Alienware D23M User Manual

Alienware Aurora R8
Setup and Specications

Regulatory Model: D23M
Regulatory Type: D23M002

Notes, cautions, and warnings

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid
the problem.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

© 2018 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.

Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

2018 - 10

Rev. A00

Contents

Set up your computer..........................................................................................................4

Create a USB recovery drive for Windows........................................................................6

Setting up the Virtual Reality (VR) headset — optional...................................................7

Views of Alienware Aurora R8...........................................................................................8

Front...................................................................................................................................................................8

Back................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Back panel........................................................................................................................................................ 10

Specications of Alienware Aurora R8............................................................................12

Dimensions and weight...................................................................................................................................... 12

Processors..........................................................................................................................................................12

Chipset..............................................................................................................................................................12

Operating system...............................................................................................................................................13

Memory.............................................................................................................................................................13

Intel Optane memory......................................................................................................................................... 13

Ports and connectors..........................................................................................................................................14

Communications................................................................................................................................................ 15

Ethernet...................................................................................................................................................... 15

Wireless module...........................................................................................................................................15

Video................................................................................................................................................................15

Audio................................................................................................................................................................16

Storage............................................................................................................................................................. 16

Power ratings.....................................................................................................................................................17

Computer environment...................................................................................................................................... 17

Getting help and contacting Alienware...........................................................................18

Self-help resources............................................................................................................................................ 18

Contacting Alienware........................................................................................................................................ 18

3

Set up your computer

1 Connect the keyboard and mouse.

2 Connect to your network using a cable, or connect to a wireless network.

3 Connect the display.

NOTE: If you ordered your computer with a discrete graphics card, the HDMI and the display ports on the back
panel of your computer are covered. Connect the display to the discrete graphics card.

NOTE: If you have two graphics cards, the card installed in PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 1) is the primary
graphics card.

4

4 Connect the power cable.

5 Press the power button.

6 Create recovery drive for Windows.

NOTE: It is recommended to create a recovery drive to troubleshoot and x problems that may occur with
Windows.

For more information, see Create a USB recovery drive for Windows.

5

Create a USB recovery drive for Windows

Create a recovery drive to troubleshoot and x problems that may occur with Windows. An empty USB ash drive with a
minimum capacity of 16 GB is required to create the recovery drive.

NOTE: This process may take up to an hour to complete.

NOTE: The following steps may vary depending on the version of Windows installed. Refer to the Microsoft support

site for latest instructions.

1 Connect the USB ash drive to your computer.
2 In Windows search, type Recovery.
3 In the search results, click Create a recovery drive.

The User Account Control window is displayed.

4 Click Yes to continue.

The Recovery Drive window is displayed.

5 Select Back up system les to the recovery drive and click Next.
6 Select the USB ash drive and click Next.

A message appears, indicating that all data in the USB ash drive will be deleted.

7 Click Create.
8 Click Finish.

For more information about reinstalling Windows using the USB recovery drive, see the
product's

Service Manual

at www.dell.com/support/manuals.

Troubleshooting

section of your

6

Setting up the Virtual Reality (VR) headset — optional

NOTE: The VR headset is sold separately.

1 Download and run the setup tools for your VR headset at www.dell.com/VRsupport.
2 Connect the VR headset to the USB 3.1 Gen 1 and HDMI ports on your computer, when prompted.

NOTE: Connect the headset to the HDMI port on the primary graphics card and connect the display to any
available port on the card.

3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

7

Views of Alienware Aurora R8

Front

1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (2)

Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.

2 Headphone port

Connect a headphone or speakers.

3 Microphone port

Connect an external microphone to provide sound input.

4 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port

Connect to external storage devices. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.

NOTE: This port does not support video/audio streaming or power delivery.

5 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port

Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.

6 Optical-drive eject button

Press to open the optical drive tray.

7 Optical drive (optional)

Reads from and writes to CDs, DVDs, and Blu‑ray discs.

8 Power button (AlienHead)

Press to turn on the computer if it is turned o, in sleep state, or in hibernate state.
Press to put the computer in sleep state if it is turned on.
Press and hold for 4 seconds to force shut-down the computer.

8

Back

NOTE: You can customize the power-button behavior in Power Options.

1 Back panel

Connect USB, audio, video, and other devices.

