Dell EMC Alienware m15 R2 Operation and maintenance manual

Alienware m15 R2
Setup and Specifications
Regulatory Model: P87F
Regulatory Type: P87F001

Notes, cautions, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.
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.
© 2019 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.
2019 - 08
Rev. A01

1 Set up your Alienware m15 R2........................................................................................................4
2 Views of Alienware m15 R2............................................................................................................5
Left.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Right........................................................................................................................................................................................5
Base.........................................................................................................................................................................................6
Display..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Back.........................................................................................................................................................................................7
Bottom.................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
3 Specifications of Alienware m15 R2............................................................................................... 9
Dimensions and weight......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Processors..............................................................................................................................................................................9
Chipset....................................................................................................................................................................................9
Operating system.................................................................................................................................................................10
Memory................................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Ports and connectors.......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Communications....................................................................................................................................................................11
Audio...................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Storage.................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Keyboard............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Camera.................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Touchpad...............................................................................................................................................................................13
Touchpad gestures.........................................................................................................................................................14
Power adapter...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Battery...................................................................................................................................................................................14
Display....................................................................................................................................................................................15
Video...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Computer environment....................................................................................................................................................... 16
4 Hybrid power.............................................................................................................................. 17
5 Keyboard shortcuts.....................................................................................................................18
6 Alienware Command Center.........................................................................................................19
7 Getting help and contacting Alienware......................................................................................... 20
Contents
Contents 3

Set up your Alienware m15 R2
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered.
Connect the power adapter and press the power button.
1
4 Set up your Alienware m15 R2

Views of Alienware m15 R2
Left
1. Security-cable slot (wedge-shaped)
Connect a security cable to prevent unauthorized movement of your computer.
2. Network port
Connect an Ethernet (RJ45) cable from a router or a broadband modem for network or Internet access.
3. USB 3.1 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers.
Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. PowerShare enables you to charge your USB devices even when your computer is turned
off.
NOTE: If your computer is turned off or in hibernate state, you must connect the power adapter to charge your
devices using the PowerShare port. You must enable this feature in the BIOS setup program.
NOTE: Certain USB devices may not charge when the computer is turned off or in sleep state. In such cases, turn on
the computer to charge the device.
4. Headset port
Connect headphones or a headset (headphone and microphone combo).
Right
1. USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (2)
Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.
2
Views of Alienware m15 R2 5

Base
1. Power button (Alienhead)
Press to turn on the computer if it is turned off, in sleep state, or in hibernate state.
Press to put the computer in sleep state if it is turned on.
Press and hold for 4 seconds to force shut-down the computer.
NOTE: You can customize the power-button behavior in Power Options.
2. Right-click area
Press to right-click.
3. Left-click area
Press to left-click.
4. Touchpad
Move your finger on the touchpad to move the mouse pointer. Tap to left-click and two finger tap to right-click.
6Views of Alienware m15 R2

Display
1. Left microphone
Provides digital sound input for audio recording and voice calls.
2. Camera
Enables you to video chat, capture photos, and record videos.
3. Camera-status light
Turns on when the camera is in use.
4. Right microphone
Provides digital sound input for audio recording and voice calls.
5. Tobii Eye Tracker (optional)
Enables you to interact with your computer through eye movement.
Back
1. HDMI port
Connect to a TV or another HDMI-in enabled device. Provides video and audio output.
2. Mini DisplayPort
Connect to a TV or another DisplayPort-in enabled device. Provides video and audio output.
3. Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) port
Supports USB 3.1 Gen 2, DisplayPort 1.2, Thunderbolt 3 and also enables you to connect to an external display using a display adapter.
Provides data transfer rates up to 10 Gbps for USB 3.1 Gen 2 and up to 40 Gbps for Thunderbolt 3.
NOTE: A USB Type-C to DisplayPort adapter (sold separately) is required to connect a DisplayPort device.
4. External graphics port
Connect an Alienware Graphics Amplifier to enhance the graphics performance.
5. Power-adapter port
Connect a power adapter to provide power to your computer and charge the battery.
Views of Alienware m15 R2 7

