Alienware Area 51 R2
Specification and Upgrade Options
The Alienware Area 51 R2 is a scalable gaming desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2018, it is built on the X99 Express chipset and supports 9th gen Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DIMM DDR4-2133/2667 memory. Thanks to its larger chassis, it accommodates dedicated graphics cards, making it an excellent candidate for a gaming PC conversion or a high-performance workstation.
The Mid Tower form factor is usually used in gaming and workstations configurations. If you are looking for a system with maximum upgradability, Alienware Area 51 R2 is a very good option. Models in this category usually have 4x PCIe slots, several drive bays and space for liquid and large size air cooling.
Can you upgrade Alienware Area 51 R2 to play games?
Yes, Alienware Area 51 R2 is a gaming machine pre-assembled with dictated graphics card. You can easily play games and upgrade it with better hardware components. Processors, memory modules, and storage devices are easy to install. However, these PCs sometime have proprietary elements like the power supply unit, the chassis or the power connector, which can make it difficult for users to install aftermarket PSUs to support better GPUs.
Does Alienware Area 51 R2 support Windows 11?
Yes, Alienware Area 51 R2 is compatible with Windows 11. According to Windows 11 specification, all models that have Intel 8th Gen processors (or newer) with TPM 2.0 support and a UEFI BIOS with Secure boot, are eligible to upgrade form Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.
Processor
The Alienware Area 51 R2 supports Gen9 Intel Core technology on a X99 Express chipset. 9th generation Intel Core CPUs (Coffee Lake Refresh) further refined core counts and clock speeds. High-end models are well-balanced for gaming, programming, and advanced homelab environments. Emulation performance is excellent on flagship CPUs.
Best CPUs for Alienware Area 51 R2 upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 9500 | 6(6) | 3.0 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
| Core i5 9600 | 6(6) | 3.1 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| Core i7 9700 | 6(8) | 3.0 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Core i9 9900 | 8(9) | 3.1 GHz | 5.0 GHz |
GPU upgrade
Alienware Area 51 R2 is a gaming computer and comes assembled with a dedicated graphics card. According to the specification the best possible GPU you can use with it is GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. You can upgrade Alienware Area 51 R2 graphics card, but you should select a model that requires 1500 W or less.
GPU upgrade options for Alienware Area 51 R2 with the stock 1500W power supply:
| GPU | Power consumption | Memory | Req. |
|---|
Please note that upgrading to a more power-hungry GPU requires a better PSU. However, in most cases, this may not be possible because most OEM pre-built PCs have motherboards that use a proprietary power connector. Nevertheless, this problem can be solved by using a power adapter. The more challenging problem arises when the model has a non-standard chassis or power supply, in which case upgrading the PSU becomes much harder.
Memory
Alienware Area 51 R2 supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2133/2667 RAM across four DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2667 MT/s and dual-channel support depending on the installed configuration.
Actual supported memory capacity and memory channels may vary depending on the installed CPU and chipset.
Typical Alienware Area 51 R2 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.
Wi-Fi Support
Alienware Area 51 R2 supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card with the on-board M.2 2230 (Wi-Fi/BT) slot. The card contains a Wi-Fi module that supports various Wi-Fi standards, as well as a Bluetooth module. It is small circuit board that is designed to fit into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.
Keep in mind that the card is not always included and you have to install one yourself.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Alienware Area 51 R2:
| Model | Speed | Frequency | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 6E (Gig+) Kit | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Rekong AX210 | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Gigabyte GC-Wbax200 | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer TX50E | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer T9UH | 1300 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | USB 3.0 |
Ports
Alienware Area 51 R2 provides a fixed set of external I/O ports for connecting peripherals and displays. Port availability and versions determine supported data transfer speeds and display capabilities.
USB ports
Alienware Area 51 R2 includes ten USB ports in total in the following configuration - (6x) USB 3.0 Type A; (4x) USB-A 2.0; with no USB 3.1 ports available.
Video ports
Alienware Area 51 R2 does not include a DisplayPort output.
No HDMI output is available on the motherboard.
Motherboard video outputs require a CPU with integrated graphics. Systems equipped with a dedicated GPU must use the video ports on the graphics card instead.
SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports
The Alienware Area 51 R2 comes with six SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.
Unfortunately, the Alienware Area 51 R2 has no M.2 PCIe soket and you have to rely on the available SATA ports to connect your drives.
The M.2 PCIe SSD connector in combination with an NVMe drive allows for higher transfer rates, compared to the old SATA interface. In some situations, NVMe device connected to the M.2 PCIe socket can be more than 5 times faster.
*Keep in mind that some M.2 connectors may not support SATA SSDs. Check the motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.
Power Supply
The Alienware Area 51 R2 comes with a 1500 Watt PSU. Having a power supply with high power rating is important, especially if you are doing upgrade with addtional components, like dedicated GPU and more HDDs. Will this 1500 W be enough, it all depends on your specific use. Please keep in mind that some models might have more than one PSU option. Whenever possible get the most powerful one, as it might make future upgrades easier.
