Alienware x14 Service Manual

Installing the system board

About this task

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

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

The following image indicates the connectors on your system board.

1. I/O-board cable
2. Display cable
3. Headset port cable
4. Left-fan cable
5. Power-button cable
6. Wireless-card slot
7. Speaker cable
8. Battery cable
9. Keyboard-controller board cable
10. Solid-state drive slot
11. Right-fan cable

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

1. Turn the system board over.
2. Install the fan and heat-sink assembly.
3. Align and place the two USB Type-C port brackets on the system board.
4. Replace the screw (M2x4) that secures the USB Type-C port bracket to the system board.
5. Turn the system-board assembly over and place the system-board assembly on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
6. Slide the headset-port cable through the gap between the system board and the left fan.
7. Align the screw holes on the system-board assembly with the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
8. Replace the nine screws (M2x4) that secure the system-board assembly to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
9. Slide the keyboard-controller board-cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure the cable.
10. Connect the speaker cable to the system board.
11. Slide the power-button board cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure the cable.
    NOTE:The power-button board cable must be routed below the left side of the system board, in order to be able to connect to the connector on the bottom of the system board.
12. Adhere the headset-port cable to the system board.
13. Slide the headset-port cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure the cable.
14. Slide the I/O-board cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure the cable.
15. Adhere the tape that secures the I/O-board cable to the system board.
16. Connect the display cable to the system board.
17. Align the screw holes on the display-cable bracket to the screw holes on the system board.
18. Replace the two screws (M1.6x1.8) that secure the display-cable bracket to the system board.