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

Thanks, pch temp is now stable at 80*C, I will try heatsink mod later.

 

you can mod it a little bit more with thermal pads removing the plastic of the keyboard and using the metal plate as a heat spreader for Vram and the back of pch

 

The mod you made is quite dangerous though. if you press down the palmrest a bit too much you can short out parts on the motherboard because you removed the plastic. The risk is low but it is there.

 

hahahaah no risk with that amount of thermal pads lol

 

evening fellas. I'm overdue for upgrading the hdd in my R1. Please advise which of these m.2's have worked well in these laptops: https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100011693 600038519 601193224 601286600 600414920&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&PageSize=96

I'll be going at least 1tb m.2 and cloning the hdd to this new drive for OS, programs, and games. Then most likely replacing the hdd with a 2.5" sdd.

Cheers!

EDIT 12.26.18 : My machine is and R2, not an R1 as originally posted above. Does that change anything?

 

Please remove your service tag.
Any M.2 SATA will work. Crucial MX500,860 evo are the ones to consider. If you need firmware updates for M.2 SSD choose MX500.

 

done thanks. I'll try to update firmware and get a 2tb 860.

 

860 has no firmware updates at all.

 

****. any idea why? sorry for what may be a noobish question but why launch a product without firm support?

 

Even 850,860 evo's M.2 didn't have firmware support at all. I sometimes get unbootable bug on 850 evo m.2, I simply got it for endurance. If I had known there's no FW update I'd have chosen Crucial MX300 with updates. 860 pro and 860 EVO 2.5" drive has FW updates along with their NVMe consumer lineups.

 

10-4. 2tb m.2's are hard to come buy. how about this: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?reviews=all&Item=N82E16820250093 ?

 

I always go for Pro versions.

 

They don't sell Pro for M.2 SATA.

 

Yes you can go for if you want to store just data/games. For heavy usage go for samsung/micron.

 

I use both... NVMe and 2.5" slots. And I buy laptops with both interfaces. Thin and flimsy often contain just M.2 because there ain't place for any 2.5" on the MB.

 

I use 2.5" for HDD so I went with M.2 SATA.

 

Hi, I just purchased a AW 15 R1 cheaply, and want to squeeze everything I can out of the 970m. Does anyone know where I can find the PremaMod for it?

 

why do you think that happen ? i never had any issue with my two 850 evo m.2. they are rock solid and fast for my use

 

Use Linux 16.04. 18.04 solved most issues for me. Many users complained about the issue but Samsung didn't answer them but 2,5" drive 850 evo had FW update to correct the same bug. Sounds weird, right?

 

Has anyone had success overclocking the 1080p screen on the 15 R1?

 

@judal57 has 90Hz OC on his monitor.

 

in fact i made this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/overclocking-60hz-display-successful.814570/

 

@Vasudev @judal57 New Touchpad Drivers are out, i havnt tested, im on 19H1 windows build..

https://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER05237243M/3/Dell-Touchpad-Driver_9NNK9_WIN_19.2.17.70_A11.EXE

 

So what is a good Firestrike score for a AW 15 R1 with a 970M? I'm getting a 8250 overall score and 9800 graphics score overclocked.

 

Its good score. At stock settings my 980M FS score is 8350 on new 3dmark updates. Earlier it used to score 8500-8700 on stock 980M and 9500 when OC'ed.

 

Did you try it?

 

Yes I have it installed now on October Build.. Yesterday I was on 19H1, now im back to October Update. I could not find any improvement on new touchpad driver.. its just optimized for w10 oct update I guess, and some security fix.. they have a 1808.20 Intel Me driver on Windows Update Catalog, it automatically downloaded yesterday.. and rest all Ive downloaded from M15 driver page, like kionix, OSD and other stuffs.. im sticking with old 391 or 399.24 driver set, I saw a 2 fps boost and smooth framerates on most games, new 400 series drivers are crap.. except this one 416.16.. ive tested with 10 different set of benchmarks.. AC odyseey works better without the game ready drivers.. WTFH nvidia..

 

I also saw the Intel ME driver 1815.12.0.2021 on windows update. I used windowsShowHide updates so it wouldn't install. I am a bit hesitated to update the driver knowing all the issues... Is it safe to update @VICKYGAMEBOY ?

 

Use inf only mei driver from win-raid.

 

So I should just stay on 11.7.0.1054? That is the driver dell recommended besides bios 1.6.1 ( https://www.dell.com/support/articl...intel-me-txe-advisory-intel-sa-00086-?lang=en)
Guess I just stay on my current ME driver. If it's not broken, don't fix it...

 

im using that driver version.. no probs so far..

 

Why the need for full bloated driver package from Dell? http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/intel-drivers-updates.782418/page-29#post-10820979

 

https://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER05...-and-Management_THVT6_WIN_16.7.9.1027_A03.EXE

New INTEL RST Drivers which can be used for both 15 R3/ 15 R2... Just extract and use only INF method to install any driver.. i never install anything else.. even for INTEL Me, DPTF.. and other bloats dell adds.. also they have updated 15 R3 page with the oldest Intel VGA driver.. Not sure Whats Thats for..

