*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R4 Owner's Lounge

They are not doing them; hence, multiple people whom delivery dates have been pushed back a number of times. Those who ordered before you. You need to check your manufacture date. It's been 21-25 business days well before the 10th of this month. My original delivery date was supposed to be the 13th, so I watched it like a hawk.

I've been without a fully operational computer since Oct. (going on 5 months). I've definitely been on top of this and only been dealing with the executive team, which is the highest you can possibly go for support.

 

The manufacture date is the 10th of January. I ordered on the 27th of november

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What?

I got the one in my signature in less than a week in December. If there was a legit part shortage, you wouldn't have gotten it on the 10th of this month because dates were pushed back before the 10th - including 21-25 business day turn-around for new orders.

They phased out the current 1080 configurations. They honored your build because it was in the cue for so long, is what I think.

 

How is the condition on theese laptops when they arrive? Are they usually in mint condition or is it common with scratches and such? The quality control does not seem that great in other aspects, thats why I ask.

Br J

 

Appearance-wise, it's outstanding. The build quality is among the best, if not the best, in the industry.

 

Just received my new 17R4 Kaby Lake. Good quality control Dell! Compliments!! I don't know if I want to wait a month for the change. This is a shame.

 

I worked for Dell back in the late 90's and started out in Major Accounts laptop support as a temp, left, came back (for more money), went into consumer laptop support, and then worked my way over to Michael Dell's Personal Correspondence Group.

We were the group that would answer the letters when you got angry enough to write the executives as Dell and let them know about a particular situation, tech support agent, quality (or lack thereof) of a product.

Within my group and management umbrella, there was the outside row called "Executive Support"... These men and women were the inside face of Dell who had the power to do pretty much anything (within reason) to make the customer happy. When they would place their outbound calls to customers they started out with "This is <so and so> calling from the office of Michael Dell..."

The mailing address was something like "One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682"...

So, if Tayer is saying that he's dealing with their executive team, that IS where the buck stops within their technical support group... A member of the executive team is not going to risk their job by "mis-speaking"...

Just my $.02

 

So I just bought my Alienware 17 R4, with FHD screen and HQ processor. 1070 graphics card. but sadly i only ordered 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 1TB Sata drive, can someone please point me to a really good m.2 drive for this laptop and also to a ram upgrade, would really appreciate it. Thanks

 

Samsung 960 evo or Samsung 960 pro SSD, whichever is financially viable. Both are very fast and the PRO is the best in the market.

HyperX Impact DDR4 RAM. RAM prices have gone up in the last few months and I got it for much cheaper than it was.


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Hi would you be able to link me to these, as some m.2 are sdd and pcie and some have 2 notches on the m.2 and some have 1 notch, so im a little lost.

Thanks

 

Both the 960 evo and pro com only with one notch style and are pcie. They will work with your system:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s/155-6954724-3913804?k=samsung+960+evo

This link should have all of them.


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Do you guys suggest to get a refund or not? Is there anyone out there who had the problem solved by the tech at home?

 

I am after them for that and a bezel problem. But I kept my laptop since I got it for a very reasonable price, thermals were excellent and I couldn't wait.

The light bleed problem is caused by uneven and improper pressure by the bezel on the LCD. They have to replace the LCD and bezel since when they remove the bezel, they always damage a metal film on the LCD and the technicians putting the bezel always screw up and cause the bezel to not stick properly (4th attempt for me). The 3rd technician was he worst of them all for me since he didn't follow the basic protocols when dealing with double sided tape and handled a ribbon cable.

If the thermals are good and you use an external monitor most of the time, keep it. Call them and tell them you want to return it so that they will convince you to keep it by giving you a refund. Something for the effort you will be going through.

If you can wait, didn't get a lot of discounts on the laptop or after using it for a few days, the screen bleed annoys you, send it back and get another one.


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Yes it annoys me a lot and I have no external monitor. I'm in Italy I called the support 4 times and no one did me an offer. I cannot have a change but only refund so I have to wait a month to have my money back and I cannot buy another laptop. It's a shame for such expensive machine.. people should know how crappy are AW products. We all should not be satisfied for a non perfect laptop.

 

Pretty...

 

What screen is that? That's horrific.

 

FHD.
I liked Azor Frank when in Nov he said the problem was solved!
The support in Italy says that they know very well the problem but that Dell today still have no solution. So.. Dell doesn't know in 2017 how to properly mount a display?? I don't know what to say.

 

That's too bad ... I would certainly not be able to live with that.

 

I've done more bios swapping and as it stands, I simply cannot get the 6700HQ to operate at anything over 3096mhz when using Bios 1.0.9.

All settings are at "high performance" both in bios and via Windows power options, I've double checked the minimum and maximum processor power states defined in the power plan and everything is at 100%.

Bios 1.0.9: CPU maxes out at 3096 mhz
Bios 1.0.8: CPU consistently hits it's rated 3494 mhz
Bios 1.0.2: CPU consistently hits it's rated 3494 mhz

Totally weird man. Not too bothered as I don't mind running on the 1.0.8 bios but for the life of me I can't figure why 1.0.9 would "hamstring" the CPU power.

