*OFFICIAL* Alienware 15 R3 Owner's Lounge

If you did some video streaming via twitch/youtube 50c is fine. I have a LM repaste and during the day I can hover at 49-50c while watching twitch streams. 44-46 just browsing forums and what not.

QUESTION for those experienced in overclocking. I turned on OC level 3 in bios which was a 4.3 oc I believe. I ran a single core cinebench and got 187 which is a good chunk better then the 147 stock (great for cemu emulation). Now when I tried to run OCCT it would jump from 4.3 to 3.3 repeatedly. Not sure what that's about.

 

Dell's advertised OC profiles doesn't put all cores equal.
Take a look on how to put up OC settings.

 

OC3 is 4.3.GHz boost for one core loaded ! if 4 cores are under heavy load, frequency is lower. If Power limit is exceeded or Core temps reach 95°C frequency goes down even lower.

Up to 4.0GHz and + is only on one core while idling ... Of course DELL doesn't precise it, otherwise nobody would pull the trigger for their laptop.

50°C while idling is normal because fans are off when under 50°C and CPU performance is disabled. Some kind of silent mode.

 

Thank you I'll look into that

Ha so that's why my temps jump around 50c. It's the fan going on then off, that's good to know. I wish we could set our own fan profile.

 

Anyone has a picture of their laptop with the skin on?

 

In XTU I undervolted by .125V and underclocked all the multipliers by 200 Mhz (x2 on multiplier). So far I have been rock solid with no temps going over 90c. I still have some core temp differentials but nothing terrible (I did repaste). With this setting and Prime95 running a small FFT torture test system was rock solid, fans weren't crazy loud, and no throttling of any kind (Thermal/Power/Current) as reported by XTU. Temps were very stable also, not jumping around like throttling leads to.

Just checking in and sharing this setting that I am pretty happy with.

 

Hello. I'm planning to buy 15 R3, did they fix thermal issues in new batches?

 

Not the big differences.

 

Thermal issues? What thermal issues? I thought they said it works as intended and thermal throttling is normal?

 

LOL
That made my day, @Mr. Fox

 

Hi I have recently buy an 15 r3 the pc is great, but I have notice that the hhd Hitachi is always at 100% usage without doing nothing how can I fix it?? thanks

 

I have a 15R3 with a 7820HK and NVIDIA 1070. I noticed during testing that the GPU was throttling due to voltage reliability. I took it apart today to do a repaste with Kryonaut and noticed that some of the thermal pads around the gpu aren't making contact with the memory and power components. I didn't have any replacement pads so I just repasted and put it back together. The GPU clocks went up after the repaste (steady 1885) but you can see small stutters when the throttling happens. Seems to be similar to the problems people are having with the 17R4 and stuttering.

The system also crashes Windows if I set it at any overclock level in the bios but a custom overclock of all four cores at 4.0GHz does work.

I am not sure if it is worth the trouble trying to fix it or if I should just send it back.

 

If you can fix it by putting correct thermal pads, I don't see a reason to return it.

 

maybe ist a dump question, but is it normal that if i put some pressure on the display frame (inside) when the display is on (mainly at black backround) i get some blacklightbleeding? it feels really squishy...

- sorry for my english

best regards.

 

Yes. Often is the display frame glued and clipsed too thigh on the panel and the end results being more backlightbleading than what should be necessary. Some laptop models is worse than others.

 

Has anyone actually taken apart the panel? I kind of want remove the squashed bug thats in between the screen but not if its easy to damage. I'm glad its on the top left out of vision for the most part but I do look at it because I know its there haha.

 

Hi, could someone please give me the part number of the Alienware 15 R3 FULL HD IPS + Gsync Panel? I want to replace the 120hz TN Panel with the IPS FULL HD.

 

Monitor Name: LG Philips (unknown model: LGD049B)
Monitor Name (Manuf): 156WF6 (DELL P\N: F7HH2)

 

Thank you!
Ist this also capable of G-Sync? I have ordered the "LP156WF6". Is this also usable for G-Sync in Alienware 15 R3?

 

Even 15 r2 uses the same panel.

 

Just my 2 cents for 15R3 SSD heatsinking:

Material:
1. 20x20x3.5mm Al heatsink x2 (3.5mm max. prefer 3.0mm)
2. 1/4 of 20x20x3.5mm Al heatsink x1
3. 50mm x 50mm Sekisui #5670 (or compatible) double side thermal tape x1

Tools:
Sandpaper, file, metal saw, hair dryer + basic tools.

