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

@appleff4 New Bios out. Wanted to know if your interested in updating your bios to see if they have enabled undervolting for HQ processors.

 

@HunterZ0 Have you solved you black screen on idle issue? I'm currently having this issue as of the moment. If you could kindly help please. Thread is here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...dle-by-the-time-screen-display-is-off.835776/

 

I do not have the GPUZ program, but in windows amd in Intel grafich panel it shows this:


Note that GOP (Graphics Output Protocol) is the equivalent to the Video BIOS version, shown below.

 

Thanks for the reply. I can see the same info you have in my system. I am assuming GPU Z it not detecting it as it is integrated to the intel CPU. Anyways thanks.
I am waiting for @HunterZ0 to reply because looking at previous messages it seems we have the same problem. I am wondering if he has solved the issue.

 

Use Intel's CSME convergence tool or something SA0086 was fixed in 2019 and not affected anymore!
BTW, I'm using 11.8.x.3874 MEI on 1.8 BIOS with E6 microcode that kills multi-core performance.
@0lok I had this issue with black screen on Linux frequently and even on Win 10 couple of times. Only way I found was to decrease undervolt values by 10-15mV, apply 3874 MEI FW from win-raid(can be risky if incorrectly flashed!). BTW, I used WUMT x64 to download some drivers from Microsoft Update namely nvidia 388.19 980M, Intel DAL and mouse driver. So far, no black screen.
Latest nvidia driver is garbage and cannot play any dx9/10/11/12 games even with 1024x768 low settings without stuttering or frame drops.
After massive downgrade to 388.19 microsoft base driver everything is smooth and steady with 60 FPS on ultra/high at FHD and on older games I can hit 100-200+ FPS on max settings.

 

I am guess now maybe updating bios would fix the problem as it will update intel MEI as well. I was hoping someone who already have bios 1.11 will update to bios 1.12 and let us know if undervolting for HQ cpu will work or not. T_T

 

hello does anyone know whats wrong with the aux making noises?

 

There is new BIOS update from dell through WU version 1.02.05 dated 2016. I downloaded it and checked everything is very old so don't apply it it might brick your BGA. Intel MEI is very old.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I always check the latest BIOS under drivers and downloads before doing anything:
https://www.dell.com/support/home/n...fcxk&oscode=wt64a&productcode=alienware-17-r3

The newest is stil 1.12.0. I am running that with no issues.

 

1.12 has no undervolting. Got my hands on new intel uCode EA (Sports) Its a Game to reduce my perf. yet again! Damn. this time VT-d and new CPU bugs.

 

True.
I have the Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6820HK so after my understanding it still preserve the ability to undervolt, as discussed earlier.

 

Indeed.

 

Hello, I currently have a 128gb nvme ssd for windows and a 2.5 1tb ssd for storage.

I would like to replace the nvme ssd with a new SAMSUNG NVME 980 500 GB.

Is this SSD compatible with the 17R3?

Is there a simple tutorial to clone my current ssd to the new ssd in order to start the system simply by replacing the new ssd with the old one?

Is it necessary to do a manipulation in the bios or will it be plug and play?

Can I use the new ssd for windows and the second ssd to install games that require longer loading times and keep the ssd 2.5 for other games?

Thank you for your feedback.

 

Would highly suggest any PCIe 3 SSD instead of PCIe 4 which is a waste of money on PCIe Gen3 slot.
970 pro, 970 evo plus, SK Hynix p31, Crucial P1/P5, Sabrent Rocket etc are alternatives.

 

Thanks for the feedback.
Samsung PCIe 3s are unfortunately rare.
I will go on a Samsung SSD 980 M.2 PCIe NVMe 500 GB at 69.99 € ...

Having customized my windows interface with a perfect setting of the Alienware graphics amplifier, I will need to clone the old 128gb PCIe SSD on the Samung.

Is this a simple step or will I have to make settings in the bios?

many thanks

 

But 980 has no DRAM to soak up bigger writes. I think you need to choose WD SN750 512GB SSD which has DRAM.

 

Thank you for the precious advice. I had not seen that the Samsung SSD 980 M.2 PCIe NVMe 500 GB was deprived of DRAM ...
So is there a Samsung M.2 PCIe NVMe 500 GB SSD with DRAM?
Choosing a Samsung is important with cloning software.
My 17R3 is running like clockwork now after hundreds of hours of adjusting the graphics amplifier, drivers, windows settings etc ...
Thank you

 

For 17R3 I'd recommend 970 Evo plus or 970 Pro. I'm using Crucial P1 on 15 R2 and performance is almost steady when it reaches 70C plus and power efficient too.
Hynix P31 is worthy contender to 970 pro.

 

Good morning all,
I am very disappointed and worried ...

I bought a Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus M.2 PCIe NVMe 500 GB at the store for my 17R3 at a high price.

