*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R4 Owner's Lounge

Hey guys. Just got my 17 r4. Can someone help me with OCCT and checking my temps/benchmarks? I am completely new to all of this and I wanted to see how this thing is running out of the box. I downloaded OCCT and started the test and I'm getting low temps. It hovers around 48 to 50C but I'm not sure I'm doing it right. Which tests should I run for OCCT and 3D Mark? What results should I expect? Thanks for the patience!

Also, is there anything I should do to this when I first get it? Clean Windows install or anything like that?

 

Thermal grizzly gives only 1 asterisk (*) to Grizzly Conductonaut and Grzzly Kryonaut gives 5 asterisks (*) in Exterme-Overclocking Rating. What does it mean? Is Grizzly Kryonaut Better Than Conductonaut For OC? Should not Conductonaut be used for OC?

http://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/products

 

At some point it was put on my fresh install of windows. Either through an automatic update or when i installed the driver from support.dell.com. i do not like it though.

I reccomend using equalizerAPO. Its a bit more hands on but it now comes with a gui and you get a much better equalizer that doesnt lose nearly as much quality. Also the built in 7.1 emulation for headphones is junk. Modern games will do much better if just given access to headphones as stereo and to do that you need to disable the alienware audio app from starting.

 

Hello guys, I've been out for a few weeks. I just have a couple of questions:

What is the recommended BIOS at the moment for the 17r4?

Also and progress made on the limited 1080 GPU? ( custom vbios?)

 

I believe the BIOS recommendation is 1.0.2 or 1.0.9. I'm using 1.0.2 as this helps me O/C better than 1.0.8 and I heard 1.0.9 runs a bit hotter with no real advantage

 

So basically Dell has released 7 bios updates that are actually worse than 1.0.2?

Sent from my ASUS_A001 using Tapatalk

 

Ok, a17R4 1080. Called dell after seeing high temps. Dell sent a tech to my house. I had the tech use my grizzly kryonaut and the scotch 33+ on one spot. He also replaced the heat sync which didn't really matter honistly. Now, while it's still a bit high. I can CPU to 4.1 and afterburner to plus 175core and 391mem and the highest 1 core got was 93 but fluctuates between 91-93. The GPU never gets hotter than 68c. I am totally happy with this. As long as the CPU is below 95c I'm ok with it. Here are some bench marks. TimeSpy 6,786 FireStrike Ultra 5,128

 

cuniac did you have to be running BIOS v1.0.9 to get the support tech out?

 

They did not ask. They had me run dells test which honestly is kinda broken. It maxes out the cpu but the GPU never maxes. So I ran evga pc scanner with hw64 to show them how hot it actually gets.

 

Why do you use scotch 33+ with Grizzly Kryonaut? I think scotch 33+ was used with Grizzly Conductonaut ...

 

The power limits appear to be not as severe as it looked at first. Many were able to draw up to or more than the full nvidia specs for the gpu as reported by hwinfo. I was able to get over 160w with the 1070 which is supposed to have a limit of 150w. Probably it should be looked into more because the instantaneous results from hwinfo could only be half of the story. It could still be experiencing retroactive throttling. But either that is not the case or people are just happy with the huge bump in processing that these cards offer in general.

As far as the bios goes people seem to get better performance from 109, myself included. However the tobii eye tracking might not work with this version.

 

It was only for one spot. If you watch the video below you'll see where iunlock has it over one spot in exchange for thicker pads so the CPU has better contact. He actually says dell did that when he got another unit from them. 3m18sec Mark

 

@cuniac this apply to Grizzly Conductonaut too? Because I followed the guide to @iunlock (Alienware 17R4 / 15R3 - Disassembly + Repaste Guide + Results) and said nothing about this. I use Grizzly Conductonaut (cpu/gpu) and Fujipoly pads.

 

I honestly don't know. I'm really hoping I understood that correctly from that video I posted otherwise I'll have to open it up again. I'm waiting to hear back from iunlock about it

 

If he had made a change, he would have published it in the guide. But, if you find out something, pls let me know!

