Dell Alienware AW2521HFA Service Manual

Alienware AW2521HFA/
AW2521HFLA Monitor
User’s Guide

Model: AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA
Regulatory model: AW2521HFb

Notes, cautions, and warnings

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

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss
of data if instructions are not followed.

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

© 2020 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

2020 - 12

Rev. A01

Contents

About your monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Package contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Product features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Identifying parts and controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Front view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Back view. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Rear and bottom view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Monitor specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Resolution specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Supported video modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Preset display modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Electrical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Physical characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Environmental characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Pin assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Plug and Play capability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

USB upstream connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

USB downstream connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

USB ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

LCD monitor quality and pixel policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Maintenance guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Cleaning your monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Setting up the monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Attaching the stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Connecting the computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Removing the monitor stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

|3

VESA wall mounting (optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Operating the monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Power on the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Using the joystick control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Using the rear-panel controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Accessing the menu system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

OSD warning message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Locking the rear-panel control buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Setting the maximum resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Using the tilt, swivel, and vertical extension . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Tilt and swivel extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Vertical extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Rotating the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Rotate clockwise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Rotate counterclockwise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Adjusting the rotation display settings of your system . . . 54

Using AlienFX application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Installing AWCC through Windows update . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Installing AWCC from the Dell Support website . . . . . . . . 55

Navigating the AlienFX window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Creating a theme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Setting lighting effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Self-test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Built-in diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Common problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Product specific problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Universal Serial Bus (USB) specific problems . . . . . . . . . . . 67

4|

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

FCC notices (U.S. only) and other regulatory 

information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Contact Dell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

EU product database for energy label and product

information sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

|5

About your monitor

Package contents

Your monitor ships with the components shown below. If any component is
missing, contact Dell technical support. For more information see Contact Dell.

NOTE: Some components may be optional and may not ship with your
monitor. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.

Component image Component description

Monitor

Stand riser

6 | About your monitor

Stand base

I/O cover

Power cable (varies by
country)

DisplayPort cable
(DisplayPort to
DisplayPort)

HDMI cable

USB 3.0 upstream cable
(enables the USB ports on
the monitor)

•Quick Setup Guide

• Safety, Environmental,
and Regulatory
Inf

ormation

• Alienware Welcome
Card

About your monitor | 7

Product features

The Alienware 25 Gaming monitor is available in two color variants: Dark Side
of the Moon (AW2521HFA) and Lunar Light (AW2521HFLA). Both monitors

offer active matrix, Thin-Film Transistor (TFT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and
LED backlight.

The monitor features include:

• 62.2 cm (24.5 inch) viewable area (measured diagonally). Resolution: Up
to 1920 x 1080 through DisplayPort and HDMI, with full-screen support or
lower resolutions, supporting a high refresh rate of 240 Hz.

• NVIDIA® G-SYNC® Compatible Certification and AMD FreeSync™
Premium Technology minimizes graphic distortions like screen tearing and
stuttering for smoother, fluid gameplay.

• Supports a extremely high refresh rate of 240 Hz and a rapid response
time of 1 ms gray to gray in Extreme mode*.

• Color gamut of sRGB 99%.

• Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment capabilities.

• Removable stand and Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA™)
100 mm mounting holes for flexible mounting solutions.

• Digital connectivity through 1 DisplayPort and 2 HDMI ports.

• Equipped with 1 USB upstream port and 4 USB downstream ports.

• Plug and play capability if supported by your system.

• On-Screen Display (OSD) adjustments for ease of setup and screen
optimization.

• AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA offers preset modes such as FPS (First­Person Shooter), MOBA/RTS (Real-Time Strategy), RPG (Role-Playing
Game), SPORTS (Racing) and three customizable game modes as per user
preference. In addition, key enhanced gaming features such as Timer,
Frame Rate, and Display Alignment are provided to help improve gamer's
performance and provide best in-game advantage.

• < 0.3 W in Standby Mode.

• Optimize eye comfort with a flicker-free screen.

WARNING: The possible long-term effects of blue light emission from
the monitor may cause damage to the eyes, including eye fatigue, digital
eye strain, and so on. ComfortView feature is designed to reduce the
amount of blue light emitted from the monitor to optimize eye comfort.

