Dell Alienware Alpha (Late 2014) User Manual

Alienware AlphaService ManualComputer Model: Alienware AlphaRegulatory Model: D07URegulatory Type: D07U001

CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card reader.Recommended ToolsThe procedures in this document may require the following tool

After Working Inside Your ComputerCAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may severely damage your computer.1 Replace all screws

Technical OverviewWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Be

System-Board Components1 processor socket 2 processor-fan cable connector (CPU_FAN)3 clear password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD)4 power-button connector (A

Removing the Base CoverWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps

3 Using a plastic scribe, pry the base cover off the top cover.1 plastic scribe 2 base cover15

Replacing the Base CoverWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps

Removing the Top CoverWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps i

2 Lift the top cover off the chassis.1 top cover18

Replacing the Top CoverWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps

Notes, Cautions, and WarningsNOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates

Removing the Hard DriveWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps

3 Lift the hard-drive assembly off the chassis.1 screw 2 hard-drive assembly4 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive

5 Lift the hard drive off the hard-drive bracket.1 hard-drive bracket 2 hard drive3 screws (4)22

Replacing the Hard DriveWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps

Removing the Bottom USB PortWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the s

2 Push down the USB-port cable through the cable-routing hole on the chassis.1 USB-port cable 2 routing hole3 Turn the computer over.4 Remove the U

7 Lift the USB-port bracket off the chassis.1 screw 2 USB-port bracket3 chassis 4 USB-port cable5 routing guides8 Remove the screw that secures the

9 Slide and remove the USB port, along with the cable, from under the tab on the chassis.1 screw 2 tab3 USB port 4 chassis5 USB-port cable27

Replacing the Bottom USB PortWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the

Removing the Power-Button BoardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow th

ContentsBefore Working Inside Your Computer...8Before You Begin ...

5 Remove the power-button module along with its cable through the slot on the front panel.1 tabs (2) 2 routing guides3 tabs (2) 4 power-button module

6 Push the tab that secures the power-button board to the power-button board bracket.1 tab 2 power-button board cable3 power-button board 4 bracket7

8 Remove the power-button board along with its cable off the power-button board bracket.1 power-button board cable 2 power-button board3 bracket32

Replacing the Power-Button BoardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow t

Removing the Processor FanWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the ste

2 Disconnect the processor-fan cable from the system board.1 processor fan 2 processor-fan cable35

Replacing the Processor FanWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the st

Removing the Processor Heat-SinkWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow t

2 Lift the processor heat sink off system board.1 processor heat sink 2 captive screws (4)38

Replacing the Processor Heat-SinkWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow

Replacing the Hard Drive... 23Procedure...

Removing the Video-Card FanWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the st

2 Press the tabs and lift the video-card fan off the system board.1 video-card fan 2 tabs (2)3 video-card fan cable41

Replacing the Video-Card FanWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the s

Removing the Video-Card Heat SinkWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow

ProcedureNOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original video card and heat sink are reinstalled together. If either the video card o

Replacing the Video-Card Heat SinkWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow

Removing the Memory Module(s)WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the

2 Slide and remove the memory module from the memory-module slot.1 memory-module slot 2 memory module3 securing clips (2)47

Replacing the Memory Module(s)WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the

2 Slide 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,

Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink...39Procedure...

Removing the ProcessorWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps i

3 Lift the processor off the processor socket.1 release lever 2 tab3 processor cover 4 processor socket5 processor51

Replacing the ProcessorWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps

5 Pivot the release lever down and place it under the tab on the processor cover.1 processor socket 2 processor3 tab 4 processor cover5 release lever

Removing the Front-Panel Light BoardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and foll

2 Slide the front-panel light board cable through the routing-hole on the chassis.1 front-panel light board cable 2 routing hole55

3 Press the front-panel light module tabs to release the module from the front panel.1 front-panel light module 2 tabs3 front panel4 Lift the front-

Replacing the Front-Panel Light BoardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and fol

Removing the Wireless CardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the ste

4 Slide and remove the wireless card out of the wireless-card slot.1 protective cover 2 screw3 antenna cables (2) 4 wireless card59

Replacing the Processor... 52Procedure...

Replacing the Wireless CardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the st

Removing the Antenna ModulesWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the s

Procedure1 Slide the antenna cables through the cable-routing hole on the chassis.1 antenna cables (2) 2 routing hole2 Turn the computer over.3 Rem

5 Using a plastic scribe, pry and slide the antenna modules, and release the tabs on the antenna modules from the slots on the chassis.1 routing guid

Replacing the Antenna ModulesWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the

Removing the System BoardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the step

Procedure1 Disconnect the USB-port cable, front-panel light board cable, and power-button board cable from the system board.For information on the lo

3 Push the tab at the bottom of the back panel and remove the back panel from the chassis.1 screws (2) 2 back panel3 tab4 Remove the screws that sec

5 Lift the system board at an angle and remove it from the chassis.1 system board 2 screws (4)68

Replacing the System BoardWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the ste

Replacing the System Board...69Procedure...

5 Replace the processor.6 Replace the processor heat sink.7 Replace the processor fan.8 Replace the hard drive.9 Replace the top cover.10 Replac

Removing the Coin-Cell BatteryWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the

3 Peel off the coin-cell battery from the system board.1 coin-cell battery 2 coin-cell battery cable3 system board72

Replacing the Coin-Cell BatteryWARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow th

System SetupOverview CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings in the system setup program. Certain changes can make

MainBIOS Revision Displays the BIOS version number.BIOS Build Date Displays the BIOS release date.System Name Displays the system name.System Time Dis

MainSATA 1 Displays the device connected to SATA Port1.Device Type Displays the type of the connected device.Device ID Displays the identification cod

AdvancedRear USB Ports Allows you to enable or disable the rear USB ports.Onboard Device ConfigurationOnboard Audio Controller Allows you to enable or

BootBoot Option #4 Displays the fourth boot device. Default: USB Floppy Device.Boot Option #5 Displays the fifth boot device. Default: Onboard NIC Dev

SecuritySupervisor Password Displays whether the supervisor password is set.User Password Displays whether the user password is set.Set Supervisor Pas

Before Working Inside Your ComputerCAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contact

ExitSave Changes and Reset Allows you to exit system setup and save your changes.Discard Changes and Reset Allows you to exit system setup and load pr

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.Har

Prerequisites1 Remove the base cover.2 Remove the top cover.3 Remove the processor fan.Procedure1 Locate the password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) on t

2 Remove the jumper plug.1 jumper plug 2 password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD)3 Replace the processor fan.4 Replace the top cover.5 Replace the base co

11 Replace the jumper plug on the password jumper.1 jumper plug 2 password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD)Post-requisites1 Replace the processor fan.2 Repl

2 Remove the jumper plug from the password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) and place it on the CMOS jumper (RTCRST).1 jumper plug 2 CMOS jumper (RTCRST)3 pas

7 Turn on your computer.A message is displayed to confirm that the CMOS settings are reset and default BIOS setup has been loaded.8 Press F1 to cont

Flashing the BIOSNOTE: It is recommended that you connect a keyboard and mouse to flash the BIOS.You may need to flash (update) the BIOS when an updat

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Reg