Alienware Alpha Service Manual Computer Model: Alienware Alpha Regulatory Model: D07U Regulatory Type: D07U001
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. Copyright © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and intellectual property laws.
Contents Before Working Inside Your Computer........................ 8 Before You Begin ................................................................................................ 8 Safety Instructions..............................................................................................8 Recommended Tools.........................................................................................10 After Working Inside Your Computer...........................11 Technical Overview..................
Replacing the Hard Drive................................................. 23 Procedure.......................................................................................................... 23 Post-requisites..................................................................................................23 Removing the Bottom USB Port................................... 24 Prerequisites.....................................................................................................24 Procedure......
Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink............................ 39 Procedure..........................................................................................................39 Post-requisites..................................................................................................39 Removing the Video-Card Fan.......................................40 Prerequisites.....................................................................................................40 Procedure.................
Replacing the Processor.................................................. 52 Procedure.......................................................................................................... 52 Post-requisites..................................................................................................53 Removing the Front-Panel Light Board.................... 54 Prerequisites.....................................................................................................54 Procedure.............
Replacing the System Board..........................................69 Procedure..........................................................................................................69 Post-requisites..................................................................................................69 Removing the Coin-Cell Battery..................................... 71 Prerequisites...................................................................................................... 71 Procedure.......
Before Working Inside Your Computer CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts. 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 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon Shut down. – Console Mode: On the Home screen, click Power → SHUT DOWN.
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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. 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, make sure that the work surface is flat and clean.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the mediacard reader.
After Working Inside Your Computer CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may severely damage your computer. 1 Replace all screws and make sure that no stray screws remain inside your computer. 2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, and cables you removed before working on your computer. 3 Replace any media cards, discs, and any other part(s) that you removed before working on your computer. 4 Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
System-Board Components 1 processor socket 2 processor-fan cable connector (CPU_FAN) 3 clear password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) 4 power-button connector (ALIEN_HEAD) 5 memory-module slot (DIMM2) 6 memory-module slot (DIMM1) 7 video-card fan cable connector (GPU_FAN) 8 front-panel light board cable connector (LOGO) 9 USB-port cable connector (INT_USB2) 10 wireless-card slot 11 clear CMOS jumper (RTCRST) 12 video card 13
Removing the Base Cover 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Turn the computer over. 2 Remove the screws that secure the base cover to the top cover.
3 Using a plastic scribe, pry the base cover off the top cover.
Replacing the Base Cover 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Top Cover 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites Remove the base cover.
2 Lift the top cover off the chassis.
Replacing the Top Cover 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
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 in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard drive.
3 Lift the hard-drive assembly off the chassis. 1 4 screw 2 hard-drive assembly Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.
5 22 Lift the hard drive off the hard-drive bracket.
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 in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard drive.
Removing the Bottom USB Port 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover.
2 Push down the USB-port cable through the cable-routing hole on the chassis. 1 USB-port cable 2 routing hole 3 Turn the computer over. 4 Remove the USB-port cable from the routing guides on the chassis. 5 Remove the screw that secures the USB-port bracket to the chassis. 6 Lift the USB-port bracket at an angle to release the tabs on the USB-port bracket from the slots on the chassis.
7 8 26 Lift the USB-port bracket off the chassis. 1 screw 2 USB-port bracket 3 chassis 4 USB-port cable 5 routing guides Remove the screw that secures the USB port to the chassis.
9 Slide and remove the USB port, along with the cable, from under the tab on the chassis.
Replacing the Bottom USB Port 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Slide the USB port under the tab on the chassis.
Removing the Power-Button Board 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover.
5 30 Remove the power-button module along with its cable through the slot on the front panel.
6 7 Push the tab that secures the power-button board to the power-button board bracket. 1 tab 2 power-button board cable 3 power-button board 4 bracket Lift and slide the power-button board to release it from the power-button board bracket.
