[Alienware 17R4 / 15R3] - Disassembly + Repaste Guide + Results

I have changed the power in the windows for processor and set it to 90% and temps are max 78c but the games sometimes have framedrops now

 

Uninstall unwanted apps from Stock OS and are you on creators update?

 

I can't return it unless they will pay for shipping and I think they will not gonna do that =/ I don't live in US and shipping will cost me 400$
So disappointing...

 

creators update?

 

Up to yoo. But you need fix this mess by yourself or deal with Dell!!

Latest Windoze X Edition is called Creators Update. Two main OS updates a year from Micro$oft. The Windoze operative system is now called "Services". Expect problems two times a year!!

 

Hi. Need help. So upon repasting my Alienware 17 R4 i7 6700HQ GTX 1070, the processor speed got stuck at around 0.75-0.77 Ghz when plugged in. Moreover, it is not charging. But when I use it unplugged, it goes back to normal speed of around 3.2 Ghz. Does anyone experienced this problem? Please comment your suggestions on what to do. Thank you.

 

Atleast people will be reinstalling and starting fresh.

 

Yes, it's great, but not be forced into it

 

I'm thinking of experimenting this, Rs1 to Rs2 will upgrade fine w/o issues because Rs2 is enhanced version of RS1 to fix performance bugs, so you can get away w/o reinstall because at the core they are same. Coming to new major build Redstone or any codename, you need to reinstall to get best experience.

 

So now this is happening...

 

Is that noise coming from the speakers? Or is something hitting the fan blades.

 

My guess is the speakers. Before this I had a very loud whooshing/static noise come from the right side, then the subwoofer was making a constant fluttering noise for about a day.

I had a post a couple pages back explaining how a tech messed up the mobo with liquid metal; it's possible some of it could have come in contact with the speakers, but unlikely, I think.

 

if liquid metal messed up mobo, I think you have bigger things to worry about

 

That motherboard was replaced the next day, that's when I found out about it.

 

oh damn

 

My thoughts exactly. After the computer failed to start, before they sent me another mobo, Dell wanted me to send it to their repair facility. I refused because as anyone who has had the unfortunate opportunity of doing so knows, it'll be 2-3 weeks before they send it back and it would come back "fixed" with the same thermal toothpaste and overheating problems. But now that it's having these problems, I think they may try to force the issue; but they can kiss the smelliest part of my ass. I'll make them replace it for the third time before I do that.

 

where do you live?

in the us you're entitled to home support

 

I'm in California. I bought this computer in November, since then they have replaced it twice and have serviced it at my house twice, both times being a mobo replacement. After the first mobo replacement failed they wanted me to send it in, but I said no, so they sent another mobo. This is why I think they are going to request for me to send it to the repair facility; they don't want to replace it or repair it at my house again. I'm just trying to find the quickest way of getting my computer in working order for a repaste, and since the repair facility route takes forever, I do not want to go that route.

As for the repaste and repad, my buddy helped me do it once by following this guide. I could not do it myself due to my disability. It worked well at first, but then my temps went back into the high 90s. Because of that, I'm wanting to outsource the job. I'm currently on the waiting list to speak to iunlock about his services. I noticed your signature says you're offering the same service. Where are you located?

 

You're closer to unlock than me.

If you have a skylake unit, try to get it exchanged for a kabylake one.


Ask @iunlock for help.

 

Will do. The second replacement came with the kabylake cpu. I'm all set other than the GOT damn overheating.

 

Please help me guys.

Reposting...

Hi. Need help. So upon repasting my Alienware 17 R4 i7 6700HQ GTX 1070, the processor speed got stuck at around 0.75-0.77 Ghz when plugged in. Moreover, it is not charging. But when I use it unplugged, it goes back to normal speed of around 3.2 Ghz. Does anyone experienced this problem? Please comment your suggestions on what to do. Thank you.

 

You're off to a good start with the Kaby model...

 

check the large white motherboard plug right under the fan, I bend one of the pin when I try to insert at an angle and power supply failed to get recognized.

 

Thank you. I think this is highly possible because when I boot my laptop when plugged, there's error showing that the AC adapted can't be recognized. I'll try this later. Thank you so much brother.

A question, if this is the case, do I need to change any part or just remove and insert it properly? Thank you.

 

It's trying to contact you on its language

I had the same issue on 17 R4 when I first ordered it on December 2016, so I returned it as mobo needed to be replaced as well..

 

@Wheels.: It could be an issue with HWInfo reading Dell EC sensor, it is known to cause audio stutters or glitches. Try disabling EC support and see if it fixes your issue. Even you see occasional spikes in cpu and gpu temps which is weird.
@iunlock Can you try pushing your HK CPU to 5GHz on Win PE by Gandalf's or others.

 

I wanted to take a moment to talk about @iunlock and his repasting services. First, a little background about my situation.

Mid march I decided on a 15 r3 with a 7820k and 1070. It was for a price I couldn't pass up off of Amazon. I had read up on several places about the thermal issues AW has been having but saw they had acknowledged the problem and fixed them around the end of January. Well, to my dismay that was not the case for mine as fairly soon after getting it I noticed the fans were running so fast it was hard to hear in my bedroom when I was playing a game. I thought maybe it was manufactured just before the 'fix' so I got ahold of Dell/AW support. We went through their script and they confirmed it was a cooling issue. Hit throttle a few times in the test. The sent someone out quickly to replace the HS/Fan assembly. I did notice during the replacement the paste they used looked no different then the original ones manufactured and the past on the new HS was the same but not rock hard yet.

I tried out the 'fix' for almost a week before getting in contact with Dell again. The went through their script again and ended up sending me a new computer. 2nd computer same issue. Did their scripted 'fix' again and still, same issue.