2 PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 1)

Connect a PCI-Express card such as graphics, audio, or network card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.
For optimal graphics performance, use a PCI-Express X16 slot for connecting the graphics card.

NOTE: The PCI-Express X16 slot works at X8 speed only.

NOTE: If you have two graphics cards, the card installed in PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 1) is the primary
graphics card.

3 PCI-Express X4 slots (2)

Connect a PCI-Express card such as graphics, audio, or network card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.

4 PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 2)

Connect a PCI-Express card such as graphics, audio, or network card to enhance the capabilities of your computer.
For optimal graphics performance, use a PCI-Express X16 slot for connecting the graphics card.

NOTE: The PCI-Express X16 slot works at X8 speed only.

5 Power-supply cage release-latches (2)

Allows you to remove the power supply unit from your computer.

6 Power-supply diagnostics button

Press to check the power‑supply state.

7 Power-supply diagnostics light

Indicates the power-supply state.

9

8 Power port

Connect a power cable to provide power to your computer.

9 Service Tag label

The Service Tag is a unique alphanumeric identier that enables Dell service technicians to identify the hardware
components in your computer and access warranty information.

10 Side panel release latch

Allows you to remove the side panel from your computer.

11 Security-cable slot (for Kensington locks)

Connect a security cable to prevent unauthorized movement of your computer.

Back panel

1 Hard-drive activity light

Turns on when the computer reads from or writes to the hard drive.

2 Optical S/PDIF port

Connect an amplier, speakers, or a TV for digital audio output through an optical cable.

3 USB 2.0 ports (5)

Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps.

4 DisplayPort

Connect an external display or a projector.

NOTE: The DisplayPort on the back panel of your computer is covered. Connect the display to the discrete
graphics card of your computer.

5 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port

Connect peripherals, such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.

NOTE: This port does not support video/audio streaming or power delivery.

6 USB 3.1 Gen 2 port

Connect peripherals, such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.

7 Side L/R surround port

10

Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and ampliers. In a 7.1 speaker channel setup, connect the side-left and
side-right speakers.

8 Microphone port

Connect an external microphone to provide sound input.

9 Front L/R surround line-out port

Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and ampliers. In a 2.1 speaker channel setup, connect the left and right
speakers. In a 5.1 or a 7.1 speaker channel setup, connect the front-left and front-right speakers.

10 Line-in port

Connect recording or playback devices such as a microphone or CD player.

11 Center/subwoofer LFE surround port

Connect the center speaker or the subwoofer.

NOTE: For more information about the speaker setup, refer the documentation that shipped with the speakers.

12 Rear L/R surround port

Connect audio-output devices such as speakers and ampliers. In a 5.1 or a 7.1 speaker channel setup, connect the rear­left and rear-right speakers.

13 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (3)

Connect peripherals such as external storage devices and printers. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps.

14 Network port (with lights)

Connect an Ethernet (RJ45) cable from a router or a broadband modem for network or Internet access.
The two lights next to the connector indicate the connectivity status and network activity.

15 Coaxial S/PDIF port

Connect an amplier, speakers, or a TV for digital audio output through a coaxial cable.

11

Specications of Alienware Aurora R8

Dimensions and weight

Table 1. Dimensions and weight

Description Values

Height:

Front

Rear

Width

Depth

Weight (maximum)

Processors

Table 2. Processor specications

Description Values

Processor

Wattage

Core count

Thread count

8th Generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 9th Generation Intel Core i5k/i7k/i9k

65 W 95 W

2/4/4 6/8/8

6/8/8 6/8/16

422.8 mm (16.65 in.)

472.5 mm (18.60 in.)

212 mm (8.34 in.)

360.50 mm (14.19 in.)

14.82 kg (32.67 lb)

NOTE: The weight of your computer depends on the
conguration ordered and the manufacturing variability.

