Dell Alienware Aurora R5 Desktop Service Manual User En Us

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User Manual: Dell alienware-aurora-r5-desktop - Aurora R5 Service Manual

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Aurora R5
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware Aurora R5
Regulatory Model: D23M
Regulatory Type: D23M001
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.
© 2016 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.
2016 - 07
Rev. A00
Contents
Before working inside your computer........................ 12
Before you begin ............................................................................................... 12
Safety instructions............................................................................................ 12
Recommended tools..........................................................................................13
Screw list............................................................................................................14
After working inside your computer........................... 15
Technical overview.............................................................. 16
Inside view of your computer............................................................................ 16
System-board components............................................................................... 17
Removing the stability foot.............................................19
Procedure...........................................................................................................19
Replacing the stability foot............................................. 21
Procedure...........................................................................................................21
Removing the left-side cover.........................................22
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 22
Replacing the left-side cover......................................... 24
Procedure..........................................................................................................24
Removing the right-side cover......................................25
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 26
Replacing the right-side cover...................................... 28
Procedure..........................................................................................................28
3
Removing the top-cover assembly.............................29
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................29
Procedure..........................................................................................................29
Replacing the top-cover assembly............................. 32
Procedure..........................................................................................................32
Post-requisites..................................................................................................32
Removing the bottom cover.......................................... 33
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................33
Procedure..........................................................................................................33
Replacing the bottom cover...........................................35
Procedure..........................................................................................................35
Post-requisites..................................................................................................35
Removing the 3.5-inch hard drive................................36
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................36
Procedure..........................................................................................................36
Replacing the 3.5-inch hard drive................................40
Procedure..........................................................................................................40
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 40
Removing the 2.5-inch hard drives.............................. 41
Prerequisites......................................................................................................41
Procedure...........................................................................................................41
Replacing the 2.5-inch hard drives..............................45
Procedure..........................................................................................................45
Post-requisites..................................................................................................45
4
Removing the power-supply unit................................ 46
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................46
Procedure..........................................................................................................46
Replacing the power-supply unit................................. 53
Procedure..........................................................................................................53
Post-requisites..................................................................................................53
Removing the processor-cooling assembly...........54
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................54
Procedure..........................................................................................................55
Replacing the processor-cooling assembly............57
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 57
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 57
Removing the coin-cell battery.................................... 58
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................58
Procedure..........................................................................................................58
Replacing the coin-cell battery.....................................60
Procedure..........................................................................................................60
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 60
Removing the memory modules................................... 61
Prerequisites......................................................................................................61
Procedure...........................................................................................................61
Replacing the memory modules.................................. 63
Procedure..........................................................................................................63
Post-requisites..................................................................................................65
5
Removing the solid-state drive.................................... 66
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................66
Procedure..........................................................................................................66
Replacing the solid-state drive.....................................68
Procedure..........................................................................................................68
Post-requisites..................................................................................................69
Removing the graphics card...........................................70
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 70
Procedure........................................................................................................... 71
Replacing the graphics card........................................... 73
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 73
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 73
Removing the processor fan and heat-sink
assembly.................................................................................. 74
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 74
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 74
Replacing the processor fan and heat-sink
assembly.................................................................................. 76
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 76
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 76
Removing the processor...................................................77
Prerequisites......................................................................................................77
Procedure...........................................................................................................77
Replacing the processor...................................................78
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 78
Post-requisites..................................................................................................79
6
Removing the wireless card........................................... 80
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 80
Procedure..........................................................................................................80
Replacing the wireless card............................................ 82
Procedure..........................................................................................................82
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 83
Removing the antenna..................................................... 84
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................84
Procedure..........................................................................................................84
Replacing the antenna...................................................... 87
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 87
Post-requisites..................................................................................................87
Removing the front-chassis fan................................... 88
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................88
Procedure..........................................................................................................88
Replacing the front-chassis fan.....................................91
Procedure...........................................................................................................91
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 91
Removing the top-chassis fan.......................................92
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................92
Procedure..........................................................................................................92
Replacing the top-chassis fan....................................... 95
Procedure..........................................................................................................95
Post-requisites..................................................................................................95
7
Removing the optical drive.............................................96
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................96
Procedure..........................................................................................................96
Replacing the optical drive........................................... 100
Procedure........................................................................................................100
Post-requisites................................................................................................100
Removing the front bezel .............................................. 101
Prerequisites....................................................................................................101
Procedure......................................................................................................... 101
Replacing the front bezel...............................................104
Procedure........................................................................................................ 104
Post-requisites................................................................................................104
Removing the power-button board.......................... 105
Prerequisites................................................................................................... 105
Procedure........................................................................................................ 105
Replacing the power-button board........................... 107
Procedure.........................................................................................................107
Post-requisites................................................................................................ 107
Removing the rear trim cover......................................108
Prerequisites...................................................................................................108
Procedure........................................................................................................ 108
Replacing the rear trim cover....................................... 110
Procedure......................................................................................................... 110
Post-requisites.................................................................................................110
8
Removing the system board.......................................... 111
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 111
Procedure......................................................................................................... 112
Replacing the system board..........................................115
Procedure......................................................................................................... 115
Post-requisites.................................................................................................115
Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program..................................... 116
BIOS setup program........................................................... 117
Overview........................................................................................................... 117
Entering BIOS setup program.......................................................................... 117
System setup options.......................................................................................117
Clearing forgotten passwords......................................................................... 122
Prerequisites..............................................................................................122
Procedure...................................................................................................123
Post-requisites.......................................................................................... 124
Clearing CMOS Settings.................................................................................. 125
Prerequisites..............................................................................................125
Procedure...................................................................................................125
Post-requisites.......................................................................................... 126
Flashing the BIOS................................................................127
Technology and components...................................... 128
Audio................................................................................................................128
Downloading the audio driver...................................................................128
Identifying the audio controller................................................................ 128
Changing the audio settings.....................................................................129
Graphics...........................................................................................................129
Downloading the graphics driver..............................................................130
Identifying the display adapter.................................................................130
Changing the screen resolution................................................................130
9
Rotating the display...................................................................................131
USB.................................................................................................................. 133
Downloading the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 driver..........................................133
Identifying the USB drivers.......................................................................133
Enabling or disabling the USB in BIOS setup program.............................134
Fixing a no-boot issue caused by USB emulation.................................... 134
Wi-Fi.................................................................................................................134
Turning on or off Wi-Fi...............................................................................135
Downloading the Wi-Fi driver....................................................................135
Identifying the Wireless drivers................................................................135
Configuring the Wi-Fi.................................................................................136
Bluetooth.........................................................................................................136
Turning on or off Bluetooth.......................................................................136
Pairing the Bluetooth-enabled devices.................................................... 136
Removing the Bluetooth device................................................................137
Transferring files between devices using Bluetooth................................138
Hard drive........................................................................................................ 139
Identifying the hard drive......................................................................... 139
Identifying the hard drive in BIOS setup program....................................139
Chipset.............................................................................................................139
Downloading the chipset driver................................................................139
Identifying the chipset..............................................................................140
Memory.............................................................................................................141
Checking the system memory in Windows...............................................142
Checking the system memory in BIOS setup program.............................142
Testing memory using ePSA.....................................................................142
Processors....................................................................................................... 142
Identifying the processors in Windows.....................................................142
Checking the processor usage in the task manager................................ 143
Operating System............................................................................................144
Service Tag location........................................................................................ 144
Device driver....................................................................................................144
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility................................................ 144
Video drivers..............................................................................................145
10
Intel Serial IO driver...................................................................................146
Intel Trusted Execution Engine Interface................................................. 147
Intel Wireless-AC 8260 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers................................148
BIOS overview..................................................................................................149
Boot menu................................................................................................. 149
Boot menu enhancements........................................................................149
Timing key sequences...............................................................................149
System diagnostic lights............................................... 150
Getting help and contacting Alienware................... 151
Self-help resources...........................................................................................151
Contacting Alienware.......................................................................................151
11
Before working inside your
computer
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 10: Click or tap Start → 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.