Process:
1. Tear off the label on the SSD (I stick back this label near by the SSD on the "Computer Base" - image 1)
2. Use metal saw to saw a 1/4 of 20x20x3.5mm Al heatsink then use file and sandpaper to polish the burrs -image 2 and 3
3. Use sandpaper to completely polish the anodize treatment on the heatsink surface which is going to stick on the SSD (be aware and make sure the flatness of the heatsinks you get ! The attached image 3 shows the partial polish to the anodize treatment, you can tell the surface of the heatsink I get is a little inwardly dished !)
4. Clean the heatsinks.
5. Clean the surface of the RAMs and Controller of the SSD (be aware do not touch or contaminate the golden fingers of the SSD!)
6. Thermal tapes on heatsinks first.
7. Use hair dryer slightly preheat the heatsinks and SSD before stick them together, heatsink fin direction refer image 1 and 2.

Notes:
1. The Stock SSD I get is Toshiba 256G.
2. Enable "CPU Performance" mode in BIOS can increase the temp. of PCH and SSD
3. The 15R3 only allow 2.5mm max. profile (height) heatsink for PCH, it may be different from 17R4

 

This is the part number shown on HWinfo on my 15R3, IPS G-sync panel.
And by the way, this one has absolutly no lightbled compare to the previous generation that was not G-sync.

 

Do you happen to know why this is the case? CPU P. mode has a always on fan (2600rpm CPU, 2900GPU) so I would think this would benefit the rest of the laptop.

 

I have the same fan profile with yours in performance mode but don't know why both my PCH and SSD's temp. is over 8C higher than the temp. when they in default mode? Hope someone has the answer for this.

 

See what Dell Compal EC reports in HWINFO. If it shows exact same temps and not lowered temperature reading then its a bug.

 

Seeing the recent replies on here looks like it's still a "Build your own cooling!" system. Shame, I was almost ready to discount the gargantuan chassis

 

Sounds like for a powerful desktop?

 

Hey Folks,

sorry won´t crash the thread but just wanna say that I´m so happy that i´ve sent back my 15R3 (6820HK/32/1070/4K) those days and that DELL does not came back to me for offering any refreshed version voucher code as we´ve dealed that so I never picked up the KabyLake Refresh version (which works as expected and thermal throthling is normal LOL )

I´ve picked the Gigabyte P56XT in the meantime (only 7700HQ/32/1070/FHD) and I´m pretty exited, this device already runs quieter than my GT72 before (!!) and if i force the fan RPM to low i still can play games (and system does not shut down), out of the box! Ok it´s plastic and there´s no metal on the case, but hey - at least it works.

While gaming it won´t reach the 100% RPM mode for my fans and in preset "game" it runs pretty quiet as well - out of the box and neither CPU or GPU will throtthle (I´ve used throttle stop to lower ~ 130mV for CPU&Cache but just for fun and having lower heat on the Device).

Awesome! Just my few words, would not tell anyone to go out and buy Alienware (for the current models).

Regards,
aVa

 

Just got a new alienware 15 r3 - I ran 1 loop of unigine heaven on ultra / extreme with x2AA and I see 8% overheating showing in AIDA64 and CPUID showing MAX core temp of 100 on 3 of 4 cores with the last one at 99.

This is with stock everything straight out of the box. Is this expected? I thought the new versions mid 2017 models resolved the heat problems.
Can someone suggest to me if I should accept this or ask dell to replace it?
Should I try and underclock the cpu?

Below are the HWINFO / AIDA64 and unigine score.
http://imgur.com/a/gdwxV

 

Return it or you can fix with repaste,repad and undervolting using XTU or ThrottleStop.

 

RMA. The TRIPOD mess will never ever be fixed!!
Test Aida64 stability test as this guide. Take a screenshot when the test run fully bore. Not only after tests is finished. You can also replace (uncheck the box stress Gpu) with Heaven and run Aida64 Stress FPU + Heaven simultaneously. I'm sure even max undervolt wouldn't help on this.

 

I have downloaded XTU - what should I look at adjusting - is there a tutorial or guide on here?

What temps are acceptable?
Reseller here is claiming that this is normal overheating protection and that I am measuring the temperature incorrectly!

 

RMA, before its too late!! Low powered fully locked 45w Intel i7 shouldn't reach thermal throttling or thermal shutdown in any notebook!! Run suggested tests. Or Intel diagnostic tool who is approved by Dell. Run it simultaneously with Heaven. Forget undervolting. The underlying problem is too big. Get your money back.

 

Like Papusan said, Return it because the reseller would deny anything related to thermals in future. Look at Hidevolution w/ custom repaste and repad and all other stuffs w/ little premium.
Or look at EVOC MSI 16L 1080 in 15".

