimed that he called me to confirm if that was ok (which he didn't)!

On-topic, looks like were in for some WC cheesecake soon!

[Parge]

This is awesome, though blingy, I love most of the cases Alienware design - this one included!