Alienware Area-51 R2 User manual

Alienware Area-51
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware Area-51 R2
Regulatory Model: D03X
Regulatory Type: D03X001

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...................... 10
Before You Begin .............................................................................................. 10
Safety Instructions............................................................................................10
Recommended Tools......................................................................................... 12
After Working Inside Your Computer..........................13
Technical Overview..............................................................14
Inside View of Your Computer........................................................................... 14
Right View.................................................................................................... 15
Left View.......................................................................................................16
System-Board Components...............................................................................17
I/O Board Components...................................................................................... 18
Lifting the Computer..........................................................20
Procedure..........................................................................................................20
Removing the Stability Foot...........................................22
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 22
Replacing the Stability Foot........................................... 25
Procedure..........................................................................................................25
Removing the Side Panels...............................................26
Procedure..........................................................................................................26
Replacing the Side Panels............................................... 28
Procedure..........................................................................................................28

Removing the Battery....................................................... 29
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................29
Procedure..........................................................................................................30
Replacing the Battery.........................................................31
Procedure...........................................................................................................31
Post-requisites..................................................................................................32
Removing the Battery Case............................................33
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................33
Procedure..........................................................................................................33
Replacing the Battery Case............................................ 36
Procedure..........................................................................................................36
Post-requisites..................................................................................................36
Removing the Hard Drive................................................. 37
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 37
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 37
Replacing the Hard Drive................................................. 40
Procedure..........................................................................................................40
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 40
Removing the Optical Drive............................................. 41
Prerequisites......................................................................................................41
Procedure...........................................................................................................41
Replacing the Optical Drive............................................ 44
Procedure..........................................................................................................44
Post-requisites..................................................................................................44

Removing the Right AlienFX Side-Panel
Connector................................................................................ 45
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................45
Procedure..........................................................................................................45
Replacing the Right AlienFX Side-Panel
Connector................................................................................ 48
Procedure..........................................................................................................48
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 48
Removing the Left AlienFX Side-Panel
Connector................................................................................ 49
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................49
Procedure..........................................................................................................49
Replacing the Left AlienFX Side-Panel
Connector................................................................................ 53
Procedure..........................................................................................................53
Post-requisites..................................................................................................53
Removing the I/O Board....................................................54
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................54
Procedure..........................................................................................................54
Replacing the I/O Board.....................................................57
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 57
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 57
Removing the Drive-Bay Heat-Sensor.......................58
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................58
Procedure..........................................................................................................58

Replacing the Drive-Bay Heat-Sensor........................ 61
Procedure...........................................................................................................61
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 61
Removing the Memory Module(s)............................... 62
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................62
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 62
Replacing the Memory Module(s)................................64
Procedure..........................................................................................................64
Post-requisites..................................................................................................65
Removing the Graphics Card..........................................66
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................66
Procedure..........................................................................................................66
Replacing the Graphics Card.......................................... 69
Procedure..........................................................................................................69
Post-requisites..................................................................................................69
Removing the Multiple Graphics Cards.....................70
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 70
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 70
Replacing the Multiple Graphics Cards......................74
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 74
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 74
Removing the Full-length Graphics Cards................75
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 75
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 75

Replacing the Full-length Graphics Cards................ 79
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 79
Post-requisites..................................................................................................79
Removing the PCI Fan........................................................80
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 80
Procedure..........................................................................................................80
Replacing the PCI Fan........................................................ 85
Procedure..........................................................................................................85
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 85
Removing the Front-bezel Heat-sensor...................86
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................86
Procedure..........................................................................................................86
Replacing the Front-bezel Heat-sensor................... 88
Procedure..........................................................................................................88
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 88
Removing the Memory Fan.............................................89
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................89
Procedure..........................................................................................................89
Replacing the Memory Fan.............................................. 91
Procedure...........................................................................................................91
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 91
Removing the Processor Cooling-Assembly.......... 92
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................92
Procedure..........................................................................................................92

Replacing the Processor Cooling Assembly........... 95
Procedure..........................................................................................................95
Post-requisites..................................................................................................96
Removing the Processor.................................................. 97
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 97
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 97
Replacing the Processor.................................................. 99
Procedure..........................................................................................................99
Post-requisites................................................................................................100
Removing the Power-Supply Unit...............................101
Prerequisites....................................................................................................101
Procedure......................................................................................................... 101
Replacing the Power-Supply Unit.............................. 104
Procedure........................................................................................................ 105
Post-requisites................................................................................................106
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery.................................. 107
Prerequisites....................................................................................................107
Procedure.........................................................................................................107
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery.................................. 109
Procedure........................................................................................................ 109
Post-requisites................................................................................................109
Removing the Wireless Card......................................... 110
Prerequisites....................................................................................................110
Procedure......................................................................................................... 110

Replacing the Wireless Card.......................................... 112
Procedure......................................................................................................... 112
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 112
Removing the Logo Board.............................................. 113
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 113
Procedure......................................................................................................... 113
Replacing the Logo Board...............................................116
Procedure......................................................................................................... 116
Post-requisites.................................................................................................116
Removing the System Board......................................... 117
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................117
Procedure......................................................................................................... 118
Replacing the System Board......................................... 119
Procedure......................................................................................................... 119
Post-requisites.................................................................................................119
System Setup........................................................................121
Overview .......................................................................................................... 121
Entering System Setup ................................................................................... 121
System Setup Options..................................................................................... 121
Clearing Forgotten Passwords........................................................................130
Clearing CMOS Settings................................................................................... 131
Flashing the BIOS............................................................................................ 132

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.
– Windows 7: Click or tap Start → 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.
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