*OFFICIAL* Alienware "Graphics Amplifier" Owner's Lounge and Benchmark Thread (All 13, 15 and 17)

I’m not sure what this is for but there’s definitely no way to use that with an AGA. The AGA only has a slot for GPUs and 4x USB 3 ports.


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doesnt the AGA use Oculink cable ?
this what I posted comes in a free m.2 on the laptop. then the wire gets connected to the AGA
sadly the delivery of this part is so expensive,that I wont order it to test it.

 

It uses a proprietary cable, Dell exclusive. I do not see any sort of slots inside the WGA that looked like an OCuLink cable connector.

 

do i lose FPS by using the Alienware graphics amplifier USB Ports? you know as they share the same cable with GPU

 

There’s only one cable going to the AGA so of course that also carries the USB data.

Typical devices like mouse, keyboard, and so on uses a tiny amount of data. External hard drives are obviously capable of transferring a good chunk of data but generally speaking that’s not going to happen during gaming.


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This really depends on the cards you put in.

 

The cable houses both a pci express cable and a separated usb hub cable. So no using usb ports does not affect the performance of the gpu.

 

It doesnt affect any card.

 

ohhhh,

I misread the post. the "USB ports" performances going through the AGA cables.....

 

Are you sure? I’ve never bothered to count pins and investigate but have always seen it said the USB bus for the AGA is carried via PCIe


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100% sure there 2 cables within the AGA cable itself. And the pci express slot cannot control 2 separate devices at once.

 

Since I now have a laptop with an OS that sees 2 different graphics cards (Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070), how do I efficiently or effectively (it goes both ways I guess) use or utilize such mixed variations of the hardware?

For example, I have 2 apps that heavily uses the graphics rendering pipelines. I would like to have the 1060 run App A, and the 2070 run App B.

For another example, let's say I have 1 app that heavily uses both the graphics rendering pipelines and do heavy floating math calculations. I don't know if it's possible to have App C run simultaneously for both graphics cards, if and only if App C is laid in-between or wedged between two different screens, each of which are plugged into respective graphics cards.

 

Do you have a Gsync display in your laptop?


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No, I don't.

 

Cruisin5268d

I removed all my heatsink piping that I crazy glued! I was shopping at Microcenter and in the heatsink department I found a slim line heatsink with aluminum radiator fins that fits perfectly between the graphic card back cover and the PSU. This heatsink I am using for passive cooling fits PERFECT. I couldn’t believe it. It is the exact depth I needed. It requires no modification to make it secure and the best of all NO GLUE!! It fits snugly between cover and PSU with very minimal pressure and makes perfect contact with the copper plate of the heatsink and back aluminum backcover that is right behind the location of the GPU die where it gets the hottest! I added little bit of Grizzly Kryonaut in between the two contact points. My temps are even lower than before with this mod. Temps don’t go over 54c on any game I play. I also now crank up game resolution modifier to 120% and it only raises the GPU temps 2 degrees. Without the mods the GPU would go above 62-64c. Not bad for passive cooling with the additional fans and heatsink. This heatsink mod will only work with the Nvidia cards because of its slim form factor. Other AIB cards which are thicker will not work.
Note I have undervolted the GPU to .800 like before.
Not bad for almost dangerous enthusiast like myself!

 

You’re killing me man.

You’ve spent a lot of time and money trying to cool a GPU that didn’t need it! Your temps were already spot on as I would expect from a desktop GPU in the AGA.

Seems to me your time and money would have been much better spent cutting out the AGA and putting l that in a bigger case and building a master docking station with liquid cooling for the GPU.

But hey, whatever floats your boat.


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Time I have definitely spent but enjoyed, As for the total cost I have spent maybe $150 usd
It’s not the time or the little money that I have spent, it’s about being able to tinker and pass time. The crazy thing is why would I want to water cool it now when I have achieved such low temps with fan and passive cooling of the GPU card. It just simply works and I have reduced temps from the mods 7-8c which IMO is significant while keeping the same form and factor. I understand you may disapprove of the modding I havs done to the AGA but it can give others some interest into passive cooling and adding additional fans to protect their high end graphic cards. I can say for a FACT that there is not one person using an AGA with a RTX2080ti on ultra maxed out settings which is not water cooled, having temps hovering in the 54-56c range.

 

hey guys
I just got my AGA
I have it hooked up to an external monitor
but even thou the laptop screen still lights up in black which is annoying me.
I can fix it by changing the display to the laptop and then back to the external monitor but I don't want to do that every time I boot
do you know why this is happening?

