*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R2/R3 Owner's Lounge

Hope you recieve one from a good batch and not a faulty batch like so many on here. Myself included. *Finger crossed*

 

It looks like Dell cripple performance of their laptops on purpose... See what Notebokreview writes about Dell's policy. It is nothing new that Dell cripple the performance on their laptops. Several of Aw owners of the new laptops should write to Dell and complained .. If none criticizes Dell then there will be no change in what they can do in the future. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Face-O...enware-17-vs-MSI-GT72-Dominator.145113.0.html



@Hingjon said: ↑
I don't like to stress my Alienware too much, it is just nonsense to use your computer on high performance, because of the core clock is being maxed out all the time. If you put it on balanced, it stays idle at 800mhz instead of a constant ~3.3ghz.

Edit: Balanced vs high performance plan
CPU speed and utilization are two different things. A processor can run at full speed and have no load. There is no danger with keeping the processor up. If it AFFECTED the lifetime of the CPU, it would only be because there was a defect in the chip or poor cooling as far as I know.
There is high load, temperature, and poor cooling that stress the processor and not high clock speed in idle or with a small load.

 

That's not strictly true. If you have your laptop on high performance mode the CPU will still clock down when not being used, mine does anyway. You won't stress it by leaving it on High Performance.

 

Wow. It looks like they had a really bad sample to test on. Mine has never shut down like they describe and it never ever drops to 800mhz on the CPU under load.

 

LoL. Problem also with AW15 and Amd m295x. Amazing that a review page only get crippled Aw laptops for testing from Dell. All with a processor who drop to 800mhz during their tests . What you saw in the myriad from Notebookreview is not a onetime event.

 

Here we go - this is something different for me

Running Furmark in the background stressing the GPU fully, and running an XTU Stress test (I know its not Prime 95), the monitors showed me the following results. It appears that the GPU is throttling back and forth at a millisecond pace, going from 99% to 15% to 50% and back and forth. While the CPU showed 0 throttling issues overclocked running hard.

Has anyone seen this? I know the CPU is a common throttle mark, and folks are having issues with the CPU dropping to 800 mhz. Maybe I'm interpeting this wrong. When you see the 99% holds on the graph for GPU usage, this is when the CPU stress test is not running. I ran it twice, for 5 minutes, and 1 minute to plot this graph. The GPU is currently running at 1261 mhz OC the CPU is at 3.757 ghz OC

 

Actually, Now that I think of it. Ive only ever used the 240w adapter to test on. Perhaps if I had the 180w then I might see similar results to theirs.

I have just tested mine and it does the same thing. I don't think its anything meaningful though.

 

(Don't bother using Furmark, I'm surprised that notebookcheck.net use it still, at least they provide other testing methods that are more relevant though. You can't really learn anything from how the GPU behaves when you run Furmark.)

 

Better to use Heaven benchmark and wprime1024 (select 8 treads). This is a better test combination. Furmark is not a good test. This benchmark test is banned by Nvidia and Amd.

 

Earlier, I posted my CPU getting up to 95°C during Prime95 2 threads and Heaven benchmark. I'm going to try a repaste tonight and post results on here. I only have some Arctic silver 5 but it should be fine.

Update:

I chickened out once I got to the keyboard power cable. couldn't figure out the latch for it.

 

Just for future reference, artic silver is pretty bad nowadays and in some instances has performed worse than stock tim. So probably saved yourself some grief.

 

No, that's not right.

MQ and QM CPUs without BIOS locks = free TDP control. MX and XM CPUs behave in this way too.
HQ chips are locked to 57W for ~2.5 minutes and then 47W indefinitely. Some machines are a little varied in this way. Some won't pass 47W. I've even seen one that locks itself to 36W and its short power boost is 47W. That one confused me.

Please note that any CPU in a machine with BIOS locks can be terrible. TDP throttle in the MSI GT models is annoying in particular; no matter what you set, it acts like a HQ chip and goes to 47W. Of course this was likely due to MSI shoving 120W GPUs and 57W CPUs into a 180W brick system >_>... but you know.

 

Pretty sure my QM CPU is hard locked by intel at a max of 56W (because it doesn't make a difference what BIOS settings I use), it might be different for non-Sandy Bridge QM CPUs. I didn't realise MQ CPUs had an unrestricted TDP (bar any BIOS locks), that's a very commendable quality!