Illico I plug it into the second m2 port and ... nothing ...
In the Bios it appears. Also in the device manager.
In windows, nothing ... Only the original NVME 128 SSD and the SATA 2.5 SSD.

I'm lost ...

I have the choice to try a complete reinstallation of windows with the Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus M.2 PCIe NVMe 500 GB but I do not know how to do it ...

Or go back to the store to get an old 500GB WD NVME SATA SSD instead.

An idea?

Thank you

 

For the m.2 slot 1 = works on pcie
For the m.2 slot 2 = works on SATA

Different topic:
can I ask what bios version are you on?
do you have a HK cpu or HQ?
Can you still undervolt on HQ cpu and latest bios version?
Thanks

 

Hello,
I am on the 1.8 bios version with I7 6700 HQ.

I'm thinking of going back to the store to exchange with a 1TB NVME SATA SSD ...

 

In BIOS only Dells PM951 is detected along with my SATA SSD and after replacing with P1 SSD HDD isn't listed in BIOS sometimes but works in Win/Linux. Pretty crap firmware from Dell as usual!

 

Hi

what is the best way to update all Drivers ?


thank you

 

Manually do it 1 by 1. Every uninstall and install make sure you do a restart.

 

And dont update drivers every day...
I update my Nvidia drivers maybe once every 2-3 months, and all others even less than that.
Why mess with what works?

 

Ho hai
Do you guys found some ICC screen correction for the 17r3?
The screen is good, but compared to my 51m, the 17r3 one is much colder and colors are less saturated (exept blues and white)
The panel is a full hd LG Philips [Unknown Model: LGD0459]

Thanks

 

@0lok
New bios is out, 1.13.1: https://www.dell.com/support/home/n...rhdj&oscode=wt64a&productcode=alienware-17-r3

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/...rity-update-for-intel-platform-updates-2021-1

There is also a new Intel Management Engine Components Installer: https://www.dell.com/support/home/n...d9nn&oscode=wt64a&productcode=alienware-17-r3

The BIOS flash went well, so did the IME driver updates.

As a side note I have the HK CPU, so still able to undervolt after what I understand from earlier versions that disable it for the HQ CPU.

HK has unlocked multiplier

 

I have 2 motherboard now, one as spare, just testing all the older version and newer versions in that, there will be another bios out next month or so, so far im okay with 1.3.12.. or may be 1.8.0, but its good that you have updated, there will be no difference im guessing, since its all only about the mcu or me patches..

 

Thanks for the heads up. Will be getting the next BIOS also when that is released. By now I have been on every BIOS since 1.2.8

 

If you want the initial release bios 1.1.0 or 1.2.2 ill send it, dell Archieve link is dead now, also can u game on your battery ?? i just got a replacement battery 191YN, when there is a load on nvidia chip system completely shuts down, have tried with 4 different battery from same vendor its all the same, i realize my original system came with 410GJ battery , which is made in japan with sanyo cells, do u think that has something to do with the load, new batteries not able to pull more than 60w, tried multiple os windows 11, windows 8.1 windows 10, ubuntu, pop os, its all the same..

 

@VICKYGAMEBOY
Thanks for the offer. But I am good with all the versions from 1.2.8 (my aw17r3 was shipped with that) to 1.13.1.

Seems like you have right regarding the type of battery and the shutdowns. Only way to tell for sure is to get the same as your oem battery. If that is still available that is.

 

Sadly none of them have 410GJ. No luck.. if possible post the driver versions you are using, nvidia,intel,kionix,dptf,intelme

 

I have the divers provided by Dell so:

nVidia: 26.21.14.3153, A07
Indel: 26.20.100.7263, A16
kionix: 1.1.4.1, A02
dptf: 8.3.10209.6897, A12
intelme: 2105.15.0.2157, A06

I will double check for you to make sure when I have the opportunity.

 

Have had some freezes during cold boot after login to Windows that's require a hard shutdown with the power button since oct. 14/15. Seems to be happening after the Windows update that was released on oct.13 (KB5006670 Windows 10 21H1 19043.1288). When turning on after the hard shutdown, everything loads as normal and sfc /scannow comes out clear, all SSD/HDD are healthy and all HW test is good.

Had this happening for a year or to. That time it was caused by an external monitor plugged in to the HDMI port. I have the PC connected to a dell docking station and the monitor is plugged in to the HDMI port on the docking. I saw there was a new driver for the displaylink so I updated that. Will see if that cures the problem. If not I might try to uninstall KB5006670 and see if that is the issue.

I any other have experienced similar hard freezes lately, feel free to post.

 

Does anybody know what this cpu is?

 

6820HQ? (Guessing)

 

Hopefully
Couldn’t find something about 3QJMK

 

I had to resort to CLRP short near RAM sticks for CMOS reset and freezing stopped and so did long boot times on cold boot/start.