8 | About your monitor

* The 1 ms gray-to-gray mode is achievable in the Extreme mode
visible motion blur and increased image responsiveness. However, this may
introduce some slight and noticeable visual artifacts into the image. As every
system setup and every gamer's needs are different, Alienware recommends that
users experiment with the different modes to find the setting that is right for
them.

to reduce

Identifying parts and controls

Front view

Label Description Use

1 Cable-management slot

(on

the front side of the

stand)

2 Power On/Off button

(

with LED indicator)

To organize the cables neatly.

To turn the monitor on or off.
Solid blue light indicates that the monitor is

tur

ned on and functioning normally.
Blinking white light indicates that the
monitor is in Standby Mode.

About your monitor | 9

Back view

Back view without monitor stand

Back view with monitor stand

Label Description Use

1 Joystick Use it to control the OSD menu.
2 Function buttons For more information, see Operating

the monitor.

3 Barcode, serial number, and

Ser

vice Tag label

4 Cable-management clips To organize the cables neatly.
5 Stand release button Releases stand from the monitor.
6 VESA mounting holes (100 mm

x

100 mm - behind VESA

Cover)

10 | About your monitor

Refer to this label if you need to
contact Dell for technical support.

Wall mount monitor using VESA­compatible wall mount kit (100 mm x
100 mm).

7 Regulatory label Lists the regulatory approvals.

8 Lighting dock connector When the stand riser is attached to the

monitor, the
power to the light on the stand.

9 Cable-management slot (at the

back of

10 I/O cover Protects the I/O ports.

Rear and bottom view

the stand)

Rear and bottom view without monitor stand

To organize cables by routing them
through this slot.

dock connector supplies

Label Description Use

1 Power connector Connect the power cable (shipped with your

moni

tor).

2 USB upstream port Connect the USB cable (s

monitor) to this port and your computer to
enable the USB ports on your monitor.

3 USB 3.0 ports (2) Connect your USB device.*

4 USB 3.0 port with

Power Charging

NOTE: To
the USB cable (shipped with your monitor) to
the USB-upstream port on the monitor and to
your computer.

Connect to charge your USB device.

use these ports, you must connect

About your monitor | 11

hipped with your

5 Headphone port Connect headphone or speakers.

CAUTION: Increasing the audio output
beyond 50% on the volume control or
equalizer may increase the output
voltage on the headphones thereby
increasing the sound pressure levels.

6 USB 3.0 port Connect your USB device.*

NOTE: To use these ports, you must connect

the USB cable (shipped with your monitor) to
the USB-upstream port on the monitor and to
your computer.

7 HDMI port (HDMI 1) Connect to a computer or another HDMI

output device.

8 HDMI port (HDMI 2) Connect to a computer or another HDMI

output device.

9 DisplayPort Connect to a computer or another

DisplayPort output device.

10 Line-out port Connect your speakers.

NOTE: This port does not support

headphones.

* To avoid signal interference, when a wireless USB device has been connected
to a USB downstream port, it is not recommended to connect any other USB
devices to the adjacent port.

Monitor specifications

Model AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA

Screen type Active matrix - TFT LCD
Panel technology Fast IPS
Aspect ratio 16:9
Viewable image
Diagonal

Width (active area)
Height (active area)
Total area

12 | About your monitor

622.28 mm (24.5 in.)

543.744 mm (21.41 in.)

302.616 mm (11.91 in.)

164545.63 mm2 (255.04 in2)

Pixel pitch 0.2832 mm x 0.2802 mm

Pixel per inch (PPI) 90

Viewing angle

Vertical

Horizontal

Luminance output 400 cd/m² (typical)

Contrast ratio 1000 to 1 (typical)

Faceplate coating Anti-glare treatment of the front polarizer (Haze

Backlight WLED

Response time • 1 ms gray to gray in Extreme Mode *

Color depth 16.78 million colors

Color gamut sRGB 99% (typical)

Built-in devices • USB 3.0 Super-Speed hub (with 1 USB 3.0

Connectivity • 1 x DisplayPort version 1.2 (rear)

178° (typical)
178° (typical)

25%, 3H)

• 2 ms gray to gray in Super Fast Mode

• 4 ms gray to gray in Fast Mode
* A 1 ms gray-to-gray response time is achieved in

the Extreme mode to reduce visible motion blur and
increase image responsiveness. However, this may
introduce subtle visual artifacts into the image. Since
each computer configuration and gamer's needs are
different, Alienware recommends that users
experiment with the different modes to find the
setting that is right for them.

upstream port)

