Dell Alienware X51 Owners Manual

							System Setup11
4
System Setup
Overview
Use the 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
• change the system configuration information
• set or change a user-selectable option, such as the user password, type of 
hard drive installed, enabling or disabling base devices, and so on
 NOTE: Before you change system setup, it is recommended that you note the 
system-setup screen information for future reference.
Entering System Setup
1Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2During POST, when the DELL logo is displayed, watch for the F2 prompt 
to appear and then press  immediately.
 NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt 
can appear very quickly, so you must watch for it, and then press . If you 
press  before the F2 prompt, this keystroke is lost. If you wait too long and 
the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the 
Microsoft Windows desktop. Then, turn off your computer and try again. 
See Turn Off Your Computer and Connected Devices on page 7.
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							12System Setup
System Setup Screens
The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration 
information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into 
three areas: the setup item, active help screen, and key functions.
System Setup Options 
 NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this 
section may appear, or may not appear exactly as listed. Setup Item — This field appears on 
the left side of the system setup 
window. The field is a scrollable list 
containing features that define the 
configuration of your computer, 
including installed hardware, power 
conservation, and security features.
Scroll up and down the list with the 
up- and down-arrow keys. As an option 
is highlighted, the Help Screen 
displays more information about that 
option and available settings.Help Screen — This field appears on the 
right side of the system setup window and 
contains information about each option 
listed in the Setup Item. In this field you 
can view information about your computer 
and make changes to your current settings.
Press the up-arrow and down-arrow keys to 
highlight an option. Press  to 
make that selection active and return to 
the Setup Item.
NOTE: Not all settings listed in the Setup 
Item are changeable.
Key Functions — This field appears below the Help Screen and lists keys and their 
functions within the active system setup field.
Main
BIOS Information
Product Information
Build DateDisplays the BIOS release date.
Product NameDisplays the product name.
BIOS VersionDisplays the BIOS version number.
Set Service TagAllows you to enter the service tag of your computer.
Asset TagDisplays the asset tag of the computer.
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							System Setup13
Memory Information
Total MemoryDisplays the total memory of the computer.
Memory AvailableDisplays the amount of memory available on the 
computer.
Memory TechnologyDisplays the type of memory technology used.
Memory SpeedDisplays the memory speed.
CPU Information
Processor IDDisplays the processor identification code.
CPU Speed Displays the processor speed.
Cache L2Displays the processor L2 cache size.
Cache L3Displays the processor L3 cache size.
Advanced — Standard CMOS Features
System Date 
(mm:dd:yy)Displays current date.
System Time 
(hh:mm:ss)Displays the current time.
Device Information
SATA Port1Displays the SATA 1 drive integrated in the 
computer.
SATA Port2Displays the SATA 2 drive integrated in the 
computer.
SATA Port3Displays the SATA 3 drive integrated in the 
computer.
Wait for ‘F1’ If 
ErrorsIf enabled, the system will HALT during boot to 
display system errors.
Advanced — Advanced BIOS 
Features 
Bootup Num-LockSelect power-on state for num-lock.
OptionROM Display 
ScreenAllows you to display or hide the RAID Option ROM 
screen during POST.
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							14System Setup
Advanced — CPU Configuration 
Hyper-threading 
TechnologyIf disabled only one thread per enabled core is active.
XD Bit CapabilityEnable XD Bit Capability to allow the processor to 
distinguish between the bits of code that can be 
executed and the ones that cannot be executed. 
Intel(R) SpeedStep 
techIf enabled, the processor clock speed and core 
voltage are adjusted dynamically based on the 
processor load.
Intel(R) C-State techAllows you to enable the number of cores in each 
processor package. Options 1-5.
Advanced — Integrated 
Devices
USB ControllerAllows you to enable or disable the integrated USB 
controller.
HD AudioAllows you to enable or disable the integrated audio 
controller.
Onboard LAN 
ControllerAllows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN 
controller.
Launch PXE OpROMAllows you to enable or disable the boot option for 
legacy network devices.
PCH SATA 
Configuration
SATA ModeDisplays the SATA mode.
Advanced — Power Management Setup
Suspend ModeSets the energy-saving mode of the ACPI function.