8 32 Remove the power-button board along with its cable off the power-button board bracket.
Replacing the Power-Button Board 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Processor Fan 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover.
2 Disconnect the processor-fan cable from the system board.
Replacing the Processor Fan 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Connect the processor-fan cable to the system board.
Removing the Processor Heat-Sink 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink.
2 Lift the processor heat sink off system board.
Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink.
Removing the Video-Card Fan 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover.
2 Press the tabs and lift the video-card fan off the system board.
Replacing the Video-Card Fan 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align and snap the video-card fan over the video-card heat sink.
Removing the Video-Card Heat Sink 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink.
Procedure NOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original video card and heat sink are reinstalled together. If either the video card or the heat sink is replaced, use the thermal grease provided in the kit to make sure that thermal conductivity is achieved. 1 In sequential order (indicated on the heat sink), loosen the captive screws that secure the video-card heat sink to the system board.
Replacing the Video-Card Heat Sink 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the heat sink.
Removing the Memory Module(s) 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover. 3 Remove the processor fan.
2 Slide and remove the memory module from the memory-module slot.
Replacing the Memory Module(s) 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 48 Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memorymodule slot.
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, remove the memory module and reinstall it. 1 memory module 2 notch 3 tab 4 memory-module slot Post-requisites 1 Replace the processor fan. 2 Replace the top cover. 3 Replace the base cover.
Removing the Processor 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover. 3 Remove the processor fan.
3 Lift the processor off the processor socket.
Replacing the Processor 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
5 Pivot the release lever down and place it under the tab on the processor cover. 1 processor socket 2 processor 3 tab 4 processor cover 5 release lever Post-requisites 1 Replace the processor heat sink. 2 Replace the processor fan. 3 Replace the top cover. 4 Replace the base cover.
Removing the Front-Panel Light Board 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover. 3 Remove the video-card fan.
2 Slide the front-panel light board cable through the routing-hole on the chassis.
3 4 56 Press the front-panel light module tabs to release the module from the front panel. 1 front-panel light module 3 front panel 2 tabs Lift the front-panel light module, along with its cable, off the front panel.
Replacing the Front-Panel Light Board 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover. 3 Remove the video-card fan.
4 Slide and remove the wireless card out of the wireless-card slot.
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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure CAUTION: To avoid damage to the wireless card, do not place any cables under it.
Removing the Antenna Modules 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover. 3 Remove the video-card fan.
Procedure 1 Slide the antenna cables through the cable-routing hole on the chassis. 1 antenna cables (2) 2 routing hole 2 Turn the computer over. 3 Remove the antenna cable from the routing guides on the power-button module and chassis. 4 Remove the screws that secure the antenna modules to the chassis.
5 6 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 guides 2 screws (2) 3 antenna modules (2) 4 antenna cable Lift the antenna modules, along with the cable, off the chassis.
Replacing the Antenna Modules 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align and slide the tabs on the antenna modules in the slots on the chassis.
Removing the System Board 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board.
Procedure 1 Disconnect the USB-port cable, front-panel light board cable, and powerbutton board cable from the system board. For information on the location of connectors, see “System- Board Components”. 2 66 1 power-button board cable 3 USB-port cable 2 front-panel light board cable Remove the screws that secure the back panel to the chassis.
3 4 Push the tab at the bottom of the back panel and remove the back panel from the chassis. 1 screws (2) 3 tab 2 back panel Remove the screws that secure the system board to the chassis.
5 Lift the system board at an angle and remove it from the chassis.
Replacing the System Board 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board.
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 Replace the base cover.
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Removing the coin-cell battery resets the BIOS settings to default.
3 72 Peel off the coin-cell battery from the system board.
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery 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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Adhere the coin-cell battery to the system board.
System Setup Overview CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings in the system setup program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly. NOTE: Before you change system setup, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference. Use system setup to: • Get information about the hardware installed in your computer, such as the amount of RAM, the size of the hard drive, and so on.
