Alienware x15 R2 Service Manual

Removing the system board

About this task

NOTE:When installing this component, please refer to the techsheet bundled with the service kit. This is only applicable for computers with the following Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) configurations that have Element 31 grease is applied to the CPU.

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti

The following image indicates the connectors on your system board.

1. Display cable
2. Alien head LED cable
3. Camera cable
4. Power-button cable
5. I/O-board cable
6. Headset port cable
7. Speaker cable
8. Keyboard-controller board cable
9. Power-adapter port cable

The following image(s) indicate the location of the system board and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure.

1. Peel the headset port cable from the fan and heat-sink assembly.
2. Disconnect the camera cable from the system board and peel the tape that secures the camera cable to the system board.
3. Disconnect the Alien head LED cable from the system board and peel the cable from the system board.
4. Open the latch and disconnect the power-button cable from the system board.
5. Peel the tape that secures the I/O-board cable to the system board.
6. Open the latch and disconnect the I/O-board cable from the system board and remove it from the routing guides on the fan and heat-sink assembly.
7. Disconnect the headset-port cable from the system board and remove it from the routing guides on the fan and heat-sink assembly.
8. Disconnect the speaker cable from the system board.
9. Open the latch and disconnect the keyboard-controller board cable from the system board.
10. Disconnect the power-adapter port cable from the system board.
11. Remove the power-adapter port cable from the palm-rest and keyboard assembly and peel the power-adapter port cable off the fan and heat-sink assembly.
12. Peel the tape that secures the display cable to the system board.
13. Open the latch and disconnect the display cable from the system board and peel the display cable off the system board.
14. Remove the five screws (M2x4) that secure the system-board assembly to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
15. Grab the system-board assembly from the top left and right sides of the heat sink and lift the system-board assembly off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
16. Place the system-board assembly on a clean and flat surface.
17. Turn the system-board assembly over.
18. Remove the fan and heat-sink assembly.
19. Turn the system-board assembly over.
20. After performing all the above steps, you are left with the system board.
    NOTE:Before returning the faulty system board. Adhere the processor (CPU) sticker over the processor (CPU) chip and ensure that it covers the entire surface of it.

    NOTE:When replacing the system board for computers with a M.2 2230 solid-state drive installed, ensure that the M.2 2230 solid-state drive mounting bracket has been removed from the system board and installed on the new system board.
    

    CAUTION:Once the system board assembly has been removed from the computer, follow the instructions in the tech sheet dispatched with the replacement system board assembly.

    CAUTION:Do not use an alcohol wipe to clean the Element 31 thermal grease from the processor (CPU) chip which is surrounded by the processor (CPU) barrier sheet. The alcohol solution from the wipes will dissolve the Element 31 grease into conductive metal particles. If these conductive metal particles come into contact with the surface of the system board, it will cause the an electrical short when your computer is powered on.