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

I usually buy the biggest ssd modell of best quality, when I first have to buy a new. I know that I will use them in the next PC. Therefore quality that will last longer than the current PC, it was purchased for. Cheapest in the long run(for me). Small low quality ssd's will usually be put into a drawer once you upgrade to your next PC. This is not profitable in the long run.

 

I to be honest never bought the higher priced ssd's. Mostly crucials, but they sure are reliable, but not quick.

 

@Papusan: Did you read this news https://malwaretips.com/threads/eu-...ation-to-fight-short-product-lifespans.73405/

 

Where have yooo been bruh? Yoo don't read my posts? I'm shocked, LOL

 

I didn't know there was a thread like this. I only follow Dell, AW.

 

Easier + faster just to suicide maybe then

 

@Papusan: I managed to just cross 39W on p95 test on my CPU. Stock fan as always is very very slow to respond to changing temps and spiked to 90C on passive cooling, haha.

 

Hey guys, I could really use some help. I'm sitting at the airport and my laptop screen goes black, I reboot it and before the Alienware logo loads it cycles through gray, red, green, and blue screens.

I assume it's the GPU that died. Do I have to buy a whole new motherboard or can I just buy a replacement GPU? (I assume if it's the Intel integrated GPU at fault then I need a new Mobo).

Just to manage my expectations, does anyone think that my laptop may work again once plugged into my GPU dock at home?

Refurbished mobos are around $800, that's almost the price of the laptop. How easy is it to replace? Could I get a mobo with a 6820HK if I'm doing a swap?

 

The mobo will state 6820HK or 6700HQ along with 970m/980m specifically.

 

So I did some troubleshooting and reset the mobo. Hooking up the AGA didn't seem to do anything, but hooking up an external monitor seems to have worked but the laptop display will still cycle through red, green, blue, and white screens.

Does this mean my mobo is ok and my laptop display is at fault?

 

If the rear panel of the LCD screen feels warmer than usual, then it might be the fault of LCD.
You hooked up an external monitor to Alienware AGA or Alienware laptop?

 

The external monitor works if I hook it up either directly to the laptop or to the AGA. Both the intergrated graphics and the dedicated 970m, as well as the GPU in the AGA seem fine. It's just puzzling to me the LCD would be bad but still be able to operate and display the RGB colored screens.

I'm trying to update the BIOS currently but not having any luck. I'm on 1.3.6, and can't see what the laptop is doing when I run the BIOS install program since the external monitor doesn't kick on until after Windows loads. Can anyone help there too?

On a side note, the internal display is a 4K screen I bought directly from Dell, including the necessary cable to go from a 1080p screen to 4K. I'm about to recheck all the connectors for that.

 

I reckon LCD cable and other cables are properly inserted.
If possible buy FHD screen for testing or if you've older original part from Dell then replace it and check. Mostly it is issue with LCD. I know someone who had weird lines on screen and white screen afterwards replacing the screen fixed it. It was 17 r3, I believe.

 

Yeah, I figure the signal would be either all on or all off and not inbetween. I'll try finding and hooking up my old 1080p panel and see if that works another day, quite the chore to do.

 

Maybe something is loose with screen connection?


If you travel a lot, then vibration would be able to dislodge something.

 

But unlike a lot of connectors, the display cable has that locking bar that is pretty tight. Plus it worked while I was sitting at the airport for about 20 minutes before it shut off while I wasn't moving. I'll fully check everything later today or tomorrow including hooking up my old display, have to mentally psych myself up for the hassle.

 

Hello all,

After N number of part replacement and repairs, DELL India has advised me to ship the AW15 R2 to US for a replacement. I got this laptop in Dec 2015 (with 1+1 year warranty).
There is some issue in the Motherboard / battery /idontknow due to which the MB stops recognizing the battery. So I am sending it via a friend for replacement.

I asked Dell India what would I get back as a replacement, but they are unsure. Does anyone have any idea on how Dell treats this process or replacement post 2 years of running issues?