 

Right but in that video I posted he saw d they replaced it with a thermal tape. So I think the 33+ rated at 205c should be the same as that. I hope lol but I'll let you know

 

idk if electrical tape is the same as thermal tape. u may end up insulating.

 

Yes but, the thermal tape used in that video is white...

 

Ya I'm not sure. It better than it was before and hitting a consistent max between 91-93 on the CPU I think it should be ok

 

205c? No, spec say 105c

Scotch® Super 33+™ Vinyl Electrical Tape
America's #1 professional grade vinyl electrical tape, Scotch® Super 33+™ Vinyl Electrical Tape is a premium grade, 7 mil thick, all-weather vinyl-insulating tape. It is designed to perform continuously between a temperature range of 0–220°F (-18–105°C).

 

So I just heard back as Iunlocks concern with it is insulating... so I may open it back up and switch it out.

 

Typo I meant to say 105c

 

If you are not sure, do not risk it. Wait for iunlock to appear and ask. In the meantime, do not use OC.

 

He said it might insulate, so I'll probably change it out. He recommended a 3m thermal tape. I think I may order this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QSHPH8E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_WugDybDVV58GA

 

3mm? But in that place recommends fujipoly thermal pads x 1mm.

Look. Bottom right, thermal pad green color.

 

I know. I'm not going off of his repate guide video. That guide was build with conductent being used along with other modifications, so I'm sure some things are different. If you watch the other video he did with OwnOrDisown, he talks about how he got another unit from Dell where they had made some changes. One change was they actually used real thermal paste instead of a stamp. The other was they replaced the pads in that location with a strip of 0.1mm'ish thermal tape.

I had spoke with iunlock about an hour ago and he said that the 33+ tape I used may not be good as it could insulate and recommended I switch it out for the 3m tape. He didn't say that one in particular but one that would mach what shows in that video. Ill repost the link below if you didn't catch it before. iunlocks guide is still 100% valid if your doing his fix. I was trying Dells fix as it is less invasive for what I am will to do myself. I will probably switch it out some time over the next week or two and post again if I see any changes, but I don't think its going to effect the temp any more.

 

Ok. With Kyronaut thermal paste and original thermal pads you have temperatures of more than 90? Why do not you use Grizzly Conductonaut? For any particular reason?

 

Worried I was going to mess something up using something so conductive. iunlock had tape everywhere to make sure he did it just right. i can be a clutz lol. But that temp is also with it overclocked to 4.1 and the GPU has been pushed as well.

 

I understand. It seems difficult, but it is very easy if you are careful. I did it with a dell technician. He brought another complete motherboard in case something failed. The technician did the disarming. (I hate to disassemble, too many screws) I apply the liquid metal + super 33+ and the thermal pads fujipoly.
Everything came out perfect without any problem.

 

what temps are you getting now?

 

70 c max

 

is that with the base clock or do you have it set to one of the OC Levels in the Bios?

 

BIOS 1.0.9
Custom OC leve 4 x 40: 70C max
OC level 2 60-65C max

I use OC always, but never more that 4.0 mhz

 

70c max? wow, how long did you run that test for?

 

2 hs. But, I always have hwinfo running (With a temperature alert)
and I never had temperatures above 70c.

Something to keep in mind. I do not use the integraded gpu, I always use the graphic amplifier.

 

Oh, well that changes a lot really. I mean when your running the graphics amplifier either the GPU is not on or at the lowest idle temps at all times. I bet its probably off completely leaving the CPU to get exclusive use of those heat pipes. Know that, now I don't know if that type of repaste would actually do much more than what I'm getting. If I max out my CPU not using the GPU it will hit a max of 74c. With yours not using the GPU at all in any situation 70c seems about right. I bet if you disconnected that graphics amplifier and ran another test it would get pretty hot. If your willing to disconnect and run another test with the OC your on, Id love to know what your max is after even 30 min

 

I tried it. It does not change much. 4 or 5 degrees up.

 

But did you have the GPU maxed? For example I use EVGA OC Scanner. Ill start it up and run the CPU burner at 7 cores (If you use 8 it wont run the graphics test right for some reason). Then using the same program start the 3000meg VRAM GPU burner test.