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 www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
12
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 electrical outlet.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure 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
www.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,
ensure that the ports and connectors are correctly oriented
and aligned.
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
13
• Plastic scribe
Screw list
The following table provides the list of screws that are used for securing
different components to Alienware Aurora R5.
Component Secured to Screw type Quantit
y
3.5-inch hard-drive cage Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 2
2.5-inch hard-drive cage Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 4
Power-supply unit hinge Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 6
#6-32 X 1/4'' BLK 3
Power-supply unit Power-supply
unit hinge
#6-32 X 1/4'' 4
Power-supply unit bracket #6-32 X 1/4'' 2
Optical-drive assembly Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 2
System board Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 8
Top cover Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 2
Top I/O assembly Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' BLK 4
Processor-cooling assembly
bracket
Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' BLK 2
Processor-cooling assembly
radiator
Processor-
cooling
assembly
bracket
#6-32 X 1/4'' BLK 4
Top-chassis fan assembly Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 1
Top-chassis fan bracket Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' BLK 1
Antenna assembly Chassis #6-32 X 1/4'' 2
Power-button board Top cover M3 X 4 2
Rubber foot Bottom cover M3 X 4 4
M.2 SSD card System board Standoff M2 1
M2 X 2.5 1
Optical-drive bracket Optical drive M2 X 2.5 1
WLAN bracket System board M2 X 2.5 1
14
After working inside your
computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your
computer may severely damage your computer.
1 Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your
computer.
2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, or cables you removed before
working on your computer.
3 Replace any media cards, discs, or any other parts that you removed before
working on your computer.
4 Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
5 Turn on your computer.
15
Technical overview
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Inside view of your computer
1 power-supply unit 2 optical-drive assembly
16
3 top cover 4 top-chassis fan
5 system board 6 processor fan and heat-sink
assembly
7 graphics card 8 right-side cover
System-board components
1 top-chassis fan (TOP_FAN) 2 processor-cooling assembly
pump-fan connector
(PUMP_FAN)
3 processor-fan connector
(CPU_FAN)
4 memory-module slot 1 (XMM1)
5 memory-module slot 2 (XMM2) 6 memory-module slot 3 (XMM3)
17
7 memory-module slot 4 (XMM4) 8 front-chassis fan connector
(FRONT_FAN)
9 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector
(SATA1)
10 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector
(SATA2)
11 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector
(SATA3)
12 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector
(SATA4)
13 solid-state drive slot (M.2 SSD) 14 CMOS reset jumper (CMOS
JUMPER)
15 Password reset jumper
(PASSWORD JUMPER)
16 PCI-Express x16 slot (SLOT4)
17 LED controller connector
(LED_CONTROLLER)
18 PCI-Express x4 slot (SLOT3)
19 PCI-Express x4 slot (SLOT2) 20 PCI-Express x16 slot (SLOT1)
21 graphics-card power connector
(GPU_POWER)
22 wireless-card slot (M.2 WIFI)
23 processor socket (CPU1)
18
Removing the stability foot
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the computer on a clean and flat surface with the bottom cover
facing up.
2 Pull the securing tab to release the stability foot from the slots on the
bottom cover.
19
3 Lift the stability foot off the bottom cover.
1 bottom cover 2 stability foot
3 securing tab
4 Lay the computer on its side.
20
Replacing the stability foot
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the computer on a clean and flat surface with the bottom cover
facing up.
2 Align the tabs on the stability foot with the slots on the bottom cover and
snap the stability foot to lock it in place.
3 Turn the computer over and place it in upright position.
21
Removing the left-side cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
NOTE: Ensure that you remove the security cable and security screw from
the security-cable slot (if applicable).
1 Pull the side-panel release latch.
22
2 Release the left-side cover away from the chassis and then lift it from the
computer.
1 side-panel release latch 2 top cover
3 left-side cover
23
Replacing the left-side cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
Align the tabs on the left-side cover with the slots on the chassis and snap the
left-side cover to lock it in place.
24
Removing the right-side
cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
25
Procedure
1 Carefully pry around the edges of the right-side cover from the chassis.
1 chassis 2 right-side cover
2 Disconnect the lighting cable from the right-side cover.
26
3 Lift the right-side cover off the chassis.
1 right-side cover 2 lighting cable
27
Replacing the right-side
cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Connect the lighting cable to the right-side cover.
2 Align the tabs on the right-side cover with the slots on the chassis and
snap the right-side cover to lock it in place.
28
Removing the top-cover
assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Remove the right-side cover.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the top cover to the chassis.
2 Disconnect the lighting cable from the top cover.
29
3 Slide the lighting cable through the slot on the chassis.
1 lighting cable 2 chassis
3 screws (2) 4 top cover
4 Starting from the rear, release the tabs on the top cover from the slots on
the chassis.
30
5 Lift the top cover off the chassis.
1 top cover 2 slot
3 lighting cable 4 chassis
31
Replacing the top-cover
assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Slide the lighting cable through the slot on the chassis.
2 Align the tabs on the top cover with the slots on the chassis and snap the
top cover into place.
3 Connect the lighting cable to the top cover.
4 Replace the screws that secure the top cover to the chassis.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the right-side cover.
2 Replace the left-side cover.
32
Removing the bottom cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the left-side cover.
Procedure
1 Place the computer on a clean and flat surface with the bottom cover
facing up.
2 Press the securing tabs to release the bottom cover from the slots on the
chassis.
33
3 Lift the bottom cover from the chassis.
1 bottom cover 2 chassis
3 securing tabs (4)
4 Tilt the computer back to the upright position.
34
Replacing the bottom cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Tilt the computer towards the front until the base is facing up.
2 Align the tabs on the bottom cover with the slots on the chassis and snap
the bottom cover to lock it in place.
3 Turn the computer over and place it in upright position.
Post-requisites
Replace the left-side cover.
35
Removing the 3.5-inch hard
drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the left-side cover.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the data and power cables from the hard drive.