I decided I was going to get ahold of @iunlock and see about him repasting my 15 r3. We talked throughout the day and I explained the same thing you just read but with a bit more detail. He sent me information about his repasting service but also asked what made me decide to get that specific machine. I had told him I needed a super fast turn around as I truly do need my computer daily and still had an open ticket with Dell who was going to have me send the machine back to them. Needless to say, if I have to part with my computer for a period of time I want a guaranteed fix and Dell had lost my trust in that matter.

@iunlock offered me one of his personal computer he had already repasted and done all the little extras to, to avoid any absence of having a machine. His thoughtfulness actually threw me off and I became apprehensive and I told him that. He called me and we talked for a good 15 minutes. He was sincere and very honest! From the start of conversing w/ @iunlock to having my new machine was just over a week.

The end product: Holy (enter your expletive), what a difference. If you decided to buy an AW because you felt it was the best machine for your money but are disappointed at your thermals, you owe it to yourself to seek out @iunlock and his services. He is very easy to get ahold of. Will not hesitate to call you to chat instead of doing it all online. If you have not figured out that he is OCD by just reading his posts (I mean you are reading this thread for a reason right) let me tell you, this guy pays attention to detail and where you may not understand he will happily explain it.

If you are on the fence about contacting @iunlock and using his service, just do yourself a favor and get it done. It is more then just a repaste. Honestly, I could have followed all these instructions on my own and never even come close to what he was able to accomplish with this machine.

This is 48 hours of web surfing, 2 movies w/ the missus and 3 hours of Doom that my son and I played this weekend.

 

just bend the pin back, the white plastic insert gonna be squeezed as well, mine worked fine after all that

 

I tried doing it twice but got the same result. Any other suggestions?

 

If the pins are in intact I believe the cable can be replaced

 

iunlock is one of those people who really should be working for Intel. He's THAT good and careful.

 

Lmao. "I wasn't built properly". I actually laughed out loud about you saying the mobo had to be replaced. That will be my third mobo in this computer lol. It makes sense though; they've soldered everything to the mobo so any time anything goes wrong the whole board is replaced. I'm sure it saves them money.

Thanks for the help, but I always make sure to ignore that sensor the first time I receive the prompt with the warning message. I just double checked to be sure.

 

Just FYI the length of a time a computer is on will not affect the max temps it can hit. Also, if you aren't taking screenshots immediately WHILE gaming the temps drop off rather quickly after closing CPU/GPU intensive applications.

 

I understand. I should have mentioned HWinfo was running the entire time too so that is a sample for the whole 48 hours of Max, Mins, Avg. Actually I see at the bottom of the HWinfo it was for 35 hours but the point is still valid.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience. I was already leaning towards it but your temps sealed the deal. It's that these ridiculously priced computers require these modifications to perform how they should from the start, but at least we have the people here to fall back on.

 

Agreed!!! If it makes it any better in terms of helping you swallow the extra cost. You actually get a lot more cooling and therefore (depending on your chips) more overhead on the overclocking of anything that Dell could provide w/ stock cooling

 

That does help. I'm looking forward to the OC profiles provided in the cost. The biggest thing I'm getting out of this is peace of mind. I have had nothing but problems and insecurity for the 6 months I have owned this machine, so it will be so nice to have that weight off my shoulders. I just want to play my damn games before the next semester starts.

 

What's the wattage on the power brick that comes with the AW17 R4's? 330w?

 

You and I sound a lot a like. Dell support seemed like very nice people and I am sorry if they got the short end of my frustration but if my computer was going to leave me it was coming back to me forever and worry free. My computer is my life line to the outside world when at work and I am a light gamer at home, it is how I relax.

 

Mines is 250W

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

I have the 17 R4 and it is a 330w. I also have the 7820k and 1080 in it so that could be the difference of others that have the 17 r4.

 

Yes sir

 

I have owned Alienware for 9 years now and in that time they have received a lot of my frustration. It took me a while to learn that patience gets you a lot further with those people. We are definitely alike. It is also my lifeline and primary method of relaxation and stress relief. Shooting people in games keeps me from wanting to shoot people for real lol.

 

I just got word from Dell that they will be doing a system exchange. When I receive it I'm going to turn it on long enough to ensure that it is problem free, then it's off to iunlock. For the sake of my sanity, hopefully third time will be the charm.

 

don't jinx it

 

This is my first time using liquid metal paste and I was really worried about using too much. In retrospect, my drop was about half the size of the one in this guide. After reassembling everything, I was horrified to discover that my temps had gone UP a few degrees. I was averaging about 96-98 Celsius while playing BF1.

The next day, I decided to give it another go. I carefully taped everything up, applied about twice as much paste and took more time spreading it around. Thankfully, my temps are now between 70-77 Celsius, depending on that I'm playing.

Thanks for the guide!

 

I thought of quite a few responses to that, but they all seem to jinx it more. lol

If whatever entity is in control of dishing out jinxes thinks I deserve more sh*t than I've already gone through than fine, I'll target all my rage towards the source of it all and see just much stink I can raise for Dell. My friend has been telling me repeatedly that all of us who have been given this defective product time and again should open a class action lawsuit. He has a good point. I just don't know how to get it started. If the next computer has any issues I'll sure as hell find out.

 

You're welcome. Glad it helped.

 

Hi guys. I decided to contact Dell as I can't find a permanent solution regarding my issue. It seems it is the DC-IN that has a problem. But then, the motherboard itself has to be replaced. I just have one concern. I repasted my unit with IC Diamond and I used the Super 33+ for safety purposes. And I left it there until now. Is it okay to leave there? I mean, what if the technician saw it? Will he still continue to replace the motherboard? Thank you.

 

Remove the tape, it isn't needed.