Dell Alienware Aurora Owners Manual

							  
ALIENWARE® DESKTOP MANUAL 
						

							  
The contents herein are subject to change without notice. 
© 2010 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, AlienFX, and the AlienHead logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Alienware Corporation; Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc; Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows start logo are either trademarks or  registered  trademarks  of  Microsoft  Corporation  in  the  United  States  and/or  other  countries;  Intel is  a  registered  trademark  and Core and Speedstep  are trademarks 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  registered  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 to refer to 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.
Regulatory Model: D0IM   Regulatory Type: D0IM001 and D0IM002
P/N JYTRG Rev. A00    February 2010
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.  
						

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 CONTENTS
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP ...................................7
Before Setting Up Your Desktop   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Connect the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Connect the Keyboard and Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Connect the Power Cable  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Press the Power Button  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Set Up Microsoft Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Connect to the Internet (Optional)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DESKTOP ...........................15
Front View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Back View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Top View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR DESKTOP .......................................23
Alienware Command Center  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Working With RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Optimizing Performance   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Configuring the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
CHAPTER 5: INSTALLING ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS ....35
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Removing and Replacing the Side Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Inside View of Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Removing and Replacing Memory Module(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Removing and Replacing Hard Drive(s)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .42
Removing and Replacing Expansion Card(s)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
CHAPTER 6: TROUBLESHOOTING .........................................47
Basic Hints and Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Backup and General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Software Diagnostic Tools  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
CHAPTER 7: SYSTEM RECOVERY ..........................................57
Dell DataSafe Local Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
CHAPTER 8: SPECIFICATIONS .............................................59
APPENDIX A: GENERAL AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS............64
APPENDIX B: CONTACTING ALIENWARE ...................................66
APPENDIX C: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ..................................67
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 Graphics Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 
						

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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.
The  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.  The  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. The entire staff 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 Staff 
						

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							7CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP 
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP 
						

							8CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP 
Product Documentation and Media
The  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  finding answers  and  solutions.  The  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 staff 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. • 
The power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the desktop • and a wall – or any other object.
Nothing obstructs airflow in front of, behind, or below the desktop.• 
The desktop has enough room so that optical drives and other external • storage drives can be easily accessed. 
Before Setting Up Your Desktop 
Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware® Aurora!
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. 
Before setting up your desktop or components, 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  first  5  days  of  receiving  a  shipment  will  not  be  honored.  Some  of  the  most common items to check for include:
Computer• 
Microsoft• ® CD-key located at the back of the desktop
Keyboard (if ordered)• 
Mouse (if ordered)• 
Multimedia speakers and sub-woofer (if ordered)• 
Joystick controllers (if ordered)• 
You  may  also  need  a  small  flathead  and/or  a  Phillips  head  screwdriver  for connecting peripheral cables to the desktop. 
						

							9CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP 
Connection TypeComputerCableDisplay
DVI-to-DVI  (DVI cable)
HDMI-to-HDMI (HDMI cable)
HDMI-to-DVI  (HDMI-to-DVI adapter + DVI cable)
Connect the Display
Connect  the  display  using  the  connector  available  on  the  graphics  card  on  your computer.
NOTE: A DVI or HDMI 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 at www.dell.com.
Use  the  appropriate  cable  based  on  the  connectors  available  on  your  computer and display. See the following table to identify the connectors on your computer and display. 
						

							10CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR DESKTOP 
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) Connect the Keyboard and Mouse