36
2 Press the release tabs on the hard-drive assembly and slide the hard-drive
assembly out of the hard-drive cage.
1 data cable 2 power cable
3 hard-drive cage 4 release tabs
5 hard-drive assembly
3 Pry the hard-drive bracket to release the tabs on the bracket from the slots
on the hard drive.
37
4 Lift the hard drive off the hard-drive bracket.
NOTE: Note the orientation of the hard drive so that you can replace
it correctly.
1 hard drive 2 hard-drive bracket
3 tabs (4)
5 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive cage to the chassis.
38
6 Slide and lift the hard-drive cage off the chassis.
1 chassis 2 screws (2)
3 hard-drive cage
39
Replacing the 3.5-inch hard
drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the tabs on the hard-drive cage with the slots on the chassis and
slide the hard-drive cage into the chassis.
2 Replace the screws that secure the hard-drive cage to the chassis.
3 Place the hard drive into the hard-drive bracket and align the tabs on the
bracket with the slots on the hard drive.
4 Snap the hard-drive bracket into the hard drive.
5 Slide the hard-drive assembly into the hard-drive cage until it snaps into
place.
6 Connect the data and power cables to the hard drive.
Post-requisites
Replace the left-side cover.
40
Removing the 2.5-inch hard
drives
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the left-side cover.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the data and power cables from the hard drive.
41
2 Press the release tabs on the hard-drive assembly and slide the hard-drive
assembly out of the hard-drive cage.
1 data cable 2 power cable
3 hard-drive cage 4 release tabs
5 hard-drive assembly
3 Pry the hard-drive bracket to release the tabs on the bracket from the slots
on the hard drive.
42
4 Lift the hard drive off the hard-drive bracket.
NOTE: Note the orientation of the hard drive so that you can replace
it correctly.
1 hard drive 2 hard-drive bracket
3 tabs (4)
5 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive cage to the chassis.
43
6 Slide and lift the hard-drive cage off the chassis.
1 chassis 2 screws (2)
3 hard-drive cage
44
Replacing the 2.5-inch hard
drives
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the tabs on the hard-drive cage with the slots on the chassis and
slide the hard-drive cage into the chassis.
2 Replace the screws that secure the hard-drive cage to the chassis.
3 Place the hard drive into the hard-drive bracket and align the tabs on the
bracket with the slots on the hard drive.
4 Snap the hard-drive bracket into the hard drive.
5 Slide the hard-drive assembly into the hard-drive cage until it snaps into
place.
6 Connect the data cable and power cable to the hard drive.
Post-requisites
Replace the left-side cover.
45
Removing the power-supply
unit
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the left-side cover.
Procedure
NOTE: Note the routing of all cables as you remove them so that you can
reroute them correctly after you replace the power supply.
1 Lay the computer on the right side.
46
2 Slide the power supply unit release latches towards the top of the
computer.
1 power-supply unit 2 chassis
3 power supply unit release
latches (2)
47
3 Lift the power-supply unit while pressing and holding the graphics-card
bracket.
1 power-supply unit 2 graphics-card bracket
3 chassis
48
4 Rotate the power-supply unit away from the chassis.
1 power-supply unit
5 Press the releasing clip on the power-cable connectors and disconnect the
power cables from the graphics card.
6 Disconnect the power cables from the optical drive and hard drives.
49
7 Disconnect the processor-power cable and system-board power cable from
the system board.
1 power-supply unit 2 hard-drive power cable
3 graphics-card power cables
(2)
4 releasing clips (2)
5 hard-drive power cable 6 processor-power cable
7 optical-drive power cable 8 system-board power cable
8 Rotate the power-supply unit towards the chassis until the unit snaps into
place.
9 Remove the screws that secure the power-supply unit bracket to the
power-supply unit.
50
10 Lift the power-supply unit bracket off the power-supply unit.
1 chassis 2 screws (2)
3 power-supply unit bracket 4 power-supply unit
11 Remove the screws that secure the power-supply unit to the chassis.
51
12 Lift the power-supply unit, along with the cables, off the chassis.
1 chassis 2 power-supply unit
3 screws (4)
52
Replacing the power-supply
unit
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the power supply on the chassis.
2 Align the screw holes on the power-supply unit with the screw holes on the
chassis.
3 Replace the screws that secure the power-supply unit to the chassis.
4 Align the screw holes on the power-supply unit bracket with the screw
holes on the power-supply unit.
5 Replace the screws that secure the power-supply unit bracket to the
power-supply unit.
6 Slide the power supply unit release latches towards the top of the
computer.
7 Lift and rotate the power-supply unit away from the chassis while pressing
and holding the graphics-card bracket.
8 Connect the power cables to the graphics card, hard drives, and optical
drive.
9 Connect the processor-power cable and system-board power cable to the
system board.
10 Rotate the power-supply unit towards the chassis until the unit snaps into
place.
11 Slide the power supply unit release latches towards the bottom of the
computer.
Post-requisites
Replace the left-side cover.
53
Removing the processor-
cooling assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Remove the right-side cover.
3 Remove the top cover.
54
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the radiator and fan assembly to the
radiator and fan cage.
1 screws (4) 2 radiator and fan cage
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
3 Disconnect the processor-cooling assembly cables from the system board.
4 In sequential order (as indicated on the processor cooler), loosen the
captive screws that secure the processor cooler to the system board.
55
5 Lift the processor-cooling assembly along with the cables off the
computer.
1 processor-cooling assembly 2 processor-cooling
assembly cables
3 system board 4 captive screws (4)
56
Replacing the processor-
cooling assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Slide the radiator and fan assembly into the radiator and fan cage.
2 Align the screw holes on the radiator and fan assembly with the screw
holes on the radiator and fan cage.
3 Replace the screws that secure the radiator and fan assembly to the
radiator and fan cage.
4 Align the screw holes on the processor cooler with the screw holes on the
system board.
5 In sequential order (indicated on the processor cooler), tighten the captive
screws that secure the processor cooler to the system board.
6 Connect the processor-cooling assembly cables to the system board.
7 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
8 Replace the screws that secure the radiator and fan assembly to the
chassis.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the top cover.
2 Replace the right-side cover.
3 Replace the left-side cover.
57
Removing the coin-cell
battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Removing the coin-cell battery resets the BIOS
setup program’s settings to default. It is recommended that
you note the BIOS setup program’s settings before
removing the coin-cell battery.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Using a plastic scribe, press the battery-release lever away from the coin-
cell battery until the coin-cell battery pops up.
58
2 Lift the coin-cell battery out of its socket.
1 battery-release lever 2 plastic scribe
3 coin-cell battery 4 coin-cell battery socket
59
Replacing the coin-cell
battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
Insert a new coin-cell battery (CR2032) into the battery socket with the
positive side facing up, and snap the battery into place.
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
60
Removing the memory
modules
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Locate the memory-module slots on the system board. For more
information, see "System-board components".