So when I start the CPU burner it will go upto 74c max after running for a while. If I start the GPU burner in addition to the CPU burner it will race it 19C after a few min. Mainly because they share those same heat pipes that GPU running really effects the cooling of the CPU.

 

Wow, props to that technician! +1

 

DeeX, I am from Argentina. Here the technicians are cool.

 

So I have been running bios 1.0.8 for a while and gave 1.0.9 a shot as well for 3 days. Nothing bad to report on either bios and my Tobii did not break on 1.0.9 for me. I decided to flash the 1.0.2 Bios for giggles and play Diablo 3 for about 5 hours yesterday and hit 161W on the GPU. I normally only hit 125W to 136W max, but on the 1.0.2 I hit 161W. My thermals took a hit though on 1.0.2 because I normally never go above 75 deg C while playing on the other two, but it spiked to 91 deg on a single core while playing for 5 hours. I was using an external display as well. It was a Dell 34" 4K monitor (U3415W).

 

Yes, the 15R3 is pretty much identical.

There is no harm in taping around the die(s) whether you're using traditional paste or liquid metal.

You can keep the stock white thermal tape on there.

I would not use electrical tape over the FET's.

It is not the same. Thermal tape still conducts heat. Electrical tape insulates heat.

Yes. As far as the 3M, what I meant is that 3M makes the thermal tape. Not to confuse it with 3mm. I am referring to 3M the brand.

It may not make much of a difference, so I would do some tests to see how your CPU temps are.

Ex. Your CPU temps MAX at 36x should be in the low to mid 60C's MAX....(Gaming Temps)

At 40x your CPU should be at mid to high 60C's MAX. (Gaming Temps)

For first timers, I would not recommend using liquid metal. It does take some experience and liquid metal isn't one of those things where you can just get by ....there could be some major consequences if not done correctly.

Yes, taping around keeps things clean and it's a free insurance policy in the even of any pump out of LM.

Can you run OCCT for 1 Hour, but make sure that your power limits are fully unlocked so that it's not hitting a cap of only 45W.

I see that some members post temps of OCCT at only ~10mins with the CPU being power limited to 45W and claiming good temps....no that does not could LOL ...

RUN OCCT for 1 HOUR and WIDE OPEN THROTTLE and please post the screen shots. Your CPU power limit should exceed 45W by a lot.

Well, Dell needs to send those techs here to train the monkey techs in the US. Dell should fire most of them here as they are all useless. Many of the members here have proof...hard core evidence of how incompetent they are. It is such a shame. You're very fortunate my friend. I would tip them well and thank them.

 

It is clear that you do not recommend it if you do not have experience. But if done correctly, there should be no risk, right? The risk is to apply it incorrectly. There is no risk applying it correctly.

I set power limit to 92,000 in OC level. I use Primer95/Torture test to test the temperature. This week I will run (like you say) OCCT for one hour and upload the screenshots of HWINFO sensor status...

hahahaha I think that goes beyond learning or not. Is the way of being of the Argentine. I do not know how to explain it. He creates much with little. And it is open-minded. It is not something that can be transferred. Use scotch tape around the cpu and gpu, is something that would have made an Argentine technician. Understand what I say?

I have a question, why does Grizzly not recommend Grizzly Conductonaut to Extreme-Overclocking? Just give 1 asterisk in your rating... and Kryonaut gives you 5 asterisks.... you know why?

 

Maybe 8°C is Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut's or one of its componants' melting spot ?

 

Alienware's new, powerful, GeForce 10-series laptops! - CES 2017

 

@iunlock How can I clean Conductonaut liquid metal from a cpu/gpu? Isopropyl alcohol its okay?

 

Liquid metal can't be used in sub zero temperatures aka Extreme-overclocking. Pretty simple.

 

Hi @Papusan, Can I remove (clean) liquid metal from cpu with isopropyl alcohol? It is safe?

 

You don't need more than a lint - free rag. Or medical small paper wipes bought at the pharmacy.
Why would you remove the Liquid metal?

 

I have 3M micro fiber cloths. it's okay?
Without isopropyl alcohol?