*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R2/R3 Benchmark Thread

Yes indeed, especially curious to see how it holds up gaming over a extended periods of time and how much it can contain itself before it starts to throttle.

 

The 980M should be able to overclock beyond GTX 780 levels, close to 780Ti. The PSU & CPU will hold you back.

I want to see how the Z97 Clevo's stack up in comparison. I think there's a 15" Clevo with a 4790k (desktop processor) and GTX 980M. I'm sure it blows Alienware away.

 

There is indeed a 15“ Clevo like that. I know that Eurocom calls it the P5 Pro.

 

Thanks!

It should be able to do better than that. Looks like the PSU actually does affect the gfx to a decent degree.

 

you should try plugging in the 240watt from your r3 to see what happens.

 

Would love to see if this works.

 

I tried the 330 psu and it works great. Not sure of any other side effects, it charges and definitely didn't overheat under load.

 

So is the psu compatible? I don't know why but this makes me nervous for this new system lol

 

People seem to think you are overpowering it when the PSU only supplies the amount of current (up to it's max) the device draws. No risk at all. It'll be one of the first things I try. If it does work better and stop throttling then a few degree increase in temps nay be seen. Just monitor it.

 

Yes I would really like to know too the 180 watt brick is turning out to be a true hindrance shame on you dell... Glad to know I'll have to drop a little more money on top (Amazon has the 240 watt slim dell branded for $75 brand new) of my $2800 alienware just to get the most out of the system I would pay top dollar for lol smooth .. Real smooth

 

If it fits and is recognized, it is compatible. Supplying more "power" to the PSU is fine, it'll only draw the amount of current it needs to run. Very little risk.

(I'm an electrical engineering student if that lends any credibility to what I say)

 

It fits, it works.

 

Like everyone else said it will be fine. If you get a chance run some of the same benchmarks with the other PSU to see how much the score changes. Sounds like all the vendors like sager are shipping with these crappy 180watt adaptors. Not sure why???? .

 

If we could see a comparison between 3dmark11 and 3dmark vantage with the higher watt PSU, I would greatly appreciate that.

 

I'll give it a try and post my findings.

 

The why is simple. The design team had a maximum power draw they could use. Gonna be interesting if a 240w PSU gives it full performance. Dell would have to submit it for re-certification to approve the move and supply a decent amount of power...

 

Yes this would be most interesting

 

Ok here we go, and if you want screenshots please let me know.

With the psu from my m17xr3 the results are as follows:

3dmark11 P10036, graphics score 12193, physics score 6523, Combined Score 6611
3dmark Vantage: P26837, graphics score 30739, cpu score 19435

when i look at previous runs, something seems off. If it makes any difference I didn't have msi afterburner on before and I'm doing some retests with it on and it's showing 1126mhz for the gpu clock so that's better than 540.

I have it on a notebook cooler and gpu temp is 57c, with some auidble fan noise (but it's quiet in the room).

 

Yes this is as expected .... The power brick is simpley inefficient do you have the haven benchmark ? Run that on the 180 then the 240 and see how that results ... Do both test with afterburner so you can see you're clock speeds

Sorry to use you as a guinea pig however you're the only one who seems to have one in possession right now capable of actually benchmarking

From you're results however it seems clear the powersupply is utterly inefficient and will take a dump on anyone that buys this as their first alienware

 

With stock PSU:
3dmark 11: P10492, graphics score 12937, physics score 7532, combined score 5740

 

yup looks like 240 or 330 watt adapters are needed. that stupid that they shipped them that way.

 

Hope not Dellienware have locked off for a maximum wattage of the motherboard (in bios) such as Alienware 18 "Viking"

 

So the results clearly show's that the 180w brick needs to be dropped, and we should invest in a 230/240 or 330w psu?

Is there anywhere I can get hold of one? Please link. (I have a new AW17r2 inc, and would like to order a better psu before incomming)

 

You might want to wait and see if a new users raises a call with dell. They may end up having to send new PSU's to everyone with a 980m that asks for it. The 580m had a problem with poor padding/pasting so dell set up a part number that any 580m owner could refer to and get a replacement heatsink without any testing.

Luckily I have my R4 for testing and I fully intend to hit dell with irrefutable evidence that the product is 'not fit for purpose', if of course I can prove it when mine arrives. I have the higher CPU as well so it's even more likely to perform poorly on a 180w PSU .