2 Push the securing clips away from the memory module.
61
3 Grasp the memory module near the securing clip, and then gently ease the
memory module out of the memory-module slot.
NOTE: Repeat step 2 to step 3 to remove any other memory modules
installed in your computer.
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the memory module,
hold the memory module by the edges. Do not touch the
components on the memory module.
1 memory module 2 securing clips (2)
3 memory-module slot 4 system board
62
Replacing the memory
modules
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Ensure that the securing clips are extended away from the memory-
module slot.
2 Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-
module slot.
63
3 Insert the memory module into the memory-module slot and press the
memory module down until it snaps into position and the securing clips
lock in place.
1 memory module 2 securing clips (2)
3 memory-module slot 4 system board
NOTE: Use slots XMM1 and XMM2 if you need to use two memory
modules. For more information, see System-board components.
The following table lists the available memory configuration matrix:
Configur
ation
Slot
XMM1 XMM2 XMM3 XMM4
8 GB 4 GB 4 GB
16 GB 8 GB 8 GB
24 GB 4 GB 4 GB 8 GB 8 GB
32 GB 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB
64 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB
64
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
65
Removing the solid-state
drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Solid-state drives are fragile. Exercise care when
handling the solid-state drive.
CAUTION: To avoid data loss, do not remove the solid-state
drive while the computer is in sleep or on state.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Locate the solid-state drive slot on the system board. For more
information, see "System-board components".
2 Remove the screw that secures the solid-state drive to the system board.
66
3 Slide and lift the solid-state drive off the system board.
1 solid-state drive 2 screw
3 solid-state drive slot 4 system board
67
Replacing the solid-state
drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Solid-state drives are fragile. Exercise care when
handling the solid-state drive.
Procedure
1 Align the notch on the solid-state drive with the tab on the solid-state
drive slot.
2 Insert the solid-state drive at a 45-degree angle into the system board.
68
3 Press the other end of the solid-state drive down and replace the screw
that secure the solid-state drive to the system board.
1 solid-state drive 2 notch
3 tab 4 screw
5 solid-state drive slot 6 system board
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
69
Removing the graphics card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
70
Procedure
1 Lift to release the graphics-card bracket from the chassis.
1 graphics-card bracket 2 graphics card
2 Press the releasing clip on the power-cable connectors and disconnect the
power cables from the graphics card.
71
3 Push the securing tab on the PCIe slot away from the graphics card, grasp
the card by its top corner, and ease it out of the slot.
1 power cables 2 releasing clips (2)
3 graphics card 4 securing tab
72
Replacing the graphics card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the graphics card with the slot on the system board.
2 Place the card into the slot and press down firmly until the graphics card
snaps into place.
3 Connect the power cables to the graphics card.
4 Slide the tab on the graphics-card bracket into the slot on the chassis and
snap it into place.
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
73
Removing the processor fan
and heat-sink assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
WARNING: The heat sink may become hot during normal
operation. Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool
before you touch it.
CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not
touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink. The oils in
your skin can reduce the heat transfer capability of the
thermal grease.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Disconnect the processor-fan cable from the system board.
2 Loosen the captive screws that secure the processor fan and heat-sink
assembly to the system board.
74
3 Lift the processor fan and heat-sink assembly off the system board.
1 processor-fan cable 2 captive screws (4)
3 processor fan and heat-sink
assembly
75
Replacing the processor fan
and heat-sink assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
NOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original processor
and heat-sink assembly are reinstalled together.
CAUTION: If either the processor or the heat-sink assembly
is replaced, use the thermal grease provided in the kit to
ensure that thermal conductivity is achieved.
1 Place the processor fan and heat-sink assembly on the processor.
2 Align the captive screws on the processor fan heat-sink assembly with the
screw holes on the system board.
3 Tighten the captive screws that secure the processor fan and heat-sink
assembly to the system board.
4 Connect the processor-fan cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
76
Removing the processor
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
3 Remove the processor fan and heat-sink assembly or processor-cooling
assembly (as applicable).
Procedure
1 Press the release lever down and then push it away from the processor to
release it from the tab.
2 Extend the release lever completely and open the processor cover.
3 Lift the processor off the processor socket.
1 release lever 2 alignment post
3 tab 4 processor cover
5 processor socket 6 processor
77
Replacing the processor
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: If either the processor or the heat sink is replaced,
use the thermal grease provided in the kit to ensure that
thermal conductivity is achieved.
NOTE: A new processor ships with a thermal pad in the package. In some
cases, the processor may ship with the thermal pad attached to it.
Procedure
1 Ensure that the release lever on the processor socket is fully extended and
the processor cover is fully open.
CAUTION: Position the processor correctly in the
processor socket to avoid permanent damage to the
processor.
2 Align the pin-1 corner on the processor with the pin-1 corner on the
processor socket, and then place the processor in the processor socket.
CAUTION: Ensure that the processor-cover notch is
positioned underneath the alignment post.
3 When the processor is fully seated in the socket, close the processor cover.
78
4 Pivot the release lever down and place it under the tab on the processor
cover.
1 processor socket 2 processor
3 alignment post 4 tab
5 processor cover 6 release lever
Post-requisites
1 Replace the processor fan and heat-sink assembly or processor-cooling
assembly (as applicable).
2 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
3 Replace the left-side cover.
79
Removing the wireless card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Remove the screw that secures the wireless card to the system board.
2 Lift the wireless-card bracket off the wireless card.
3 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
80
4 Slide and remove the wireless card from the wireless-card slot.
1 wireless-card bracket 2 screw
3 antenna cables 4 wireless-card slot
5 wireless card
81
Replacing the wireless card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card slot.
2 Slide the wireless card at an angle into the wireless-card slot.
3 Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.
4 Place the wireless-card bracket on the wireless card.
82
5 Replace the screw that secures the wireless card to the system board.
1 wireless card 2 notch
3 tab 4 antenna cables
5 screw 6 wireless-card bracket
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
83
Removing the antenna
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Remove the right-side cover.
3 Remove the top cover.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
2 Note the antenna-cable routing and remove the antenna cables from the
routing guides inside the chassis.
84
3 Push down the antenna cables towards the top of the computer through
the cable-routing slot on the chassis.
1 antenna cables 2 routing guides
3 chassis
4 Remove the antenna cables from the routing guides on the chassis.
85
5 Pry the antenna off the chassis.
1 antenna 2 antenna cables
3 routing guides
86
Replacing the antenna
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Adhere the antenna to the chassis.
2 Route the antenna cables through the routing guides on the chassis and
slide the cables through the cable-routing slot on the chassis.
3 Route the antenna cables through the routing guides inside the chassis.
4 Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the top cover.
2 Replace the right-side cover.
3 Replace the left-side cover.
87
Removing the front-chassis
fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
3 Remove the graphics card.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the front-chassis fan cable from the system board.
2 Push the tab to release the front-chassis fan from the chassis.
88
3 Slide and lift the chassis fan off the chassis.
1 tab 2 front-chassis fan
3 front-chassis fan cable
89
4 Spread apart the tabs on the front-chassis fan bracket and lift the front-
chassis fan along with its cable off the bracket.