 

This!! And I have seen a lot of the same.

 

I ran the tests once with just AIDA64 FPU and GPU stress test 20+ mins 97 degrees and 91 degrees GPU. Then let it cool and once again with aida64 and unigine heaven benchmark. I just noticed my machine rebooted - i dont think it was a driver update but is there a way I can tell in the event log or somewhere why it rebooted?

 

Probably too much for the TRIPOD HS to handle. As I said... Don't bother with it and ask for refund. But it's up to you.

You can download and use WhoCrashed v5.54 for reading your shutdown/freezes/Bsod. See if you find anything of info in the error log and then Google the results.

 

Thanks for that... WhoCrashed showed no dump files, so not sure the reason on the rebooot. Trying to see if I can replicate the reboot with a benchmark test but it hasnt rebooted yet. however, the overheat is now up over 15% and 3 cores sitting on 99 or 100 and one stubborn core on 96. The keyboard on the right side is extremely toasty - too hot to type comfortably and the black strip withthe power button below the monitor is too hot to touch.

I am going to have to RMA - I am not sure the process though. I will try the resellar but I am not holding my breathe - chinese resellars can be absolute b******ds to deal with once they have your money.

 

File dispute with bank?

 

cash purchase unfortunately

Dell is only acknowledging a problem if the cpu reaches 93C on THEIR own test. Running it now, it seems a bit weak to me though. doesnt push CPU and GPU together and makes sure GPU and CPU tests are at opposite ends with a big long slow hdd test and memory tests between them.

 

Plug the heatsink up and show them the over 93c.

 

So i ran dells CPU stress test with aida64 doing a gpu stress test in the background and had hwinfo to monitor temps. CPU went to 100C and then i noticed it dropped back to high 80's but the cpu had throttled to 1700mhz. I let dells test finish and it told me the CPU stress test passed!

Seems to me that test is rigged!
It only tests CPU or GPU not both together as per normal gaming session. When the cores are at 100C and it throttles right down the test reports a pass!

Anyone else think the test is biased? Dell is protecting a defect product by using its own special tests to work around the known issues.

 

The Dell test is rigged, sort of. It's only testing the bare minimum of what is considered an operational CPU, it doesn't thoroughly check temps under sustained loads.


Try to run the Dell test again with all of the vents plugged up (tape the fan intake, grill exhaust, then put it on a bed). Maybe that will give you in-house service.

 

I did write a script to stress test, you could say you're developing a app.
It needs Visual Studio and Eigen. With only 4-8 lines you can stress it upto 90-95C if heatsink is improper seated or warped. Other CPU heavy test would be GPU Caps Viewer's OpenCL CPU test Quaternion Julia 4D.

 

Most likely Dell is going to invalidate everything except the ePSA (system self test) result.


Some people have experienced this.

 

Dell acknowledging use of Intel's own Diagnostic test tool. https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool
Run it several times non stop.

 

Main reason why got the PC was for university, so I run those any apps either OpenCL or CUDA or CPU heavy apps, you can ask @sagarbhathwar and he got his defective board that throttles to 800MHz.

 

UPDATE: So I finally got the shop to acknowledge the issue, although its very unlikely I can get my money back but I can swap the laptop. I have the choice of the exact same alienware laptop (test the temperatures before I leave the shop), a MSI GS63VR or Aorus X5v7. Which is best option?

In china - the Aorus has no repair centre so you have to send it to Taiwan and I read that the keyboard might still have problems. The MSI is a 1070maxq but has 2 years warranty and repair in china, its thin and runs very hot from what I hear. The dell is dell, its ok, heavy but has onsite repair (if you can get them to acknowldege a problem) but i could find the next laptop is exactly the same.

Anyone have any recommendations?
I am going to the shop in 24hrs so have to make a decision between now and then. Aorus seems best bet but the keyboard and repair being posted to taiwan is something to consider.

Sidenote for others fighting with dell: dell still wont acknowledge the problem with the laptop overheating, so far they just reply saying "its performance laptop and runs hot, not a problem".

 

Try Inspiron 15 7567 or Alienware 17 r3/r4

 

Don't even think about getting another 15 r3.
Do not get the exact same laptop.
And if they try to force you, file a chargeback with your bank and let them eat crow.

Otherwise, see if you can get a 17r4. If you get the r4, talk to iunlock and have him do his repaste service. It will take time but once he's done with it, you will never have overheating issues again.
If you choose the Aorus or one of the other brands, that's up to you.