 

Regarding the wifi driver I have used the newest intel driver (I use the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant for bluetooth and wifi). And the Dell drivers for the killer ethernet contrioller driver.
But I have a issue with the latest Thunderbolt driver package (version 1.41.1193.0, A11), as I have seen several other have also.
When I updated the the Thunderbolt driver: in Device Manager is not detecting the Thunderbolt Controller after updating the driver (they weren't showing before the update either).
In either case, it does not show under "System devices" in Device Manager. Also, "Thunderbolt Software" shows as version 1.47 in Programs and Features (and Apps and Features):



However it cannot be launched from the Start Menu search as the previous version was. The install direcory has only a Drivers subfolder:



After this new driver update it totally removed the Thunderbolt software and it was impossible to launch the application. So I reverted back to the previous driver package for my system. Now the Thunderbolt software is back. Just as a heads-up. You wont see the thunderbolt controller in device manager before you plug in a supported thunderbolt device to the actual thunderbolt port. If I have understand it correct?
Have any of you @VICKYGAMEBOY @Vasudev @Papusan problem with this driver?

 

Have anyone tried to update their Alienware 17R3 or 15R2 to W11?
If so, what are your experience any problems with drivers, programs, features etc.?
Also interested in the method used to upgrade. I find this the easiest and most problemfree:

Find it hard to dump my perfectly running AW17R3 just for W11. So if things go south I'll stay on W10 to 2025 and then upgrade to a X17R2-5 (or the rev that's out in 2025/2026).

 

And even with supported HW I can't see any value in Win 11 http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-11.836230/page-89#post-11132183

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-11.836230/page-75#post-11123404
Windows 11: Microsoft's pointless update

Here is bro @Mr. Fox right on target http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-11.836230/page-89#post-11131845

And expect more records in patches http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-11.836230/page-87#post-11129803

 

I see where you came from. I must agree so I will hold off W11 on my systems that is not supported for the time being. I will only consider it if manipulated W11 installs on unsupported HW continues to getting updates next year, including feature update to W11. That will be a game changer for me at least. But a bit afraid that ACC, Support assist and other AW specific software dosent work in W11. Seen several reports of issues in that regard.

Also. There is a new BIOS for the AW13R3 out that adresses - Firmware updates to address the Intel Technical Advisory INTEL-TA-00562 (CVE-2021-0157).

Dont know if AW15R2/AW17R3 will get a new BIOS anytime soon? You know @Vasudev @VICKYGAMEBOY @Papusan ?

 

Yep.

I mean AW15R2/AW17R3 is released with 6th Gen Intel Core i7. And AW13R3 come with 7th gen aka Kaby lake.

Intel Technical Advisory INTEL-TA-00562 (CVE-2021-0157) released for 7th gen and not 6th gen who is in AW15R2/17R3 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/securty-center/advisory/intel-sa-00562.html

 

Thanks for the answer. Then I dont see any new BIOS for us anytime soon... And that's fine by me. Stress with flashing bios several times a year.

 

@ThomasAAT @VICKYGAMEBOY @0lok @Papusan
I installed 1.13.1 BIOS on 15 r2 yesterday after installing new battery. Undervolt was disabled and temps touched 85C on CPU. After BIOS update the laptop instantly went to Sleep to death within 2 mins.
So I downgraded through GSet application by hitting F12 > BIOS Flash Update. I was greeted with Downgrade is not recommended. Also had 1.8 BIOS in rcv on flash drive in case it bricked.
Downgraded successfully and undervolt was back. Again downgraded to 1.7 which was better and didn't have sleep of death as much as 1.8 and higher.
Also I noticed MSFT nvidia driver on Optimal Power had issue with HDMI output to TV and it was instant BSOD with WHEA error. Changed the power profile to Adaptive and it started working on 419.72 MSFT update catalog driver.

 

As I have the HK 6.gen CPU mine stays unlocked on all BIOS. As for the sleep issue, I dont think I have this happen. But dont use the feature much. Glad you was able to downgrade since it caused issues for you.

@Vasudev BTW do you plan on "upgrade" to W11 going forward or stay on W10 for you 15R2?

 

Nope not gonna to upgrade to Win 11. I'll buy a new BGA non-gaming one which will not be AW/Dell.

 

yes if u like to undervolt stay on 1.8.0 or lower.. as of Nvdia Driver, ive tested Dell Certified ones and Generic Ones, Both have identical framerates, except newer games will have better average fps due to game optimization, for older games, stick to 389.12 or 419.72.. i havnt experienced the sleep mode thing.. but let me check again, for intel stick to the MS update ones, or try this if u have heavy DWM usage on multiple windows open, Intel DCH 30.0.101.1191

 

None of them fixed the sleep of death issue for intel GPU.
Intel normal driver 21.20.16.5174 fixed the issue and even after an hr of idle PC has not crashed. Only caveat is Having Intel Graphics Tray and VLC using dGPU through HDMI will BSOD will WHEA error and removing tray icon fixed the issue. The sleep of death is present on latest 1191 DCH driver.