Alienware Area 51 R5
Specification and Upgrade Options
The Alienware Area 51 R5 is a scalable gaming desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2015, it is built on the X299 PCH chipset and supports 10th gen Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DIMM DDR4-2666/3200 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 R5 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 R5 to play games?
Yes, Alienware Area 51 R5 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 R5 support Windows 11?
Yes, Alienware Area 51 R5 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 R5 supports Gen10 Intel Core technology on a X299 PCH chipset. 10th generation Intel Core CPUs (Comet Lake) expanded thread counts and improved overall platform stability. Performance varies by SKU, with higher-end models handling modern gaming, heavy multitasking, virtualization, and software development effectively. Emulation performance remains strong.
Best CPUs for Alienware Area 51 R5 upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 10500 | 6(12) | 3.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz |
| Core i5 10600 | 6(12) | 3.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz |
| Core i7 10700 | 8(16) | 2.9 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Core i7 10700F | 8(16) | 2.9 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Core i9 10900 | 10(9) | 3.8 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
| Core i9 10900F | 10(20) | 2.8 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
GPU upgrade
Alienware Area 51 R5 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 3090. You can upgrade Alienware Area 51 R5 graphics card, but you should select a model that requires 1500 W or less.
GPU upgrade options for Alienware Area 51 R5 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 R5 supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2666/3200 RAM across four DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 3200 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 R5 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.
Wi-Fi Support
Alienware Area 51 R5 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 R5:
| 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 R5 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 R5 includes thirteen USB ports in total in the following configuration - (9x) USB 3.0 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A;The model include two USB 3.1 ports supporting up to 10 Gb/s transfer speeds.
Video ports
Alienware Area 51 R5 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 R5 comes with four SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.
Alienware Area 51 R5 has also one M.2 socket(s) that supports PCIe NVMe or SATA M.2 drives. However, this socket is limited to PCIe 3.0 x2, thus lowering the NVMe speed to 2 GB/s. This configuration is good for both gaming and work related tasks.
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.
Best PCIe NVMe drives for Alienware Area 51 R5 storage upgrade:
| Model | Form factor / Interface | NAND type | DRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 PRO SSD | M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| CORSAIR MP600 PRO | M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus | M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| Western Digital Black SN770 | M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| Kingston A2000 | M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
Power Supply
The Alienware Area 51 R5 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.
