*OFFICIAL* Alienware 13 R1/R2 Owner's Lounge

I'm going to try to buy one tonight/tomorrow. I'll keep you updated.

 

Not that I currently have plans to get one (but I am a geek, I may get one for the hell of it to just play with), but I am eager to see what you find out. I would bet that with new cards the driver thing will be an issue on and off in the future as new models come out.

 

They should support the GTX 980. Has to be a driver issue. AMD already made sure the R9 290x works in the GA with their latest driver.

 

Ordered yesterday the QHD "quick ship" one so it should ship today. Got a deal too good to pass up.

 

I ordered mine on Dec. 5th and it's still "in production." I'm hoping for it to ship soon as it will be my very first Alienware machine.

 

Those that have the GA, can you use the ext graphics card but still use ur laptop monitor if you dont have a monitor on hand?

 

I ordered mine on 11/11/14 and it still in production

 

Oh really? When is your estimated shipping date?

 

Care to share the deal? I've been tempted but have only found the $50 coupon...

 

I ordered mine on 11/24/14 but est ship 12/22/14.

 

Weird. Have you checked Fedex to see if it is ready to be shipped or has shipped? (sometimes Dell takes time to update.)
Go to fedex.com then "track by reference" and as the reference enter the order number then country and zip code and see if a tracking pops up.

 

If you buy the 13 with a HDD, they don't give you the bracket for the m.2 drives?

 

If I buy the high resolution model, can the resolution be set lower for gaming? (Without it looking like crap.)

I want the high res for surfing and the touchscreen, but imagine gaming at that res wouldn't be practical.

 

Thats the Idea behind the GA. But for me its only working with AMD Graphiccards. Nvidia dont work no matter if its the internal screen or an external (the external didnt even get a connection signal)

 

From the videos, the Alienware reps say that if you don't have an external monitor, that the output of the GA will be routed back to the AW13 for display on it's screen.

 

Yeh it seems that way and vice verse. There isn't enough room for both in that hdd compartment area. Mine came with the M.2 SSD board and hdd caddy however no cable for it. Not one that I saw anyway.

 

Wow i ran my order number and its now shipping.. Thanks for the tip.

 

Go online and chat them up - that's all I did... turns out the unit was already shipped (or was somehow "stuck") and Dell had not updated. I ordered on 12/1 fwiw.

 

I would assume not, though I'm a little fuzzy on whether or not the mounting metal bracket is the same for either option

 

Would like to know as well.
Ordered the QHD display one. Will use the system mostly for work and maybe 25% gaming though.

 

12/10/2014 10:09:48AM roar-k: "Do you know if the CPU or RAM are soldered onto the motherboard?"
12/10/2014 10:10:56AM Agent (TIP_Richard T): "let me go ahead and check that for you..one moment please"
12/10/2014 10:13:10AM Agent (TIP_Richard T): "still checking here.."
12/10/2014 10:14:36AM roar-k: "No problem Richard. I am not trying to save the world today so we have time."
12/10/2014 10:17:20AM Agent (TIP_Richard T): "thanks!"
12/10/2014 10:17:28AM Agent (TIP_Richard T): "thank you for waiting"
12/10/2014 10:18:30AM roar-k: "Good news or bad?"
12/10/2014 10:19:26AM Agent (TIP_Richard T): "those are not soldered on the motherboard "



I only asked regarding the CPU and RAM as I did not doubt about the GPU being soldered. Not trying to post conflicting information, just posting what I received while asking questions before I ordered my AW13.

 

If u check the dell teardown tutorial pdf it shows it as soldered in

 

CPU and GPU are 100% soldered! RAM is not!

 

My QHD model was set to arrive today but dell Delayed it.

 

BTW, I called and spoke to one of their Alienware Tech Support individuals and they told me that it will take any 2.5" SSD, even if you purchase it with the 256 m.2 SSD. I'm not sure how accurate that is but it's what they said.

 

I honestly don't think they know what they are talking about. Especially the individuals who are on the Chat screen as they are just sales reps.

Edit: Case in point:

10:15:37 AM Customer Smin
Hello, I wanted to know if the CPU is soldered onto the Motherboard for the Alienware 13 Laptop.
10:17:25 AM Agent TIP_Comfort A
Glad you chatted in, I'll be happy to help you out with that.
10:17:30 AM Agent TIP_Comfort A
Let me check that for you, please give me 2-3 minutes for this.
10:18:35 AM Agent TIP_Comfort A
but what do you mean by soldered though?
10:18:56 AM Customer Smin
If the CPU is permanently attached to the motherboard (soldered).
10:20:26 AM Agent TIP_Comfort A
Upon double checking, it is soldered to the CPU
10:20:50 AM Customer Smin
Ok thank you.