AC RecoverySets what action the computer takes when power is 
restored.
Auto Power OnAllows the computer to start up at a certain time.
Auto Power On DateAllows you to set RTC Wake Up Date.
Auto Power On HourAllows you to set RTC Wake Up Hour.
Auto Power On MinuteAllows you to set RTC Wake Up Minute.
Auto Power On SecondAllows you to set RTC Wake Up Second
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							System Setup15
Security
Supervisor Password:Allows you to change the supervisor password.
User Password:Allows you to change the user password. You cannot 
use the user password to enter the BIOS setup, 
during POST.
Set Supervisor 
PasswordAllows you to set a supervisor password.
Set User PasswordAllows you to set a supervisor password.
Boot
Set Boot Priority
1st Boot DeviceDisplays the first boot device. 
Default: USB floppy-drive.
2nd Boot DeviceDisplays the second boot device.
Default: USB hard-drive.
3rd Boot DeviceDisplays the third boot device.
Default: USB optical-drive.
4th Boot DeviceDisplays the fourth boot device.
Default: hard-drive.
5th Boot DeviceDisplays the fifth boot device.
Default: optical-drive.
6th Boot DeviceDisplays the sixth boot device.
Default: network boot.
7th Boot DeviceDisplays the seventh boot device.
Default: UEFI.
Hard Disk Drive BBS 
PrioritiesSets the hard drive boot priority. The items displayed 
are dynamically updated according to the hard drives 
detected.
USB Disk BBS Drive 
PrioritiesSets the USB drive boot priority.
CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS 
PrioritiesSets the CD/DVD drive boot priority.
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							16System Setup
Boot Sequence
This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices.
Boot Options
•Diskette Drive — 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.
•
USB Storage Device — Insert the memory device into a USB connector 
and restart the computer. When 
F12 Boot Options appears in the 
lower-right corner of the screen, press . The BIOS detects the 
device and adds the USB flash option to the boot menu.
 NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To ensure that 
your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
•Network — The computer attempts to boot from the network. If no 
operating system is found on the network, the computer generates an 
error message.
Exit
Provides options to 
Save Changes and Reset, Discard Changes 
and Reset
, and Restore Defaults.
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							System Setup17
Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot
You can use this feature to change the current boot sequence, for example, 
to boot from the optical drive to run Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and 
Utilities disc. The previous boot sequence is restored at the next boot.
1
If you are booting from a USB device, connect the USB device to a 
USB connector.
2Turn on (or restart) your computer.
3When F2 Setup, F12 Boot Options appears in the lower-right 
corner of the screen, press .
 NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait 
until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and 
try again.
The Boot Device Menu appears, listing all available boot devices. 
4On the Boot Device Menu choose the device you want to boot from.
For example, if you are booting to a USB memory key, highlight 
USB 
Storage Device
 and press .
Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots
1Enter system setup. See Entering System Setup on page 11.
2Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot menu option and press  
to access the menu.
 NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it.
3Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.
4Press plus (+) or minus (–) to change the boot priority of the device.
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							18System Setup
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							Flashing the BIOS19
5
Flashing the BIOS
The BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing 
the system board. To flash the BIOS:
1
Turn on the computer. 
2Go to support.dell.com/support/downloads.
3Locate the BIOS update file for your computer:
 NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located on a label at the back of 
your computer.
If you have your computer’s Service Tag:
aClick Enter a Tag.
bEnter your computer’s Service Tag in the Enter a service tag: field, 
click 
Go, and proceed to step 4.
If you do not have your computer’s Service Tag:
aClick Select Model.
bSelect the type of product in the Select Your Product Family list.
cSelect the product brand in the Select Your Product Line list.
dSelect the product model number in the Select Your Product Model list.
 NOTE: If you have selected a different model and want to start over again, 
click Start Over on the top right of the menu.
e
Click Confirm.
4A list of results appears on the screen. Click BIOS.
5Click Download Now to download the latest BIOS file. 
The
 File Download window appears.
6Click Save to save the file on your desktop. The file downloads to your 
desktop.
7Click Close if the Download Complete window appears. 
The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the 
downloaded BIOS update file.
8Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on 
the screen.
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							20Flashing the BIOS
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