How to open Alienware x16 R2 – disassembly and upgrade options

Undo the 6 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel. The screws in the middle and bottom are captive, and they will slightly lift almost half of the panel, making the disassembly process easier.
Fully pry the sides and the front of the panel. Avoid popping the back.
Raise the front of the metal plate, slide it forward, and lift it away from the chassis.

More info: Here’s how the bottom plate looks on the inside.

Battery Removal

Detach the battery by pulling out the connector from the motherboard.
Undo the 4 Phillips-head screws securing the battery to the base.
Lift the battery to remove it from the device.

Note: The device is equipped with a 90Wh battery, providing approximately 3 hours of video playback. To achieve this, select the “Battery” preset in the Alienware Command Center app and apply the Optimus mode in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Memory Information

Note: The memory is soldered. The device comes with 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5x-7467MHz RAM in dual-channel mode. All GeForce RTX 4080 and 4090-based laptops have 32GB of memory.

Storage and Wi-Fi Card

The storage section and Wi-Fi card are protected by metal shrouds.
The two M.2 slots are compatible with 2230 and 2280 Gen 4 SSDs, with RAID 0 support. There are long thermal pads inside the metal caps and another pair of pads in front of the slots.
The Wi-Fi card receives similar cooling treatment.

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

You can buy compatible SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Cooling System Overview

The motherboard is inverted, so part of the cooling system is not visible.
The vapor chamber thermal system is reserved for top-end notebooks with RTX 4080 and 4090 GPUs, featuring preapplied Element 31 liquid metal on both CPU and GPU dies (for these models).
The device has a massive quad fan setup and four heat sinks for efficient cooling.
Ensure all cooling components are clean and free of dust for optimal performance.

Alienware x16 R2 in-depth review

There is a high demand for thin laptops in every price class. Nowadays, many users want to own a compact and powerful laptop. Alienware has tried to make one, with their x16 R2 model. This is an incredibly thin and unique-looking machine and you can also order it with up to GeForce RTX 4090.But there's a nuance. Since the 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake-H and HX CPUs dissipate tons of heat they aren't suitable for such a slim profile. That's why this notebook can be found with Meteor Lake-H processors. These efficient chips are a preferable choice for slim notebooks. You can choose between a[...]

Read the full review

Pros

Solid premium build
Thin profile (18.57 mm)
Vapor chamber cooling + liquid metal for the CPU and GPU dies (for RTX 4080 and 4090-based laptops)
High CPU frequencies under long load (3.44 GHz / 3.29 GHz P and E-core clock)
Wide viewing angles + 1600p resolution (AUO3CA2)
Snappy pixel response times of 7 ms (AUO3CA2)
PWM-free (AUO3CA2)
338 nit max brightness + 240Hz refresh rate (AUO3CA2)
100% sRGB and DCI P3 coverage + accurate colors with our "Design and Gaming" profile (AUO3CA2)
2x M.2 slots
Thermal pads for the SSDs and the Wi-Fi card
Great Cherry keyboard (option)
Precise illuminated glass touchpad (option)
Modern port selection that is entirely placed on the back
The fans aren't loud in "Performance" mode
Low noise and a 118W GPU TGP in "Quiet" mode
The Alienware Command Center app is full of useful extras
NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, G-Sync + MUX switch
Optional fingerprint reader and IR Web camera
Fast Gen 4 NVMe (1TB SK Hynix PC811)