Case Mod - Complete ⭐ Project ALIENBASE - Alienware Aurora R4 Case ATX mod

INTRO​

Hello everyone, i'm new here, i'm from Italy, this is my first post, but i have to say that i follow this forum since 2006!
I'm a computer tech with a lot of passion in modding and i've made a lot of mods in the years, but I never had the time to share them on the internet, so from 2019 i decided to start to make MODs more professionally, and now i will post here my main project of my new personal computer!

So the current project will concern my future new computer that I will assemble soon, I have been thinking about the realization of this mod for a long time, I bought the case in 2015 at a bargain price on ebay, and since then I have never managed to find the time to start with the mod, also, I still didn't need a new computer, because my glorious old i7 920 with 12GB of RAM do the job very well!

HARDWARE & CASE​

The case chosen for this mod is an Alienware Aurora R4 dating back to 2012, why this choice? Well it's simple, just see my nickname , I'm a lover of science fiction and futuristic films, set in space, with aliens and spaceships, lasers, space tunnels, portals, etc. etc. and all this in the history of gaming in the computer world was represented by Alienware, which I personally have always admired for its products, as quality but above all as design, at unfortunately dream prices. So I always wanted this model of Alienware case, because since the first version I had fallen in love with it, with its design different from all the other houses of the time and that has inspired many other brands of case manufacturers in the years.
Furthermore, I had already seen a nice modding project to make it truly unique and the fact of making a mod with this case makes it even more unique, thanks to the particularity and rarity of the case and the only few mods present with it.
Having said that, I have always followed the modding scene worldwide, observing the evolution of styles over the years, and therefore I will try with this project to create something new and hopefully never seen before!

As for the hardware features of the computer, let's say that it will depend a little on when the mod will be completed, but ideally these are the plans, considering that the computer will be used at 90% for gaming in 1080p 144 Hz

***Updated HW Specs of the final configuation 2020****

CPU: Intel i5 10600K
MOBO: Gigabyte Z490 Vision D
VGA: Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1 Gaming OC
RAM: 2x8GB DDR4 Kingston Predator RGB 4000 MHz
PSU: 800W 80+ Tagan BZ PipeRock
Storage: 500GB Sabrent Rocket NVMe (OS)+ 1TB Crucial P1 NVMe (Games)+ 1TB Hitachi 2.5" sata3 (data)
Cooling: Barrow + Bykski + XSPC + custom liquid loop (below detailed setup)​

Detailed liquid cooling setup:
3 total radiator:
- XSPC 240 low profile 20 mm
- XSPC 120 low profile 20 mm
- Bykski 240 standard 30 mm
Tubing: hard PETG 16/12 mm
Waterpump: Barrow CH 18W PWM
CPU Waterblock: Barrow
GPU Waterblock: Bykski
Reservoir: Bykski 260 mm Virus style
Fittings: Bykski + Barrow CH
Coolant: EK Cryofuel acid green
Fans: Alseye X12 (3 fans) + Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 + Scythe Kaze Flex slim PWM

SPONSOR:
HardWire - Custom cables maker

In the next days i will post A LOT of picture of the worklog!

This MOD was started in October 2019 and completed at the end of October 2020!

 

I'm in, so long as you chop it up quite severely

 

I'm so curious to see the work..

 

Thanks guy for the interest!
So we can start with some pictures of the disassembling....

I can say that the case quality is very high in all the parts, the metal is very thick and also the plastics. The case as shown weight about 25Kg with power supply and DVD!

Inside there are a lot of cables from the PSU and also there is a control board to drive all

fans, waterpumps, LEDs and sensors


And all out!



Disassembly complete!

 

STEP 2

I started to cut some parts, and making the conversion for support full ATX mainboards
In the bottom rear i've made a big hole for the PSU


Found and old full ATX support made of aluminium, perfect for my project!



Cutted a little bit and i've made some support to fix it to the case

To fit the PSU in the new position i've raised all the case with L shape bracket


Reinforced the structure with a big L shape bracket

And finally this is the full ATX conversion look! Not finished for the moment, need a lot of work to complete!





In the next posts i will show some other step of the work in chronological order of what i've made first. So i skipped some works in the last months and focused on other main parts of the look of this MOD.

 

Thanks, yes i think that the quality and the design of the case is a good starting point.

The Mobo tray it can be removed, but in the finish, will all component installed, will be impossible / very very difficult. But this isn't a "feature" that i want, and in the future posts you will understand better my ideas.

 

It's completely pointless and rather annoying (the mobo tray). This was the first time Dell had designed their own case after buying Alienware. There was lots to like, but it was literally like someone said "Look, it needs everything on the market right now OK? cost be damned and lifting should require a fork lift".

 

I have always loved this vase, it has a retro line, I hope you won't make it too different from its nature.

 

I have a sneaking suspicion it may end up a little something like this one.

https://forums.bit-tech.net/index.php?threads/alienware-aurora-alx-xl.247213/

 

Fortunately it is not necessary, all part are fixed with rivets and M3 bolts.

Yes is also my love, i think that the line and some parts of the design are timeless, but need a restyling...you will see my plans!

I know this project.... but mine will be a lot different and better (for me), the rest it's at the sentence of the publics!

 

So the next STEP that i do, it's building the radiators supports.
In the front will be placed the Bykski 240 x 30 mm


Need also to use one slim fan, you will see why in the next update...(the other standard fan in the picture are only for test)



The other XSPC 240 x 20 mm radiator will be placed under the top grill





I've cutted all the not necessary parts and used the metal of the case to shape the radiator support from cardboard model.



The other side i have to do some reinforcement.....



And after placed metal sheet support with rivets

 

eeeeh yes, a little error with the drill!
But the holes are 4 mm and the screw 3 mm, so it will fit without problems.

 

these holes are perfect!

 

As i said, i will make a restyling of some parts of the case, so here we go, one of the main modded part of this project is the front.
The stock front is too flat for me and without "personality"
So i started to make a prototype with cardboard....


The idea is to make a form like a pyramid with different angles in all sections

Next prototype with PVC forex....


And finally make all parts with plexiglas laser cutted
I make an hole in the junction...you will see what it is for later



testing all parts with tape


And pre fix them with hot glue



Perfectly aligned


The top part is curved, so i bended it with hot air gun (left) right is for comparison


All bended and glued (in the back)


**resized all pictures because are too big**

 

Finally, i've use epoxy putty called milliput (from UK) ad filled all the holes and junctions.
I've used it also to stuck in place the parts from the back.



After i make a grill to cover the new hole in the case





As you can see i've also cutted a window in the side panel, i will show the work in the next post....

 

Why add large feet at the back and small feet at the front ?
The face looks nice

 

Thanks!
Because i want a slanted style look, so the back need to be higher

 

ok let's wait and see the end result.

 

I like where this is going nice ideas and plex work

 

which glue or paste did you use to put the panels together on the front?