Thanks,
Ckhurana

 

Just accept the same model w/ upgraded specs like 6820HK and 980m because the newer line-ups as you see are having CPU overheat, SSD overheat, BIOS update bricking M/B and what not.
Just remove the CMOS battery for a while. Try checking the connections because wires from battery and speaker could be confusing at first but easier to recognise when you have a service manual.
Even if they disagree and give you a 15/17 newer line-ups. Tell them to ship to @iunlock or @Mobius 1 address and let them fix overheat issues which isn't free, of course but affordable.
I don't know what future awaits my 15 r2.

 

After going through almost the whole of internet, I still can't find any answer to the problem I have with my Alienware 15 R1 laptop. Basically, I had a bad flash when I was trying to update my BIOS as my computer froze and had to remove the battery to turn it off. Since then, the pc doesn't Post. It turns on with the lights on, then shuts off and keeps doing that.

Now, I have read posts from Lord Zog and Papusan but for some reason, I cant blind flash this PC. It doesnt read the USB drive at all. I tried all the USB ports and couple of different BIOS versions too. I saw on this forum that even skunk1 had the problem but I don't know if he fixed it or just replaced it.

This guy on the Alienware forums was also having the same problem but idk if he found a solution.
https://na.alienwarearena.com/ucf/s...ical-support-1/ForumPost/alienware-15-no-post

So now, I was wondering what can be done other than replacing the mobo? I did buy the BIOS and the EC chip and was wondering if someone has been successful in replacing the chips and bringing the pc back to life.

Or if there is any other way to blind flash this laptop.
Its an Alienware 15 R1
Core i7 4770
Nvidia GTX 970m
16 gigs of Ram

Thanks in advance!

 

Well @Papusan I'm thinking of adding microcode, fixing typos in Dell BIOS. There are lot of options like Prema BIOS ie. selective SATA port enable/disable, thermal throttling lock enable/disable, Secure Erase, Enable/disable HWP (HW-p states aka Intel speed shift) and lots more untapped potential.
@Papusan: Can you remember any such guides for BIOS modding on AW models.

 

@Papusan: I've updated the BIOS to latest microcode using UBU. Enabled Intel Speed Shift.
I saved it as rom file. I really don't know if it works correctly or not. Maybe the BIOS rom file needs Prema's experience to get it done.

 

Maybe ask @Swick1981 a Bios modder who help in Alienware 18 sub threads. He works with socket Alienware, but ask anyway.

 

Cannot mod bios on alienware anymlre

 

Probably. Dell trashed and killed Alienware as brand early 2013. But still ask people who mod firmware is only choice.

 

Thanks for the advice @Vasudev. I really don't know how they strategise this and whether it will be to my advantage or not.. My only hope at this end is that I get atleast what I am returning for a replacement. I dont even know if they will send a refurb or a new system in return.

I intend to raise this with my Dell India contact (Sr. technical advisor) but only time will tell!

Thanks again.

 

Thanks @Papusan. @Mobius 1 try extracting the bios with hdr and rom files and use AMIBCP to view and save the BIOS. Dell are very tasty and have a lot of options. Well, we can modify the fan profile and other goodies. I hope Dell actually unlock everything like Prema.

 

when frank azor flies maybe

 

Well, he could buy a plane.

 

can you stop giving him ideas please

 

@Papusan and @Mobius 1 Are you familiar with Dell Gset BIOS Flash Update? You get this by hitting f12 and select BIOS Flash Update.

 

Just bought last years Alienware 15 R2.
i7 6700hq with 970m.
Can this laptop run 144hz on external monitor(guessing no)?
No issue displaying 2560x1440? Better to run hdmi or TB3 on 2560x1440 res?

 

Also bought Alienware 15 R2 i7 6700hq with 970m.
Great item - going to use it as desktop - but unable to wake it from sleep or hibernate with usb keyboard/mouse without opening !!!
Please help

 

Is Intel gpu drivers updated to latest one? Try latest BIOS if you're interested.