 

Sales reps are sometimes right but frequently wrong, enough that I wouldn't take their word on much I wasn't sure about unless it confirmed something said elsewhere already.

Edit: at 3:25 PM EST the FedEx guy dropped mine off!!!!

 

I hope so, it would be great to have a smaller form factor Notebook with an mxm slot, like the M15x use to be...

Unfortunately the business world does not always follow our logic..

 

YAY :thumbsup: Hooray happy days!!! :laugh:
Christmas just came early for this guy!

 

Sweet! I'm just antsy wanting to get my new toy.... is there a difference between Dell indicating an Estimated Shipping Date of Dec. 22/2014 on your main account page but when you click to get more details, Dec. 22 is indicated as the Estimated Delivery Date.

 

I'm having fun vicariously watching all you guys get excited about the machines haha! :thumbsup: Regarding an optical bay...does anyone still use optical media? Thankfully I haven't had to deal with that crap in close to 10 years. I can't wait until it dies for good!

 

Optical bays are not only used for optical drives. :thumbsup: Don't be so closed-minded.

 

*static**** Houston, we have a problem....

So, I get the AW 13, pop it out to check it out (no way I was getting it on Xmas and discover an issue) even though my intention is not to really use it until December 24th (we open presents on Christmas Eve).

Check it out, notice no felt-like sleeve like before (sad), unit is like a new born babe, I'm checking for scratches, grease stains, notes written in blood by Chinese workers pleading for help taped to the bottom, nothing like that. Okay, we are looking good here, open the unit and all looks good, power it up and immediately notice on the opening Windows screen a little speck... oboy. Doesn't come off the screen, tried tapping slightly to reset the pixel, nothing, it's definitely a dead, dark pixel :cry:

So I start thinking to myself, , been lucky and never had a single system or monitor with a stuck pixel, guess my turn was up. First thought is I really wanted this for Christmas... how long will a replacement take. Check out the site and remember the quick ship options; fast forward through some debates with an online sale guy who knocks off some more from the price and decide to go for broke to experiment and compare and opt for the 1440p since in my initial testing... well, the little beast runs pretty damn well and looks nice on top.

This goes against my initial judgement, but the performance in Champions Online, albeit an older game by todays standard's, showed huge improvement, and with full settings. Contrast this with my M11x-R3, with lesser settings and only getting about 1/2 the average fps. So, I am thinking, hmmm... Truelife 1440p.... brighter, sharper (yeah, scaling questions were driving me mad) so I confirmed with the sales weasel, 30-day returns, no restock fees (and I recorded it), Touch I could care less about, but picture means a lot, and I could even see sacrificing some fps for a better picture, and worst case I could try lowering the res on the desktop a bit to reduce the problems with little text, etc.

So, get a better deal including next business day shipping from the 12th, unit will arrive on Monday. Holding the 1080p with its dead sorry- pixel to do some comparos for a few days before deciding to 1) keep the 1440 unit or 2) returning both and opting for yet another 1080p unit and keep my fingers crossed.

First impressions - unit light and at a glance looks almost the same size as an M11x (like Sandman's pics showed), little concerned about how scratch resistant shell and particularly surface around keyboard is, but I think it will be okay. Picture is of course superb, reminding a lot of my desktop monitor. Speakers have decent separation, treble very clear and carries well, just enough bass to get a bit of oomph on drums or shots in game, etc, but a little disappointing but for the thickness... it has more bass than say a Macbook Air for instance by far. The other thing to note, I think the 500 GB hybrid is not bad, but if you're used to an SSD..., well what do you expect

My only issue here is that I am going to have to go Windows 8 which I have trepidation's about. if I ever want to use use Windows 7 (and hopefully get the drivers off the 1080p unit in hand) and the touchscreen (which I am not that keen on) I can live without.

To sum up up I really like this little guy. its a shame about the dead pixel, otherwise it would be close to perfect and go back in the box until Christmas, but fate threw me a curve so.... I will say this, for anyone who has been living on just an M11x for all this time, you will be ecstatic going to the AW 13. Maybe it's just what I ran, but in a 72' f room the fans stayed quite silent... and only got a slight high pitch after about an hour of on and off gaming.

