I recently got an Alienware Area 51 R2, which came with a Threadripper 1900X CPU. I've already upgraded my graphics card from a 1050 Ti to a 5700 XT, but I'm now considering upgrading the CPU. Since it uses a TR4 socket, I'm wondering if I should just swap in another TR4 CPU or if it would be better to replace the motherboard entirely. The system has 64GB of RAM, and I want to make sure I'm making the right choice for gaming. What do you think?
1 Answer
Keep in mind that Alienware often uses proprietary parts, which means that your motherboard and other components might not meet standard ATX specifications. You'll need to check if they've released BIOS updates for your board to support newer TR4 CPUs. If your case, motherboard, and PSU are also proprietary, upgrading the motherboard could mean you'll have to replace everything at once, which could be more trouble than it’s worth.
That’s a good point! I hadn't considered the possible compatibility issue with newer Threadrippers. I'd hate to invest in a CPU and find it doesn't work.