Speed

Intel Smart Cache

Integrated graphics

Up to 3.40 GHz/3.90 GHz/4.6 GHz
Turbo Boost

4 MB/6 MB/8 MB 9 MB/12 MB/16 MB

Intel UHD Graphics 620 Intel UHD Graphics 630

Chipset

Table 3. Chipset specications

Description Values

Chipset

Processor

DRAM bus width

Flash EPROM

PCIe bus

External bus frequency

Intel Z370 chipset

• 8th Generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7

• 9th Generation Intel Core i5k/i7k/i9k

Not supported

16 MB

PCIe Gen3

PCIe Gen3x4

Up to 4.6 GHz/4.9 GHz/5.0 GHz
Turbo Boost

12

Operating system

• Windows 10 Home (64-bit)

• Windows 10 Professional (64-bit)

Memory

Table 4. Memory specications

Description Values

Slots

Type

Speed

Four DIMM sockets

DDR4

• 2666 MHz

• Up to HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP at
3200 MHz

Maximum memory

Minimum memory

Memory per slot

Congurations supported

64 GB

4 GB

4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB

• 8 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz

• 16 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz

• 32 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz

• 64 GB DDR4 at 2666 MHz

• 8 GB XMP at 2933 MHz

• 16 GB XMP at 2933 MHz

• 32 GB XMP at 2933 MHz

• 64 GB XMP at 2933 MHz

• 16 GB XMP at 3200 MHz

• 32 GB XMP at 3200 MHz

• 64 GB XMP at 3200 MHz

Intel Optane memory

Intel Optane memory functions only as a storage accelerator. It neither replaces nor adds to the memory (RAM) installed on
your computer.

NOTE: Intel Optane memory is supported on computers that meet the following requirements:

• 7th Generation or higher Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processor

• Windows 10 64-bit version or higher

• Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver version 15.9.1.1018 or higher

Table 5. Intel Optane memory specications

Description Values

Type

Interface

Connector

Storage accelarator

PCIe 3.0x4

M.2 2280

13

Description Values

Congurations supported

Capacity

16 GB and 32 GB

Up to 32 GB

Ports and connectors

Table 6. External ports and connectors specications

Description Values

Front

USB

• Three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports

• One USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port

Audio

Back

Network

USB

Audio

Video

• One audio output/headphone port (supports 2 channel
audio)

• One audio input/microphone port

One RJ-45 port

• Five USB 2.0 ports

• Three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports

• One USB 3.1 Gen 2 port

• One USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port

• One audio input/microphone port

• One optical S/PDIF port

• One coaxial S/PDIF port

• One front L/R surround line-out port

• One side L/R surround port

• One rear L/R surround port

• One center/subwoofer LFE surround port

• One line-in port

One DisplayPort - optional

NOTE: The DisplayPort on the back panel of your
computer is covered. Connect the display to the
discrete graphics card of your computer.

Media-card reader

Power adapter port

Security

Legacy ports

Table 7. Internal ports and connectors specications

Description Values

Expansion

14

Not supported

Not supported

Kensington locks

Not supported

• Two PCIe x16 slots

Description Values

• Two PCIe x4 slots

M.2

• One M.2 slot for Wi-Fi

• One PCIe/SATA M.2

Communications

Ethernet

Table 8. Ethernet specications

Description Values

Model number

Transfer rate

Wireless module

Table 9. Wireless module specications

Description Values

Model number

Transfer rate

Frequency bands supported

QCA9377 (DW1810) QCA61x4A (DW1820) Rivet 1535 (Killer)

433 Mbps Up to 867 Mbps Up to 867 Mbps (1.867 Gbps

Dual band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz Dual band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz Dual band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz

Killer E2500 Ethernet controller integrated on system board

10/100/1000 Mbps

and Bluetooth combo
card

2280 slots for solid-state
drive

with Doubleshot Pro
technology)

Wireless standards

Encryption

Bluetooth

WiFi 802.11ac WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

• 64-bit and 128-bit WEP

• CKIP

• TKIP

• AES-CCMP

Bluetooth 4.1 Bluetooth 4.1 Bluetooth 4.2

• 64-bit and 128-bit WEP

• CKIP

• TKIP

• AES-CCMP

• 64-bit and 128-bit WEP

• CKIP

• TKIP

• AES-CCMP

Video

Table 10. Discrete graphics specications

Discrete graphics
Controller External display support Memory size Memory type

NVIDIA GeForce RTX
2080

NVIDIA GeForce RTX
2080 Ti

One HDMI port and one DisplayPort 8 GB GDDR6

One HDMI port and one DisplayPort 11 GB GDDR6

15

Table 11. Integrated graphics specications

Controller External display support Memory size Processor

Intel UHD Graphics 620 One DisplayPort

NOTE: Use discrete card output for best
performance.