An oddity...

...

 

I have an update for everyone. I purchased a new Alienware 17 R4 1/8/2017 new from Dell. I7-6700HQ, 1060, 128GB SSD, 1TB Sata. CPU temps were maxing at 99C when running stress tests. Fans were kicking on while I was just in the desktop not doing anything. I returned it, heard from a few that the best buy alienwares did not have this issue. Paid $1450 (with coupon codes and tax). Found an open box Geek Squad certified-excellent one with the same specs, though with the better 1070 video card. Got it for $1275. This runs MUCH better. Max temps are in the 70s, fans don't push nearly as hard. Tobii eye also works better. Perhaps Best Buy does some QC with these systems? Not sure if it's coincidence that others are having success, but this one is a keeper. Here are my temps. I got the laptop with the 1.06 Bios, then updated to 1.09. Got better temps with 1.06. Not sure if I could downgrade the bios. Dell Alienware (Heat Issues): http://www.pronet-systems.com/alienware/cpu.jpg Dell Alienware from BestBuy 1.06 Bios: http://www.pronet-systems.com/alienware/cputest106.jpg Dell Alienware from BestBuy 1.09 Bios: http://www.pronet-systems.com/alienware/cputest109.jpg

 

Got mine from Best Buy as well ... CPU/GPU temps are fine ... same machine as yours 6700HQ/GTX1070 ... but you got a *WAY* better deal on yours as I bought mine, basically, on Day 1. Payed $1999.00 ... enjoy your rig man ...

 

Thanks!

 

Finally, I install my new ssd Samsung 960 pro 1tb x2. I am very sure that if God needed a new ssd for his laptop, he would choose these.

These are the results of the benchmark.

Samsung 960 pro 1tb SSD "A"


Samsung 960 pro 1tb SSD "B"


RAID0 stripe size 128 / NTFS cluster size 64




What do you think?

 

Just got an e-mail from Dell's Alienware Exchange department stating that "the 1080 video card + 6820 processor configuration is NOT orderable"... that they have requested from their inventory team "a configuration to offer"... and I should receive another "offer within 24 to 48 hours"...

I looked at Dell's website and they are still selling the i7-6820HK and GTX 1080 video card version of the 17 R4...

Does Dell's exchange team live in an alternate reality?

 

Dell will replace that due to light spots, is that on a blue or black background?
Just send them an image. What screen is the panel?
If they dont agree to swop the panel, then return it, if it was bad in just 1 area, maybe ok, but that panel has bad bleed in several areas.

 

Link them to the website.
They are 100% wrong.
There is a supply issue currently, however they can place and order for the exchange if they wanted to.
I have an exchange on order and a new system on order.

 

Hey, Can you join the NBR discord and PM me? I think I might be able to help you.
https://discord.gg/cFUYbgY

 

Are you OC using the OC levels or are you manually setting the multipliers on all four cores?

 

Depends on the QC, Dell's been spotty but improving a little.

Try this set of ram: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232309

If you like the machine then just request a tech to come and change the screen out.

Probably the same state that the crackheads who make the OC levels in the bios.

He has a 6700HQ though


3500 as a single core and 3100 on four core is the default unchangeable turbo bin

 

Yes I sent them the image. It's the FHD. They will send a tech to replace the LCD but I never heard a case in which the issue was solved by the tech. The problem is that if I get the full refund I have to wait at least a month to have my money back and buy a new laptop.

 

FRIENDLY WARNING.
If you have a kaby lake processor don't accept the bios update from 1.02 that Dell update pushes. It locks your laptop into a boot loop with no post. Caused me a minor heart attack. Called Dell support and they had me do a hard reset which fixed the problem. They told me that the failed update is a known issue because the update is only compatible with Skylake. Not thrilled with the fact that they haven't at least turned off the software push...

 

Well, they have agreed to send a new panel to me yesterday. So will update how it goes next week. I'm hoping I get lucky and my replacement panel is made by lgphillips, as the auo 1080p is poor. Do you know who made your current panel? Auo, chi-Mei, lg-Phillips?

 

I have the 6700HQ so there is no overclocking involved ...

 

Do you mean avoid all bios updates onwards from 1.0.2, which was released oct 16?

 

How do you check, other than removing the bezel? I checked device manager and the bios, couldn't find any info of the manufacturer.

 

Just received a call from I'm assuming dell about my computer (17r4, qhd, gtx1080, 6820hk). It had been delayed. Problem is, I literally could not understand ONE word the guy was saying! I had to tell him kindly to have someone else call me back and literally just hang up. Fed up! I'm just about done with this! If any of you guys that are also delayed got this call as well, I'd love to hear what they had to say since I couldn't understand anything.

 

You can use Hwinfo, free download, which will provide various details about your laptop including screen manufacturer and date of production.

 

I think the problem with your 6700HQ is a software running in the background that makes all 4 threads be loaded on the CPU. So you can't get that 3.5GHz single core boost.

 

Word.

...

