Dell Alienware X51 R3 User Manual
Alienware X51
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware X51 R3
Regulatory Model: D05S
Regulatory Type: D05S003
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 - 08
Rev. A01
Contents
Before working inside your computer............................ 6
Before you begin ...................................................................................... 6
Safety instructions.................................................................................... 6
Recommended tools..................................................................................7
After working inside your computer...............................8
Technical overview........................................................ 9
Inside View Of Your Computer.................................................................. 9
Removing the side panel...............................................10
Procedure................................................................................................10
Replacing the side panel...............................................12
Procedure................................................................................................12
Removing the wireless card..........................................13
Prerequisites............................................................................................13
Procedure................................................................................................13
Replacing the wireless card..........................................16
Procedure................................................................................................16
Post-requisites.........................................................................................17
Replacing the optical drive........................................... 18
Prerequisites............................................................................................18
Procedure................................................................................................18
3
Removing the optical drive........................................... 21
Procedure................................................................................................21
Post-requisites.........................................................................................21
Removing the memory module.....................................22
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 22
Procedure............................................................................................... 22
Replacing the memory module.....................................24
Procedure............................................................................................... 24
Post-requisites........................................................................................25
Removing the hard drive.............................................. 27
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 27
Procedure............................................................................................... 27
Replacing the hard drive.............................................. 32
Procedure............................................................................................... 32
Post-requisites........................................................................................32
Removing the graphics card........................................ 33
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 33
Procedure............................................................................................... 33
Replacing the graphics card.........................................37
Procedure............................................................................................... 37
Post-requisites........................................................................................ 37
Removing the solid-state drive.................................... 38
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 38
Procedure............................................................................................... 38
4
Replacing the solid-state drive..................................... 41
Procedure................................................................................................41
Post-requisites........................................................................................42
BIOS setup program.................................................... 43
Overview.................................................................................................43
Entering System Setup .......................................................................... 43
System Setup Options............................................................................ 44
Boot sequence........................................................................................49
Changing boot sequence for the current boot..................................50
Changing boot sequence for future boots......................................... 51
Flashing the BIOS........................................................ 52
Getting help and contacting Alienware........................ 53
Self-help resources................................................................................. 53
Contacting Alienware..............................................................................54
5
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.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon → 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.
6
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
• Plastic scribe
7
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.
8
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
regulatory_compliance.
Inside View Of Your Computer
www.dell.com/
1 optical-drive assembly 2 hard-drive assembly
3 wireless card 4 memory modules
9
Removing the side panel
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
regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the computer on its side with the left panel facing up.
2 Remove the screw that secures the left panel to the chassis.
3 Release the left panel by sliding it towards the front of the computer.
www.dell.com/
1 left panel 2 screw
3 chassis
4 Turn the left panel over and disconnect the lighting cable as shown.
10
5 Lift the left panel off the chassis.
1 left panel 2 lighting cable
3 chassis
11
Replacing the side panel
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
regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Connect the lighting cable to the left panel.
2 Align the tabs on the left panel with the slots on the chassis and slide it toward
the back of the computer.
3 Replace the screw that secures the left panel to the chassis.
www.dell.com/
12
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
regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the side panel.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the fan shroud to the processor fan.
www.dell.com/
13
2 Lift the fan shroud off the processor fan.
1 screws (2) 2 chassis
3 fan shroud
3 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
4 Remove the screw that secures the wireless card to the system board.
14
5 Slide the wireless card out of the wireless-card slot.
1 wireless-card slot 2 wireless card
3 system board 4 screw
5 antenna cables (2)
15
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
regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the wireless card, do not place any cables
under it.
1 Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card slot.
2 Slide the wireless card into the wireless-card slot.
3 Replace the screw that secures the wireless card to the system board.
4 Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.
The following table provides the antenna-cable color scheme for the wireless
card supported by your computer.
www.dell.com/
Connectors on the wireless card
Main (white triangle) White
Auxiliary (black triangle) Black
5 Align the screw holes on the fan shroud with the screw holes on the processor
fan.
16
Antenna-cable color
6 Replace the screws that secure the fan shroud to the processor fan.
1 tab 2 notch
3 wireless-card slot 4 wireless card
5 screw 6 antenna cables (2)
7 system board
Post-requisites
Replace the side panel.
17
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