1 front-chassis fan cable 2 front-chassis fan bracket
3 front-chassis fan
90
Replacing the front-chassis
fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the tabs on the front-chassis fan bracket with the front-chassis fan
and press down on the fan until it snaps into position.
2 Align the tabs on the front-chassis fan with the slots on the chassis and
slide the fan until it snaps into position.
3 Connect the front-chassis fan cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the graphics card.
2 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
3 Replace the left-side cover.
91
Removing the top-chassis
fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Remove the screw that secures the top-chassis fan to the chassis.
2 Disconnect the top-chassis fan cable from the system board.
92
3 Remove the top-chassis fan from the chassis.
1 chassis 2 screw
3 top-chassis fan 4 top-chassis fan cable
4 Remove the top-chassis fan cable from the routing guide on the top-
chassis fan bracket.
5 Push the rubber grommets through the holes at each corner of the fan to
release top-chassis fan from the bracket.
93
6 Lift the top-chassis fan off the top-chassis fan bracket.
1 top-chassis fan cable 2 routing guide
3 rubber grommets (4) 4 top-chassis fan bracket
5 top-chassis fan
94
Replacing the top-chassis
fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the holes on the top-chassis fan with the holes on the top-chassis
fan bracket.
2 Insert the ends of the rubber grommets through the holes at each corner
of the fan.
3 Align the grommets in the fan with the holes at each corner of the top-
chassis fan bracket and pull through until they snap into place.
4 Route the top-chassis fan cable through the routing guide on the bracket.
5 Align the tabs on the top-chassis fan with the slots on the chassis and
slide the fan until it snaps into position.
6 Replace the screw that secures the top-chassis fan to the chassis.
7 Connect the top-chassis fan cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
95
Removing the optical drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Disconnect the power and data cable from the optical-drive assembly.
96
2 Pull the securing tab to release the optical-drive assembly from the
chassis.
1 optical-drive assembly 2 optical drive
3 securing tab 4 power cable
5 data cable
97
3 Push to slide the optical-drive assembly out through the front of the
computer.
1 optical-drive assembly 2 chassis
4 Remove the screw that secures the optical-drive bracket to the optical
drive.
1 screw 2 optical-drive bracket
3 optical drive
98
5 Gently pull and disconnect the optical-drive bezel from the optical drive.
1 optical-drive bezel 2 optical drive
99
Replacing the optical drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align and snap the optical-drive bezel to the optical drive.
2 Align the screw hole on the optical-drive bracket with the screw hole on
the optical drive.
3 Replace the screw that secures the optical-drive bracket to the optical
drive.
4 Lift the securing tab and slide the optical-drive assembly through the front
of the computer until the securing tab snaps into place.
5 Connect the data and power cables to the optical drive.
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
100
Removing the front bezel
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Remove the right-side cover.
3 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 3 in "Removing the optical drive".
4 Remove the top cover.
Procedure
1 Place the computer in an upright position.
101
2 Grasp and release the front bezel tabs sequentially from the top, by
moving them outward from the front panel.
1 front bezel 2 chassis
3 tabs
102
3 Rotate and pull the front bezel away from the front of the computer to
release the tabs on the front bezel from the slots on the front panel.
1 chassis 2 tabs
3 front bezel
103
Replacing the front bezel
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align and insert the front bezel tabs into the front panel slots.
2 Rotate the front bezel towards the computer until the front bezel tabs
snap into place.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the top cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 4 to step 5 in "Replacing the optical drive".
3 Replace the right-side cover.
4 Replace the left-side cover.
104
Removing the power-button
board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Remove the right-side cover.
3 Remove the top cover.
Procedure
1 Note the power-button module cable routing and remove the cable from
the routing guides on the top cover.
2 Remove the screws that secure the power-button module to the top cover.
105
3 Lift the power-button module off the top cover.
1 top cover 2 power-button module
3 screws (2) 4 routing guide
5 power-button module cable
4 Release the power-button board from under the tabs on the power-button
board bracket.
5 Lift the power-button board along with the cable off the power-button
board bracket.
1 power-button board bracket 2 power-button board
3 tabs (4) 4 power-button module
cable
106
Replacing the power-button
board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align and slide the power-button board on the power-button board bracket
and snap it into place.
2 Align the screw holes on the power-button module with the screw holes on
the top cover.
3 Replace the screws that secure the power-button module to the top cover.
4 Route the power-button module cable through the routing guide on the
top cover.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the top cover.
2 Replace the right-side cover.
3 Replace the left-side cover.
107
Removing the rear trim
cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Remove the right-side cover.
3 Remove the top cover.
Procedure
1 Place the computer in an upright position.
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2 Using the tab, slide and remove the rear trim cover from the chassis.
1 chassis 2 rear trim cover
109
Replacing the rear trim cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
Align the tabs on the rear trim cover with the slots on the chassis and snap the
cover to lock it in place.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the top cover.
2 Replace the right-side cover.
3 Replace the left-side cover.
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Removing the system board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You
must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace
the system board.
NOTE: Replacing the system board removes any changes you have made
to the BIOS using the BIOS setup program. You must make the
appropriate changes again after you replace the system board.
NOTE: Before disconnecting the cables from the system board, note the
location of the connectors so that you can reconnect the cables correctly
after you replace the system board.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
3 Remove the memory modules.
4 Remove the solid-state drive.
5 Remove the wireless card.
6 Remove the processor fan and heat-sink assembly .
7 Remove the graphics card.
8 Remove the processor.
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Procedure
NOTE: Note the routing of all cables as you remove them so that you can
reroute them correctly after you replace the system board. For
information on system board connectors, see "System-board
components".
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1 Disconnect all the cables connected to the system-board assembly.
1 Top panel USB cables
(SSUSB)
2 SATA 6 Gbps drive cable
(SATA1)
3 SATA 6 Gbps drive cable
(SATA2)
4 system board
5 front-panel audio cable
(F_AUDIO)
6 LED controller cable
(LED_CONTROLLER)
7 graphics-card power cable
(GPU_POWER)
8 processor power cable
(ATX_CPU)
9 top-chassis fan cable
(TOP_FAN)
10 system-board power cable
11 front-chassis fan cable
(FRONT_FAN)
2 Remove the screws that secure the system-board assembly to the chassis.
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3 Lift the system-board assembly out of the chassis.
1 chassis 2 system board
3 screws (8)
114
Replacing the system board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You
must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace
the system board.
NOTE: Replacing the system board removes any changes you have made
to the BIOS using the BIOS setup program. You must make the
appropriate changes again after you replace the system board.
Procedure
1 Align the system-board assembly with the slots on the chassis and place
the system-board assembly in position.
2 Slide the system-board assembly to engage the latches that secure it to
the chassis.
3 Replace the screws that secure the system-board assembly to the chassis.
4 Route and connect the cables that you disconnected from the system-
board assembly.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the processor.