 

It is no wonder that performance enthusiasts choose desktop/Mx/Mq chips. Hq chips should only been for tablet / mini laptops. Have never seen a Hq chips that work as I want...

 

FWIW even a dual core i7-4600m will pull 90W, thermals are the biggest problem.

 

Isn't that though using your 'trick' to trick the CPU into thinking it's using less Watts than it really is? I remember seeing you were the guy who managed massive overclocks & pulling massive Watts with 4700MQ (something along those lines!).

 

The trick you are on about was to run the CPU into thinking it was using more power than it was just to show no power limiting without having to thermal throttle.

The dual core power is very real. Running XTU bench at 4.8 GHz and 1.52V using a pakage power of more than 96W

 

As far as I know, that's probably a limit of your system itself. I know the M17x R4 locks their CPUs to a max of 67W at a BIOS level and without a properly unlocked BIOS you'll never draw more than that even with a XM CPU.

 

Well, I had mine on high performance and noticed that my battery was draining quite faster than normal. I investigated it and came to the conclusion that it was because of the clock being maxed out all of the time. After switching it to balanced power state, the laptop started to save more battery life and the core clock returned to 800mhz while ideling.

 

I've got the unlocked BIOS though, and you can set the CPU wattage to 99W in that one (will just double check in BIOS now to see if I remembered right). EDIT: nope, I was mistaken the 99 in my BIOS refers to the time limit you can change.

 

You could still have a board limitation of some kind.

 

Cool, I'm alright with 56W limit, seems that most notebooks aren't allowed to reach 56W or can't dissipate 56W of heat anyway, so that's fine. I agree with you then (until I see proof otherwise) regarding all you've said on the MQ, QM lack of TDP limitations and limitations on HQ (in terms of imposed by Intel limitations).

 

Yeah. Because from all I've checked, MQ seems to handle high TDP. Hell, one sec. Lemme see. I once did a Linpack run while I'd overclocked my CPU to 3.8GHz... I was hitting current limits (and overheating at one point) but the top TDP should stand.

Spoiler: Enjoy that max package TDP =D

 

I've got Dell to send me my 240 watt power brick, it should be in my hands tomorrow.

 

Alienware 17 R2 A05 bios is released;
Fixes & Enhancements
1.Fix CPU haven't turbo frequency after S3 resume.

 

What does that even mean?

 

Well, the "fixes & enhancements" could have been written better, to say the least.

There was an issue where after the laptop was awakened after sleep mode, the CPU will not go above a certain frequency. Throttled, to be more specific. Read this:

http://na.alienwarearena.com/forums...enware-15-and-17-r2-post-sleep-throttle:550:0

 

Oh I know, but damn that is some screwed up English.

 

Yes it is. Makes you wonder what the heck is going on over there at Dell doesn't it?

 

It doesn't inspire the greatest confidence in them.

 

Hi guys, I've read most of the posts and I feel disappointed by Dell, my expectations were high, now, I found that out of the box the machine is flawed.

Could you help me with this:

What will be the best bios for the 240w psu?

And what will be the best bios for the 180w psu, in case I have to stick with it?

 

240w = A00
180w = A01

 

I would say OMG, why you are so mean dude I run benchmark again with new A05, and the temp report around 85C. I read everywhere that dell team suggest using Fan Control to decrease heat. I love doing it, but when controlling the fan, it causes sound lagging because of high latency each time the fan is spining in period of custom fan control.

Why don't we who using alienware make a request and sign there, asking them (Dell engineer) to make fan control inside alienware command center or bios settings? with fan control I can make speed to maximum like 5200 rpm, without it, I see it only at 4000 rpm.

Edit: here is the link to vote, please someone update it in first post or sticky thing, asking people to vote for this, at least. They don't listen, they want to see vote.
http://www.ideastorm.com/idea2ReadIdea?v=1432006980935&Id=087700000009mDXAAY

 

Dellienware going their own way. Today they can't even make a good bios for the new and previous Aw laptops. Dell crippling everything they touch. We have asked Aw reps in several forums for the same question you asking now in almost 2 years. Nothing happens.

 

Yes, because we are individual posting and complaining. What if we sign and make them do it? Follow the link above, I think they should make it real.

 

I see everybody focus on psu issue...what about the m.2.... Is it raid possible? What is the best m.2 for this monster?