Main BIOS Revision Displays the BIOS version number. BIOS Build Date Displays the BIOS release date. System Name Displays the system name. System Time Displays the current time in hh:mm:ss format. System Date Displays the current date in mm/dd/yyy format. Service Tag Displays the service tag of your computer. Service Tag Input Allows you to enter the service tag of your computer. Asset Tag Displays the asset tag of your computer.
Main SATA 1 Displays the device connected to SATA Port1. Device Type Displays the type of the connected device. Device ID Displays the identification code of the device. Device Size Displays the size of the device. Advanced Processor Configuration Intel Hyper-Threading Technology Allows you to enable or disable the HyperThreading in the processor. Intel(R) SpeedStep Technology Allows you to enable or disable Intel (R) SpeedStep Technology.
Advanced Rear USB Ports Allows you to enable or disable the rear USB ports. Onboard Device Configuration Onboard Audio Controller Allows you to enable or disable the onboard audio controller. SATA Mode Displays the SATA mode on your computer. Onboard LAN Controller Allows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN controller. Onboard LAN Boot ROM Allows you to boot your computer from a network. Boot Numlock Key Allows you to set the status of the Num Lock key during boot to On or Off.
Boot Boot Option #4 Displays the fourth boot device. Default: USB Floppy Device. Boot Option #5 Displays the fifth boot device. Default: Onboard NIC Device. Hard Disk Drivers Displays the boot sequence of the hard drive. Power 78 Wake Up by Integrated LAN Allow the computer to be powered on by special LAN signals. Deep Sleep Control Allows you to define the controls when Deep Sleep is enabled. AC Recovery Sets what action the computer takes when power is restored.
Security Supervisor Password Displays whether the supervisor password is set. User Password Displays whether the user password is set. Set Supervisor Password Allows you to set, change, or delete the supervisor password. The supervisor password controls access to the system setup utility. NOTE: Deleting the supervisor password deletes the user password. Set the supervisor password before setting the user password. User Access Level Allows you to restrict or provide access to the system setup utility.
Exit Save 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 previous values for all system setup options. Load Defaults Allows you to load default values for all system setup options. Boot Sequence This feature allows you to change the sequence of devices that your computer attempts to boot from. If the computer cannot boot from the device you select, it attempts to boot from the next bootable device.
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. CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the optical drive. If no disc is in the drive, or if the disc is not bootable, the computer generates an error message.
Prerequisites 1 Remove the base cover. 2 Remove the top cover. 3 Remove the processor fan. Procedure 1 Locate the password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) on the system board. For information on the location of the CMOS jumper, see “System- Board Components”.
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 cover. 6 Turn on your computer and wait till the operating system is completely loaded. 7 Shut down your computer. 8 Remove the base cover. 9 Remove the top cover. 10 Remove the processor fan.
11 Replace the jumper plug on the password jumper. 1 jumper plug 2 password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) Post-requisites 1 Replace the processor fan. 2 Replace the top cover. 3 Replace the base cover. Clearing CMOS Settings 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.
2 Remove the jumper plug from the password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) and place it on the CMOS jumper (RTCRST). 1 jumper plug 3 password jumper (CLEAR_PASSWORD) 3 Replace the video-card fan. 4 Replace the processor fan. 5 Replace the top cover. 6 Replace the base cover.
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 continue and wait till the operating system is completely loaded. 9 Shut down your computer. 10 Remove the base cover. 11 Remove the top cover. 12 Remove the processor fan. 13 Remove the video-card fan. 14 Remove the jumper plug from the CMOS jumper and replace it on the password jumper. Post-requisites 1 Replace the video-card fan.
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: 1 Turn on the computer. 2 Go to dell.com/support. 3 If you have your computer's Service Tag, type your computer's Service Tag and click Submit. If you do not have your computer's Service Tag, click Detect My Product to allow automatic detection of the Service Tag.