2 Replace the graphics card.
3 Replace the processor fan and heat-sink assembly.
4 Replace the wireless card.
5 Replace the solid-state drive.
6 Replace the memory modules.
7 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
8 Replace the left-side cover.
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Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS
setup program
1 Turn on or restart your computer.
2 Press F2 when the AlienHead logo is displayed to enter the BIOS setup
program.
3 Navigate to the Main tab and enter the Service Tag in the Service Tag
Input field.
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BIOS setup program
Overview
CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not
change the settings in the BIOS setup program. Certain
changes can make your computer work incorrectly.
NOTE: Before you change BIOS setup program, it is recommended that
you write down the BIOS setup program screen information for future
reference.
Use BIOS setup program to:
• Get information about the hardware installed in your computer, such as the
amount of RAM, the size of the hard drive, and so on.
• Change the system configuration information.
• Set or change a user-selectable option, such as the user password, type of
hard drive installed, enabling or disabling base devices, and so on.
Entering BIOS setup program
1 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2 During POST, when the AlienHead logo is displayed, watch for the F2
prompt to appear, and then press F2 immediately.
NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard is initialized. This
prompt can appear very quickly, so you must watch for it, and then
press F2. If you press F2 before the F2 prompt, this keystroke is lost. If
you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to
wait until you see the desktop. Then, turn off your computer and try
again.
System setup options
NOTE: Depending on your computer and its installed devices, the items
listed in this section may or may not appear.
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Main
System Date Displays the current date in
mm/dd/yyyy format.
System Time Displays the current time in
hh:mm:ss format.
BIOS Information
BIOS Version Displays the BIOS version number.
Product Information
Product Name Displays the product name.
Default: Alienware Aurora R5.
Service Tag Displays the service tag of your
computer.
Asset Tag Displays the asset tag of your
computer.
Memory Information
System Memory Displays the total computer
memory installed.
Memory Speed Displays the memory speed.
CPU Information
CPU Type Displays the processor type
CPU Speed Displays the speed of the
processor.
CPU ID Displays the processor
identification code.
Cache L1 Displays the processor L1 cache
size.
Cache L2 Displays the processor L2 cache
size.
Cache L3 Displays the processor L3 cache
size.
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Advanced
Advanced BIOS Features
Intel SpeedStep Allows you to enable or disable Intel
Speedstep Technology. Default:
Enabled.
NOTE: If enabled, the processor
clock speed and core voltage are
adjusted dynamically based on
the processor load.
Virtualization Allows you to enable or disable Intel
Virtualization Technology feature for
the processor.
VT for Direct I/O Allows you to enable or disable Intel
Virtualization Technology feature for
the Direct I/O.
SATA Operation Allows you to configure the operating
mode of the integrated SATA hard
drive controller.
Intel Ready Mode Technology Allows you to enable or disable the
Intel Ready Mode Technology.
Intel Software Guard Extensions Allows you to enable or disable Intel
Software Guard Extensions.
BIOS Recovery from Hard Drive Allows you to enable or disable BIOS
Recovery from hard drive.
USB Configuration
Front USB Ports Allows you to enable or disable the
front USB ports.
Rear USB Ports Allows you to enable or disable the
rear USB ports.
Power Options
Numlock Key Allows you to set the status of the
Num Lock key during boot to On or Off.
Wake Up by Integrated LAN Allow the computer to be powered on
by special LAN signals.
AC Recovery Sets what action the computer takes
when power is restored.
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Advanced
Deep Sleep Control Allows you to define the controls
when Deep Sleep is enabled.
USB Wake Support (S3) Allows you to enable the USB devices
to wake the system from Standby.
USB PowerShare (S4/S5) Allows you to charge external devices.
USB PowerShare Wake Support
(S4/S5)
Allows you to enable front the USB
devices to wake the system from
S4/S5.
Auto Power On
Auto Power On Mode Allows you to set the computer to turn
on automatically every day or on a
preselected date. This option can be
configured only if the Auto Power On
mode is set to Enabled Everyday or
Selected Day.
Auto Power On Date Allows you to set the date on which
the computer must turn on
automatically. This option can be
configured only if the Auto Power On
mode is set to Enabled 1 to 31.
Auto Power On Time Allows you to set the time at which
the computer must turn on
automatically. This option can be
configured only if the Auto Power On
mode is set to Enabled hh:mm:ss.
Performance Options
Overclocking Feature
Core Over Clocking Level Allows you enable or disable the OC
level1/level2 setting and adjust the
processor flex ratio and voltage in the
Customization mode.
Computrace Allows you to enable or disable the
Computrace service using the
Absolute software.
Core Ratio Limit Override Allows you to set the core ratio limit.
Single Core Allows you to select single core or
multiple cores.
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Advanced
Core Voltage Mode Allows you to select between adaptive
and override voltage modes.
Core Voltage Offset Allows you to set the override value of
core voltage.
Long Duration PWR Limit Allows you to set the turbo mode
power limit.
Short Duration PWR Limit
Options
Allows you to set the turbo mode
power limit.
XMP Memory Allows you to set the XMP memory.
Security
Admin Password Status Displays whether the admin
password is set.
System Password Status Displays whether the system
password is set.
HDD Password Status Displays if the hard drive password
is set.
Admin Password Displays the admin password.
System Password Displays the system password.
HDD Password Displays the hard drive password.
Firmware TPM Displays the firmware TPM.
Boot
Boot List Option Displays the available boot devices.
File Browser Add Boot Option Allows you to set the boot path in
the boot option list.
File Browser Del Boot Option Allows you to delete the boot path
in the boot option list.
Secure Boot Control Allows you to enable or disable the
secure boot control.
Load Legacy OPROM Allows you to enable or disable the
Legacy Option ROM.
Boot Option Priorities Displays the available boot devices.
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Boot
Boot Option #1 Displays the first boot device.
Default: UEFI: Windows Boot
Manager.
Boot Option #2 Displays the second boot device.
Default: Onboard NIC Device.
Boot Option #3 Displays the third boot device.
Default: Onboard NIC Device.
Save & Exit
Save Changes and Reset Allows you to exit system setup
and save your changes.
Discard Changes and Reset Allows you to exit system setup
and load previous values for all
system setup options.
Restore Defaults Allows you to load default values
for all system setup options.
Discard Changes Allows you to exit your changes.
Save Changes Allows you to save your changes.
Clearing forgotten passwords
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
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Procedure
1 Locate the password jumper (P215) on the system board.
For information on the location of the Password jumper, see System-board
components.
2 Remove the jumper plug from pins 215.
3 Follow the procedure from step 8 to step 9 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
4 Replace the left-side cover.
5 Turn on your computer and wait until the operating system is completely
loaded.
6 Shut down your computer.
7 Remove the left-side cover.
8 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 3 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
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9 Replace the jumper plug on pins 215.
1 jumper plug 2 P215
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
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Clearing CMOS Settings
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the
safety information that shipped with your computer and
follow the steps in Before working inside your computer.