• 4 x USB 3.0 downstream port (including 1 port
which supports power-charging)

• 2 x HDMI port version 2.0 (rear)

• 1 x USB 3.0 upstream port (rear)

• 3 x USB 3.0 downstream ports (bottom: 1; rear: 2)

• 1 x USB 3.0 downstream port with BC1.2 charging
capability at 2 A (maximum) (bottom)

• 1 x headphone port (bottom)

• 1 x audio line-out port (rear)

About your monitor | 13

Bezel width (edge of monitor to active area)
Top

Left/Right
Bottom

Adjustability
Height adjustable stand
Tilt
Swivel
Pivot
Dell Display Manager

(DDM

) Compatibility

5.27 mm

5.27 mm/5.27 mm

14.19 mm

0 to 130 mm

-5° to 21°

-20° to 20°

-90° to 90°
Easy Arrange and other key features

Resolution specifications

Model

DisplayPort 1.2 HDMI 2.0

Horizontal scan
range

Vertical scan
range

Maximum preset
res

olution

Supported video modes

Model AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA

Video display capabilities (HDMI
&

DisplayPort playback)

255 to 255 kHz (automatic) 30 to 255 kHz (automatic)

48 to 240 Hz (automatic) 48 to 240 Hz (automatic)

1920 x 1080 @ 240 Hz 1920 x 1080 @ 240 Hz

AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA

480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i,
1080p, FHD

14 | About your monitor

Preset display modes

Display mode Horizontal

frequency

(kHz)

VESA, 640 x 480 31.5 59.9 25.2 -/­VESA, 640 x 480 37.5 75.0 31.5 -/-

IBM, 720 x 400 31.5 70.1 28.3 -/+

VESA, 800 x 600 37.9 60.3 40.0 +/+

VESA, 800 x 600 46.9 75.0 49.5 +/+
VESA, 1024 x 768 48.4 60.0 65.0 -/­VESA, 1024 x 768 60.0 75.0 78.8 +/+

VESA, 1152 x 864 67.5 75.0 108.0 +/+

VESA, 1280 x 1024 64.0 60.0 108.0 +/+
VESA, 1280 x 1024 80.0 75.0 135.0 +/+

VESA, 1600 x 900 60.0 60.0 108.0 +/+

VESA, 1920 x 1080 67.5 60.0 148.5 +/+

1920 x 1080 137.3 120.0 285.5 +/­1920 x 1080 166.6 144.0 346.5 +/­1920 x 1080 278.1 240.0 567.4 +/-

Vertical

frequency

(Hz)

Pixel clock

(MHz)

Sync polarity
(Horizontal/

Vertical)

NOTE: This monitor supports AMD FreeSync™ Premium Technology.

Electrical specifications

Model AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA

Video input signals HDMI 2.0*/DisplayPort 1.2, 600 mV for each

diff

erential line, 100 ohm input impedance per

differential pair.

AC input voltage/
frequency/current

100 VAC to 240 VAC / 50 Hz or 60 Hz

1.5 A (typical)

+ 3 Hz /

About your monitor | 15

Inrush current • 120 V: 30 A (max.) at 0°C (cold start)

• 240 V: 60 A (max.) at 0°C (cold start)

Power consumption • 0.2 W (Off mode)

• 0.3 W (Standby mode)

• 20.4 W (On mode)

•72 W (Max.)

•17.18 W (Pon)

• 55.52 kWh (TEC)

1

1

1

2

3

3

* Does not support the HDMI 2.0 optional specification, including Consumer
Electronics Control (CEC), HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC), Audio Return
Channel (ARC), standard for 3D format and resolutions, and standard for 4K
digital cinema resolution.

1

As defined in EU 2019/2021 and EU 2019/2013.

2

Max brightness and contrast setting with maximum power loading on all USB

ports.

3

Pon: Power consumption of On Mode measured with reference to Energy Star

test method.
TEC: Total energy consumption in kWh measured with reference to Energy

Star test method.
This document is informational only and reflects laboratory performance. Your

product may perform differently, depending on the software, components and
peripherals you ordered and shall have no obligation to update such
information.

Accordingly, the customer should not rely upon this information in making
decisions about electrical tolerances or otherwise. No warranty as to accuracy
or completeness is expressed or implied.

