Alienware X51 Service Manual
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Alienware X51 Service Manual

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Alienware X51
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware X51 R3
Regulatory Model: D05S
Regulatory Type: D05S003
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Summary of Contents for Alienware X51

  • Page 1 Alienware X51 Service Manual Computer Model: Alienware X51 R3 Regulatory Model: D05S Regulatory Type: D05S003...
  • Page 2 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.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Before working inside your computer......6 ....................6 Before you begin ....................6 Safety instructions ....................7 Recommended tools After working inside your computer......9 Technical overview.............. 10 ................10 Inside View Of Your Computer Removing the side panel............11 ......................11 Procedure Replacing the side panel........... 13 ......................13 Procedure Removing the processor cooling-assembly....
  • Page 4 Removing the memory module........24 .....................24 Prerequisites ......................24 Procedure Replacing the memory module........26 ......................26 Procedure ....................27 Post-requisites Removing the hard drive..........28 .....................28 Prerequisites ......................28 Procedure Replacing the hard drive..........33 ......................33 Procedure ....................33 Post-requisites Removing the graphics card.......... 34 .....................34 Prerequisites ......................34...
  • Page 5 ..................45 System Setup Options ....................51 Boot sequence ..........51 Changing boot sequence for the current boot ..........52 Changing boot sequence for future boots Flashing the BIOS..............53 Getting help and contacting Alienware....54 ................... 54 Self-help resources ..................55 Contacting Alienware...

  • Page 6: Before Working Inside Your Computer

    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 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications. Shut down your computer. –...

  • Page 7: Recommended Tools

    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 power source. CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure that the work surface is flat and clean.
  • Page 8 • Plastic scribe...

  • Page 9: After Working Inside Your Computer

    After working inside your computer CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may severely damage your computer. Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your computer. Connect any external devices, peripherals, and cables you removed before working on your computer.

  • Page 10: Technical Overview

    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 After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

  • Page 11: Removing The Side Panel

    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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 12 Lift the left panel off the chassis. left panel lighting cable chassis...

  • Page 13: Replacing The Side Panel

    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 After working inside your computer.

  • Page 14: Removing The Processor Cooling-Assembly

    When the temperature of the liquid rises, it expands and the air bubbles in the tube are dislodged. Alienware X51 being a compact desktop computer, initially the sound may be more audible as compared to the liquid cooling units in other larger desktops.
  • Page 15 Lift the fan off the processor cooling assembly. NOTE: Note the orientation of the fan so that you can replace it correctly. system board fan cable processor-cooler cable routing guides screws (2) Remove the memory modules. Remove the screws that secure the radiator to the chassis.
  • Page 16 Slide the radiator towards the front of the computer and release it from the chassis. screws (2) radiator chassis Lift the radiator and hold it as shown in the image below to remove the thumbscrews that secure the processor cooler to the system board.
  • Page 17 Lift the processor cooling assembly along with the cables off the chassis. thumbscrews (4) radiator processor cooler chassis...

  • Page 18: Replacing The Processor Cooling Assembly

    Replacing the processor cooling assembly 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 After working inside your computer.

  • Page 19: Removing The Wireless Card

    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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 20 Slide the wireless card out of the wireless-card slot. wireless-card slot wireless card system board screw antenna cables (2)

  • Page 21: Replacing The Wireless Card

    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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 22 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. Connectors on the wireless card Antenna-cable color Main (white triangle) White Auxiliary (black triangle) Black notch wireless-card slot wireless card screw...

  • Page 23: Post-Requisites

    Post-requisites Replace the processor cooling-assembly. Replace the side panel.

  • Page 24: Removing The Memory Module

    Removing the memory module 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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 25 Remove the memory module from the memory-module slot. CAUTION: To prevent damage to the memory module, hold the memory module by the edges only. Do not touch the components on the memory module. memory module securing clips (2) memory-module slot...

  • Page 26: Replacing The Memory Module

    Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure NOTE: Alienware X51 R3 supports only DDR4 memory modules. If you are adding additional memory modules or upgrading the memory modules, ensure to use DDR4 UDIMMs. Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-...

  • Page 27: Post-Requisites

    Insert the memory module into the memory-module slot and press the memory module down until it clicks into place. NOTE: If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it. memory module securing clips (2) memory-module slot notch Post-requisites Replace the...