Intel UHD Graphics 630 One DisplayPort

NOTE: Use discrete card output for best
performance.

Audio

Table 12. Audio specications

Description Values

Type

Controller

Internal interface

External interface

Integrated 7.1 channel audio with S/PDIF support

Realtek ALC3861

High-denition audio

7.1 channel output, microphone-in, stereo headphones,
and headset combo connector

Storage

Shared system
memory

Shared system
memory

8th Generation
Intel Core i3/i5/i7

9 th Generation
Intel Core
i5k/i7k/i9k

Your computer supports one of the following congurations:

• One U.2 drive and two 2.5-inch hard drives

• One M.2 2242/2260/2280 solid-state drive, one 3.5-inch hard drive, and two 2.5-inch hard drives

• One 3.5-inch hard drive and two 2.5-inch hard drives

NOTE: The primary drive of your computer varies depending on the storage conguration.

For computers:

• with a U.2 drive, the U.2 drive is the primary drive

• with an M.2 drive, the M.2 drive is the primary drive.

• without both U.2 drive and M.2 drive, the 3.5-inch drive is the primary drive.

Table 13. Storage specications

Storage type Interface type Capacity

Two 2.5-inch hard drives SATA AHCI 6 Gbps Up to 2 TB

One 3.5-inch hard drive SATA AHCI 6 Gbps Up to 1 TB

Two M.2 2242/2260/2280 solid-state drives

One U.2 drive PCIe NVMe up to 32 Gbps (U.2

• SATA AHCI 6 Gbps

• PCIe NVMe up to 32 Gbps

drive)

Up to 1 TB

Up to 280 GB

One 9.5 mm slim drive for DVD+/-RW drive or Blue­ray Disc.

16

SATA 1.5 Gbps Not applicable

Power ratings

Table 14. Power ratings

Description Values

Input voltage

Input frequency

Temperature range:

Operating

Storage

Type

Input current (maximum)

Output current (continuous)

Rated output voltage

100 VAC to 240 VAC

50 Hz to 60 Hz

5°C to 50°C (41°F to 122°F)

-40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)

460 W 850 W

8 A 10 A

3.3V/17A, 5V/25A, 12VA/18A,
12VB/16A, 12VC/8A, 5Vaux/3A

3.3V, 5V, 12VA, 12VB, 12VC,
5Vaux

Computer environment

Airborne contaminant level: G1 as dened by ISA-S71.04-1985

Table 15. Computer environment

3.3V/20A, 5V/20A, 12VA/32A, 12VB/
48A, 12VD/16A, -12V/0.5A, 5Vaux/4A

3.3V, 5V, 12VA, 12VB, 12VD, -12V, 5Vaux

Operating Storage

Temperature range

Relative humidity (maximum)

Vibration (maximum)

Shock (maximum)

Altitude (maximum)

* Measured using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment.

† Measured using a 2 ms half-sine pulse when the hard drive is in use.

‡ Measured using a 2 ms half-sine pulse when the hard-drive head is in parked position.

5°C to 35°C (41°F to 95°F) –40°C to 65°C (–40°F to 149°F)

10% to 90% (non-condensing) 0% to 95% (non-condensing)

0.26 GRMS 1.30 GRMS

40 G for 2 ms with a change in velocity
of 20 in/s (51 cm/s)

–15.2 m to 3,048 m (–50 ft to 10,000
ft)

†

105 G for 2 ms with a change in velocity
of 52.5 in/s (133 cm/s)

–15.2 m to 10,668 m (–50 ft to 35,000
ft)

‡

17

Getting help and contacting Alienware

Self-help resources

You can get information and help on Alienware products and services using these online self-help resources:

Table 16. Alienware products and online self-help resources

Self-help resources Resource location

Information about Alienware products and services www.alienware.com

Tips

Contact Support In Windows search, type Contact Support, and press Enter.

Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows

www.dell.com/support/linux

Troubleshooting information, user manuals, setup instructions,
product specications, technical help blogs, drivers, software
updates, and so on

VR Support www.dell.com/VRsupport

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 nd contact information about your purchase
invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.

18