Bottom
1. Right speaker
Provides audio output.
2. Service Tag label
The Service Tag is a unique alphanumeric identifier that enables Dell service technicians to identify the hardware components in your
computer and access warranty information.
3. Left speaker
Provides audio output.
8Views of Alienware m15 R2

Specifications of Alienware m15 R2
Dimensions and weight
Table 1. Dimensions and weight
Description Values
Height:
Front 17.90 mm (0.70 in.)
Rear 19.50 mm (0.77 in.)
Width 360.50 mm (14.19 in.)
Depth 276 mm (10.87 in.)
Weight (maximum) 2.16 kg (4.76 lb)
NOTE: The weight of your computer depends on the configuration
ordered and the manufacturing variability.
Processors
Table 2. Processors
Description Values
Processors 9th Generation Intel Core
i5-9300H
9th Generation Intel Core
i7-9750H
9th Generation Intel Core
i9-9880H
9th Generation Intel Core
i9-9980HK
Wattage 45 W 45 W 45 W 45 W
Core count 4 6 8 8
Thread count 8 12 16 16
Speed Up to 4.1 GHz Up to 4.5 GHz Up to 4.8 GHz Up to 5 GHz
Cache 8 MB 12 MB 16 MB 16 MB
Integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 630 Intel UHD Graphics 630 Intel UHD Graphics 630 Intel UHD Graphics 630
Chipset
Table 3. Chipset
Description Values
Chipset HM370
Processor 9th Generation Intel Core i5/i7/i9
3
Specifications of Alienware m15 R2 9

Description Values
DRAM bus width 64-bit
Flash EPROM 16 MB
PCIe bus Up to Gen3.0
Operating system
• Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
• Windows 10 Professional (64-bit)
Memory
Table 4. Memory specifications
Description Values
Type Onboard system memory, Dual-channel DDR4
NOTE: The memory is integrated on the system board
and cannot be upgraded after purchase.
Speed 2666 MHz
Maximum memory 16 GB
Minimum memory 8 GB
Configurations supported • 8 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz (2 x 4 GB)
• 16 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz (2 x 8 GB)
Ports and connectors
Table 5. External ports and connectors
Description Values
External:
Network One RJ-45 port
USB • Two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
• One USB 3.1 Gen1 port with PowerShare
• One Thunderbolt 3 (USB 3.1 Gen 2) port
Audio One headset (headphone and microphone combo) port
Video • One HDMI 2.0 port
• One mini DisplayPort 1.4
• One Thunderbolt 3 (USB 3.1 Gen 2) port
Media card reader Not supported
Docking port One external graphics display port
NOTE: This external graphics display port is compatible
with the Alienware Graphics Amplifier.
Power adapter port One 7.4 mm x 5.1 mm DC-in
10 Specifications of Alienware m15 R2

Description Values
Security One security-cable slot (wedge-shaped)
Table 6. Internal ports and connectors
Description Values
Internal:
M.2 • One M.2 slot for 2230/2280 SATA AHCI/PCIe, NVMe solid-
state drive
• One M.2 slot for 2230/2280 PCIe, NVMe solid-state drive
NOTE: To learn more about the features of different
types of M.2 cards, see the knowledge base article
SLN301626.
Communications
Ethernet
Table 7. Ethernet specifications
Description Values
Model number • Killer E2600 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
• Killer E3000 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Transfer rate 1000/2500 Mbps
Wireless module
Table 8. Wireless module specifications
Description Values
Model number Intel 8265
NOTE: The wireless card is soldered
onto the left I/O-board and cannot
be upgraded after purchase.
Rivet Killer 1650w
NOTE: The wireless card is soldered
onto the left I/O-board and cannot
be upgraded after purchase.
Transfer rate Up to 867 Mbps Up to 2400 Mbps
Frequency bands supported 2.4 GHz/5 GHz 2.4 GHz/5 GHz
Wireless standards • WiFi 802.11a/b/g
• Wi-Fi 4 (WiFi 802.11n)
• Wi-Fi 5 (WiFi 802.11ac)
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g
• Wi-Fi 4 (Wi-Fi 802.11n)
• Wi-Fi 5 (Wi-Fi 802.11ac)
• Wi-Fi 6 (Wi-Fi 802.11ax)
Encryption • 64-bit/128-bit WEP
• AES-CCMP
• TKIP
• 64-bit/128-bit WEP
• AES-CCMP
• TKIP
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2 Bluetooth 5
Specifications of Alienware m15 R2 11