 

I would like to see a better fan profile but other than that I guess it is alright for now.

The laptop fans are mostly silent & useless when I have my 3 external USB fans plugged in. The entire laptop is constantly cooled by the external fans & only in rare cases (under heavy load) the laptop fans actually start winding up.

When I don't use the 3 external USB fans, the CPU reaches 90+ & the fans have trouble cooling it down to 70 & keeping it there. When the CPU dies in a few years because of heat, they have to replace it for free because of their god awful fan profiles.

Keep in mind that this was before summer heat. I don't even wanna know what the temperatures would look like now in the heat & with the external fans unplugged.

 

thanks a lot, one more question, should i buy my own 240w psu to finally have it with me rather than waiting for Dell to send me one (2 weeks now, no answer), is there a link you can share from amazon, i tried searching but i got confused and don't want to purchase the wrong one, thanks ahead.

 

I think you should call alienware directly and ask them nicely, they will push the process for you. It took me several days to persuade them send one for me, and only 3 days to get it at my front door.

Today I'm playing GTA V with BIOS A05, the temperature is awful, the maximum I get is 96C. I think I will stick to Hwinfo fan control for better heating. Deal with the heat, another problem rise, sound issue when using fan control. SO SUPER AWFUL!!!

 

I'm pretty disappointed to continue to hear how bad these new Alienwares are performing. I was all set on getting the 17" since I have almost 30% off in coupons and incentives but I just can't bring myself to deal with the throttling and overheating issues. I'm torn on the Sager 9773 or 9752 since they are obviously superior machines, but I can't afford to be without them for a month if I had to send them in. Alienware has just such superior service that I am tempted to say screw it and just buy one, but their lack of upgrades is also very disconcerting.

 

30% off is a pretty sweet deal though! How does it compare in price after the 30% off to a similarly specced Sager? I don't think all of the A17 R2's overheat - like I don't think the notebookcheck.net test laptop overheated, and not everyone's on this forum. If you get a bad paste job & live in really hot climes then you'll have a problem. I'd be tempted to get the Alienware if you've got 30% off and the better service deal too - but only if you're not fussed about upgrading the CPU or GPU at a later date - I'm assuming those Sagers you listed you can upgrade. If you know you can save some money by upgrading the GPU on the Sager when a new gen comes out (rather than buying a whole new laptop), then I'd pay the extra now for the better performing machine.

 

The 9752 fully loaded is about $2300 and the 9733 with g-sync is about $2400. The 17 r2 with 980m, 256gb s2, and 16gb would be about $1650.

 

That's a big difference in price, if the specs are the same, then I'd get the Alienware if I knew I wasn't gonna be upgrading the GPU further down the line, but with nearly $800 difference in price I'd probably get the Alienware anyway - seems like a good deal to me.

 

Do not purchase. You SHALL have a 240W completely free. ... http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/aw15-17-r2-bios-a05-cpu-fix.778072/page-2#post-10036217

 

I surf around here long enough and have some stupid questions. I see many other laptop from Dell has the modded BIOS which enable a lot of things. Is it possible for us making one for Alienware here? We might find a solution for a lot of things that dell engineer denied to help us?

 

I think the problem is something to do with UEFI and Secure Flash. I think this prevents a modified BIOS from being flashed, which is why there is not a modified BIOS for the A17 R1 and A17 R2; M17xR4 was the last one to get a modified BIOS.

 

Is this something that I can simply request, or will I have to "prove" to tech support that it's causing an issue?

I just ordered a new 17 R2 this weekend (with the 970M though, not the 980M), and I verified that they are still shipping with the 180w psu.

1 450-AAGU Power Supply : Alienware 180W AC Adapter

Also, I noticed this listed on the order:

1 800-BBKV FREE game with purchase of a GeForce GTX 700 GPU-powered desktop

Does this mean I'm getting a free game, and if so, does anyone know what game is included?

 

To me that looks like you only get to activate that code if you now also buy a desktop computer with a GTX 700 desktop card - which you wouldn't because 700 series is old tech now. Weird, maybe it's a typo type error & you'll get the free game with your laptop - have a look in the box when it arrives, might be a flyer in there explaining.

 

I would have thought the same thing, Robbo, except the quantity shows as "1" and if I didn't qualify for it, there would be no reason to put it on the invoice. Guess I'll find out soon enough though.

 

Yes, you've probably got a free game.