*OFFICIAL* Alienware 15 R1/R2 Owner's Lounge

While gaming is a nice, and I will enjoy having the ability to do some gaming on this machine, I picked 4K because of content creation and the want to be portable.

 

I've been meaning to ask (and I probably either don't know or forgot the answer), but what is the refresh rate of the 4K panel? 30 Hz, 48H Hz, or 60 Hz?

 

Just got off the phone with dell and they will be shipping me a 240w supply since the the A002 bios does not seem to give as much peformance as the 240w does.

 

Is there any point to keeping the bios at A002 if I will be using a 240w psu? I would also like to ask if the 330w psu provides even better performance than the 240w?

 

I would try letting the battery discharge all the way and then recharging all the way

 

It may also be because Windows stops charging your battery when it is full so if you have had it plugged for a long time, this can happen.

 

About an hour and a half into the new rig must say I'm pretty happy completely lost in windows 8 but it will work. Can actually play company of heroes 2 like it should be played will try bf4 when it's done downloading. Fighting with my bank card over Dying light or not. So far so good.

 

Hi Guys
I have received my 240w PSU from Dell today. Here are some observations from the upgrade:

- PC Mark 8
The test score still varies from 3800ish to 4100ish on my configuration.

- 3D Mark 11
Now will mostly get a P9100ish and X3200ish score. ( Had got P8800ish score when using 180 PSU twice in a row, same hardware and software enviornment).

- 3D Mark
Now will mostly get a 6600ish score. ( Had got 6300 score when using 180 PSU).

Although the new PSU does not improve the maximum performance of a GTX970M machine, it does make sure that you get the most performance for most of the time during use.

 

good walkthrough on connecting ps4 controller.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-connect-a-ps4-controller-to-pc/

 

that one is a bit outdated actually, as you don't need to download the xbox drivers. you can just install this: http://inputmapper.com/ and then pair up the DS4 via bluetooth.

also recommend: http://pinnaclegameprofiler.com/ for games without gamepad support. found a couple of pre-made profiles that work with Mass Effect 3

 

nice, I didn't know about the profile site thanks

 

check out their forum also if you wanna try more profiles different from the defaults. for me.. when i downloaded the default ME3 profile, it was still not good enough, as i'm used to the PS3 version. luckily a couple of members uploaded profiles closer to the console experience.

 

Would Dell give 970m users a 240watt psu? I really think I need one to achieve the best performance of my machine.

 

Are Dell giving 980m users a 240W psu? I asked them and the guy I spoke with said they are not.

I got my laptop with a 980m today and I got a 180W psu.

 

Hey, does anyone here have the i5 version with the 965M? How do you like it?

I'm looking at getting the i5/965M with 1080p screen, 8GB and 1TB HDD. I'll be able to get a 512GB mx100 OR mx200 within my budget of around $1650 CAD including tax.

I can't get the i7/970M even with only the HDD within my budget in Canada!

I think the i5/965M with the SSD will be the more rounded machine overall.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

 

I ran the 3DMARK - FIRE STRIKE and got the following scores.

Score: 8139
Graphics Score: 9588
Physics Score: 9085
Combined Score: 3555

Max CPU temperature across all cores: 82C
Max GPU temperature: 78C

I feel like the temperatures are on the high side - when compared with what others have reported so far. Please refer to my signature for the laptop config and the psu I am using.

It would be great if someone having an AW15 with a 980m could confirm if they got similar scores and temperatures or not. Thanks!

 

I just called them this morning and they are sending one free of charge with 1 day shipping. The rep told me the 980m systems were supposed to ship with 240w to begin with.

 

Thanks. Which department did you call?

 

I called tech support and the first agent I reached was able to get me the upgraded charger.

 

Ah, ok. I too called the tech support - primarily because my battery died within a few seconds of me switching on the laptop for the first time, as soon as I disconnected the charger. I asked the same person who arranged for my battery replacement if he can replace my psu as well and he said that the 980m comes with a 180W psu. Let me check again tomorrow. Thanks!

 

Oddly enough, technical support already had a file attached to my profile. I completed a long winded argument for why I need the 240 watt, and the tech commented that it was already notated in my account. Far easier than I thought that it would be.

 

Oh cool, I'm going to call tomorrow to get one as well

 

Hi, Please post that checklist for me, I am getting the laptop soon and would like to know exactly how to set it up initially.
Thanks lol

 

Just got my alienware 15 and its pretty sweet. I have a few questions though..

1) I notice some lag when I am typing in google chrome... Whats up with that?

2) Can anyone tell me what the unneeded crap you can install are? (Also if the USB OS that you get from them is it a clean install or what)

3) Can anyone tell me a free site i can check for ghosting issues?

4) Also I notice my laptop really slows down when downloading... Any suggestions? --- May have fixed it by removing the bandwith limiting option in the killer options.

5) Anyone know of a free benchmark program?

6) Is there any way i can see if i have the most up to date drivers?

Thanks!