 

But why would 1.0.2 and 1.0.8 show all four cores hitting 3495mhz very frequently? And 1.0.9, under the very same test circumstances, shows all four cores only hitting 3095mhz or so and I mean it *never* goes over that ...

 

Oh"well.
But how can you explain the replay in the bottom of this link? http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...3-owners-lounge.797458/page-234#post-10446997

"@Vassilis008 reported that 1.0.9 unlocked the cpu power limit for him but other members say that 1.0.9 actually cause worse overclock, so mixed bag of result"

 

Hey guys, a friend of mine bought an Alienware 17 R4 with a Kaby Lake CPU but as you know, the Intel HD Graphics is not supported on Windows 7 for this laptop

Can he install windows 10, switch to the dedicated graphics, then install Windows 7? he doesn't need the integrated graphics

is there a guide on how to install Windows 7 on this laptop?

Update: even though he switched to the dedicated graphics, he can still see the Inbtel GPU in windows for some reason and when he tries the nVIDIA Driver install, it gives him an error message that he needs to install the Intel one first

But the Intel HD Graphics Driver for Kaby Lake CPUs isn't supported on Windows 7

 

I have an AU Optronics B173HW01 V0. Where is the FHD by LG??

 

How long have you had the system?
What have you done to the system software wise?
Everything you have mentioned could be either driver related or Windows related.
Regarding the light bleed, Which panel do you have? IPS has more glow then TN.
However the "Bleed" people refer to has in fact just simply been caused by the pressure points of the bezel or sometimes even the screws creating the distortion of light.
Technically it is an easy fix and is not indicative of a "crappy machine". Any laptop that has an LCD panel that is screwed in and has a lid/bezel is subject some form of "light bleed" or distortion.

 

I solved the trackpad and kb problem. Did you see the pic of my panel (AU Optronics ips fhd)? In my opinion if a 2500€ laptop arrives to the customer in that conditions, it is a crappy machine. Also the two trackpad buttons are not perfectly aligned but it is only visible with led backlight.

 

Touche, then I would say that specific machine is "crappy".
However, out of all the many machines we have had in our possession we have not experienced anything like that with the R4.
I think we have had at least 20+ in our possession, some personals (for friends & family) and some repastes.

 

Just a head's up on my side.
My order went from 'preproduction' into 'production' and there is a message saying that the carrier information will be displayed on the site in the next 7 to 12 days.

Let's wait and see...

 

They look so pretty....I've been enjoying mine and it looks like some others are enjoying theirs as well!



I have one up for grabs, brand new in box...see sig...

Yes indeed.

1.0.2 is still the best and the only one that people should stay on. I retract my statement about 1.0.9 from my earlier post. I've been testing it on three different machines and sure enough, crap is beginning to hit the fan.

I had to hard reset 3 out of 3 machines as the screen would not turn on along with flashing a CMOS code sequence. SOB...darn Dell...

Stick with 1.0.2.

Smokin'! Very nice mate...The 960 Pro's are amazing yea? I was going to RAID mine, but have decided to just stick with one as I have the Samsung 850 1TB Pro in the bay anyway. I have a brand new 960 1TB Pro still in the box if anyone is interested.

 

My battery wear level is concerning me. I don't typically use my AW17r4 off the plug, but the battery wear level jumped from 2% to 4%, just from using the laptop unplugged once. Our cat had stepped on the surge protector switch, and I didn't realize that the laptop was unplugged until I got the "low battery" warning, and I switched back on the surge protector, and watched it charge, and it literally jumped from 4% wear level to 7% wear level right in front of me, as I watched. So wtf is going on here? There's no way the cells can experience that amount of wear, unless the cells themselves are fault. And for a non-use replaceable battery, this is concerning. I'm not some noob to battery technology either as I use a replace Li-ion, and Li-Po batteries regular in various devices. My previous laptop (ASUS G74SX) that was almost 6 years old had only 6% wear level on it's battery, and it was a laptop that I rarely used unplugged, so it was kept between 95%-100% for most of it's lifespan. Typically, keeping Li-ion batteries at full charge is bad for them. That's why most cells are shipped/stored at 40%. Deep discharges are also bad for the wear and tear of a battery but you don't see any meaningful hit in capacity for hundreds of cycles.

So what sh*t cells did Dell/Alienware use in these batteries that they're exhibiting such poor performance? I saw an old teardown of the AW14 battery pack, and it looks lik those had Lg cells, which are good.

I'm typing right now on it, with it unplugged, and watching for more wear to accumulate as my capacity has gone down to 92021 from 989998 since I received this laptop on Dec 16 (ordered Nov. 7, and sat until then).

I've seen scattered report of this happening to other people with the recent AW laptop series, now that I think about it...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/5nkact/what_can_i_do_about_this_battery_wear_9_seems_a/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/5mf49m/aw_13_r3_battery_replacement_repaste/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/5eanvn/new_15_r3_battery_at_5_wear_level/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/5qldep/my_new_aw_13_w_kabylake_i_have_questions/

 

7 for 7. Knock on wood...