After working inside your computer, follow the instructions
in After working inside your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the left-side cover.
2 Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 4 in "Removing the power-supply
unit".
Procedure
1 Locate the CMOS jumper (P217) on the system board.
For information on the location of the CMOS jumper, see "System-board
components".
2 Disconnect the system-board power cable from the system board.
3 Remove the jumper plug from pins 217 and replace it on pins 216 (P216).
4 Wait for 5 seconds.
5 Remove the jumper plug from pins 216 and replace it on pins 217.
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6 Connect the system-board power cable to the system board.
1 jumper plug 2 P217
3 P216 4 system board
Post-requisites
1 Follow the procedure from step 10 to step 11 in "Replacing the power-supply
unit".
2 Replace the left-side cover.
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Flashing the BIOS
You may need to flash (update) the BIOS when an update is available or when
you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS:
1 Turn on your computer.
2 Go to www.dell.com/support.
3 Click or tap Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer,
and then click or tap Submit.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature
or manually browse for your computer model.
4 Click or tap Drivers & downloads → Find it myself.
5 Select the operating system installed on your computer.
6 Scroll down the page and expand BIOS.
7 Click or tap Download to download the latest version of the BIOS for your
computer.
8 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the
BIOS update file.
9 Double-click or double-tap the BIOS update file icon and follow the
instructions on the screen.
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Technology and components
Audio
Alienware Aurora R5is shipped with Realtek ALC3861 for optical S/PDIF
output.
NOTE: The audio drivers are already installed when you receive your
computer.
Downloading the audio driver
1 Turn on your computer.
2 Go to www.dell.com/support.
3 Click Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer and then
click Submit.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature
or manually browse for your computer model.
4 Click Drivers & downloads → Find it myself.
5 Scroll down the page and expand Audio.
6 Click Download to download the audio driver for your computer.
7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the
audio driver file.
8 Double-click the audio driver file icon and follow the instructions on the
screen to install the driver.
Identifying the audio controller
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
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3 Expand Sound, video and game controllers to view the audio
controller.
Before installation After installation
Changing the audio settings
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Dell Audio.
2 Click Dell Audio and change the audio settings as required.
Graphics
Alienware Aurora R5 is shipped with the following graphics options:
Controller Memory
Intel HD Graphics 530 Shared system memory
• AMD or NVIDIA
• Supports Dual AMD or NVIDIA
(SLI)
Up to 6 GB
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Downloading the graphics driver
1 Turn on your computer.
2 Go to www.dell.com/support.
3 Click Product support enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then
click Submit.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature
or manually browse for your computer model.
4 Click Drivers & downloads → Find it myself.
5 Scroll down the page and expand Video.
6 Click Download to download the graphics driver for your computer.
7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the
graphics driver file.
8 Double-click the graphics driver file icon and follow the instructions on the
screen.
Identifying the display adapter
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
3 Expand Display adapters.
Changing the screen resolution
1 Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings.
2 Click Advanced display settings.
3 Select the appropriate resolution from the drop-down list.
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4 Click Apply.
Rotating the display
1 Right-click on your desktop.
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2 Select Graphics Options → Rotation and select from the listed
options.
The display can be also rotated by selecting Rotate Display under the
Display menu in the NVIDIA Control Panel.
For computers shipped with the AMD video card, the display can be rotated
by selecting the required rotation on Rotate Desktop tab in the AMD
Catalyst Control Center.
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USB
The following table shows the USB ports available in Alienware Aurora R5.
Ports Location
USB 3.0 Two on the front side
USB 3.0 with PowerShare Two on the front side
USB 2.0 Six on the back panel
USB 3.1 Type-C One on the back panel
USB 3.1 One on the back panel
USB 3.0 Three on the back panel
NOTE: USB 3.0 needs the driver to be installed before it can detect any
USB devices.
Downloading the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 driver
1 Turn on your computer.
2 Go to www.dell.com/support.
3 Click Product support enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then
click Submit.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature
or manually browse for your computer model.
4 Click Drivers & downloads → Find it myself.
5 Scroll down the page and expand Chipset.
6 Click Download to download the USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 driver for your
computer.
7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the
USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 driver file.
8 Double-click the driver file icon and follow the instructions on screen.
Identifying the USB drivers
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
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3 Expand System devices.
Enabling or disabling the USB in BIOS setup
program
1 Turn on or restart your computer.
2 Press F2 when the AlienHead logo is displayed on the screen to enter the
BIOS setup program.
The BIOS setup program is displayed.
3 On the Advanced tab, select USB Configuration.
4 Select the Front USB Ports or Rear USB Ports options to enable or
disable the ports respectively.
5 Save the BIOS setup program settings and exit.
Fixing a no-boot issue caused by USB emulation
Sometimes the computer does not boot to the operating system when USB
devices are connected to the computer during startup. This behavior occurs
because the computer is looking for bootable files in the USB devices. Follow
these steps to fix the no-boot issue:
1 Turn on or restart your computer.
2 Press F2 when the AlienHead logo is displayed on the screen to enter the
BIOS setup program.
The BIOS setup program is displayed.
3 On the Advanced tab, select USB Configuration.
4 Select the USB Boot Support to disable it.
5 Save the settings and exit.
Wi-Fi
Alienware Aurora R5 is shipped with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n or Wi-Fi 802.11ac.
134
Turning on or off Wi-Fi
NOTE: There is no physical switch to enable or disable Wi-Fi. It has to be
done through computer settings.
1 Swipe-in from the right edge of the display, or click the Action Center
icon on the taskbar to access the Action Center.
2 Click Wi-Fi to turn Wi-Fi on or off.
Downloading the Wi-Fi driver
1 Turn on your computer.
2 Go to www.dell.com/support.
3 Click Product support enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then
click Submit.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature
or manually browse for your computer model.
4 Click Drivers & downloads → Find it myself.
5 Scroll down the page and expand Network.
6 Click Download to download the Wi-Fi driver for your computer.
7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the
Wi-Fi driver file.
8 Double-click the driver file icon and follow the on-screen instructions to
install the driver.
Identifying the Wireless drivers
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
3 Expand System devices.
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Configuring the Wi-Fi
1 Turn on Wi-Fi. For more information, see Turning Wi-Fi on or off.
2 Swipe-in from the right edge of the display, or click the Action Center icon
on the taskbar to access the Action Center.
3 Click Wi-Fi, and then click Go to settings.
A list of available networks is displayed.
4 Select your network and click Connect.
NOTE: Type the network security key, if prompted.
Bluetooth
Alienware Aurora R5 is shipped with Bluetooth 4.1/Bluetooth 4.2.
Turning on or off Bluetooth
NOTE: There is no physical switch to enable or disable Bluetooth. It has to
be done through the computer settings.
1 Swipe-in from the right edge of the display, or click the Action Center
icon on the taskbar to access the Action Center.
