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    What is this port on M17x R4 ?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by vs3074, Mar 10, 2013.

  1. vs3074

    vs3074 Notebook Evangelist

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    So I was adding SSD/RAM to my R4 and found this port but nothing was connected to it.

    Anyone has any idea what its purpose is ?

    [​IMG]
     
    vs3074, Mar 10, 2013
    #1
  2. somms

    somms Notebook Evangelist

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    not sure about that
     

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    somms, Mar 10, 2013
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  3. vs3074

    vs3074 Notebook Evangelist

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    I dont think its for bluetooth as usually have never seen a connector like this for bluetooth, Its nuch wider for bluetooth usually.
     
    vs3074, Mar 10, 2013
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  4. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Bluetooth is on the top side for the R3/R4. I honestly have no idea. I've looked thru the service manual and gone thru the disassembly videos. That's orphan port's got me stumped. :confused:
     
    radji, Mar 10, 2013
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  5. vs3074

    vs3074 Notebook Evangelist

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    I am not sure either. I tried to look for similar ports but to no avail.

    My best guess is, its something that was supposed to be added but got left out in design/release phase and this makes sense since there is fair bit of space between port and gpu fan, also there is fair bit of space under the ODD.
     
    vs3074, Mar 11, 2013
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  6. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It could also be a test port for diagnostics. MSI have a similar (in sense there has never been a model to use it) port next to the graphics card.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 11, 2013
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  7. funkmasterta

    funkmasterta Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh that one? It's for installing the Flux Capacitor! :thumbsup:
     
    funkmasterta, Mar 11, 2013
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  8. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    That would be my guess as well.
     
    tijo, Mar 11, 2013
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  9. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It's also near the CMOS battery so it could also be a manual bios flashing point.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 11, 2013
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  10. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    I would have guessed it's for the neural cable to connect our systems directly to our brains.
     
    radji, Mar 12, 2013
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