Teardown Disassembly of the Alienware R4 15′ 2018: Unveiling the Inner Workings of a Gaming Powerhouse.

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Introduction:

In the world of gaming laptops, Alienware has always been synonymous with power and performance. The Alienware R4 15' 2018 edition is no exception, boasting impressive specifications and cutting-edge technology. Today, we embark on a thrilling teardown journey to uncover the intricate components that make this gaming powerhouse tick. Join us as we disassemble the Alienware R4 15' 2018, with a full Youtube video breaking it down here.

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Step 1: Getting Started

Preparing for Disassembly To initiate the teardown process, we start on the bottom case, removing the Phillips head screws that border the unit. The center most screw is a captive screw and will not be removed from the bottom case. After the screws are out of the way, slide the bottom case down and then pull up on the top of it to remove it. 

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Step 2: Battling the Skeleton

Now we must remove the twelve screws holding in the middle casing, or as we refer to it, the skeleton. First, we extract the 2.5-inch drive bay and unplug the battery connector, ensuring to bend it away from the connection point to avoid accidentally powering on the unit or and ESD accident. Before removing the skeleton you must disconnect the side lighting located on either side of this unit. Next we will disconnect the Wifi antenna cables, unscrew the wifi card and remove it, followed by removing the M.2 SSD screw and drive. Lastly, to remove the ram, push outward on the metal retention clips and the ram will pop up and can then be safely removed. After removing these parts you must use a spudger tool and pry the skeleton off of the top case using the gap on the sides of the unit as a start.

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Step 3: Navigating the Ribbon Cable Maze

To remove the battery, we remove the screw holding it in place and simply lift the unit out. Next, we meticulously open and detach the ribbon cables from their ports be very careful to not damage the ports and or the cables. Don't forget to unplug the bios speaker and the USB Daughter board data cable on the left hand side of the board. Moving on, we extract the screws holding the motherboard and USB board, we also remove the BIOS speaker. Finally, we unscrew the CPU and GPU fans and get prepared for the next steps.

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Step 4: The Fragile Core

Tilt the motherboard upward. However, it's important to note that there are still connections on the other side tethering it to the top case so do not move the motherboard to far from the top case or you risk damaging the cables and connectors. Start by disconnecting the cooling fan connectors at the top of the board on either side. Then we will move down to the various connections at the bottom of the board, with special attention to the spring retention bar on the far right.

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Step 5: Gentle Persuasion

Flipping the motherboard over, we proceed to release the heat sink screws. Lifting the cooler off may require some effort as the thermal paste and pads tend to act as adhesives. In addition, we carefully detach the charging port and cable, keeping in mind the significant amount of glue securing it in place.

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Step 6: Peeling Back the Layers

To remove the mouse buttons, we take out the corresponding screws and unplug the ribbon cable. However, it's important to note that the leftover PCB is the trackpad, which is not removable without damaging it on this particular unit. Moving forward, we remove the screws to free the keyboard backplate and the power button daughter board. Using a prying tool, we lift up the backplate and subsequently detach it. Then, with gentle force, we lift up the keyboard and slide it towards ourselves for removal. Finally, we remove the six screws securing the LCD and Wi-Fi assembly and lift the LCD assembly upwards off the top case to separate the two.

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Conclusion:

The Alienware R4 15' 2018 teardown process has provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate components that power this gaming beast. By following the detailed script from the video guide, we have successfully navigated through each step, ensuring the safe removal of crucial elements. Be sure to share this post and video with your friends and family if you find it enjoyable, educational, or informative! 

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