 

Sorry about the pixel Docsteel - let me know what you think of the higher-res display, which is definitely the one I'll be ordering when I'm back in the US next.

We're talking about a 13" machine here

 

Will do sir, as soon as I have it in my hot little hands on Monday

One thing I neglected to mention was the price was about $100 more for the 1440 option (list) after the guy applied the $50.00 off coupon and pulled it down more. Mind, you, I was not concerned about price, but getting a new system with hopefully a better screen, it goes to show they will pull the price down just to get the commission.

 

I had a dead pixel on my Envy 14 radiance (2010), couldn't get an exchange since they were sold out on radiance displays. They did offer me $50 off. i forgot about the dead pixel 1-2 weeks later and don't even realize its there.

 

Bold = new additions.
Really, no R9 290x? They have plenty with their Area 51, but none for the GA?
Well, at least we have more options.

 

Is there any chance a model with a 900 series card will be available in the future? 
Reply ·

Alienware1 day ago
There are plans to upgrade next year, specifically unclear yet.

This was Alienware's response on the alienware 13 cod aw youtube video comments. I might wait till next year for a 900 series

 

A 960/65m would be awesome. Hopefully it's out by march...

 

Hello!

@ Docteel:

What's the best option in 512GB format?
M2 SSD or a "classic" SSD ?

Thanks very much!
Best regards from France.

 

The storage options offered are weak considering the latest SSD prices. I will probably go with the standard drive offered and then upgrade to a 512GB Samsung 850 Pro which is running around $350. Also saw a 480GB PNY for under $200. Would be nice to future-proof it with the m.2 adapter and wish they threw it in (I'll be asking when ordering), but expect it wouldn't cost that much to order separately later when and if needed - dual 1TB m.2s would sure be nice when they become available and prices drop a bit more!

 

I was tempted sorely on this point as well... I decided I just was tired of waiting for the darn thing and moved on the i5/860m. I'm thinking get one now, then wait for the Silverlake revision which certainly will have the 900-series GPU and all the benefit of that generation and flip this unit (someone will get a deal, I take fastidious care of my systems even after years they look virtually new). The 860m is no slouch coupled with the current chip, in fact it's probably alone not enough as is (the i7 coupled with the 860m is to me the best option). I don't think they are going to rush to a 900-series because it might highlight the bottle-necking question even more than the 860m.

Salut! (I love France and its history and culture, if I ever win the lottery my wife and I are moving there within a month - and we will fully learn French I promise )
I personally am going the standard SSD route... but that is because I am not convinced the best parts are in the M.2's, and the density is lower for them, but I honestly don't think you would be unhappy with them. I plan to put in either a 256 GB or 512 GB Samsung 850 Pro, but an 850 Evo would do just fine... I might opt for Evos as I don't think you would see the difference and the real benefit of the Pro is a 10-year warranty as opposed to 5 on the Evo's.

Good point - that might be an option as well... I could probably learn to live with it, if I threaten to return it. Maybe they will give me a G/A to play with (as if).

The one thing I am irritated with is the business about locking out overclocking unless you have a Graphics Accelerator... I think when enough people who get these see this and don't want a G/A there will be a BIOS update to unlock it, the whole attempt to goad you into a G/A through a desire to OC is just blatant commercialism.

 

I just ordered an open box EVGA GTX 980 Superclocked 4GB for $512 In store pickup, I'll get it after work.

 

Ok, mine is on fedex vehicle for delivery! :d:d

 

Same here, curious to see how this compares to my 2011 macbook air.

 

Salut capitaine, je suis de Suisse (j' habite les US).

Anyways..I see that the Alienware 13 pricing at Dell France is pretty reasonable.

 

Bonjour Docsteel! Merci pour ta réponse / Thanks for your answer
I will be glad to see you in France.
So ok, I'll take a "Classical" SSD with 512GB capacity


Un bonjour à gabswiss: c'est vrai que les prix en France pour le M13 sont intéressants mais ils ne proposent pas le i7 en option (du moins je ne l'ai pas vu )

 

haha, that's hilarious! you are right about them being sales and not support. But I could have hoped right?

 

The problem is - occasionally they are right about something upcoming so its wise not to discount them entirely, but take whatever they say with a huge grain of salt and verify.

 

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