Dell Area-51 ALX, Area-51 User Manual

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ALIENWARE

DESKTOP MANUAL

e contents herein are subject to change without notice.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the prior

written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Trademarks used in this manual: Alienware, AlienRespawn, AlienFX, and the

AlienHead logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Alienware Corporation.

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, and Windows

Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft

Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Intel and SpeedStep are

registered trademarks and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S.

and other countries. Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell Inc.

under license.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this manual see either the

entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any

proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model: D0IX Type: D0IX001 P/N: K830R Rev:A00 August 2009

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.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ........................................................ 5

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP ................................ 6

Before Setting Up Your Desktop ................................... 7

Connect the Display ...............................................8

Connect the Keyboard and Mouse..................................9

Connect the Network Cable (Optional)..............................9

Connect the Power Cable .........................................10

Press the Power Button ..........................................10

Set Up Microsoft Windows.........................................11

Connect to the Internet (Optional) .................................11

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP .........................13

Front View Features ..............................................14

Back View Features............................................... 15

Top View Features.................................................17

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES......................................19

Connecting Printers .............................................. 21

Connecting USB Devices..........................................22

Connecting IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Devices ..........................22

CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR DESKTOP ....................................23

Alienware Command Center ......................................24

Working With RAID ...............................................24

Optimizing Performance .........................................27

Conguring the BIOS .............................................28

CHAPTER 5: INSTALLING ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT

COMPONENTS ..................................................35

Before You Begin.................................................36

Opening and Closing the Side Panel ...............................38

Inside View of Your Computer .....................................39

Removing and Replacing Memory Module(s).......................40

Removing and Replacing Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Removing and Replacing Expansion Card(s) .......................44

CHAPTER 6: TROUBLESHOOTING ......................................46

Basic Hints and Tips..............................................47

Backup and General Maintenance.................................47

Software Diagnostic Tools ........................................48

Answers to Common Problems ...................................50

CHAPTER 7: SYSTEM RECOVERY .......................................58

AlienRespawn v2.0...............................................59

Recovery Options ................................................60

Password Protection ............................................. 61

AlienRespawn v2.0 Disc ..........................................62

Dell DataSafe Local Backup .......................................62

CHAPTER 8: BASIC SPECIFICATIONS....................................64

APPENDIX A: GENERAL AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.........68

APPENDIX B: CONTACTING ALIENWARE ................................70

APPENDIX C: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ................................71

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 Graphics Cards............................71

INTRODUCTION

Dear Valued Alienware Customer,

Welcome to the Alienware family. We are thrilled to include you among the

growing number of savvy high-performance computer users.

e Alienware technicians who have crafted your computer have made certain

that your high-performance computer is properly optimized and performs to its

fullest potential. We build computers with a single unwavering purpose: Build

It As If It Were Your Own. e technicians will not rest until your new computer

meets or exceeds our very demanding criteria!

We have tested your computer extensively in order to ensure that you enjoy

the highest levels of performance. In addition to a standard burn-in period,

your computer has been evaluated using real-world tools such as synthetic

performance benchmarks.

We invite you to share your experience with your new high-performance computer

with us, so do not hesitate to either e-mail or call Alienware with any questions

or concerns. e entire sta shares your enthusiasm for new technology and we

hope that you enjoy using your new computer as much as Alienware enjoyed

building it for you.

Sincerely,

Alienware Sta

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP

Product Documentation and Media

e documentation that ships with your Alienware

desktop is designed to

provide answers to many of the questions that may arise as you explore your

new desktop’s capabilities. See the documentation for technical information or

general use as required to answer questions in the future, or aid you in nding

answers and solutions. e media included with your desktop is referenced in

some sections of the documentation and may be needed to complete certain

tasks. As always, our technical support sta is available to assist you.

Placing Your Desktop

WARNING: Do not place the desktop near or over a radiator or heating

vent. If all or parts of your desktop are placed in a cabinet, ensure that

adequate ventilation is provided. Do not place the desktop in a humid

location or in any area where the desktop may be exposed to rain or

water. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind on or into the desktop.

When placing your desktop, ensure that:

It is placed on a surface that is both level and stable. •

e power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the desktop •

and a wall – or any other object.

Nothing obstructs airow in front of, behind, or below the desktop.•

e desktop has enough room so that optical drives and other external •

storage drives can be easily accessed.

Before Setting Up Your Desktop

Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware

Area-51!

Read all safety and setup instructions before connecting your new desktop. Begin

by carefully opening the box and removing all components that were shipped to

you. Before setting up your desktop or components, be sure to inspect all items

for any physical damage that may have occurred during shipment.

See the included invoice to verify that all items ordered are present. Report any

missing components to customer service within 5 days of receiving the shipment.