16 | About your monitor

Physical characteristics

Model AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA
Signal cable type

NOTE: D

are shipped with your monitor. As Dell does not have control over the different
cable suppliers in the market, the type of material, connector and process used
to manufacture these cables, Dell does not guarantee video performance on
cables that are not shipped with your Dell monitor.

Dimensions (with stand)

Height (extended) 526.08 mm (20.71 in.)
Height (compressed) 421.21 mm (16.58 in.)
Width 556.29 mm (21.90 in.)
Depth 251.92 mm (9.92 in.)

Dimensions (without stand)

Height 328.24 mm (12.92 in.)
Width 556.29 mm (21.90 in.)
Depth 72.95 mm (2.87 in.)

Stand dimensions

Height (extended) 436.80 mm (17.20 in.)
Height (compressed) 421.21 mm (16.58 in.)
Width 465.30 mm (18.32 in.)
Depth 251.92 mm (9.92 in.)

Weight

Weight with packaging 11.22 kg (24.71 lb)
Weight with stand assembly

and cabl
Weight without stand assembly

(For wall
considerations - no cables)

Weight of stand assembly 3.21 kg (7.07 lb)
Front frame gloss 17

ell monitors are designed to work optimally with the video cables that

es

mount or VESA mount

• Digital: HDMI, 19 pins

• Digital: DisplayPort, 20 pins

• Universal Serial Bus: USB, 9 pins

7.17 kg (15.79 lb)

3.55 kg (7.81 lb)

+ 3 (only front chin)

About your monitor | 17

Environmental characteristics

Model AW2521HFA/AW2521HFLA
Compliant stand

Arsenic-free glass and mercury-fre

Temperature

Operating 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Non-operating • Storage: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)

Humidity

Operating 10% to 80% (non-condensing)
Non-operating • Storage: 5% to 90% (non-condensing)

Altitude

Operating 5,000 m (16,404 ft) (maximum)
Non-operating 12,192 m (40,000 ft) (maximum)

Thermal dissipation

ards

e for the panel only

• Shipping: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)

• Shipping: 5% to 90% (non-condensing)

• 245.66 BTU/hour (maximum)

• 81.89 BTU/hour (typical)

18 | About your monitor

Pin assignments

DisplayPort connector

Pin number 20-pin side of the connected

signal cable

1 ML3 (n)
2 GND
3 ML3 (p)
4 ML2 (n)
5 GND
6 ML2 (p)
7 ML1 (n)
8 GND
9 ML1 (p)

10 ML0 (n)

11 GND
12 ML0 (p)
13 GND
14 GND
15 AUX (p)
16 GND
17 AUX (n)
18 Hot Plug Detect
19 Re-PWR

20 +3.3 V DP_PWR

About your monitor | 19

HDMI connector

Pin number 19-pin side of the connected

signal cable

1 TMDS DATA 2+
2 TMDS DATA 2 SHIELD
3 TMDS DATA 2­4 TMDS DATA 1+
5 TMDS DATA 1 SHIELD
6 TMDS DATA 1­7 TMDS DATA 0+
8 TMDS DATA 0 SHIELD
9 TMDS DATA 0-

10 TMDS CLOCK+

11 TMDS CLOCK SHIELD
12 TMDS CLOCK­13 CEC
14 Reserved (N.C. on device)
15 DDC CLOCK (SCL)
16 DDC DATA (SDA)
17 DDC/CEC Ground
18 +5V POWER
19 HOT PLUG DETECT

Plug and Play capability

You can connect the monitor to any Plug and Play-compatible system. The
monitor automatically provides the computer system with its Extended Display
Identification Data (EDID) using Display Data Channel (DDC) protocols so that
the system can configure itself and optimize the monitor settings. Most monitor
installations are automatic; you can select different settings if desired. For more
information about changing the monitor settings, see Operating the monitor.

20 | About your monitor

Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface

This section gives you information about the USB ports that are available on the
monitor.

NOTE: This monitor is Super-Speed USB 3.0 compatible.

Transfer speed Data rate Power consumption*

Super-Speed 5 Gbps 4.5 W (Max, each port)
High speed 480 Mbps 4.5 W (Max, each port)
Full speed 12 Mbps 4.5 W (Max, each port)

* Up to 2 A on USB downstream port (with

battery icon) with battery

charging version-compliant devices or normal USB devices.

USB upstream connector

Pin number 9-pin side of the

connector

1 VCC
2 D­3 D+
4 GND
5 SSTX­6 SSTX+
7 GND
8 SSRX­9 SSRX+

About your monitor | 21