 

I’m not sure what you’re trying to describe


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so the laptop screen is turned off as the external monitor is the main display
but I can still see the laptop display showing light .. I don't know how else to describe it

 

What model laptop do you have? And do you have the gsync display?

Also how did you try to turn off the laptop screen?


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I have the AW 17 R5 1440p with Gsync
desktop - right click - display settings - multiple displays - show only on 2 - make this my main display 'which is the external'

https://imgur.com/a/AH4fqRh

https://imgur.com/a/YfV3YGi

 

You will need to disable your laptop's gsync and use an external monitor to get the AGA to work properly. Have a look at the Dell bulletin linked to below;

https://www.dell.com/support/articl...er-not-working-when-g-sync-is-enabled?lang=en

Good luck!

 

thanks for your help I disabled gsync and rebooted but the laptop screen is still showing light !!

 

By light do you mean the FX lights around the laptop benzel and keyboard? If so, no big deal imho. Sorry if I do not understand this correctly. Maybe contact Dell support and see if they can help. Good luck.

 

no I mean the screen backlight see the attached photo
https://imgur.com/a/AH4fqRh

 

I don’t know what to tell you mate...:I just went to Windows display settings and selected “only show on (external)” and my UHD display went black with no backlight on.

I have the UHD gsync for my 17r5.


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Ok, I think I get that now. Probably a good idea to contact Dell support while you are under warranty since it def should not do this imho. Maybe check that your Windows, audio drivers, and bios is up to date. It also it may be worth rolling back your Alienware Control Centre to a previous version. Only other thing I can think of trying is to try using the same refresh rate on both your laptop panel and external monitor. Again, good luck sorting this out. I can now see how frustrating this probably is for you and please let us know how you make out. Thanks.

 

I would update the Bios to the newest version.

 

I have the EXACT same problem buddy! No obvious way to fix it so far other than as suggested before that every time you boot up use Win + P to toggle to PC display only then back to external only.
It's exactly how he describes it, the laptop screen isn't displaying anything but is clearly being backlit, after the toggle the laptop screen goes properly dark.

 

Glad you found a fairly quick and painless workaround. You guys should def contact Dell support and let them know about this imho. Thanks for sharing this.

 

glad I'm not the only one and sorry it had to be you
please let me know when you find the solution
thanks

 

Greetings fellow aliens, I come to this forum in the hopes that someone out there might have a solution to my rather infuriating issues.

So just yesterday I receieved my early christmas present to myself, an MSI TRIO RTX 2080 TI graphics card, and I also receieved my brand new AGA on Friday to accompany my Alienware 17 r4 notebook.

Notebook specs are as follows: NVIDIA GTX 1070
Intel I7 - 7700hq processor
16gb RAM
G - Sync enabled 1440p 144hz display And a whole bunch of storage devices I won't bother naming. I also have the computer hooked up to a home theatre system which is hooked up to my 4k tv as a main display. Now the issue.

I knew it wouldn't be as simple as plug and play, given how exceedingly powerful the card is, and how relatively new and unstable the RTX 2080 ti line is at the moment, but I certainly didn't expect it to cause my laptop to get stuck in an endless reboot loop IF the AGA is connected to the computer with the card installed. I also didn't expect for the amplifier itself to not show up in my device manager or command centre at all. Yes I know the card is impratically large for the AGA, and it will also be bottlenecked by the lesser cpu if ever I try and push the card, but the problem is I can't even use the card OR the amplifier itself. Yes, I have scoured through lists of drivers, downloaded and installed bios updates, reinstalled drivers, rebooted the system, rebooted the PC without the AGA connected and then plugged it in after bootup. Nothing has worked, absolutely nothing and as I type this out I sit here next to the damn thing going through it's umpteenth reboot cycle. I should also add that I got this PC as a second hand unit from America (I am Australian), and not long after I got it I realised the previous owner had done a full system wipe, very thouroughly, to the point that the computer arrived with me completely lacking any of the Alienware software programs or drivers, or even Alienware bios and ever since I have been having to play a game of catch up everytime I stumble upon something that requires said Alienware software/drivers/firmware.

I should also say that I have concluded that perhaps half the problem, the reboot loop, may be down to the psu so I will probably order an upgrade for it before the end of the week, but that still doesn't explain the issue of the computer and various Alienware programs not even recognising the AGA. I mean, the AGA will switch on with the computer but that's it, I can't configure the light and I can't find it at all in device manager.

I desperately need help with all this. Thanks and Merry christmas Aliens.