Anything reported missing after the rst 5 days of receiving a shipment will not

be honored. Some of the most common items to check for include:

Computer•

Microsoft•

CD-key located at the back of the desktop

Keyboard (if ordered)•

Mouse (if ordered)•

Multimedia speakers and sub-woofer (if ordered)•

Joystick controllers (if ordered)•

You may also need a small athead and/or a Phillips head screwdriver for

connecting peripheral cables to the desktop.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP

Connection Type Computer Cable Display

DVI-to-DVI

(DVI cable)

DVI-to-VGA

(DVI-to-VGA

adapter + VGA

cable)

HDMI-to-HDMI

(HDMI cable)

HDMI-to-DVI

(HDMI-to-DVI

adapter + DVI

cable)

DisplayPort-

to-DisplayPort

(DisplayPort

cable)

Connect the Display

Connect the display using the connector available on the graphics card on your

computer.

NOTE: A DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort connector may be available on the

graphics card you purchased.

You can purchase the DVI-to-VGA adapter, HDMI-to-DVI adapter, and additional

HDMI or DVI cables on the Dell website at www.dell.com.

Use the appropriate cable based on the connectors available on your computer

and display.

NOTE: When connecting to a single display, connect the display to ONLY

ONE of the connectors on your computer.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP

Connect the Network Cable (Optional)Connect the Keyboard and Mouse

010

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP

Press the Power Button

Press the power button on the top of the computer.

Connect the Power Cable

WARNING: e power connectors and power strips vary among

countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the

cable to a power strip or electrical outlet may cause re or equipment

damage.

011

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP

Setting Up a Wireless Connection

NOTE: To set up your wireless router, see the documentation that shipped

with your router.

Before you can use your wireless Internet connection, you need to connect to your

wireless router.

To set up your connection to a wireless router:

Windows Vista

Ensure that wireless is enabled on your computer.1.

Save and close any open les, and exit any open programs.2.

Click 3. Start → Connect To.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.4.

Windows

Ensure that wireless is enabled on your computer.1.

Save and close any open les, and exit any open programs.2.

Click 3. Start → Control Panel→ Network and Internet→ Network and

Sharing Center→ Connect to a network.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.4.

Set Up Microsoft Windows

CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing

so may render your desktop unusable.

Your computer is precongured with the operating system settings that you

selected while ordering your computer. To congure the remaining settings,

follow the instructions on the screen.

Connect to the Internet (Optional)

Setting Up a Wired Connection

If you are using a dial-up connection, connect the telephone line to the •

optional external USB modem and to the telephone wall jack before you set

up your Internet connection.

If you are using a DSL or cable/satellite modem connection, contact your ISP •

or cellular telephone service for setup instructions.

To complete setting up your wired Internet connection, follow the instructions in

“Setting Up Your Internet Connection” on page 12.

012

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP

Windows

Click 1. Start → Control Panel.

Click 2. Network and Internet→ Network and Sharing Center→ Set up a

connection or Network→ Connect to the Internet.

e Connect to the Internet window appears.

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me

choose or contact your ISP.

Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by

your ISP to complete the setup.

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

ISPs and ISP oerings vary by country. Contact your ISP for oerings available in

your country.

If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past,

the Internet Service Provider (ISP) might have a service outage. Contact your ISP

to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

Have your ISP information ready. If you do not have an ISP, the Connect to the

Internet wizard can help you get one.

Windows Vista

NOTE: e following instructions are applicable to the Windows default

view, so they may not apply if you set your computer to the Windows

classic view.

Save and close any open les, and exit any open programs.1.

Click 2. Start → Control Panel.

Click 3. Network and Internet→ Network and Sharing Center→ Set up a

connection or Network→ Connect to the Internet.

e Connect to the Internet window appears.

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me

choose or contact your ISP.

Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by

your ISP to complete the setup.

013

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

is chapter provides information about your new desktop to familiarize you with

its various features, and to get you up and running quickly.

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW

YOUR DESKTOP

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

014

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

Power button — Turns the computer on or o when pressed. is

button illuminates indicating that the computer is turned on. e color of

the button rim indicates the power status.

O • — the computer is either turned o, in hibernate mode, or is not

receiving power.

Solid white • — the computer is on.

Blinking white • — the computer is in standby mode.

2 Optical drive — Plays or records CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

3 Optical drive bays (2) — Supports additional optical drive(s) (optional).

4 Alienhead

Area-51 Standard• — Press the Alienhead and then manually lower or

close the drive panel.

Area-51 ALX• — Press the Alienhead to lower or close the drive panel

using the motorized door.

When the computer is turned o, push the drive panel down to lower it.

5 Drive panel — Covers the optical drive(s) or optical drive bays.

6 Optical drive eject button — Ejects the optical drive tray.

Front View Features

015

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

1 Security lock slot — Attaches a commercially available security cable to

the computer.

NOTE: Before you buy a security cable, ensure that it works with the

security lock slot on your computer.

2 Back panel connectors — Connects USB, audio, and other devices into the

appropriate connectors.