 

I own a AW18 with 330w psu. (going to sell it, so I have to buy/or wait for Dell to make sence)
Is it safe to try this one out? Just to see the differences? From what I understand in this thread, it's perfectly safe.

 

No risk at all, either the machine refuses to recognise it, or all is good!

 

Does anyone know the best way to update drivers? I downloaded the updated mobile drivers from Nvidia to test, but it won't install.

 

I guess NV have not added the new machine to their list of approved notebooks yet? The next WHQL release should be fine. If you get the error 'hardware not found' then replacing an .INF file in the installer will get around that.

See laptopvideo2go who post this stuff. drill down on a driver download and select the inf. Replace original and away you go.

Good luck.

 

This is exactly what Dell tech support did through remote connect after I reinstalled the OS on the correct drive. So, MickyD's suggestion is Dellienware approved.

 

Cool, another 'unusual' piece of software they use for GPU testing is Heaven 4 benchmark.

 

Your cpu is not performing how it shood...something is stending in his way...maybe is your psu

 

240w dell/ alienware official power bricks are on Amazon for $75 with free shipping

 

Ok so at lunch I updated drivers from laptopvideo2go 347.12 and rebooted system with the 240 watt psu plugged in and here are my new results:


Vantage Score: p30328, gfx: 33315, cpu: 23901

 

I'd say this are normal scores, gj better

 

Thanks, 347.24 is now out and hopefully it supports the new machine - so no inf messing.

Can you post a single before/after PSU post on the same driver? Easier to point people to, thanks.

 

That score won't increase much at stock. I'm not worried about a few hundred points. That makes no difference in games. What I am worried about is overclocking - they're forcing customers to forget overclocking by offering inadequate power supplies.

I'm glad the PSU's remain compatible. That's a relief.

 

So this new driver makes me happy. Far Cry 4 is running like it is supposed to :thumbsup:

 

Yeah my current game, AC:Unity is certainly faster and smoother.

The in-game benches I run were a mixed bag with Batman AO taking a plunge (but still looks OK) and only Heaven 4 showing a real boost. Main thing for me is it holds an OC better, only ACU crashes at my top setting but now it's playing at over 60fps most of the time on a lower OC I'm still happy with it

 

240 watt psu: P10824, g 12482, p 7851, c 7580
180 watt psu: P10497, g 12476, p 7504, c 6599

 

Just wow! Why would Dell do this?

Anyway, can you bench some games around the PSU's? 1-2 games, and see any differences?
Great job btw!

 

Higher graphics score with the 180w PSU, but higher CPU and combined score with the 240w. Interesting......

 

False, 12482 > 12476 with 240w is more graphics score
also
cpu score with 240w is higer from 7851 > 7504....combine score over 1000 points diffrence

 

yup you are right. Time for me to catch some sleep.

 

Can someone test overclocking (CPU and GPU) with the new Alienware with 180w PSU? Is there anyone who has tested wattage under bench / gaming with a kill-a-watt? Operates Dellienware with harakiri ? Harakiri - Wikipedia

 

Wow, yes, a clear difference, with a reduced score on the Physics & Combined Tests - the 180W is clearly holding back the machine. Could you post up the same info again but after doing some GPU overclocking, maybe try boosting the GPU core to the +135Mhz limit (if it's stable), and then retest? I reckon the difference would be even greater under those conditions.

 

As well using a kill-a-watt..:thumbsup:

 

I'm wondering about the GA. AW say the machine automatically overclocks. Clearly it can't even run at stock on the 180w PSU. Maybe the GA has +5v line into the machine? For 'overclock' read no throttling?? I've ordered one but don't have a DT card to play with.

Without all the info here many people would not notice their machine is hobbled and when they plug in a GA, voila, a faster machine?

Just an idea...

 

What with running a Wprime1024(8 tread) or Cinebench 11.5 test, when this laptop is connected to the G / A ? This processor shall overclock when you connect to the G / A ... Is there someone who can check out processor throttling problems with Hwinfo when running benchmark test ..

 

With the GA plugged in, the 980m is pretty much shut off, so now all that extra power the gpu was drawing is ready for the cpu to suck up.

 

If the processor gets some more watts to play with, I think the processor start only to throttling due to faulty power setting in the bios. Use Cinebench 11.5 and wprime 1024. Monitor With hwinfo.. HaHa