Audio
Table 9. Audio specifications
Description Values
Controller Realtek ALC3281-CG
Stereo conversion Supported
Internal interface High definition audio interface
External interface • Universal Audio Jack
• HDMI 2.0 port
Speakers 2
Internal speaker amplifier Supported
External volume controls Keyboard shortcut controls
Speaker output:
Average 2 W
Peak 2.5 W
Subwoofer output Not supported
Microphone Digital-array microphones in camera assembly
Storage
Your computer supports one of the following configurations:
• One M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drive
• Two M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drives
• One M.2 2230 and one M.2 2280 solid-state drives
The primary drive of your computer varies with the storage configuration. For computers with a M.2 drive, the M.2 drive is the primary
drive
Table 10. Storage specifications
Storage type Interface type Capacity
M.2 2280 solid-state drive SATA AHCI, up to 6 Gbps Up to 2 TB
M.2 2230/2280 solid-state drive PCIe Gen3.0x4 NVMe, up to 32 Gbps Up to 2 TB
Keyboard
Table 11. Keyboard specifications
Description Values
Type RGB backlit keyboard
Layout QWERTY
12 Specifications of Alienware m15 R2

Description Values
Number of keys • United States and Canada: 82 keys
• United Kingdom: 83 keys
• Japan: 86 keys
Size X=19.05 mm key pitch
Y=19.05 mm key pitch
Shortcut keys Some keys on your keyboard have two symbols on them. These
keys can be used to type alternate characters or to perform
secondary functions. To type the alternate character, press Shift
and the desired key. To perform secondary functions, press Fn and
the desired key.
NOTE: You can define the primary behavior of the
function keys (F1–F12) changing Function Key Behavior
in BIOS setup program.
Keyboard shortcuts
Camera
Table 12. Camera specifications
Description Values
Number of cameras One camera
Type HD RGB camera
Location Front camera
Sensor type CMOS sensor technology
Resolution:
Still image 0.92 megapixel
Video 1280 x 720 (HD) at 30 fps
Diagonal viewing angle 74.9 degrees
Touchpad
Table 13. Touchpad specifications
Description Values
Resolution:
Horizontal 1217
Vertical 681
Dimensions:
Horizontal 105 mm (4.13 in.)
Vertical 60 mm (2.36 in.)
Specifications of Alienware m15 R2 13

Touchpad gestures
For more information about touchpad gestures for Windows 10, see the Microsoft knowledge base article 4027871 at
support.microsoft.com.
Power adapter
Table 14. Power adapter specifications
Description Values
Type E4 130W E4 180W E4 240W
Diameter (connector) 7.4 mm x 5.1 mm 7.4 mm x 5.1 mm 7.4 mm x 5.1 mm
Input voltage 100 VAC x 240 VAC 100 VAC x 240 VAC 100 VAC x 240 VAC
Input frequency 50 Hz x 60 Hz 50 Hz x 60 Hz 50 Hz x 60 Hz
Input current (maximum) 2.50 A 2.34 A 3.50 A
Output current (continuous) 6.70 A 9.23 A 12.31 A
Rated output voltage 19.50 VDC 19.50 VDC 19.50 VDC
Temperature range:
Operating 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Storage -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to
158°F)
-40°C to 70°C (-40°F to
158°F)
-40°C to 70°C (-40°F to
158°F)
Battery
Table 15. Battery specifications
Description Values
Type 6-cell lithium-ion polymer battery
Voltage 11.40 VDC
Weight (maximum) 0.32 kg (0.71 lb)
Dimensions:
Height 119.31 mm (4.70 in.)
Width 311.40 mm (12.26 in.)
Depth 9.90 mm (0.39 in.)
Temperature range:
Operating 0°C to 70°C (32°F to 158°F)
Storage -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
Operating time Varies depending on operating conditions and can significantly
reduce under certain power-intensive conditions.
14 Specifications of Alienware m15 R2