 

Not sure about latest intel drivers ( since windows 10 is latest - i think drivers are up to date ) but bios and gtx970m drivers are latest.
Will check all versions tonight.
So - if wake from usb works fine on your alienware ??

 

Don't update drivers through windows update and disable that functionality using Winaero tweaker.

 

latest intel drivers on intel website is buggy with many third party software, most stable intel driver for alienware ends with 4590.. lastest one has issues with chrome.. latest build number is 4729 which is buggy on many softwares..

 

Try the driver with this version win64_154519.4678. I thought I had 47xx drivers. I updated IRST to 15.7 using F6 aka floppy driver from Intel. A small 4-10MBps increase in R/W of HDD.

 

Yeah ive tried almost every single version.. 4590 is more stable over rest.. and are u using RAID mode ?? i mean instead of AHCI.. i have AHCI standard ones, i had Raid mode before with INTEL RST driver preloaded.. 15.7 ? okie let me try.. ill format in another hour or so.. BTW my battery is fixed.. Dell people were so blind.. i drained my battery completly and charged again.. and now im using.. they said my battery was faulty.. sad support team these days with no knowledge at all..and getting paid like knights..

 

Talking about the sun

 

Ok, So my faulty laptop reached DELL US. And they mailed in this morning with the replacement offered for the faulty 15R2 as below -



Don't judge me but I did not like the idea of replacing my 15" with a (newer but heavier) 17R4...

Let's see what is offered next

 

35W CPU? It should be 45W. You could ask for 7820HK, Killer 1535, 99Wh battery on 15" or 17" with or without GSync.

 

its already a boost from 970M to GTX1060.. with a 4K IPS display.. lol.. Yes 7820HK is better..

 

Hello there! I have a question about undervolting CPU. I know about xtu. But I've found some settings in bios>>> http://imgur.com/a/kA2Sz
Can we undervolt CPU using those settings?

Also is it possible to undervolt Gpu on our machine?

 

It's a mistake, always 45w.

The settings in the BIOS only allow to overvolt. And whoever Dell employee who made that LV1/2/3 OC profile was on crack.

You can set a maximum allowable voltage for the GPU using MSi afterburner. It's not exactly undervolting but close.

 

You could use Throttlestop for undervolting your CPU

Or speed

 

Hello,

So I got another replacement offer with the below specs.

BASE SYSTEM - Alienware 15R3

Operating System - Windows 10 Pro
Processor - Intel Core 7th Generation i7-7820HK Processor (Quad Core, up to 3.90 GHz, 8MB Cache, 45W
Hard Drive - 1TB 2.5inch SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) + 512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe Class 40 Solid State Drive
Memory - 32GB DDR4 Non-ECC SDRAM 2400MHz (2x16GB
Video Card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5
LCD - 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz TN+WVA Anti-Glare 400-nits Display
Keyboard - Backlit Keyboard - English
Wireless card - Killer 1535 802.11ac 2x2 WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1

This is an upgraded system in 15in platform

The display is FHD (I returned UHD) and hence they are compensating that on other major components (pleas refer the signature for the 15R2 I returned)

I am inclined towards it, what do you all advise?

 

awesome specs.. which country ?

 

I bought the original in US 1.5 years ago and got it transferred to India.

After 4 months of usage, that developed a lot of snags.. Ultimately with arbitrary shut downs and boot up in the laptop bag, I raised a lot of emails back and forth.

They told me to send it back to USA for replacement which I could manage only last month. Hence the specs are of a replacement unit. How do they look?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

well im from india as well, i had 2 alienware systems, which had so many flaws, i waited 6 months to get my replacement for 15 R1, and got a R2 with upgraded specs, not as good as yours though, but i had to go through a lot.. good for u.. hoping to see some pics of ur new lappie with temps / scores etc.. rock on

 

Yes, but will take time to get it back here in India. Maybe a month even.
Let's see when it arrives, will surely get back with the detailed stats!