 

I skipped over most of your post because there’s way too much irrelevant info.


The PSU is more than adequate. No need to replace. The AGA will not show up in device manager - the AGA is simply an external PCI slot.

That card is a bit of a waste for using with a TV. Should have put some of that money towards a gaming monitor.


In order to set up the AGA on a new system
You just install GeForce experience and use that to update your video drivers. Also the AGA should be connected when the system is powered off.


“How exceedingly powerful the card is” has nothing to do with the simplicity of setup.




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I also have the 7700hq and bottleneck is not even an issue. I am sure there is some but not to the point your post makes it!

Hope you can get it to work.

 

fullon, I'm a new AGA user with a 2080 Ti and I posted my whole experience a few pages back if you want to read through it but one thing I'll add to what cruisin said is make sure you aren't plugging the AGA into an already burdened outlet/circuit in your home. In some cases the unit may not be able to draw enough power to boot both the AGA and the laptop simultaneously and will end up in a reboot loop.

 

Rickdeckard, I just tried extending a power cable out of my room and plugged the AGA into a much less power hungry room of the house, unfortunately it's still the same result.

As for updates and such, well I did say I have already gone through all of that and my whole laptop is completely up to date and I have had GFE since day one of having the computer so it's not that.

I've gone through every possibility bar truly confirming whether or not some of my hardware may be at fault, either the AGA proprietary cable, the AGA itself, perhaps teething issues with the MSI card itself and compatibility, or whether it's the port on my computer and the only way for me to test all of the hardware myself without having to slowly work it out with Dell, would be for me to go to a local internet café/gaming and tech centre but I think they're gonna be closed until after the new year.

 

Just bring the AGA to Best Buy or whatever store has the Alienware laptop in display and kindly ask the manager to test out the AGA on their display Alienware Laptop to rule out if if it is the AGA

 

You’ll get some strange looks but hopefully they’ll allow it.

Of course you’ll have to spend some time setting up the display unit but no biggie


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Yes well that would be perhaps slightly more convenient if I lived in the US what with overall cheaper prices and all, but i'm an aussie in fact and we don't have best buy. We have one "similar" store chain to Best Buy, but i'm pretty certain I wouldn't be able to waltz in there and plug myself in, not that they sell the AGA anyway. So yeah.......

 

Besides, I feel like i'd get better advice, perhaps even a replacement cable if the cable is the issue, from the internet cafe. It's not really a cafe, more of a lan den, they host tournaments and such and their back room is filled with parts and custom rigs.

I was just hoping there was someone else here that had the exact same issues as me and managed to work through it because of something I hadn't thought of, but alas I suppose not.

 

I have no idea what you have access to locally and if any store or friend needs you has an alienware you can test in.

That being said I highly doubt the cable is the issue - I haven’t seen a single case of a bad cable. Testing the AGA and GPU on another Alienware laptop is a easy way to determine if the issue is with your laptop or not.

I had chronic reboot loop issues with my 17r3. Sometimes it would take 20 or so cycles before it would catch and finally boot with the AGA - and now here I am with the same AGA and GPU working flawless with a 17r5.


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You have to rule out the GPU or Cable for it to know whats up. Some GPU bioses can cause issues. But the cable can be finicky as well.

 

Hi guys

I have the 15 r4 with the 1070, i already have the amp, but im using as a big usb hub lol, im planing to buy a 1080 ti, is it worth it?
My laptop has gsync, do my cpu and gpu temps will go down when using the 1080 ti?
I have the alienware 240hz monitor.

 

Only you can decide “if it’s worth it”

Obviously a desktop 1080ti is superior to a laptop 1070.


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Just got my amplifier in and my RTX 2080. Had to notch out the amplifier and I ended up removing the lid so the card could fit since it is a 2.75 slot GPU, but it is working. Updating the drivers now, try to run some benchmarks shortly.

Current desktop setup:
https://i.imgur.com/N26McSU.jpg

 

What card did you get ?

 

I ended up with the EVGA RTX 2080 XC Ultra Gaming. Just did the "OC Scanner" auto overclocking feature on MSI Afterburner and ran Firestrike. About 5000 points on the graphics over my internal GTX 1080 that was overclocked as well.

https://www.3dmark.com/fs/17632650

 

Would a 1080ti FTW3 work in one of these? I am reading mixed things online about it. Also would it be best to replace the PSU in this thing if I put a card like that in it? like to the CX450 or something?

 

The PSU is way more than necessary for all current cards.


That GPU is too tall for the lid to close without modification


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