Description Values
Charging time (approximate) 4 hours (when the computer is off)
NOTE: Control the charging time, duration, start and end
time, and so on using the Dell Power Manager
application. For more information on the Dell Power
Manager see, Me and My Dell on www.dell.com/
NOTE: The operating range for battery charging
operations is 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F), charging will
discontinue when the battery temperature falls out of
this range.
Life span (approximate) 300 discharge/charge cycles
Coin-cell battery CR2032
Operating time Varies depending on operating conditions and can significantly
reduce under certain power-intensive conditions.
Display
Table 16. Display specifications
Description Values
Type Full High Definition (FHD) Full High Definition (FHD) Full High Definition (FHD) Ultra High Definition
(UHD)
Panel technology Wide Viewing Angle (WVA) Wide Viewing Angle
(WVA)
Wide Viewing Angle
(WVA)
Organic Light Emitting
Diode (OLED)
Luminance (typical) 300 nits 300 nits 300 nits 400 nits
Dimensions (Active
Area):
Height 193.59 mm (7.62 in.) 193.59 mm (7.62 in.) 193.59 mm (7.62 in.) 193.62 mm (7.62 in.)
Width 344.16 mm (13.55 in.) 344.16 mm (13.55 in.) 344.16 mm (13.55 in.) 344.22 mm (13.55 in.)
Diagonal 394.87 mm (15.55 in.) 394.87 mm (15.55 in.) 394.87 mm (15.55 in.) 394.94 mm (15.55 in.)
Native Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Megapixels 2.07 2.07 2.07 8.29
Pixels per Inch (PPI) 141 141 141 282
Contrast Ratio (min) 700:1 800:1 1000:1 100,000:1
Response Time (max) 35 ms 19 ms 8 ms 1 ms
Refresh Rate 60 Hz 144 Hz 240 Hz 60 Hz
Horizontal View Angle 85 degrees 85 degrees 85 degrees 85 degrees
Vertical View Angle 85 degrees 85 degrees 85 degrees 85 degrees
Pixel Pitch 0.17925 mm 0.17925 mm 0.17925 mm 0.08964 mm
Specifications of Alienware m15 R2 15

Description Values
Power Consumption
(maximum)
6.20 W 7.80 W 4.41 W 14.80 W
Anti-glare vs glossy
finish
Anti-glare Anti-glare Anti-glare TrueLife
Touch options Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported
Video
Table 17. Discrete graphics specifications
Discrete graphics
Controller External display support Memory size Memory Type
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 • One HDMI 2.0 port
• One mini DisplayPort 1.4
4 GB GDDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 TI • One HDMI 2.0 port
• One mini DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 • One HDMI 2.0 port
• One mini DisplayPort 1.4
6 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
Max-Q
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One mini DisplayPort 1.4
8 GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
Max-Q
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• One mini DisplayPort 1.4
8 GB GDDR6
Table 18. Integrated graphics specifications
Integrated graphics
Controller External display support Memory size Processor
Intel UHD 630 Graphics One Thunderbolt 3 (USB 3.1 Gen 2) port Shared system memory 9th Generation Intel
Core i5/i7/i9
Computer environment
Airborne contaminant level: G1 as defined by ISA-S71.04-1985
Table 19. Computer environment
Description Operating Storage
Temperature range 0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F) -40°C to 65°C (-40°F to 149°F)
Relative humidity (maximum) 10% to 90% (non-condensing) 0% to 95% (non-condensing)
Vibration (maximum)*0.66 GRMS 1.30 GRMS
Shock (maximum) 110 G† 160 G†
Altitude (maximum) -15.2 m to 3048 m (4.64 ft to 5518.4 ft) -15.2 m to 10668 m (4.64 ft to 19234.4 ft)
* Measured using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment.
† Measured using a 2 ms half-sine pulse when the hard drive is in use.
16 Specifications of Alienware m15 R2