For more information, see “Back Panel Connectors” on page 16.

3 Expansion card slots — Access connectors for any installed PCI and

PCI express cards.

4 Power connector — Connects to the power cable.

5 Latch — Closes or opens the security lock slot and locks or unlocks the

release panel. Slide the latch to the left to access the security lock slot and

to lock the release panel.

For information on the side panel, see “Opening and Closing the Side

Panel” on page 38.

Back View Features

016

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

1 PS/2 Keyboard connector — Connects to a standard PS/2 keyboard.

Optical S/PDIF connector — Connects to ampliers, speakers, or TVs

for digital audio output through optical digital cables. is format carries

an audio signal without going through an analog audio conversion process.

USB 2.0 connectors (6) — Connects to USB devices, such as a mouse,

keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player.

eSATA connector — Connects to eSATA compatible storage devices

such as external hard drives or optical drives.

5 Audio connectors — Connects to speakers, microphone, and headphones.

NOTE: For information on audio connectors, see “Connecting External

Speakers” on page 20.

Network connectors (2) — Connects your computer to a network or

broadband device.

IEEE 1394 connector — Connects to high-speed serial multimedia

devices such as digital video cameras.

Coaxial S/PDIF connector — Connects to ampliers, speakers, or TVs

for digital audio output through coaxial digital cables. is format carries

an audio signal without going through an analog audio conversion process.

9 PS/2 Mouse connector — Connects to a standard PS/2 mouse.

Back Panel Connectors

017

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

Top View Features

Accessing the Top Panel Connectors

Press the top panel downwards to access the top panel connectors.

1 Top panel

Back Light Button

Press the back light button to turn on the light to view the back panel

connectors. is light automatically turns o after a few seconds.

018

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP

Top Panel Connectors

USB 2.0 connectors (3) — Connects to USB devices, such as a mouse,

keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player.

eSATA connector — Connects to eSATA compatible storage devices

such as external hard drives or optical drives.

IEEE 1394 — Connects to high speed serial multimedia devices such as

digital video cameras.

Headphone connector — Connects to headphones.

NOTE: To connect to a powered speaker or sound system, use the audio out

connector or one of the S/PDIF connectors on the back of your computer.

Microphone connector — Connects to a microphone for voice or audio

input into a sound or telephony program.

019

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

is chapter provides information about connecting optional devices to your

desktop to enhance your audio, video, and digital experience.

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

020

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

Connecting External Speakers

Your Alienware desktop has ve integrated audio out connectors and one audio

in connector. e audio out connectors deliver quality sound and support 7.1

surround audio. You can connect the audio input connector from a home stereo

or speaker system for a heightened gaming and media experience.

NOTE: On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

Side L/R surround connector — Connects to side L/R surround

speakers.

Rear L/R surround connector — Connects to rear L/R surround

speakers.

Center/subwoofer connector — Connects to a center speaker or

subwoofer.

Line-in connector — Connects to recording or playback devices such

as a microphone, cassette player, CD player, or VCR.

Front L/R line-out connector — Connects to front L/R speakers.

Microphone connector — Connects to a microphone for voice or audio

input into a sound or telephony program.

021

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

Connecting Printers

Connecting a Plug and Play Printer

If your printer supports plug and play, your operating system will detect it and

attempt to install the printer automatically. In some cases, Windows may require

a driver for the printer. is driver is located on the software CD that is included

with the printer.

Connect the printer’s USB cable to an available USB connector, on your 1.

desktop.

Connect the printer’s power cable to a grounded, three-prong power-strip, 2.

uninterruptible power supply, or electrical outlet.

Turn on the printer and Microsoft Windows automatically detects and 3.

installs the appropriate driver.

Two types of audio connectors:

1 2

1 Stereo jack — Your headphone jack should have this type of connector.

2 Mono jack — Your microphone jack should have this type of connector.

022

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

Connecting a Non Plug and Play Printer

Windows Vista

Click 1. Start → Control Panel.

Click 2. Hardware and Sound→ Add a printer.

Follow the instructions on the screen. 3.

Windows

Click 1. Start → Control Panel.

Click 2. Hardware and Sound→ Devices and Printers→ Add a printer.

Follow the instructions on the screen. 3.

For further information, see the documentation that shipped with your printer.

Connecting USB Devices

Connect USB devices into an available USB connector on your desktop. Microsoft

Windows will detect the device and attempt to install the appropriate driver

automatically. In some cases, Windows may require a driver. is driver is located

on the software CD that is included with the device.

If your keyboard or mouse has a USB connector, connect it to an available USB

connector on the desktop.

Connecting IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Devices

Connect the IEEE 1394 device into the IEEE 1394 connector on your desktop. Your

operating system will detect the device and attempt to install the appropriate

driver automatically. In some cases, Windows may require a driver. is driver is

located on the software CD that is included with the device.

For further information, see the documentation that shipped with your device.

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