How to open Alienware m18 R2 – disassembly and upgrade options

Ensure the laptop is powered off and placed on a clean, flat surface.
Undo the 8 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel. Note the screws in the front corners are captive and lift the panel slightly.
Begin prying the sides using a thin plastic tool, except the back. Lift slightly the front section of the metal plate and push it forward.
Carefully lift away the panel from the chassis.

Step 2: Battery Removal

Locate the battery connector on the mainboard and carefully unplug it.
Remove the 4 Phillips-head screws securing the battery to the chassis.
Lift the battery out of the laptop.

More info: The 97Wh battery provides approximately 8 hours of web browsing or video playback.

Memory Upgrade

Locate the RAM section which is covered by some foil. Carefully remove the foil to access the SODIMM slots.
Note: The two SODIMM slots support up to 64GB of DDR5-5200 MHz RAM in dual-channel mode.

Note: This laptop is capable of handling up to 192GB of RAM, exceeding the official manufacturer’s limit. Thermal pads are found below the memory modules for additional cooling.

Storage Upgrade

Identify the two M.2 slots compatible with 2230 or 2280 Gen 4 SSDs. RTX 4080 and 4090-based machines feature two additional NVMe slots for 2230 drives next to the lower fan.
Remove the metal shroud secured with two screws to access the preinstalled SSD. Note the long thermal pad on the inside of the shroud for cooling.

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings to select the best storage solution for your needs.

You can buy Gen 4 NVMe SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Cooling System Overview

Inspect the quad-fan design of the cooling system. Note that RTX 4080 and 4090 GPUs use a vapor chamber system, while other models utilize conventional cooling methods.
The heat pipes and CPU and GPU chips are located on the other side of the motherboard. The five visible heat sinks manage heat dissipation effectively.

Alienware m18 R2 in-depth review

The Alienware m18 R2 is another 18-incher that offers high-end hardware. Expectedly, we are talking about 14th gen Intel Raptor Lake-HX CPU options and GeForce RTX 4000 graphics cards with hefty TGPs. Wealthy enthusiasts could have fun with the 175W RTX 4090 or 4080. Still, if you don't need so much graphics power, the other video cards rely on 140W power limits which is more than enough for the AD107 and AD106 chips. Interestingly, the laptops with the top-tier GPUs have vapor chamber cooling, preapplied Element 31 liquid metal on the CPU and GPU, and two more M.2 slots. If you want these goo[...]

Read the full review

Pros

Solid premium build
Thin profile for such a form factor
Capable thermal system
Stable and high CPU and GPU frequencies under any kind of load
Wide viewing angles (BOE HF1FV-NE18NZ1 (BOE0AFB; NE180QDM-NZ1))
Snappy pixel response times (BOE HF1FV-NE18NZ1 (BOE0AFB; NE180QDM-NZ1))
PWM-free (BOE HF1FV-NE18NZ1 (BOE0AFB; NE180QDM-NZ1))
98% sRGB coverage + accurate colors with our "Design and Gaming" profile (BOE HF1FV-NE18NZ1 (BOE0AFB; NE180QDM-NZ1))
2x SODIMM slots
Comfortable per-key keyboard and touchpad
Offers plenty of ports
The fans aren't that loud in "Overdrive" mode
Low noise and a 115W GPU TGP in "Quiet" mode
Good battery battery life given the 1600p display and the powerful hardware
The Alienware Command Center app is full of useful extras such as CPU undervolt
Offers NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, G-Sync + MUX switch

Cons

High price
Heavy
Only the RTX 4080 / 4090-based machines have four M.2 slots and a vapor chamber cooling
Too many Gen 1 ports + the Thunderbolts connectors support just a 15W charging
For such a pricey laptop, the 1600p display should offer better contrast ratio and max brightness

#CommissionsEarned