UPDATE : They have removed the Intel Graphics Driver

 

Downloaded and installed fast with no issues. This was jus for the Intel ME and not all the other bloatware mentioned above.

 

Its okay to install both IRST driver and console because Dell's driver is customized and some bugs are removed which Intel driver doesn't.

 

@Vasudev a disaster happend today, i cleard CMOS and somehow installed dell stock ISO which came with recovery. everythign went fine.. until.. this alienware update software included downloaded the old 1.1.0 bios for some reason and flashed it.. it did downgrade somehow automatically. cuz i just cleared CMOS before installing.. now im stuck with bios 1.1.0 with latest firmware.. i cant even boot. ends up with memory management issue caused by INTEL ME with OLD bios.. and sadly with BIOS 1.1.0 the default BIOS updater doesnt work.. so i tried the Recovery Method.. made RCV and tried to bootup from USB and damn, it gives me ROM header invadlid error.. i tried to flash with different BIOS versions by making RCV with 2 different USB drives.. same error.. hmm..

Update : i just cleared CMOS and disabled both secure boot and TPM on BIOS.. now im able to install OS using Legacy Mode.. Once inside ill run the 1.6.1 BIOS straight.. No thanks to this stupid Alienware Update Included on DELL OS recovery Tool.. ill update once everythings installed.. Should i go from 1.1.5 all the way upto 1.6.1 or just straight 1.6.1 if i do one by one its more thn 8 BIOS

 

Glad you solved it!
Regarding the bios updates, it is recommended to do it step by step. 1.1.5 and up to 1.6.1 is a huge jump and to risky. It is ok to skip 2-3 bioses. I flashed from 1.2.8 to 1.3.9 on my AW17R3 when I first updated the bios.

 

I got into the First Release BIOS update, 1.1.0 and that thing dont have BIOS flasher.. it doesnt work.. somehow i managed to Flash 1.6.1 straight.. But dont you think 1.6.1 will have all the fixes from the early stages carried over ???

 

Sorry, did not read that bit before I postet.
Yes, that is most likely the case. Dont see any reason that it wouldn't. But I am not an expert. What do the HWiNFO summary show, same as before this happened?

 

Use the custom 1.3.12 with C6 ucode I gave you. Change /REBOOT to /SHUTDOWN in bat file and all should be good from upgrading from 1.1 to 1.3.12(aka1.6)

 

can you PM me once again.. I just got into 1.6.1.. I tested gaming for 3hours straight with no intel ME driver / thermal platform drivers.. with throttlestop ON, BD proc disabled.. I forced my laptop temp to 90s on CPU, Specially on PCH.. no drop in core speed.. seems like using those drivers creates conflict with TS.. 96c on PCH, I blocked my vents just for the testing.. 3.1ghz solid, no throttle at all.. btw Intel UWD drivers..

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28139/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10?product=80939

 

@Vasudev PM doesnt work.. Btw i have installed 1.3.12 without the MCU.. i have Latest Intel ME from 1.6.1 BIOS.. now i can maintain the base clock speed when i set the better performance mode on battery slider.. atleast its not broken like the 1.6.1.. tested few rounds of game.. to be honest i feel 1.3.12 is better.. but i need the C6 MCU alone.. i saw Microsoft Catalog Updates for Microcodes.. Do u have any alternate method for only intel microcode.. also im downloading Toolkit V9.0.7.. Going to make a Debloated 1809 Home Premium.. any sugestions or advice ??

 

I put the link in your rep. https://1drv.ms/u/s!Al8WP3ITOd0EidRNIP4KtIuFS8_QfA
You can use mine v1809 version I shared with most people here at NBR via PM. You may have to add build 134 update using Win toolkit or ntlite if you don't want data loss. I'm still using v1803 and plan to stick with it for 2 years.

 

I'm using Cooler Mastergel Nano right now and quite happy with it , have to put copper shim between cpu die and heatsink because of uneven heatsink. I'm also using bios A00 as it has the best fan profile and thermal management. Today I saw gc extreme on sale (tube 3.5g for only nearly $9) and I think may be I should buy 1 tube and test if it could reduce cpu temp even more or not. What do you think?

 

Becareful though, older bioses might fry the DC-in cable

 

so what do you recommend samsung/micron for a large M.2 for heavy useage? I'll decommission this laptop sometime in the next year and may put this m.2 into another build. "buy once, cry once."

 

Mx500 m.2 SATA or Samsung 970 pro(expensive) or ADATA SX8200/SX8200 Pro(Budget) for data intensive tasks M.2 NVMe drives.

 

I would like to update Samsung pm951 nvme firmware. Currently BXV77D0Q firmware on board. There is 2b0qbxx7 update for NVMe SSD-950 PRO on Samsung site. Have anyone installed that update?

I've found it in the user manual

1. This Samsung Firmware Utility supports all Samsung Brand SSDs. If you have a computer with a Samsung SSD pre-installed(OEM versions), please contact the manufacturer of your computer...

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, there's no firmware update for pm951 at all.

 

How deep is the 2.5" drive bay on the R2? Will it accommodate a 15mm HDD? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822179104

...something is telling me "no".