Dell Area-51 ALX, Area-51 User Manual
ALIENWARE® DESKTOP MANUAL
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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.
e contents herein are subject to change without notice.
© 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
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
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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
Conguring 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
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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
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
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
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
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•
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.
®
CD-key located at the back of the 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 airow 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.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
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.
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)
DisplayPortto-DisplayPort
(DisplayPort
cable)
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
Connect the Network Cable (Optional)Connect the Keyboard and Mouse
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
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.
Press the Power Button
Press the power button on the top of the computer.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
Set Up Microsoft Windows
CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing
so may render your desktop unusable.
Your computer is precongured with the operating system settings that you
selected while ordering your computer. To congure 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.
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® 7
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.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
ISPs and ISP oerings vary by country. Contact your ISP for oerings 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.
Windows® 7
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.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
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.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
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Front View Features
1
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.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
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Back View Features
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.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
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Back Panel Connectors
1 PS/2 Keyboard connector — Connects to a standard PS/2 keyboard.
2
Optical S/PDIF connector — Connects to ampliers, 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.
3
USB 2.0 connectors (6) — Connects to USB devices, such as a mouse,
keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player.
4
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.
6
Network connectors (2) — Connects your computer to a network or
broadband device.
7
IEEE 1394 connector — Connects to high-speed serial multimedia
devices such as digital video cameras.
8
Coaxial S/PDIF connector — Connects to ampliers, 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.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
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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.
Top View Features
Accessing the Top Panel Connectors
Press the top panel downwards to access the top panel connectors.
1 Top panel
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP
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Top Panel Connectors
1
USB 2.0 connectors (3) — Connects to USB devices, such as a mouse,
keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player.
2
eSATA connector — Connects to eSATA compatible storage devices
such as external hard drives or optical drives.
3
IEEE 1394 — Connects to high speed serial multimedia devices such as
digital video cameras.
4
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.
5
Microphone connector — Connects to a microphone for voice or audio
input into a sound or telephony program.
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CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
is chapter provides information about connecting optional devices to your
desktop to enhance your audio, video, and digital experience.
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CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
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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.
1
Side L/R surround connector — Connects to side L/R surround
speakers.
2
Rear L/R surround connector — Connects to rear L/R surround
speakers.
3
Center/subwoofer connector — Connects to a center speaker or
subwoofer.
4
Line-in connector — Connects to recording or playback devices such
as a microphone, cassette player, CD player, or VCR.
5
6
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.
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CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
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.
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.
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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® 7
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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