Alienware Alpha User manual

Alienware Alpha
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware Alpha
Regulatory Model: D07U
Regulatory Type: D07U001

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use
of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to
hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage,
personal injury, or death.
Copyright © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and
international copyright and intellectual property laws. Dell™ and the Dell logo are trademarks of
Dell Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned
herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
2014 - 10
Rev. A00

Contents
Before Working Inside Your Computer........................8
Before You Begin ................................................................................................ 8
Safety Instructions..............................................................................................8
Recommended Tools.........................................................................................10
After Working Inside Your Computer...........................11
Technical Overview..............................................................12
Inside View Of Your Computer...........................................................................12
System-Board Components.............................................................................. 13
Removing the Base Cover.................................................14
Procedure...........................................................................................................14
Replacing the Base Cover................................................. 16
Procedure...........................................................................................................16
Removing the Top Cover................................................... 17
Prerequisites...................................................................................................... 17
Procedure........................................................................................................... 17
Replacing the Top Cover................................................... 19
Procedure...........................................................................................................19
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 19
Removing the Hard Drive.................................................20
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................20
Procedure..........................................................................................................20

Replacing the Hard Drive................................................. 23
Procedure..........................................................................................................23
Post-requisites..................................................................................................23
Removing the Bottom USB Port................................... 24
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................24
Procedure..........................................................................................................24
Replacing the Bottom USB Port....................................28
Procedure..........................................................................................................28
Post-requisites..................................................................................................28
Removing the Power-Button Board............................29
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................29
Procedure..........................................................................................................29
Replacing the Power-Button Board............................ 33
Procedure..........................................................................................................33
Post-requisites..................................................................................................33
Removing the Processor Fan.........................................34
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................34
Procedure..........................................................................................................34
Replacing the Processor Fan......................................... 36
Procedure..........................................................................................................36
Post-requisites..................................................................................................36
Removing the Processor Heat-Sink............................37
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 37
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 37

Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink............................39
Procedure..........................................................................................................39
Post-requisites..................................................................................................39
Removing the Video-Card Fan.......................................40
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................40
Procedure..........................................................................................................40
Replacing the Video-Card Fan........................................42
Procedure..........................................................................................................42
Post-requisites..................................................................................................42
Removing the Video-Card Heat Sink..........................43
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................43
Procedure..........................................................................................................44
Replacing the Video-Card Heat Sink...........................45
Procedure..........................................................................................................45
Post-requisites..................................................................................................45
Removing the Memory Module(s)............................... 46
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................46
Procedure..........................................................................................................46
Replacing the Memory Module(s)................................48
Procedure..........................................................................................................48
Post-requisites..................................................................................................49
Removing the Processor..................................................50
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................50
Procedure..........................................................................................................50

Replacing the Processor.................................................. 52
Procedure..........................................................................................................52
Post-requisites..................................................................................................53
Removing the Front-Panel Light Board.................... 54
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................54
Procedure..........................................................................................................54
Replacing the Front-Panel Light Board..................... 57
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 57
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 57
Removing the Wireless Card.......................................... 58
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................58
Procedure..........................................................................................................58
Replacing the Wireless Card...........................................60
Procedure..........................................................................................................60
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 60
Removing the Antenna Modules.................................. 61
Prerequisites......................................................................................................61
Procedure..........................................................................................................62
Replacing the Antenna Modules..................................64
Procedure..........................................................................................................64
Post-requisites..................................................................................................64
Removing the System Board......................................... 65
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................65
Procedure..........................................................................................................66

Replacing the System Board..........................................69
Procedure..........................................................................................................69
Post-requisites..................................................................................................69
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery.....................................71
Prerequisites...................................................................................................... 71
Procedure........................................................................................................... 71
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery.................................... 73
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 73
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 73
System Setup.........................................................................74
Overview ........................................................................................................... 74
Entering System Setup .................................................................................... 74
System Setup Options...................................................................................... 74
Boot Sequence..................................................................................................80
Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot..........................................80
Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots.................................................81
Clearing Forgotten Passwords.......................................................................... 81
Prerequisites...............................................................................................82
Procedure.................................................................................................... 82
Post-requisites............................................................................................84
Clearing CMOS Settings....................................................................................84
Prerequisites...............................................................................................84
Procedure....................................................................................................84
Post-requisites............................................................................................86
Flashing the BIOS................................................................. 87

Before Working Inside Your
Computer
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards,
handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and
contacts.
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer
depending on the configuration you ordered.
Before You Begin
1 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
2 Shut down your computer.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon →
Shut down.
– Console Mode: On the Home screen, click Power → SHUT DOWN.
NOTE: If you are using a different operating system, see the
documentation of your operating system for shut-down instructions.
3 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical
outlets.
4 Disconnect all cables such as telephone cables, network cables and so on,
from your computer.
5 Disconnect all attached devices and peripherals, such as keyboard, mouse,
monitor, and so on, from your computer.
6 Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if applicable.
7 After the computer is unplugged, press and hold the power button for 5
seconds to ground the system board.
Safety Instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential
damage and ensure your personal safety.
8

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer. For
more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance
home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
WARNING: Disconnect all power sources before opening the
computer cover or panels. After you finish working inside
the computer, replace all covers, panels, and screws before
connecting to the power source.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, make sure that
the work surface is flat and clean.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards,
handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and
contacts.
CAUTION: You should only perform troubleshooting and
repairs as authorized or directed by the Dell technical
assistance team. Damage due to servicing that is not
authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. See the
safety instructions that shipped with the product or at
dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer,
ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface,
such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you
work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to
dissipate static electricity, which could harm internal
components.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector
or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself. Some cables have
connectors with locking tabs or thumb-screws that you
must disengage before disconnecting the cable. When
disconnecting cables, keep them evenly aligned to avoid
bending any connector pins. When connecting cables, make
sure that the ports and connectors are correctly oriented
and aligned.
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the
cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from
the network device.
9

CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-
card reader.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Philips screwdriver
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Plastic scribe
10