  • Page 28: Removing The Hard Drive

    Removing the hard drive 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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 29 Release the riser cage from the tabs on the chassis. chassis screws (2) riser cage...
  • Page 30 Lift the riser cage from the chassis and place it towards the front-side of the computer. riser cage chassis Remove the screw that secures the hard-drive assembly to the chassis. Slide the hard-drive assembly toward the inside of the computer to disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the hard drive.
  • Page 31 Lift the hard-drive assembly off the chassis. hard-drive assembly screw chassis Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard-drive assembly.
  • Page 32 Slide the hard drive out of the hard-drive bracket. hard drive hard-drive bracket screws (2)

  • Page 33: Replacing The Hard Drive

    Replacing the hard drive 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 After working inside your computer.

  • Page 34: Removing The Graphics Card

    Removing the graphics 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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 35 Release the riser cage from the tabs on the chassis. screw chassis riser cage Press the tab and disconnect the graphics-card power cables from the graphics-card assembly.
  • Page 36 Lift the riser cage from the chassis and remove the graphics-card power cables from the routing guide on the riser cage. graphics-card power cables routing guide riser cage graphics card...
  • Page 37 Open and release the card-retention bracket from the riser cage. card-retention bracket graphics card riser cage Turn around the riser cage and locate the PCI express latch.
  • Page 38 Press down the PCI x16 express card latch and lift the graphics-card assembly off the riser cage. card-retention bracket graphics-card assembly riser cage PCI express latch...

  • Page 39: Replacing The Graphics Card

    Replacing the graphics 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 After working inside your computer.

  • Page 40: Removing The Solid-State Drive

    Removing the solid-state drive 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 After working inside your computer.
  • Page 41 Lift the riser cage from the chassis and place it on the side of the computer as shown. screw riser cage chassis Remove the screw that secures the SSD card to the riser card.
  • Page 42 Slide the SSD card out of the SSD-card slot. SSD-card slot SSD card screw riser card riser cage...

  • Page 43: Replacing The Solid-State Drive

    Replacing the solid-state drive 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 After working inside your computer.

  • Page 44: Post-Requisites

    Replace the screw that secures the SSD card to the riser card. SSD-card slot SSD card screw riser card riser cage Align and press down the riser cage until the riser card slides into the riser- card slot on the chassis. Replace the screws that secure the riser cage to the chassis.

  • Page 45: Bios Setup Program

    BIOS setup program Overview CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings in the BIOS setup program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly. NOTE: Before you change BIOS setup program, it is recommended that you write down the BIOS setup program screen information for future reference.

  • Page 46: Bios Information

    Main System Date Displays the current date in mm/dd/ yyyy format. System Time Displays the current time in hh:mm:ss format. BIOS Information BIOS Version Displays the BIOS version number. BIOS Build Date Displays the BIOS release date. Product Information Product Name Displays the product name of your computer.

  • Page 47: Advanced Bios Features

    Main CPU Speed Displays the speed of the processor. Cache L2 Displays the processor L2 cache size. Cache L3 Displays the processor L3 cache size. Device Information SATA ODD Displays the if the drive is present. Fixed HDD Displays the if the drive is present. Second HDD Displays the if the drive is present.

  • Page 48: Integrated Devices

    Advanced Intel(R) Software Guard Allows you to enable or disable Intel(R) Extensions Software Guard Extensions. Allocated memory size Allows you to allocate memory size for Intel(R) Software Guard Extensions. Integrated Devices Front USB Port Allows you to enable or disable the front USB ports.

  • Page 49: Boot Configuration

    Advanced Wake Up by Integrated LAN Allows the computer to be powered on by special LAN signals. NOTE: This option is available only when Deep Sleep Control is disabled. USB Wake Support Allows you to enable or disable the USB Wake Support.
  • Page 50 Boot 5th Boot Displays the fifth boot device. Default: Onboard NIC Device. OverClocking support for CPU and Memory NOTE: This option is available only for Intel K SKU processors. Memory Frequency Allows you to change Memory Frequency for OverClocking. Memory Voltage Allows you to change Memory Voltage for OverClocking.

  • Page 51: Boot Sequence

    • Current Boot Sequence — change the boot sequence for the current boot, for example, to boot from the optical drive to run Alienware Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities disc or to reinstall your operating system using an external media. The previous boot sequence is restored at the next boot.

  • Page 52: Changing Boot Sequence For Future Boots

    Floppy — The computer attempts to boot from the floppy disk drive. If no operating system is on the drive, the computer generates an error message. Hard Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive. If no operating system is on the drive, the computer generates an error message.

  • Page 53: Flashing The Bios

    Flashing the BIOS NOTE: It is recommended that you connect a keyboard and mouse to flash the BIOS. You may need to flash (update) the BIOS when an update is available or when you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS: Turn on the computer.

  • Page 54: Getting Help And Contacting Alienware

    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: www.alienware.com Information about Alienware products and services Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 Dell Help & Support app...

  • Page 55: Contacting Alienware

    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 find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.

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