2 Click Bluetooth to turn Bluetooth on or off.
Pairing the Bluetooth-enabled devices
1 Turn on Bluetooth. For more information, see Turning on or off Bluetooth.
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2 Swipe-in from the right edge of the display, or click the Action Center
icon on the taskbar to access the Action Center.
3 Click Bluetooth, and then click Go to settings.
4 Select the required Bluetooth device for pairing.
5 Click Pair to pair the bluetooth devices.
6 Click Yes to confirm the passcodes on both the devices.
Removing the Bluetooth device
1 Swipe-in from the right edge of the display, or click the Action Center
icon on the taskbar to access the Action Center.
2 Click Bluetooth, and then click Go to settings.
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3 Click the device you want to remove, and then click Remove device.
Transferring files between devices using
Bluetooth
1 Swipe-in from the right edge of the display, or click the Action Center
icon on the taskbar to access the Action Center.
2 Click Bluetooth, and then click Go to settings.
3 Select your Bluetooth device.
4 Click Send or receive files via Bluetooth.
5 In the Bluetooth File Transfer window, click Send files, and then
select the file you want to transfer.
138
Hard drive
The following table shows the hard-drive options available in Alienware Aurora
R5.
Options Dimensions
SSD One M.2 drive
SATA • One 3.5-inch drive bay
• Two 2.5-inch drive bays
Identifying the hard drive
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
3 Expand Disk drives.
Identifying the hard drive in BIOS setup program
1 Turn on or restart your computer.
2 Press F2 when the AlienHead logo is displayed on the screen to enter the
BIOS setup program.
A list of hard drives is displayed on the Main tab. For more information,
see System setup options.
Chipset
Alienware Aurora R5 is shipped with the Intel Z170 chipset.
Downloading the chipset driver
1 Turn on your computer.
2 Go to www.dell.com/support.
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3 Click Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer, and
then click Submit.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature
or manually browse for your computer model.
4 Click Drivers & downloads → Find it myself.
5 Scroll down the page and expand Chipset.
6 Click Download to download the chipset driver for your computer.
7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the
chipset driver file.
8 Double-click the chipset driver file icon and follow the instructions on the
screen.
Identifying the chipset
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
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3 Expand System devices.
Memory
Alienware Aurora R5 has four DIMM (RAM) slots, which are accessible by
removing the left-side cover and rotating the power-supply unit. Your
computer supports 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB DDR4 memory of up to
2133 MHz and up to 2400 MHz with XMP (optional).
141
Checking the system memory in Windows
1 Click Start .
2 Select Settings .
3 Click System → About.
Checking the system memory in BIOS setup
program
1 Turn on or restart your computer.
2 Press F2 when the AlienHead logo is displayed on the screen to enter the
BIOS setup program.
On the Main tab, the memory information is displayed. For more
information, see System setup options.
Testing memory using ePSA
1 Turn on or restart your computer.
2 Press F12 after the AlienHead logo is displayed on the screen to access the
boot menu.
3 Use the arrow keys to highlight the Diagnostics menu option and press
Enter.
4 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the ePSA Pre-boot
System Assessment (PSA).
NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the
desktop. Turn off your computer and try again.
Processors
Alienware Aurora R5 is shipped with the following processor options:
• 6th Generation Intel Core i3
• 6th Generation Intel Core i5/i5k
• 6th Generation Intel Core i7/i7k
Identifying the processors in Windows
1 On the taskbar, click the search box, and then type Device Manager.
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2 Click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window is displayed.
3 Expand Processors .
Checking the processor usage in the task
manager
1 Right-click on the taskbar.
2 Click Task Manager.
The Task Manager window is displayed.
3 Click Performance tab to display the processor performance details.
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Operating System
Alienware Aurora R5 is shipped with the Windows 10 factory installation.
Service Tag location
The service tag is a unique alphanumeric identifier that allows Dell service
technicians to identify the hardware components in your computer and access
warranty information.
The Service Tag label is located at the rear of your computer towards the base.
Device driver
A device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level
computer programs to interact with a hardware device. For Alienware Aurora
R5, all driver installation for their devices is similar except that some systems
may have more devices than others.
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility
In the Device Manager, check if the chipset driver is installed.
Install the Intel chipset updates from www.dell.com/support.
144
Video drivers
In the Device Manager, check if the video driver is installed.
Install the video driver update from www.dell.com/support.
145
Intel Serial IO driver
In the Device Manager, check if the Intel Serial IO driver is installed.
Install the driver updates from www.dell.com/support.
146
Intel Trusted Execution Engine Interface
In the Device Manager, check if the Intel Trusted Execution Engine Interface
driver is installed.
Install the driver update from www.dell.com/support.
147
Intel Wireless-AC 8260 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
drivers
In the Device Manager, check if the network card driver is installed.
Install the driver updates from www.dell.com/support.
148
In the Device Manager, check if the Bluetooth driver is installed.
Install the driver updates from www.dell.com/support.
BIOS overview
The BIOS manages data flow between the computer's operating system and
attached devices such as hard disk, video adapter, keyboard, mouse, and
printer.
Boot menu
The Alienware Area-51 R2 includes a one-time boot menu. By using this feature,
you can change the sequence of devices that your computer attempts to boot
from, for example, CD-ROM, hard drive, or network.
Boot menu enhancements
The boot menu enhancements are as follows:
•Easier Access — Press F12 to access the boot selection menu.
•User Prompting — The user is prompted to use the keystroke on the
BIOS screen.
•Diagnostics Options — The boot menu includes the ePSA diagnostic
options.
Timing key sequences
The keyboard is not the first device initialized by Setup. As a result, if you press
a keystroke too early, the keyboard is locked out. In such case, a keyboard error
message is displayed on the screen, and you cannot restart your computer with
the Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination.
To prevent the keyboard from locking, wait until the keyboard is initialized
completely. The keyboard is initialized if one of the following occurs:
• The keyboard lights flash.
• The F2=Setup prompt appears at the top-right corner of the screen during
boot.
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System diagnostic lights
The computer POST (Power On Self Test) ensures that it meets the basic
computer requirements and the hardware is working appropriately before the
boot process begins. If the computer passes the POST, the computer continues
to start in a normal mode. However, if the computer fails the POST, the
computer emits a series of LED codes in amber color during the start-up.
The following table shows different light patterns, what they indicate, and the
suggested solutions.
Number of
Power LED
flashes
Problem description Suggested solution
1System board: BIOS and
ROM failure
Flash latest BIOS version. If
problem persists, replace the
system board.
2No memory or RAM
detected
Confirm that the memory
module is installed properly. If
problem persists, replace the
memory module.
3System board or chipset
error
Replace the system board.
4Memory or RAM failure Replace the memory module.
5CMOS battery failure Replace the CMOS battery.
6Video card or chip failure Replace the video card.
7CPU failure Replace the system board.
3,6 BIOS recovery image not
found
Reimage the system BIOS.
3,7 BIOS recovery image
found but invalid
Reimage the system BIOS.
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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:
Information about Alienware products
and services
www.alienware.com
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.
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