Hybrid power
The Hybrid power feature enables your computer to function optimally during the following instances of heavy loading.
Examples of heavy loading include:
• Graphics and processor-intensive applications and/or gaming
• External power loading from devices relying on your computer as a power source such as gaming mice, keyboards, external speakers,
and headsets
When during instances of heavy loading, system performance is maintained through hybrid power. Hybrid power coordinates the power
drawn from the power adapter and battery, allowing power to be drawn from the battery for up to five percent per hour with the power
adapter plugged in. This feature is disabled when the battery falls below 20 percent charge.
The following table shows the different scenarios and benefits of hybrid power:
Table 20. Hybrid power feature description
Battery capacity Feature description
100%~20% When the battery charge reaches 100 percent and the power
adapter is plugged in, battery stops charging to avoid lithium-ion
degradation.
Under heavy loading, hybrid power is enabled and battery charge
will deplete to maintain system performance.
If your computer is no longer under heavy load, battery will resume
charging.
<20% Hybrid function is disabled.
Computer will throttle during heavy loading and may encounter
performance issues.
4
Hybrid power 17

Keyboard shortcuts
NOTE: Keyboard characters may differ depending on the keyboard language configuration. Keys used for shortcuts
remain the same across all language configurations.
Some keys on your keyboard have two symbols on them. These keys can be used to type alternate characters or to perform secondary
functions. The symbol shown on the lower part of the key refers to the character that is typed out when the key is pressed. If you press
shift and the key, the symbol shown on the upper part of the key is typed out. For example, if you press 2, 2is typed out; if you press
Shift + 2, @is typed out.
The keys F1-F12 at the top row of the keyboard are function keys for multi-media control, as indicated by the icon at the bottom of the
key. Press the function key to invoke the task represented by the icon. For example, pressing F1 mutes the audio (refer to the table
below).
However, if the function keys F1-F12 are needed for specific software applications, multi-media functionality can be disabled by pressing
Fn + Esc. Subsequently, multi-media control can be invoked by pressing Fn and the respective function key. For example, mute audio by
pressing Fn + F1.
NOTE: You can also define the primary behavior of the function keys (F1–F12) by changing Function Key Behavior in
BIOS setup program.
Table 21. List of keyboard shortcuts
Keys Description
Disconnect Alienware Graphics Amplifier
Disable/enable wireless
Mute audio
Decrease volume
Increase volume
Switch to external display
Decrease brightness
Increase brightness
Disable/enable touchpad
Disable/enable AlienFX
5
18 Keyboard shortcuts

Alienware Command Center
Alienware Command Center (AWCC) provides a single interface to customize and enhance the gaming experience. The AWCC dashboard
displays most recently played or added games, and provides game-specific information, themes, profiles, and access to computer settings.
You can quickly access settings such as game-specific profiles and themes, lighting, macros, and audio that are critical to the gaming
experience.
AWCC also supports AlienFX 2.0. AlienFX enables you to create, assign, and share game-specific lighting maps to enhance the gaming
experience. It also enables you to create your own individual lighting effects and apply them to the computer or attached peripherals.
AWCC embeds Peripheral Controls to ensure a unified experience and the ability to link these settings to your computer or game.
AWCC supports the following features:
• FX: Create and manage the AlienFX zones.
• Fusion: Includes the ability to adjust game-specific Power Management, Sound Management, and Thermal Management features.
• Peripheral Management: Enables peripherals to appear in and be managed in Alienware Command Center. Supports key peripheral
settings and associates with other functions such as profiles, macros, AlienFX, and game library.
AWCC also supports Sound Management, Thermal Controls, CPU, GPU, Memory (RAM) monitoring. For more information about AWCC,
see the Alienware Command Center Online Help.
6
Alienware Command Center 19

Getting help and contacting Alienware
Self-help resources
You can get information and help on Alienware products and services using these online self-help resources:
Table 22. Alienware products and online self-help resources
Self-help resources Resource location
Information about Alienware products and services www.alienware.com
Dell Help & Support app
Tips
Contact Support In Windows search, type Help and Support, and press Enter.
Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows
www.dell.com/support/linux
Troubleshooting information, user manuals, setup instructions,
product specifications, technical help blogs, drivers, software
updates, and so on
www.alienware.com/gamingservices
Videos providing step-by-step instructions to service your
computer
www.youtube.com/alienwareservices
Contacting Alienware
To contact Alienware for sales, technical support, or customer service issues, see www.alienware.com.
NOTE: Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your country.
NOTE: If you do not have an active internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice,
packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
7
20 Getting help and contacting Alienware