 

1/4. the bandwidth limiter in the killer suite is the suspect, as it effected both my mouse and cursor.

2. I didn't get one till requesting one, so that is good that you were supplied/ordered one. I can't use alien respawn, with an aftermarket SSD, so the usb drive is a good security blanket. I believe it only has a basic windows imprint and the additional content, like Command Center, have to be downloaded at Dell's site.

5. I use this freeware:
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2235/futuremark-3dmark-11-v1-05/

6. nvidia drivers
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

 

how are temps under load over keyboard and palm rest?

 

Thanks. BTW - I ran the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark (my scores/temperatures are posted on the previous page). Did you run any such on your 980m and if so what were the max temps you've seen on the CPU and the GPU?

 

16 gb Ram after promo code $114 only good for 24hrs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...587&cm_re=vengence_ram-_-20-233-587-_-Product

Promo code: EMCANNT35

 

would there be actual improvement from the stock Hynix 16GB sticks in there now?

 

its just cheaper than ordering from dell ($150) when you order the laptop, plus dell charges Tax on top of it

 

oh ok. but for those of us who already got the stock 16GB config.. there would be no advantage of going with the Crucial vs Hynix? sorry for the newb question.. been at the Mac side for way too long now.

 

Hello guys, after i've installed all the driver in the device manager i find an unknown device, checked the device Id and its "
ACPI\VEN_KIOX&DEV_0095 " no luck in googling it, anyone?

 

3D Mark 11 720p
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/9484667

3D Mark 11 Extreme 1080p
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/9484256

 

I'll run these benchmarks and compare with your numbers. Sorry for asking you again - by any chance did you record the CPU/GPU temperatures? I didn't find them in your links. Thanks!

 

So far, I don't feel any heat over the palm rest. The top of the keyboard (i.e., first few rows from the top) seems to get warm - but definitely not anything to worry about.

 

Is the overall heat of the laptop better or worse than an average laptop? if you don't mind.. Rate the cooling 1-10... Rate the overall computer 1-10

 

i only have an early 2014 MacBook Pro to compare, but the AW15 is about the same as far as feel of overall heat when not gaming.

 

Does anyone know where to get the screw's lock?
I am not even sure that if it is called screw's lock.
It works like a lock, so I call it a screw's lock.

 

is that the back panel door? i'm guessing that part came off while unscrewing? i don't even remember that on mine.

 

Yes, it is back panel door. I lost one of them when istalling m.2 drive.

 

I have a beaten up MacBook to compare with. So, compared to that, the cooling on the AW is great. I'd say my old MacBook (2008 model) while just viewing multiple videos gets as hot as the AW while gaming. Haha! In general, I'd say cooling on the AW is good. Check my benchmark temps on the previous page! I haven't done a lot of gaming though yet - just got the laptop yesterday.

Right now, I don't have a working battery - so I am not happy. Other than that, overall build is very good. Wait for a week or so and I can then give you a more informed opinion. I haven't really had a chance to test the laptop extensively.

 

Has anyone experienced in-game stuttering in the new AW 15, especially the 980M? I just installed Team Fortress - which should be one of the easiest to run for a 980M, but I experience stuttering and the game freezes every 10-20 seconds for 2-3 seconds. I regularly play it on another laptop and the game works just fine on that now. I am wondering if this is can be due to the 980m or the network card. Any inputs please? Thanks.

 

Hey, has anyone installed a Crucial mx100 2.5" SSD as a boot drive?

Just wondering if they work, I know there were some issues with crucial SSD's in the AW 13 when it came out, they weren't recognised?

 

Disable bandwidth control int he Killer Control Panel. See if that'll fix the problem.

 

I am officially an owner with a 980m and 4k screen. This is a sweet machine.

 

Thanks - let me try. Also, has anyone experienced a crash while running the 3DMark Sky Diver benchmark? My laptop switches off. I checked the windows log but there is not a trace - except an exception indicating a power failure. Any ideas? I'm getting a bit concerned now with all these issues. Thanks!

 

I haven't gotten an answer on this, but what is the refresh rate of the 4K panel?

 

well guys, sad to say that i will be returning my AW15. just got my replacement today (1st one i got had a couple of issues i mentioned in my previous posts - light bleed, keys getting stuck, wonky trackpad).. well this replacement came with a panel that is loose. the left side of the screen itself is slightly separated from the bezel.. it's not much, but it's noticeable enough and not something i will settle with for this kind of money. it's such a shame too, as i do like the overall laptop, and this one had barely any light bleed. but i'm just not happy with the quality of the two i've received for the money i've paid, so i will have to just return them. goodluck to you all. hope yours are better. it's a really sweet gaming machine.

 

it is a 60hz 4k Panel..

 

Thank you. Just needed to know.
One last thing, though. Can you go into dxdiag (type that into the search box), and tell me which is the display GPU and which is the render GPU (Windows 8.1 should list both, but Windows 7 only lists the display GPU)?