Alienware is a well-known brand in the gaming laptop market, and with each new CPU or GPU update, the company outfits its laptops accordingly. Today, we're taking apart the Alienware 15 R3, which features the new Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 with 8GB GDDR5, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD and an FHD display.
For the freshest produce, find us on Facebook for the latest teardown news.
1. Removing the bottom cover
- Alienware 15 R3 Setup and Specifications. Slots Two SODIMM slots Type DDR4 Speed 2133 MHz, 2400 MHz, and 2667 MHz. Solid-state drive (SSD).
- Memory Upgrade for Alienware 15 R3 Laptop, Upgrade 15 R3 Memory with 100% compatible 15 R3 Alienware Laptop Memory RAM modules from memorystock.com.
Alienware 15 did put a lot of efforts on heat radiation. It's using an all-metal body to ensure excellent heat dissipation. The backplane also distributed a lot of air vent.
Remove all screws securing the bottom cover to the laptop.
Calling All Area-51m Owners - It would appear that Alienware - AKA Dell - Is sticking to a hard line regarding the capacity Limitations of both the M.2 Slots and the 2.5inch Slot for SSD/HDD support - That capacity limitations can be seen in the attached snip (below) Specification Manual. Crucial Memory and SSD upgrades - 100% Compatibility Guaranteed for alienware alienware-desktops - FREE US Delivery.
Hi, my so wishes to swap out his mechanical 2.5' drive in his Alienware 15R3 for a SSD drive and we figured that installing a M.2 SSD and swapping boot drives first was the way to go. There is a lot written about problems with the Samsung EVO range so we don't wish to encounter problems.
Pry up the bottom cover with a crowbar. Be careful, do not remove the light bar.
Under the bottom cover, you can get access to the RAM, SSD and hard drive. We also find two spare M.2 2242 SSD slots on the left of the laptop.
Before touching any hardware, the good idea is to disconnect the battery connector from the motherboard.
2. Removing the RAM
Separate the clips and the RAM will pop up.
The Alienware 15 R3 comes with two Samsung 8GB DDR4 2667MHz RAMs. The model is M471AK43BB1-CTD.
3. Removing the M.2 SSD
Remove one screw and take the SSD out of its slot.
Toshiba 256GB NVMe SSD, Dell P/N: 08D5HT.
4. Removing the hard drive
Remove three screws and disconnect the SATA cable from the motherboard. You can remove the hard drive module.
The laptop comes with an HGST 1TB 7200RPM hard drive, Dell P/N: 0J30643.
5. Removing the wireless Wi-Fi card
Remove one screw securing the wireless card.
Disconnect two antenna cables. You can remove the wireless card.
Killer 1535 802.11ac 2×2 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1
6. SSD upgrade option
Here're two 2242 M.2 slots, which you can add extra M.2 SSD.
7. Removing the back baffle
Remove the screw securing the back baffle.
To remove the back baffle, you need to release four buckles close to the cooling fan module.
8. Removing the middle frame
Remove all screws securing the middle frame.
Pry up it with a pick and remove it.
7. Removing the battery
Alienware 15 R3 Ssd Slots
Remove all screws securing the battery and take it out of its bay.
Alienware 15r3 Ssd Slots For Sale
The Alienware 15 R3 comes with an 11.4V, 99Wh Li-ion battery, Dell P/N: 9NJM1.
Under the battery, you can get access to the touchpad.
9. Removing the motherboard
Remove all screws securing the motherboard and disconnect all cables connected to the motherboard.
You can remove the motherboard from the chassis.
- Alienware 15 R3 Setup and Specifications. Slots Two SODIMM slots Type DDR4 Speed 2133 MHz, 2400 MHz, and 2667 MHz. Solid-state drive (SSD).
- Memory Upgrade for Alienware 15 R3 Laptop, Upgrade 15 R3 Memory with 100% compatible 15 R3 Alienware Laptop Memory RAM modules from memorystock.com.
Alienware 15 did put a lot of efforts on heat radiation. It's using an all-metal body to ensure excellent heat dissipation. The backplane also distributed a lot of air vent.
Remove all screws securing the bottom cover to the laptop.
Calling All Area-51m Owners - It would appear that Alienware - AKA Dell - Is sticking to a hard line regarding the capacity Limitations of both the M.2 Slots and the 2.5inch Slot for SSD/HDD support - That capacity limitations can be seen in the attached snip (below) Specification Manual. Crucial Memory and SSD upgrades - 100% Compatibility Guaranteed for alienware alienware-desktops - FREE US Delivery.
Hi, my so wishes to swap out his mechanical 2.5' drive in his Alienware 15R3 for a SSD drive and we figured that installing a M.2 SSD and swapping boot drives first was the way to go. There is a lot written about problems with the Samsung EVO range so we don't wish to encounter problems.
Pry up the bottom cover with a crowbar. Be careful, do not remove the light bar.
Under the bottom cover, you can get access to the RAM, SSD and hard drive. We also find two spare M.2 2242 SSD slots on the left of the laptop.
Before touching any hardware, the good idea is to disconnect the battery connector from the motherboard.
2. Removing the RAM
Separate the clips and the RAM will pop up.
The Alienware 15 R3 comes with two Samsung 8GB DDR4 2667MHz RAMs. The model is M471AK43BB1-CTD.
3. Removing the M.2 SSD
Remove one screw and take the SSD out of its slot.
Toshiba 256GB NVMe SSD, Dell P/N: 08D5HT.
4. Removing the hard drive
Remove three screws and disconnect the SATA cable from the motherboard. You can remove the hard drive module.
The laptop comes with an HGST 1TB 7200RPM hard drive, Dell P/N: 0J30643.
5. Removing the wireless Wi-Fi card
Remove one screw securing the wireless card.
Disconnect two antenna cables. You can remove the wireless card.
Killer 1535 802.11ac 2×2 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1
6. SSD upgrade option
Here're two 2242 M.2 slots, which you can add extra M.2 SSD.
7. Removing the back baffle
Remove the screw securing the back baffle.
To remove the back baffle, you need to release four buckles close to the cooling fan module.
8. Removing the middle frame
Remove all screws securing the middle frame.
Pry up it with a pick and remove it.
7. Removing the battery
Alienware 15 R3 Ssd Slots
Remove all screws securing the battery and take it out of its bay.
Alienware 15r3 Ssd Slots For Sale
The Alienware 15 R3 comes with an 11.4V, 99Wh Li-ion battery, Dell P/N: 9NJM1.
Under the battery, you can get access to the touchpad.
9. Removing the motherboard
Remove all screws securing the motherboard and disconnect all cables connected to the motherboard.
You can remove the motherboard from the chassis.
10. Removing the heat sink and cooling fan module
The cooling fan comes from Taiwan SUNON.
Red: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card with 8G GDDR5 video memory
Yellow: Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ (Quad-Core, 6MB Cache, up to 3.5GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
Green: South Bridge
The back of the motherboard
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card and Micron 8GB GDDR5 video memory, the model of video memory is 6GA47 D91CB.
Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ (Quad-Core, 6MB Cache, up to 3.5GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
South Bridge
ENE KB90220 IO chip
Source: pconline
I noticed it says 'GPU 2 on my motherboard and it's empty. Does this mean I can install another mobile 1070 GPU? Thanks.
