Contents
This step-by-step guide will teach you how to open your Alienware Aurora R7 so that you can upgrade your RAM, CPU, or GPU.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
If you have an Alienware Aurora R7, you may be wondering how to open it up so that you can upgrade the components. This guide will show you how to do that.
First, locate the release button on the back of the Aurora R7. It is located just above the power supply unit (PSU). Press and hold this button down for 2-3 seconds.
Next, locate the two screws that are holding the side panel in place. These screws are located at the top of the case, near the front. Remove these screws and then set them aside.
Now, grab hold of the side panel and gently pull it away from the rest of the case. Be careful not to damage any of the cables that are attached to the side panel. Once you have removed the side panel, you will be able to see all of the components inside your Aurora R7.
What You Need
In order to open your Alienware Aurora R7, you will need the following:
-A Phillips head screwdriver
-A flat head screwdriver
-A small putty knife or other thin, flat tool
First, locate the four screws on the back of the monitor that secure the stand to the monitor. Remove these screws with your Phillips head screwdriver. Set them aside in a safe place.
Next, locate the four screws on the back of the monitor that secure the back panel to the monitor. Remove these screws with your Phillips head screwdriver. Set them aside in a safe place.
Now, gently pry off the back panel of the monitor with your putty knife or other thin, flat tool. Be careful not to damage the panel as you remove it. Once the back panel is removed, you will have access to all of the internals of your Alienware Aurora R7.
How to Open the Chassis
If you’re looking to do some internal upgrades to your Alienware Aurora R7, you’ll need to know how to open the chassis. Here’s a quick guide on how to do it.
First, unplug all cables from the back of the computer and disconnect the power cord. Next, locate the two thumb screws on the back of the computer near the top (they’ll be on either side of the I/O panel). Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove these screws.
With the screws removed, you should now be able to lift off the top panel of the computer. Be careful though, as there are still some cables attached to the panel. These include the front panel buttons and LEDs, as well as the power button cable. Gently detach these cables from their connectors before removing the top panel completely.
Now that you have access to the internals of your Alienware Aurora R7, you can start adding or upgrading components as needed. When you’re finished, simply reverse the process to close up your computer and get it back up and running.
How to Remove the Front Bezel
1. To remove the front bezel, first locate and remove the four Phillips screws that hold it in place at the top.
2. With the screws removed, you should be able to gently pull the bezel away from the chassis.
3. Be careful not to break the plastic clips that secure the bottom of the bezel to the chassis.
How to Remove the Optical Drive
1. Power off your system and unplug all cables from the back.
2. Remove the side panel by unscrewing the two thumbscrews on the back of the system.
3. On the top front edge of the optical drive, press in on the small metal tab to release the drive from its housing.
4. Carefully pull the optical drive out of its housing and set it aside.
How to Remove the Hard Drive Cage
1.To remove the hard drive cage, unscrew the four captive M2.5x5mm screws from the back of the chassis.
2.Remove the two captive M2.5x5mm screws from the bottom of the optical drive bay cover.
3.Slide the optical drive bay cover towards the rear of the chassis to release it from the tabs on the bottom of the front bezel then lift it away from the chassis.
4.Locate and unscrew the three captive M3x5mm black screws from inside the chassis, next to where you removed the optical drive bay cover.
5.Locate and unscrew two more captive M3x5mm black screws from inside the chassis at the top and bottom of where you just removed those three screws in step four
6.Lift up on black plastic handles that are now visible and pull hard drive cage out of Aurora R7
How to Remove the Graphics Card
If you need to remove the graphics card for any reason, follow these steps:
1. Shut down your computer and unplug all cables.
2. Remove the side panel.
3. Locate the graphics card (it will be in a slot on the motherboard).
4. Gently remove the card from its slot, being careful not to damage any of the surrounding components.
5. Replace the side panel and boot up your computer.
How to Remove the Power Supply
1. Open the case by removing the screw from the back of the power supply.
2. Remove the two screws on the back of the case that hold the power supply in place.
3. Slide the power supply out of the case.
How to Remove the Motherboard
Performing a basic disassembly of your Alienware Aurora R7 will allow you to clean the internals, replace a defect component, or upgrade your PC. In this guide, we will show you how to remove the motherboard.
Before you begin, please note that it is important to be aware of ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) and its potential to damage electronic components. Please discharge any static electricity from your body by touching a metal object before handling any internal components.
1) To begin, power down your PC and unplug all cables from the back.
2) Next, unscrew and remove the side panel of your Aurora R7.
3) Find the Phillips screw holding down the I/O panel (near the audio jacks and USB ports) and unscrew it. Gently pull up on the I/O panel to release it from the case. Set it aside.
4) Locate the four thumbscrews holding down the power supply unit (PSU). Unscrew these screws and set them aside. Then, push on the release tab at the back of PSU and slide it out of its housing. Set PSU aside. NOTE: You do not need to disconnect any cables connected to PSU at this time.
How to Reassemble Your Alienware Aurora R7
Assuming you’ve already completed the process of disassembling your Alienware Aurora R7, you’ll need to follow these steps in order to reassemble it. Keep in mind that it’s important to be careful when working with sensitive electronic components, and that it’s always a good idea to have a static discharge mat handy when working on your computer.
1. Begin by reconnecting the power supply to the motherboard. Make sure that all of the connections are secure before moving on.
2. Next, reconnect the CPU cooler and fan assembly. It’s important to make sure that the CPU cooler is properly seated and that all of the cables are securely connected before moving on.
3. Once the CPU cooler is installed, you can reinstall the CPU itself. Make sure that it is properly seated in the socket and that all of the pins are correctly aligned before attempting to install the heatsink/cooler.
4. The next step is to reinstall the RAM modules into their slots on the motherboard. Again, make sure that all of the connections are secure before moving on.
5. Now you can reinstall the graphics card (if present).6Securely reconnect all of the cables and make sure that there is no loose hardware inside of the case before proceeding.
7. Finally, you can replace the side panel(s) and screw(s) and then reconnect all of your peripheral devices (keyboard, mouse, etc.) and power up your computer
